Get your garden spring ready

Spring is in the air! Trees are blossoming, delicate green leaves are beginning to make an appearance, nests are being built and the days are getting longer. Spring is always welcome, particularly after a hard, cold 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, hungry birds (and possibly snow) 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.  Dethatch or verti-cut your lawn, that is to remove the zone of dead grass roots that builds up below the soil surface. This process rips into the grass vertically, tearing into the roots and cutting them vertically, leaving a lot of roots intact to immediately start growing. 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. August 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 braai area 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.

If vegetables are your thing, now is the time to start planting beetroot, baby marrows, carrots, parsley, rhubarb, runner beans, sweet corn and pumpkins amongst many other summer type vegetables.

If you are unsure about which plants, vegetables and/or flowers you should plant in August, simply speak to your local nursery which should be able to guide you accordingly. Lastly, it’s always a good idea to try as far as possible to plant indigenous plants and ensure that they are well watered.