It's a sure sign that winter is over when you see trees budding and flowers blooming. This magic of nature also means you must plan the next steps in your garden maintenance. What do you need to do to make your garden healthy this spring?

Make necessary repairs to hardscaping

Hardscaping refers to any of your landscape elements that aren't planted. It's a good time to inspect and repair retaining walls, walkways, fences and other parts of your landscaping that have shifted or been damaged by winter frost, ice and snow.

Clean up thoroughly

Do a spring cleanup to remove leaves and twigs that have made their home in your flower beds and among your trees, bushes and plantings. This winter debris can become more than just a visual nuisance when they start attracting rodents and other pests to your garden. It's also an excellent time to weed and remove dead plants before new flowers start to come up.

Prune trees and shrubs

Trees and shrubs may seem hardy and easy to grow, but they can use additional care. Before the leaves get heavy, prune away branches that could threaten your home or your neighbor's property. Prune back hedges so they're tidy. This also helps the healthy parts of the plants grow back stronger.

Plant spring flowers

Adding a pop of color with springtime flowers is always a fun part of gardening. Plant perennials in the ground or in pots to make your landscaping look bright, cheerful, welcoming and colorful for the season.

Be prepared for frost

When working on your garden in the early spring, keep in mind that chilly days and frosts can still occur. Watch the weather forecast to be prepared for frost so you can cover outdoor plants to protect them, and bring potted plants indoors for the night.