As August begins to roll into September, you know spring is almost here! The warm temperatures and the flurry of activity in your garden is the perfect inspiration to get gardening. Spring also presents the ideal time to whip your garden into shape, and ensure it is ready to withstand the heat of the summer. We’ve put together some ideas on how to ensure your garden is ready for the warm months ahead.
How to prepare your garden for spring
After the long winter, your garden may require some special attention so it is ready to be its most beautiful and healthy in the spring. Here are our recommended spring gardening tips!
Get spring cleaning
You spring clean your home, so why not your garden? Giving your garden and outdoor space a tidy and clean means it will be easier to do your other spring preparation tasks. The first step is to get weeding! Early spring is the best time to remove pesky weeds because at this point, the roots of these uninvited guests are still shallow, making them easy to remove. To prevent future weeds, add a layer of garden mulch around trees and plants as they won’t be able to access the water, oxygen and sunlight they need to grow.
Be sure to check and clean your gutters and drains so your rainwater will have a runoff path and to help reduce fire hazards. You should also check your irrigation system. Look for parts that need to be repaired or replaced. In addition, this is the perfect time to make a few repairs around the yard. Go over your planter boxes, edgings, and trellises and check whether any of these need to be repaired or replaced.
To ensure you haven’t forgotten any spring cleaning steps, you can follow our handy outdoor spring cleaning checklist!
Prune your trees and shrubs
Around this time, you may notice new growth on your trees and shrubs. Set aside time to prune away dead or unwanted branches. Removing these will help fortify your trees and shrubs against pests and diseases while facilitating the flow of air to the branches. Pruning is also highly beneficial for encouraging growth and beautiful blooms. Don’t forget to prune your roses before spring as well.
Start composting
Did you know that spring is an ideal time to start composting? If you are new to composting or have neglected your compost over the winter, spring is a great opportunity to ensure that your compost has the right balance of brown and green material to decompose properly. The warmer weather also means your bin will be breaking down faster. Regularly turn your compost heap so it receives sufficient air, which will speed up the process and reduce unpleasant odours.
Use fertiliser
As your plants begin to blossom, you may want to encourage more growth by fertilising your garden. Just remember to avoid fertilisers rich in nitrogen as this nutrient can make your plants more vulnerable to insects and fungi. We recommend the use of manure or slow-release organic fertilisers instead. If you are planning on using manure, choose cow or sheep manure instead of chicken manure as the high ammonia content can burn your plants.
If you have fruit trees on your property, consider using liquid potash along with a general fertiliser as these can aid in the optimal growth of fruits. You may also want to apply some top soil to your lawn after dethatching.
Plant your spring plants
Planning to plant your spring plants? Pull out any annual plants which have finished for the season to make room for your new plants! You can begin planting lettuce, spring onions, summer beans and sweet corn around September. Crops like basil, chilli peppers and tomatoes will have to wait until October when the weather has grown warmer before you plant.
Enlist professional gardening services
Don’t have the time or skills to prepare your garden for spring? No worries! The expert team at Jim’s Mowing can provide you with our comprehensive gardening services. We offer weekly, fortnightly, monthly and one-off services which are tailored to your garden’s specific needs. Receive a free quote today!
