Spring is the flower garden's busiest season: the bulbs you planted last autumn are flowering, the spring shrubs are in bloom, and the summer flowers you plant now will carry the garden through to autumn. Spring flower care is therefore two jobs at once — looking after the flowers that are blooming now, and preparing the flowers that will bloom later. Get both right and the garden flowers continuously from the first snowdrops to the last dahlias; neglect either and there is a gap in the display just when the garden should be at its best.
Caring for spring bulbs
Spring bulbs — daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, crocus and snowdrops — need little care while they flower, but what you do after they flower matters more than what you do during it. Deadhead tulips and hyacinths once the flowers fade, so the plant puts its energy into the bulb rather than into seed, but leave the foliage alone: the leaves feed the bulb for next year, and they must be left to die back naturally over six weeks or so. Cutting the leaves off early is the most common reason bulbs fail to flower the following year, so tie the leaves loosely or plant something in front of them to hide them, but do not remove them.
Daffodils should not be deadheaded as aggressively — remove the faded flower head, but leave the stem and leaves. Feed bulbs after flowering with a balanced fertiliser or a handful of compost, which helps the bulb build up for next year. If a clump of bulbs has become crowded and is flowering poorly, lift and divide it after the foliage has died back, and replant the bulbs at the same depth. Check your local extension service if your bulbs are failing to flower and you cannot see why.
Spring-flowering shrubs and perennials
Spring-flowering shrubs — forsythia, lilac, camellia, azalea, magnolia and flowering currant — flower on wood made last year, so they must not be pruned in spring before they flower. Prune them immediately after flowering, which gives them the whole summer to make the wood that will flower next year — see our spring pruning guide for the rule and the exceptions. After pruning, feed and mulch them, keeping the mulch away from the stems.
Spring perennials need dividing if they have outgrown their space or are flowering poorly in the centre: lift the clump, divide it into sections with roots and shoots, and replant the healthiest pieces. Spring is also the time to stake tall perennials such as delphiniums and peonies before they grow, because staking a plant that has already flopped is far harder than staking it while it is short. Support the plant with a ring or canes, and let it grow through the support.
Planting summer flowers
Spring is the main planting season for summer flowers. Hardy annuals such as sweet peas, calendula, cornflowers and nigella can be sown directly outdoors in early spring, while tender annuals such as cosmos, zinnias, marigolds and nasturtiums are sown indoors and planted out after the last frost — see our spring seed starting and spring planting guide. Summer bulbs such as dahlias, gladioli and lilies are planted once the soil has warmed, and they need a sunny spot and rich soil.
Prepare the bed before planting: fork it over, dig in compost, and rake it level — see our spring soil preparation guide. Plant at the spacing on the packet or label, water in well, and mulch to hold moisture and suppress weeds — see our spring mulching guide. Pinch out the growing tips of young annuals such as cosmos and zinnias to encourage bushy growth and more flowers, and feed them lightly as they grow — see our spring fertilizing guide.
Deadheading, feeding and pest watch
Deadheading — removing faded flowers — is the single most effective way to keep flowers blooming through the season, because it stops the plant putting energy into seed and encourages it to make more flowers. Deadhead roses, dahlias, sweet peas and annuals regularly through spring and summer, cutting back to a leaf joint. Sweet peas in particular must be picked or deadheaded constantly, or they stop flowering altogether. Feed flowering plants with a high-potassium feed as buds form, which encourages flowers rather than leafy growth, and water them in dry weather, because a thirsty plant drops its buds.
Watch for pests in spring: aphids love the soft new growth of roses and sweet peas, slugs eat young seedlings and hostas overnight, and lily beetles — bright red, and easy to spot — eat lilies and fritillaries. Inspect plants weekly, pick pests off by hand, and see our spring pest control guide for control measures. If a flower problem persists, check your local extension service for advice.
Spring flowers by month: what blooms when
Early spring belongs to the bulbs that were planted last autumn. Snowdrops and crocus are often the first flowers, sometimes blooming while there is still frost on the ground, followed by daffodils, which are the most reliable spring bulb of all and naturalise well in grass and borders. Tulips follow, and they give the brightest colour of the spring garden, though they are best treated as annuals in many gardens because they weaken after the first year. Hyacinths bring scent as well as colour, and they do well in pots near a door where their perfume can be enjoyed.
Mid-spring brings the flowering shrubs into their own: forsythia's yellow flowers, magnolia's large blooms, and the first lilac. Wallflowers and primroses fill the gaps at the front of borders, and forget-me-nots self-seed freely and give a wash of blue under shrubs and roses. Late spring is the richest time of all, with tulips still going, alliums sending up their tall purple spheres, and the first roses and peonies opening. Planning a flower garden by month, rather than by plant, is the best way to avoid gaps in the display: write down what is flowering each week, and in autumn plant the bulbs that fill the weeks when nothing was in flower. A garden that is planned this way flowers continuously from late winter to late spring, and the summer flowers you plant now take over from there. Our spring planting guide explains how to plan the planting order, and our spring garden cleanup guide covers the spring tidy-up that makes room for new planting.
Frequently asked questions
Should I cut back daffodil leaves after flowering?
No. Leave the foliage to die back naturally over about six weeks, because the leaves feed the bulb for next year. Cutting them early is the main reason bulbs fail to flower again.
When should I prune spring-flowering shrubs?
Immediately after flowering, not before. Forsythia, lilac and camellia flower on last year's wood, so spring pruning removes the flowers.
What flowers should I plant in spring?
Hardy annuals such as sweet peas and calendula early, tender annuals such as cosmos and zinnias after the last frost, and summer bulbs such as dahlias and lilies once the soil has warmed.
Why should I deadhead flowers?
It stops the plant putting energy into seed and encourages more flowers, which extends the flowering season by weeks or months.
How do I keep roses flowering in spring?
Feed them in spring, water in dry weather, deadhead regularly, and watch for aphids on the new growth. If you are unsure, check your local extension service for advice.