Ex-royal gardener Jack Stooks, who tended Highgrove House Gardens for over 20 years, has shared his essential spring gardening tips including a surprising kitchen ingredient that can transform your garden
Parul Sharma GAU Senior Audience Writer
06:00, 06 Mar 2026
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King Charles’ former gardener is sharing some of his top tips(Image: Chris Jackson, Getty Images)
As Britain’s weather finally improves and the earliest hints of spring emerge, many homeowners are questioning which gardening jobs they should tackle now to guarantee vibrant, flourishing outdoor spaces by summer.
Fortunately, the answer is at hand. Jack Stooks, who previously served as King Charles’s royal gardener, has revealed some of his most crucial gardening recommendations for this period.
He points out there’s an abundance of jobs that can be completed in the lead-up to summer to help your garden flourish and position it for guaranteed success.
Former royal gardener Jack has also revealed the unexpected kitchen staple you can deploy in your garden whilst temperatures remain relatively cool to promote plant growth.
Jack Stooks was King Charles’s gardener for 21 years at Highgrove House(Image: Instagram)
From identifying which plants need immediate planting, to crucial guidance for keeping your lawn in good condition and the surprising kitchen staple that can prove remarkably useful for outdoor areas, Jack, speaking on behalf of coffee bean supplier Coffee Friend, has explained how gardening enthusiasts can ensure a thriving haven by the time warm weather returns properly, reports the Express.
Unexpected kitchen staple ideal for mulch and compost
Jack possesses an unusual strategy. King Charles’s former royal gardener of 21 years advises: “Don’t bin your coffee grounds. Put them to good use in your garden [especially] during the colder months.
“One of the easiest ways is to add them to your compost. Composting turns organic waste into nutrient-rich soil that boosts the structure and fertility. Coffee adds nitrogen, which is a key nutrient for healthy plant growth, and it also helps speed up the decomposition process.”
This isn’t the sole purpose for this everyday kitchen item that would typically be discarded. The horticultural specialist explains: “You can also use coffee grounds as a mulch, which is a layer of material placed on top of the soil to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Simply sprinkle the coffee grounds around the base of your plants, or mix them into an existing mulch layer.”
These essential tasks will set your garden up for success(Image: Getty)
Plant those spring bulbs without delay
For those who haven’t yet planted their bulbs, the moment has arrived, according to King Charles’s former head gardener who maintained the Highgrove House Gardens for more than 20 years.
“Late daffodils and other spring bulbs need to go in the ground soon to ensure they bloom beautifully for the spring,” Jack recommends.
He adds: “Another top pick for a winter garden is bare-root roses. They make a beautiful gift, too, as they just keep on giving. They produce summer flowers year after year, so it’s a beautiful and long-lasting present for someone special or your own garden to enjoy.”
While the optimal period to plant bare-root roses would be during their dormant winter phase, there’s still sufficient time to get them established in the soil for spectacular summer blooms. Don’t lose heart, things can still flourish after winter.
The former senior gardener at Highgrove House says: “You could always trim back anything that you think is clearly dead, but take care, as plants can sometimes regrow from parts that look lifeless.”
Lawn mowing should be left alone till spring is in full force(Image: Getty)
“If by late spring there is still no sign of life, it’s safe to assume the plant hasn’t survived the winter. At that point, remove it and replace it with the same plant or something hardier. Wait a little before cutting so you don’t accidentally discard a plant that could still bounce back,” warns Jack.
Hold off on lawn maintenance until spring
According to Jack, it’s best to leave your lawns untouched until spring is in full swing.
Jack explains: “When it comes to lawns, winter is not the ideal time to carry out any gardening or maintenance. The cold temperatures, frost, and wet conditions can make the grass more vulnerable to damage. Walking on or cutting the lawn during this period can compact the soil, harm the roots, and leave the grass more susceptible to disease.”
“Leave it until the spring to mow. The sun will hopefully be shining again and the plants will be coming back to life,” Jack recommends.
So, perhaps it’s time to prepare, as those sunny days of lawn-mowing and maintenance are just around the corner.
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