Planning to market house in late March 2023. How do I prepare to make garden look spectacular?

[TreasuredMim]

Looking at my largish NW facing garden at the moment, it has well stocked beds with a large lawn with plants beginning to show signs of life. Also a veg patch which needs weeding.

But how can I help it look lovelier at this time next year to fit in with my plans for marketing late March 2023?

Looking at other gardens I see forsythia and daffodils blooming. Not much else. And although neighbours veg patches look neater than mine I don't detect anything growing.

How do I show off my potentially spectacular garden for late March and Easter viewers?

Plant up spring bulbs in autumn. Daffodils, tulips, grape hyacinths etc

Make sure all the beds are cleared up and mulched over winter.

Maybe add some evergreens, especially those with interesting shapes.

I've just dug up the last of the leeks. So you could grow them and leave them in. Can probably do that with kale too if you protect from pigeons etc
For flowers some well placed bulbs. A scattering of crocuses and blue anenomes??

Definitely plant bulbs in autumn,

Next spring, plant some bedding plants, or pots up, for instant colour.

As PPs have said, lots of bulbs and a good clear up. I'd steer clear of anything that looks like it's high maintenance, whilst experienced gardeners will be looking forward to getting stuck in, others will worry about how much time they may have to spend keeping it going.

I'd also add checking over any fencing and replacing any that is on it's way out.

I think the main thing is to have it really nice and tidy so it gives the impression of easy to maintain.

I'd just whack in some bedding plants as and when. I'm not a bedding plants person, generally but have done this in a couple of houses to sell. I am irrationally irritated by daffodils.

@Polyanthus2

I think the main thing is to have it really nice and tidy so it gives the impression of easy to maintain.

I agree. Nice and tidy are the keywords here.

As to the veg patch, I'd plant some broad beans, garlic and shallots in the autumn so it would have stuff growing in it next spring and didn't look too barren.

Looking at other gardens I see forsythia and daffodils blooming. Not much else.
Anemone, bugle, camellia, comfrey, deadnettle, erica, grape hyacinth, forget-me-not, hellebore, magnolia, pieris, primrose, pulmonaria, ribes, vinca, violets, wallflower.

I'd take some snaps during the year and sneak some out-of-season photos into the sales listing.
Make sure that the lawn is tip-top.

All these jobs dOne in the autumn - fences painted if they need it, autumn lawn weed treatment, lawn edges tidied. Beds weeded. Everything swept and tidied.

Paths jet washed if needed.
Plant up bulbs in the autumn, has anyone mentioned snowdrops?

Taking photos seasonally is a good idea.

Adding some small evergreens.

Ornamental kale in pots looks good in winter.

I was about to add Cavolo de Nero for the veg bed for winter. And beds weed and covered with compost/whatever.

Nice neat edges when the time comes for the garden.

Our camelia is normally in full flower throughout March, as is our Mimosa. We've also masses of forsythia, and definitely do the bulbs.

My rainbow chard is looking great at the moment. In terms of tidiness, a really good mulch and neatening the edging of your lawn will really help.

Plant an Osmanthus shrub, not very big, evergreen and in flower now. The little white flowers have a wonderful scent.
Another shrub that has a wonderful scent is Viburnum Bodnantense Dawn or Charles Lamont variety. They grow a little larger, I have mine in pots, so you could take them with you.

Robes? American current. Mine is in flower now.
Bleeding heart is starting to come alive too.

My azaleas and rhododendrons are just coming into bloom now and are so bright and colourful.

As someone who plants a lot in pots, they can be really useful when styling a garden for sale because you can move them about to find the place they look best.

Don't discount plants with beautiful leaves, my acer looks absolutely gorgeous this time of year. You can get colourful evergreen plants like heucheras too.

Keep it tidy. That's all that's necessary. It is most likely not going to be the thing that will make or break a sale and why would you want to spend money on plants you won't get the best of?

So many wonderful suggestions and comments. So very helpful - thanks so much

Take decent photos of when the garden looks it's best. Use 1 or 2 in the property listing.

Have a good border tidy up in the autumn, then plant lots of bulbs in pots ( you can take them with you when you move ) maybe a quick layer of a dark mulch if you can get some cheap. Make sure any garden furniture looks clean , throw out anything broken, tidy up kids toys, clean patio areas and sweep clean.

Don’t forget the front of the house, kerb appeal and all that, so pots of bulbs by the front door, time for some lasagne planting so you aren’t depending on just one species to be blooming.