Wiltshire


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/05/dahlia-spring-garden-tips.jpg" alt="dahlia-spring-garden-tips" class="wp-image-41731" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/05/dahlia-spring-garden-tips.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/05/dahlia-spring-garden-tips-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/05/dahlia-spring-garden-tips-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/05/dahlia-spring-garden-tips-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>With four Chelsea Flower Show gold medals to his name, garden designer and green-fingered influencer Adam Woolcott knows a thing or two about making outdoor spaces thrive. With multiple awards from RHS Chelsea, along with accolades from RHS Hampton Court and Tatton Park, he’s rubbed shoulders with everyone from Ringo Starr to Joanna Lumley, Deborah Meaden and even Queen Elizabeth II. Closer to home, he’s also an ambassador for Wiltshire-based <strong><a href="https://webbgardenpower.co.uk/home/about-webb-garden-power/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Webb Garden Machinery</a></strong>, giving gardeners expert advice. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/Adam-Woolcott-RHS-Chelsea-Deborah-Meaden-1000x667.jpg" alt="Adam Woolcott and Deborah Meaden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show" class="wp-image-41080" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/Adam-Woolcott-RHS-Chelsea-Deborah-Meaden-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/Adam-Woolcott-RHS-Chelsea-Deborah-Meaden-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/Adam-Woolcott-RHS-Chelsea-Deborah-Meaden-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/Adam-Woolcott-RHS-Chelsea-Deborah-Meaden.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Adam Woolcott and Jonathan Smith of Woolcott and Smith, with Deborah Meaden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show </figcaption></figure>



<p>Here he shares his essential spring garden jobs, from how to perk up your lawn to what we should plant and prune right now. Get set for flower-filled beds and al fresco gatherings in the (hopefully) sun-drenched summer days ahead.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-start-with-your-lawn"><strong>Start with your lawn</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/spring-lawn-care-first-cut-of-season-1000x667.jpg" alt="Spring garden jobs: mowing lawn for the first time in the season" class="wp-image-41070" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/spring-lawn-care-first-cut-of-season-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/spring-lawn-care-first-cut-of-season-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/spring-lawn-care-first-cut-of-season-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/spring-lawn-care-first-cut-of-season.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>With the ground drying out, now’s the moment to give your lawn a tidy-up. Think of this as a gentle wake-up call rather than a full-on makeover.</p>



<p>‘Ensure the soil is dry and firm underfoot, because if you mow a waterlogged lawn, you’ll turn it into a mud patch,’ says Adam. ‘Aim to mow it sooner than later though, because if the grass gets eight or nine inches tall the light can’t penetrate properly, and the grass will look yellow when it’s cut. It will also be weak, and frazzle if it’s exposed to hot sun.</p>



<p>‘Don’t go out there and massacre it,’ adds Adam. ‘Instead, trim it back little and often. Start off on the highest cut, then a couple of weeks later drop down another notch. Two weeks later drop down a bit more, until you get to the final height.&#8217;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kick-moss-to-the-curb"><strong>Kick moss to the curb</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/scarifying-lawn-to-remove-moss-spring-1000x667.jpg" alt="Spring garden jobs raking lawn" class="wp-image-41067" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/scarifying-lawn-to-remove-moss-spring-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/scarifying-lawn-to-remove-moss-spring-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/scarifying-lawn-to-remove-moss-spring-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/scarifying-lawn-to-remove-moss-spring.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If moss has quietly taken up residence, add this to your list of spring garden jobs. Adam recommends starting by scarifying your lawn. ‘This gets rid of any moss build-up and let light and water in,’ explains Adam. ‘You can scarify by hand, using a rake, or invest in a machine, you’ll find electric and petrol options. To get rid of any remaining moss try an environmentally friendly treatment, like Mowbacter. Next, I recommend aerating your lawn, to improve drainage and discourage moss. I push a border fork into the ground as far as it’ll go, then move it forward six inches and repeat the process. Then, I brush sand into the holes.’</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fuel-fresh-growth"><strong>Fuel fresh growth</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/feeding-lawn-in-spring-for-healthy-growth-1000x667.jpg" alt="Lawncare advice for spring" class="wp-image-41063" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/feeding-lawn-in-spring-for-healthy-growth-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/feeding-lawn-in-spring-for-healthy-growth-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/feeding-lawn-in-spring-for-healthy-growth-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/feeding-lawn-in-spring-for-healthy-growth.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Once your lawn is looking perkier, give it a well-earned boost with a spring feed. ‘Some people prefer liquid feeds, while others prefer granular varieties,’ says Adam, who adds that it’s a good time to whip out pesky weeds. ‘If you want to get rid of dandelions or dock leaves, you’ll find plucking gadgets that you push down, and they remove the weed for you. Or, you can use a sharp knife.’ &nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-use-the-right-kit">Use the right kit </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/Adam-Webb-spring-garden-tips.jpg" alt="Adam Webb garden expert with lawnmower" class="wp-image-41243" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/Adam-Webb-spring-garden-tips.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/Adam-Webb-spring-garden-tips-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/Adam-Webb-spring-garden-tips-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/Adam-Webb-spring-garden-tips-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;re giving your lawn a glow-up, Adam says it&#8217;s more important than you might realise to choose the right tools for the job. &#8216;It can make all the difference to how your lawn looks, and to the amount of time and effort your spend maintaining it,&#8217; he explains. </p>



<p>Take into account three key factors: the size of your lawn, the desired finish and whether electric, battery or petrol is the most practical power source. &#8216;If you have a small or medium-sized lawn, a lightweight, compact mower or a small self-propelled model might be a better fit,&#8217; says Adam. If your patch is bigger, a larger self-propelled mower makes life easier &#8211; unless you want to turn mowing into a strength workout. &#8216;The new <a href="https://webbgardenpower.co.uk/2026/03/12/new-webb-eco-40v-x-series-coming-soon/?srsltid=AfmBOoq_mG-2LrKQ2VURvKHvbc6XLGNH6JlO2Y1raTq6b2RK1iaqo2cU" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">40V Webb Eco X Series</a>, for example, has been designed for medium to large gardens,&#8217; adds Adam. &#8216;There are two self-propelled lawnmowers, with wide cuts of 47cm and 53cm.&#8217;</p>



<p>Yearning for stripes? The secret is a mower with a rear roller, like Webb&#8217;s 20V Cordless Cylinder Lawnmower. &#8216;You’ll get the best results by cutting up and down from the point you view your lawn,&#8217; adds Adam. &#8216;Slightly overlap the cut each time.&#8217;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-prep-your-patch"><strong>Prep your patch</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/spring-garden-jobs-prep-veggie-patch-1000x667.jpg" alt="How to prep vegetable patch" class="wp-image-41066" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/spring-garden-jobs-prep-veggie-patch-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/spring-garden-jobs-prep-veggie-patch-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/spring-garden-jobs-prep-veggie-patch-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/spring-garden-jobs-prep-veggie-patch.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>When it comes to spring garden jobs, don&#8217;t forget your veggie patch. Now’s the time to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in. Start by digging over the soil. You can also use a battery powered tiller,’ says Adam. ‘This breaks up the soil, so it’s nice and fine, and ideal for sowing seeds. For soil that’s tougher to tackle, try a rotavator, which will get deeper into the earth and really turn it over.’</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-bulbs-for-summer-colour"><strong>Plant bulbs for summer colour</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/plant-summer-bulbs-in-spring.jpg-1000x667.jpg" alt="plant-summer-bulbs-in-spring.jpg" class="wp-image-41071" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/plant-summer-bulbs-in-spring.jpg-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/plant-summer-bulbs-in-spring.jpg-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/plant-summer-bulbs-in-spring.jpg-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/plant-summer-bulbs-in-spring.jpg.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Want maximum wow-factor later in the year? This is the moment to get those summer bulbs going. ‘Pot up dahlia and begonia bulbs, and give the compost a little bit of a drink,&#8217; says Adam. If you want to get organised next year, you can plant these bulbs in early spring &#8211; just keep them on a nice bright windowsill indoors, then plant them outside when it gets to late May and the risk of frost has passed. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-multiply-plants-for-free"><strong>Multiply plants for free</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/05/hosta-spring-garden-tips-rhs-chelsea-winner-adam-woolcot.jpg" alt="hosta " class="wp-image-41727" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/05/hosta-spring-garden-tips-rhs-chelsea-winner-adam-woolcot.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/05/hosta-spring-garden-tips-rhs-chelsea-winner-adam-woolcot-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/05/hosta-spring-garden-tips-rhs-chelsea-winner-adam-woolcot-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/05/hosta-spring-garden-tips-rhs-chelsea-winner-adam-woolcot-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>One of gardening’s best-kept secrets? You don’t always need to buy more plants – just make more of what you’ve already got. Make your money go further, by lifting and dividing perennials. ‘Now is an awesome time of year for this,’ says Adam. ‘If you have a huge Hosta for example, dig up the whole root and divide it into four or five separate sections. Suddenly, you’ve got brand new perennials. Earlier in spring, you can dig up snowdrops and aconites too – split the clumps into smaller clumps, then replant them immediately. They’ll establish very quickly.’</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-give-grasses-a-trim"><strong>Give grasses a trim</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/cutting-back-ornamental-grasses-in-spring-1000x667.jpg" alt="ornamental grasses to prune in spring" class="wp-image-41064" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/cutting-back-ornamental-grasses-in-spring-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/cutting-back-ornamental-grasses-in-spring-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/cutting-back-ornamental-grasses-in-spring-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/cutting-back-ornamental-grasses-in-spring.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Ornamental grasses might look dramatic in winter, but spring is the time to give them a smart haircut. Start by cutting them down to six or seven inches above soil level. ‘Don’t go any lower,’ says Adam. ‘This year’s new stems will push up through the middle of the old stems, so if you cut them too low, you’ll chop off the tops of the new shoots.’ If you have evergreen grasses, don’t cut them back. ‘Comb them through instead,’ adds Adam. ‘Pull out any dead leaves, so you let the air and light in.’</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-snip-for-summer-blooms"><strong>Snip for summer blooms</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/pruning-in-spring-for-summer-blooms-1000x667.jpg" alt="Spring garden jobs plants to prune now for summer flowers" class="wp-image-41069" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/pruning-in-spring-for-summer-blooms-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/pruning-in-spring-for-summer-blooms-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/pruning-in-spring-for-summer-blooms-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/03/pruning-in-spring-for-summer-blooms.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If roses are on your patch, now’s the time to give them a proper prune so they reward you later. ‘Start pruning hybrid tea roses, floribunda and any shrubs that flower on new wood,’ says Adam. ‘Hypericum and spirea both flower better on new wood, so if you cut them back now you’ll get a great display later in the summer.’ &nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Adam is an ambassador for <a href="https://webbgardenpower.co.uk/home/about-webb-garden-power/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Webb Garden Machinery</a>, based in Swindon.</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE? </h2>



<p><a href="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/home/gardening/top-tips-planting-growing-tulips-polly-nicholson-bayntun-flowers-blackland-house/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tulip fever! How to create a blaze of colour in your garden</a></p>



<p><a href="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/walks-near-me/walks-wiltshire-the-best-spring-walks-near-you-wiltshire-where-to-walk-daffodils-bluebells/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spring walks in Wiltshire: 14 stomps to stretch your legs</a></p>



<p><a href="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/walks-near-me/gardens-to-visit-in-wiltshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">In bloom: Gardens to visit in Wiltshire</a></p>


RHS Chelsea: Top garden tips from a gold medallist

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