8 Essential Tasks for a Thriving Spring Garden

It’s time to rejuvenate your garden and prepare it for spring, the season of growth and beauty. As the weather warms and daylight increases, there are lots of things you can do in the backyard to ensure your garden’s success heading into spring and summer.

1. Clean Up Your Garden

Give your garden a good spring clean-up. Remove fallen leaves and any garden debris that accumulated over autumn and winter to help prevent pests and diseases from taking hold. Once the risk of frost has passed, prune back any dead or damaged stems and foliage to promote healthy new growth.

2. Prepare Your Soil

Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden. So, nourish and improve the soil by adding plenty of compost and organic matter to garden beds. Most plants prefer a pH between 6 and 7. If your soil pH is off it can have an effect on the availability of nutrients and plant growth. You can assess the pH of your soil with a simple home testing kit and adjust it using lime to raise pH or sulfur to lower pH.

3. Plan and Plant

Spring is an ideal time to plan your garden layout and start planting. Remember to choose the right plant for the right place and take advantage of the warmer growing conditions. Spring is a busy season in the kitchen garden, so once the risk of frost has passed in your area you can start planting delicious warm season vegetables like tomatoes, capsicums, eggplants, sweet corn and chillies for garden -inspired dishes all summer long. It’s also a great time to create a potted herb garden filled with all of your favourite BBQ herbs. Grow Rosemary and Thyme for tasty marinades or spice up summer salads with Mint, Chives and Basil. Brighten pots and hanging baskets for the entertaining season with vibrant spring and summer flowering annuals. Fill sunny pots with spectacular petunias, snapdragons, marigolds or vincas and brighten shady areas with colouful impatiens.

4. Mulch and Water

Applying a layer of mulch around your plants will help to retain moisture, keep weeds at bay, and regulate the soil temperature. Organic mulches like pea straw, lucerne or woody mulches decompose over time, and in doing so, nourish and improve the soil. Make sure your garden is getting adequate water through the warmer months ahead and keep the water up to new plants until they are well established. It’s best to water deeply and infrequently to encourage strong root development.

5. Fertilise and Feed

There is a frenzy of new growth in the garden in spring, so now’s the perfect time to give plants a boost with a good feed. Look out for a complete fertiliser that promotes vigorous, healthy growth and masses of stunning flowers. If time is lacking try one of the controlled release fertilisers that delivers nutrients to your plants for up to 6 months or liquid feed every two weeks for fast results. There are even fertilisers that are tailormade to particular plants, like Azaleas & Camellia food, which is designed specifically for acid loving plants or native plant fertilisers, which are low in phosphorous.

6. Pest and Weed Control

Monitor your garden regularly for signs of pests and weeds. Early intervention is key to preventing problems from escalating. Beneficial bugs like ladybirds and lacewings like to feed on aphids and other garden pests, so they can help you to manage pest problems naturally.  Encourage beneficial insects into the garden with flowering plants like marigolds and borage or strongly scented beauties like lavender, catmint, geranium. Get on tops of weeds while they are young and before they set seed. Weeds are easier to pull out, root system and all, after it rains.

7. Maintain Garden Tools

Ensure your gardening tools are in good working order. Clean, sharpen, and oil tools to extend their lifespan and improve their efficiency. Properly maintained tools make gardening tasks easier and more enjoyable.

8. Enjoy Your Garden

Finally, take the time to enjoy your garden. Observe the new growth, listen to the birds, and appreciate the beauty of nature. Gardening is not just about work; it’s also about relaxation and connecting with the natural world.

By following these essential spring gardening tasks, you’ll set the stage for a productive and beautiful garden all season long.