Spring Gardening Tips
By HOUSPECT Building and Pest Inspections|January 23, 2020
If you are itching to start your spring gardening after the long winter, the wait is over. It is time to get your tools together and your green thumbs at the ready. Spring has arrived and there is work to be done.
Weed the Garden
Weeds wait for no one, so make this your first chore of the new spring. Getting rid of weeds early to avoid ending up with heavier weeding work in the summer is always a good strategy.
Fertiliser Time
If your soil quality suffers due to clay content, the soft sulphate mineral gypsum is an ideal additive. Once you have treated your soil, the next task is to use a high quality fertiliser. Alternatively, you can create your own fertiliser that is rich in nutrients by starting a compost heap. While it is important to fertilise for planting, it is equally important to also fertilise your lawn!
Apply Mulch
Despite what winter may have led you to believe, you still live in New South Wales. Your garden is going to need some help retaining water. Organic mulch is great for keeping the soil but can also keep weeds at bay.
Lawn Care
Good lawn care should involve both weeding and aerating the soil. Compacted soil is less porous and doesn’t allow for great water penetration. Root systems can suffer if a lawn is not aerating after winter. There are three steps to follow: Weed the lawn, aerate and then apply fertiliser. It is also a good idea to reseed in any dead spots where the lawn has suffered irreparable damage over winter.
Planting
You should aim to start planting by around the end of September. However, this is not a hard-and-fast rule. Always check the instructions for best practice when you buy seeds – especially for a species that is new to your garden. Taking cuttings from your favourite plants is also a great way to expand your garden in time for summer.
Have you eaten your Veggies?
If you have never grown veggies before, this year is as good a time as any to start. Leave space in your garden for veggie plots, or you can use planter boxes to maximize available space. Start simple and allow your veggie garden to grow as your learn. There is plenty of reliable information on growing veggies available online or at the local nursery.
Sort out the Garden Shed
Unless you run a perfectly organized garden shed, you will have noticed by this stage that finding things in the shed is a chore. If so, it is time to organize your garden shed so you can enjoy dedicating more of your time this spring to gardening. When space is a challenge, consider getting rid of your old or less used tools – or, of course, you could invest in a larger shed!
Pest Control
Don’t allow pests to undo all your good work in the garden this spring. If you are worried about contaminating your veggie garden or damaging plants, you needn’t fret. There are plenty of high quality and reliable natural pesticides that won’t leave a bad taste in your mouth.
Bring out Summer Furniture
Now that you have started spring gardening, you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labour. For that, you will need to take any necessary furniture out of storage. Always thoroughly clean furniture that has been stored over the winter. Wear protective gloves and make sure to watch out for any nasty critters or pests!
If you are planning any major garden renovations in New South Wales this spring or summer, enquire about building inspection needs by giving Houspect a call today.
Weed the Garden
Weeds wait for no one, so make this your first chore of the new spring. Getting rid of weeds early to avoid ending up with heavier weeding work in the summer is always a good strategy.
Fertiliser Time
If your soil quality suffers due to clay content, the soft sulphate mineral gypsum is an ideal additive. Once you have treated your soil, the next task is to use a high quality fertiliser. Alternatively, you can create your own fertiliser that is rich in nutrients by starting a compost heap. While it is important to fertilise for planting, it is equally important to also fertilise your lawn!
Apply Mulch
Despite what winter may have led you to believe, you still live in New South Wales. Your garden is going to need some help retaining water. Organic mulch is great for keeping the soil but can also keep weeds at bay.
Lawn Care
Good lawn care should involve both weeding and aerating the soil. Compacted soil is less porous and doesn’t allow for great water penetration. Root systems can suffer if a lawn is not aerating after winter. There are three steps to follow: Weed the lawn, aerate and then apply fertiliser. It is also a good idea to reseed in any dead spots where the lawn has suffered irreparable damage over winter.
Planting
You should aim to start planting by around the end of September. However, this is not a hard-and-fast rule. Always check the instructions for best practice when you buy seeds – especially for a species that is new to your garden. Taking cuttings from your favourite plants is also a great way to expand your garden in time for summer.
Have you eaten your Veggies?
If you have never grown veggies before, this year is as good a time as any to start. Leave space in your garden for veggie plots, or you can use planter boxes to maximize available space. Start simple and allow your veggie garden to grow as your learn. There is plenty of reliable information on growing veggies available online or at the local nursery.
Sort out the Garden Shed
Unless you run a perfectly organized garden shed, you will have noticed by this stage that finding things in the shed is a chore. If so, it is time to organize your garden shed so you can enjoy dedicating more of your time this spring to gardening. When space is a challenge, consider getting rid of your old or less used tools – or, of course, you could invest in a larger shed!
Pest Control
Don’t allow pests to undo all your good work in the garden this spring. If you are worried about contaminating your veggie garden or damaging plants, you needn’t fret. There are plenty of high quality and reliable natural pesticides that won’t leave a bad taste in your mouth.
Bring out Summer Furniture
Now that you have started spring gardening, you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labour. For that, you will need to take any necessary furniture out of storage. Always thoroughly clean furniture that has been stored over the winter. Wear protective gloves and make sure to watch out for any nasty critters or pests!
If you are planning any major garden renovations in New South Wales this spring or summer, enquire about building inspection needs by giving Houspect a call today.
