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Read Time: 5 mins
As the garden awakens for the start of a new gardening season, the list of outdoor tasks on the to-do list begins to grow. From clearing away winter debris from the greenhouse, pruning rose bushes, trimming trees, and creating safe havens for wildlife, a reliable and safe ladder is an essential companion. Ladder expert Henchman, explains the top five tasks you should complete this spring to get your garden ready for the new season!
1. Trimming trees and shrubs
Pruning is an essential job for any gardener, which when done correctly, promotes healthier and more productive growth. This annual task is not just about giving your landscape a tidy appearance - it also ensures plants produce an abundance of high-quality fruit, branches, and blooms. Use a pruning saw or loppers to start cutting away smaller branches, working slowly up to larger ones. Remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches preserving the tree’s natural shape and structure as much as possible. Thin the crown to allow sunlight and air circulation and remove crowded or weak branches to improve overall health.
Proper pruning technique is crucial for a tree's overall well-being. Cuts should be clean, precise, and executed at a slight angle to encourage water runoff and prevent water accumulation. Ragged cuts or the use of blunt or unsterilised tools can slow down the healing process and increase the tree's vulnerability to disease. Identifying and eliminating dead or diseased wood is crucial, as is managing the canopy to allow for optimal sunlight and air circulation.
As most pruning work is done at height, it’s important to have specialist ladders to keep you safe. Henchman’s Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladder will keep users stable even on rough or uneven terrain and will provide them with enough support and space to move comfortably while working. It might also be useful to have a pair of durable gloves with good grip and a ground sheet to make cleaning up a little easier. With Henchman ladders, no branch is out of reach, allowing gardeners to easily keep trees well-maintained and healthy.
2. Give the greenhouse a spring clean
Spring is the best time to give the greenhouse a fresh start, ready to grow new plants, fruits, and vegetables. Begin by making sure any glass panels, floor space and frames are clear of dust, dirt or debris. It is essential to keep a greenhouse clean to ensure an optimal growing environment for delicate seedlings that need extra protection from the outdoors as they begin to sprout. For tasks that require plenty of movement like this, we recommend the 8ft Hi-Step Platform Ladder as it has a generous platform and allows users to work hands-free, bend in all directions and remain wobble-free even on uneven terrain.
3. Fix, clean and paint any fences
As temperatures begin to warm up and working in the garden becomes a more comfortable experience, it is a great time to inspect and repair the perimeter of your garden. A sturdy fence or wall is important to keep out unwanted animals, maintain privacy from neighbours and ensure security from people accessing your land. Whether it’s a loose post, wobbly panel or simply a fresh coat of paint, a Henchman ladder provides the stability needed to tackle repairs effectively. Secure garden boundaries with confidence and create a safe and beautiful space for plants to thrive.
4. Prune and rejuvenate roses
Pruning roses is an intricate art and having the right vantage point is crucial for making clean, precise cuts. The best time to prune rose bushes is early spring, just around the time new growth starts. Use a ladder to reach the highest stems and use secateurs to remove any dead, diseased or dying branches and cutting down a few of the older stems to the base. Shape and prune the rose bush by about half its height to encourage healthy regrowth and beautiful fresh blooms.
5. Create safe havens for wildlife.
Spring is not just all about caring for seedlings and new plants - it's also a time to welcome wildlife back into your garden. Use a ladder to hang nest boxes for birds, out of reach from predators and install bug hotels for bees and butterflies above nectar-rich plants to pollinate the garden. By elevating these shelters away from ground-level, you can ensure they have safe spaces throughout the season and will help boost the biodiversity of your garden.
Choosing a reliable and safe ladder
A secure and dependable ladder is essential especially when working at heights on potentially slippery surfaces, Henchman’s Ladders are designed to offer safe, wobble-free working conditions and minimise the risk of accidents. Each leg is independently fully adjustable to accommodate slopes, and unlike traditional step ladders which should only be used on flat hard ground, Henchman Ladders have been expertly designed to be used on soft, uneven ground. They have extra-wide, clawed feet with a large surface area that distributes weight evenly, preventing sinking and minimising slippage during wet conditions.
For more information about Henchman ladders and safety tips visit www.henchman.co.uk.
ENDS
ARS Professional Straight Blade Pruning Saw – RRP £38.90
Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladder – RRP from £299
Gardening Gloves – RRP from £25
Heavy Duty Ground Sheet – RRP £25
Hi-Step Platform Ladder - RRP from £449.00
ARS Professional Bypass Secateurs – RRP £50
Ends
Henchman has been a pioneer of specialist garden ladders and safe hedge-cutting platforms since 1994, when it launched its first model at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Founded by father and son duo Mike and Tom Kitching, over the past three decades the company has evolved from a small family business to the leading garden ladder brand in the UK.
Based in Wiltshire, the dedicated design team at Henchman offers a wide range of unique products created to keep customers safe on uneven terrain while working at height.
Its collection includes the cutting-edge Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladder, Fully Adjustable PRO Tripod Ladder, the Hi-Step Platform, the Wheeled Henchman, as well as a range of large capacity wheelbarrows and accessories, all designed to make gardening a safe, sturdy and enjoyable experience.
Henchman has pioneered the way in ladder safety and is the first and only fully EN131 certified Tripod Ladder on the market in the UK and the rest of the world.
From the National Trust, to the England Rugby team and Royal Households, and not forgetting thousands of gardeners, DIY-enthusiasts and professionals, Henchman helps its customers get the job done, safely.
Credit: Henchman Ladders
Credit: Henchman Ladders