Getting Your Garden Ready to Sell This Spring

11 Mar 2026

Preparing Your Garden in March for a Spring Property Sale

March is one of the busiest times of the year for the property market. As the weather improves, more buyers begin viewing homes and gardens quickly come back to life after the winter months.

For many properties, the garden forms part of that crucial first impression. Buyers will often walk around the outside space during a viewing, and it may also be visible from key rooms such as the kitchen, lounge, or dining area. A tidy, well-presented garden helps people imagine themselves living there, while an overgrown one can easily distract from an otherwise lovely home.

At Peter Heron, we’ve been helping people buy and sell homes across Sunderland for more than 60 years, and we know how much small improvements can influence a buyer’s perception. As spring approaches, here are a few simple steps homeowners can take to ensure their garden looks its best for first-time viewings.

Keep Lawns Looking Fresh and Well-Maintained

If your property has a lawn, regular mowing makes a huge difference to the garden's overall appearance. Once the weather begins to warm up, grass can grow surprisingly quickly and may need to be cut more frequently than expected.

Early in the season, it’s worth checking that your mower is working properly. Servicing the machine and sharpening the blades helps produce that neat, striped finish that always looks appealing during property viewings. Waiting until the grass becomes long and uneven can make the space appear neglected, even if the house itself is immaculate.

Add Instant Colour with Hanging Baskets

March is a great opportunity to introduce colour into the garden. Hanging baskets filled with seasonal flowers can transform a patio, entranceway, or fence line almost immediately.

Many local garden centres sell ready-made baskets that only need watering and occasional maintenance. They’re relatively inexpensive and can create a welcoming feel the moment potential buyers arrive at your property.

Use Bedding Plants to Brighten Borders

Flower beds and borders can look tired after winter, but bedding plants are an easy way to refresh them. Bright seasonal flowers add colour and make outdoor spaces feel more inviting.

To keep them looking their best, remember to remove faded flowers regularly. This encourages new blooms and keeps the display looking vibrant throughout the spring and summer viewing period.

Watch Out for Garden Pests

As plants begin to grow again, so do common garden pests. Aphids are particularly known for attacking roses and other early blooms, often damaging flowers before they fully open.

Fortunately, they can be managed quite easily. Many local Sunderland gardeners use sprays, while others prefer natural options such as encouraging ladybirds into the garden, which feed on aphids and help control the population naturally.

Interestingly, gardens in more built-up areas often experience fewer aphid problems than those in rural areas.

Remember You’re Selling a Lifestyle

When buyers view a property, they are rarely looking at the building alone. They’re imagining how they would live there, from relaxing in the living room to enjoying a warm evening in the garden.

Even small touches such as tidy borders, colourful planters, or a well-kept lawn can make a property feel more welcoming and cared for. Sometimes it’s these details that help tip the balance between two otherwise similar homes.

A Final Word from Peter Heron

Preparing your garden in March doesn’t need to involve major landscaping work. A few simple improvements carried out now can make a noticeable difference when buyers start visiting your home.

At Peter Heron, we’ve been helping people move across Sunderland and the surrounding areas for over six decades, offering practical advice built on genuine local experience. Our team understands what today’s property buyers in Sunderland are looking for and how sellers can present their homes in the best possible way.

If you’re thinking of selling this spring, we’d be happy to provide free, realistic advice on preparing your Sunderland property for the market and achieving the best possible result.