Spring is always welcome, particularly after a chilly winter. It also happens to be the best time of year to get stuck back into the garden and get it ready for the warmer months. No matter how big or small your garden is, the following are a few gardening ideas for making the most of it this spring.
Give your lawn a spring makeover
Your lawn will probably need quite a lot of attention after winter. Frost, dry air and minimal sun can wreak havoc on a lawn and leave it looking dead, ugly and even bare in some areas. One of the first things to do to improve your lawn after winter is sweep away any dry, dead leaves which can block the sun from reaching it. Once your lawn is clear of leaves, carefully spread a layer of top soil over the grass, water it profusely and re-seed areas which have died off. Not only does top soil give your lawn a boost, it improves drainage and drought resistance and reduces the need for supplemental fertilisers.
Spring clean your spring garden
It’s hard to stay involved with your garden during the winter months due to the cold and the fact that there’s not much going on growth wise. Chances are piles of leaves have accumulated around your garden; weeds have sprouted where they shouldn’t have and certain plants have died off entirely. Now is the time to give your garden a proverbial spring clean which will pave the way for the warmer months. Start by raking up old plant litter and debris, de-weed where necessary, prune or remove any dead vegetation and start preparing your beds for new plants. While you’re preparing your garden, don’t forget to fill up the bird feeder too as many birds will need extra nourishment for the breeding season.
Plan ahead
Once you’ve prepped your lawn and cleaned out your garden you can begin to take stock and decide exactly what you want to do with your garden and what you would like to get out of it. Perhaps you are happy with the existing layout. Perhaps you feel a change is necessary. Maybe you would like to install a water feature, add a space for relaxing or start a vegetable garden. Whatever you decide to do, plan well in advance before implementing changes as you could end up making expensive mistakes which could also ruin your garden.
Choose the right plants
With the weather getting warmer, spring is the perfect time to start planting flowers, fruit trees, vegetables and herbs. However, what you can grow also depends on the soil conditions and climate where you live. With a climate as diverse as Australia's, it's important to know which plants are best suited to your region so that you get the best results in your garden.
Here are our top picks for flowers:
- Alyssums
- French marigolds
- Petunias
- Portulacas
- Geraniums
- Scabiosas
- Roses
- Sunflowers
Here are our top picks for vegetables:
- Lettuce
- Rocket
- Beetroot
- Sweet corn
- Basil
- Zucchini
- Parsley
- Pumpkin
- Tomatoes