Work on your garden now to get it ready in time for summer; now is the best time.

There is a very British moment in the year when the sky is still grey, the lawn is a bit soggy, and yet you can feel the change coming. You step outside in a jumper, mug in hand, and think this would be lovely in July. If only it did not look quite so tired.

That is the moment to grab. Not in May. Not when the shops have already sold out of your favourite plants. Now.

Why now really is the sweet spot.

Spring quietly sets the stage for everything that follows. Soil is damp but workable. Plants are waking up. You can move things around without shocking them too much. It is like catching a friend before they have had their coffee. Gentle words go further.

Start with a slow wander. No secateurs, no grand plans. Just notice. Where does water sit after rain? Which corner always feels chilly. Which bit gets that lovely evening light you forgot about last year?

You might even spot the ghosts of last summer. The chair that never got used. The border that looked flat by August. The plant you swore you would move and, of course, never did.

Tidy less, edit more.

It is tempting to blitz everything. Hard prune, strip, rake, bag. Job done. Except gardens are more like stories than tasks. They need editing, not just cleaning.

So trim rather than shave. Keep a few seed heads for height and texture until new growth thickens up. Cut back anything that is clearly dead, but be kind to plants that only look half asleep. Many of them are.

Think about shape as you go. Paths that have blurred at the edges. Beds that have slowly bulged into the lawn. A sharp spade and a calm hour can neaten those lines, and suddenly the whole place feels cared for again.

Plant for the summer you actually want.

This is also the time to be honest about how you really use the space. Do you host noisy barbecues or prefer quiet evenings with a book? Do the children tear up and down the lawn, or has the trampoline finally gone?

Planting follows that truth. If you are never out there with a hose, choose tougher, sun loving plants that can handle a bit of neglect. If you love eating outside, think about scent. Lavender near the seating area, a climber by the back door, and herbs within arm’s reach of the kitchen.

Stone, timber and lighting matter too. The team at WY Landscape would tell you that a simple paved area, a few well placed lights and one really good bench can change how often you step outside in the first place.

When to call in a bit of help

Some jobs are happily tackled on a Sunday afternoon with the radio on. Others are better shared. If you are thinking about new terraces, level changes or a complete rethink of where everything sits, an experienced eye can save a lot of trial and error. And a lot of sore backs.

A designer or landscaper will look at the way your house sits on the plot, the soil, the light, the drains, and even how you walk from the kettle to the table outside. All the small rhythms of daily life that make a garden feel natural, rather than bolted on.

So if you are standing at the back door right now thinking this could be lovely with a bit of work, take that thought seriously. Summer will arrive whether you are ready or not. Your choice is whether you spend it planning or simply enjoying.

Visit WY Landscape today to begin your garden preparation.