With the British weather keeping us on our toes, a flexible approach to woodland gardening pays dividends. Whether you tend a small urban plot or a larger garden with a wooded edge, this month offers a window to set up the growing year. Grab your secateurs and a flask—here’s what to tackle now.

Prune with Purpose

Late winter and early spring are ideal for pruning many trees and shrubs while they’re still dormant. Start with winter-flowering shrubs such as mahonia and winter jasmine—once they’ve finished blooming, cut back flowered stems to strong buds to encourage new growth. For dogwood and willow, hard prune now to promote those vivid colourful stems next winter. If you’re growing apples, pears, or medlars, remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches before buds break. Avoid pruning cherries and plums in wet weather, as this increases the risk of silver leaf. On small plots, use a sharp bypass pruner and take your time; a clean cut heals faster than a ragged one. Renovate overgrown hedges gradually over two or three seasons rather than all at once, especially if birds are nesting.

Sow and Plant for a Woodland Harvest

As the soil begins to warm, direct sow hardy annuals like cornflower, poppy, and calendula in gaps between shrubs. These will self-seed and create a naturalistic woodland edge. Under cloches or in a cold frame, sow broad beans, early peas, radish, and salad leaves. If the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged, plant bare-root trees and shrubs—hazel, field maple, and guelder rose are excellent for small gardens. In containers, use ericaceous compost for blueberries and camellias, and try a compact hazel or crab apple for a productive patio. For a quick edible hedge, plant blackthorn or hawthorn whips at 30–45cm intervals. Remember to water new plantings well, even if rain is forecast, as dry roots struggle to establish in a British spring.

Mulch and Feed the Soil

After weeding, apply a generous layer of well-rotted manure or leafmould around trees, shrubs, and perennials. Keep mulch a few centimetres away from stems to prevent rot. Woodland plants like ferns, hellebores, and epimediums appreciate a mulch of composted bark, which mimics their natural leaf litter. If you grow rhododendrons or camellias, test the soil pH first; these acid-lovers benefit from a mulch of pine needles or ericaceous compost. For small plots, a 5cm layer is plenty—don’t smother low-growing alpines. While you’re at it, top-dress containers with fresh compost and a slow-release fertiliser. Feed fruit bushes such as blackcurrants and gooseberries with a balanced granular fertiliser, scattering it around the drip line and lightly forking it in.

Tidy Lawns and Woodland Paths

Start mowing if grass is growing, but keep the blades set high—around 4–5cm—to protect against late frosts and drought. Edge paths and borders with a half-moon edger for crisp lines. Clear fallen leaves and debris from shade-loving plants like hardy cyclamen and wood anemones, but leave a few piles in quiet corners for hedgehogs and insects. If your lawn is patchy and shaded, consider replacing it with gravel, bark chippings, or ground cover such as sweet woodruff or ajuga. For small plots, a mulched path through a woodland border saves mowing and looks intentional. Repair any damaged lawn edges now, before growth takes off, and aerate compacted areas with a garden fork.

Prepare Outdoor Living Spaces

As the days lengthen, turn your attention to the spaces where you’ll relax. Clean patio furniture with warm soapy water, check fences and trellis for loose screws, and install a water butt if you haven’t already. Position a seating area under a deciduous tree—dappled shade is a British summer blessing. Plant up containers with early colour: primroses, violas, and herbs like thyme and mint. For small plots, use vertical planters, fold-away furniture, and mirrored panels to create the illusion of space. A simple log pile stacked in a shady corner becomes a habitat for beetles and a natural focal point. Finally, check outdoor lighting and path edges—a warm, low-level glow makes woodland borders feel inviting long after sunset.