Preparing your garden for spring
With Spring upon us, now if the perfect time to be doing some of those jobs in the garden that have been neglected during the winter months. Spring is approaching and with it comes a new season in the garden. Tidying, planting, soil preparation and pruning are all important tasks that will give your garden new life and prepare it well for spring!
Spring cleaning…
A great place to start is a general tidy up of the garden. Remove young spring weeds as they will be easiest to pull up now while the ground is soft and the roots are shallow.
Clearing drains and areas where leaves have gathered in large amounts is a great way to tidy the garden and ensure spring rains have somewhere to runoff. Repair any damaged planter boxes or edgings and check trellises and fences.
Time for a prune…
Prune unwanted or dead branches off trees and shrubs once the new growth has begun. This will not only tidy up the plants but will also open them up allowing more air through the branches and helping to reduce diseases or pests developing. Now is the perfect time to prune roses as well, just before they bud. Again, clear any dead or obstructive branches and open up the inside. Your fruit trees will also enjoy a tidy up at this time of year before buds fully develop and bloom.
Planting for success…
Plant early but remember to protect seedlings from hard frosts. Use items from around the house like an overturned bucket or a large flower pot. Plant several vegetable varieties which mature at different times to have a prolonged harvest. Now is also a great time to plant out any spring bulbs.
Soil conditions are also good for transplanting some existing shrubs because the soil is more often moist which aids the roots in expanding out from the planting site more easily and in finding nutrients.
Prepare for the season…
Spring is a wonderful time of year and is not far off. Remember to use these last cool and wet months of winter to really tidy and prepare your garden so you receive the best crop or yield you’ve had! And your garden will love you for it!