Garden care guide
A year in the Kent garden.
Every garden has its own rhythm through the seasons. Here's the shape of the year as we work it — a simple guide to what's worth doing and when, whether you tackle it yourself or leave it to us.
Waking the garden up
Spring
- First cuts of the season as the grass gets going, plus edging to sharpen the lines.
- Scarify and feed tired lawns; over-seed any thin or worn patches.
- Cut back last year’s growth, tidy borders and mulch to lock in moisture and hold weeds down.
- Plant summer bedding and lift-and-divide congested perennials while the soil is warming.
Keeping on top of it
Summer
- Regular mowing and edging through the growing season keeps a lawn thick and neat.
- Trim fast-growing hedges to shape and keep them off paths and windows.
- Stay ahead of the weeds in beds and borders, and deadhead to keep the flowering going.
- Water new planting well in dry spells — the first summer is when it matters most.
Putting it to bed well
Autumn
- Clear fallen leaves off lawns and beds before they smother the grass and harbour disease.
- The best window of the year for laying new turf and for planting trees, shrubs and spring bulbs.
- A final, higher lawn cut, and a last shape-up of hedges before growth slows.
- Cut back spent perennials and give borders a tidy edge for the winter.
The quiet, useful months
Winter
- The ideal time for hard landscaping — patios, paths, fencing and structural work — while planting is dormant.
- Jet-wash green, slippery patios, paths and decking back to clean.
- Prune dormant trees and shrubs, and carry out any bigger clearance or renovation work.
- Plan next year’s design and planting so you’re ready to move the moment spring arrives.
Rather leave the calendar to someone else? We take on regular maintenance rounds across Sevenoaks and Kent.