Prepping Your Trees And Garden For Spring
Everyone is looking forward to warmer weather - including the plants and trees in your garden!
Spring is a time of transformation and by doing a little prepping in the garden during the last weeks of winter, you can get it ready for the most spectacular new season ever.
So, spring into action with these five tips from an expert in tree care in Perth and get your garden in tip-top shape for the growing season:
1. Spread the love with fertiliser
Apply a quality slow-release fertiliser to all trees and shrubs. This will help to replace nutrients that may have been washed away during the rainy season and will also encourage strong, healthy growth. The stronger the plant, the greater its ability to resist diseases, attack from pests and the ravages of extreme heat and wind.
Tip: Fertilisers aren’t all the same and what is right for one plant may not necessary suit another. For example, a blend of both slow-release and liquid fertilisers will give flowering plants the boost they need, but acid-loving plants like camellias need a specially formulated product. Ask your garden centre or tree care expert for recommendations.
2. Make the most of mulch
Apply a layer of mulch to your garden beds and containers in late winter. It needs to be at least 5cm thick to do its job properly. Mulching is important for moisture retention, suppressing weeds, regulating the temperature of the soil and improving the soil’s nutrient-holding capacity - plus it makes the garden look neat and tidy too! There are also many different kinds of mulch, so it’s best to talk to your local garden expert to find what’s right for you.
Tip: Keep mulch away from the trunks of the trees. If a ‘volcano’ of mulch builds up around the base, it may smother the roots and create a breeding ground for diseases and pests.
3. Be a garden ‘inspector’
Have a wander around your garden to see if any damage has been done over the winter. Look for areas where there is poor drainage, exposed roots, evidence of pests etc. It is really important to look closely at the trees in your garden too. They are valuable assets to your property (and to the planet) and they need a little extra care to thrive.
Tip: If you are concerned about any tree, it’s worthwhile talking to a professional arborist. It may seem like an extreme move, but early intervention from a professional can be the difference between saving or losing an important asset.
4. Shape up for the new season
Winter is a good time to prune shrubs and trees to get them in the best shape for the growing season. Many trees are deciduous and once they’ve shed their leaves for winter, you can easily see which branches need to be trimmed to achieve the optimum shape. Also remove any branches that look diseased or damaged.
Tip: Pruning is an art as well as a science and you should follow the proper technique to promote fast, healthy regrowth in spring. Again, if you’re concerned about safety or aesthetics, you should consult a professional arborist.
5. Treat your garden to new trees
Early spring is the ideal time to plant a new tree. Your choice of tree will depend on your own personal preferences, space constraints, local climatic conditions, the type of soil etc. Ask your local garden centre for recommendations.
Tip: A tree can be an asset to your property, but to ensure its health and longevity, you need to make the right choice of tree, make sure it’s planted properly in the first place and give it some TLC year-after-year.
These tips on prepping your trees and garden for spring come from leading arborists in Perth, Dickie’s Trees. The company has over 30 years’ experience and specialises in all professional tree services including tree lopping, tree removal, tree stump grinding and power line clearance. They also deliver mulch and prune trees. For any information on professional tree services in Perth or for help getting your garden in ship-shape for spring, get in touch with them on 08 9240 6304 or through their website https://www.dickiestrees.com.au.
Spring is a time of transformation and by doing a little prepping in the garden during the last weeks of winter, you can get it ready for the most spectacular new season ever.
So, spring into action with these five tips from an expert in tree care in Perth and get your garden in tip-top shape for the growing season:
1. Spread the love with fertiliser
Apply a quality slow-release fertiliser to all trees and shrubs. This will help to replace nutrients that may have been washed away during the rainy season and will also encourage strong, healthy growth. The stronger the plant, the greater its ability to resist diseases, attack from pests and the ravages of extreme heat and wind.
Tip: Fertilisers aren’t all the same and what is right for one plant may not necessary suit another. For example, a blend of both slow-release and liquid fertilisers will give flowering plants the boost they need, but acid-loving plants like camellias need a specially formulated product. Ask your garden centre or tree care expert for recommendations.
2. Make the most of mulch
Apply a layer of mulch to your garden beds and containers in late winter. It needs to be at least 5cm thick to do its job properly. Mulching is important for moisture retention, suppressing weeds, regulating the temperature of the soil and improving the soil’s nutrient-holding capacity - plus it makes the garden look neat and tidy too! There are also many different kinds of mulch, so it’s best to talk to your local garden expert to find what’s right for you.
Tip: Keep mulch away from the trunks of the trees. If a ‘volcano’ of mulch builds up around the base, it may smother the roots and create a breeding ground for diseases and pests.
3. Be a garden ‘inspector’
Have a wander around your garden to see if any damage has been done over the winter. Look for areas where there is poor drainage, exposed roots, evidence of pests etc. It is really important to look closely at the trees in your garden too. They are valuable assets to your property (and to the planet) and they need a little extra care to thrive.
Tip: If you are concerned about any tree, it’s worthwhile talking to a professional arborist. It may seem like an extreme move, but early intervention from a professional can be the difference between saving or losing an important asset.
4. Shape up for the new season
Winter is a good time to prune shrubs and trees to get them in the best shape for the growing season. Many trees are deciduous and once they’ve shed their leaves for winter, you can easily see which branches need to be trimmed to achieve the optimum shape. Also remove any branches that look diseased or damaged.
Tip: Pruning is an art as well as a science and you should follow the proper technique to promote fast, healthy regrowth in spring. Again, if you’re concerned about safety or aesthetics, you should consult a professional arborist.
5. Treat your garden to new trees
Early spring is the ideal time to plant a new tree. Your choice of tree will depend on your own personal preferences, space constraints, local climatic conditions, the type of soil etc. Ask your local garden centre for recommendations.
Tip: A tree can be an asset to your property, but to ensure its health and longevity, you need to make the right choice of tree, make sure it’s planted properly in the first place and give it some TLC year-after-year.
These tips on prepping your trees and garden for spring come from leading arborists in Perth, Dickie’s Trees. The company has over 30 years’ experience and specialises in all professional tree services including tree lopping, tree removal, tree stump grinding and power line clearance. They also deliver mulch and prune trees. For any information on professional tree services in Perth or for help getting your garden in ship-shape for spring, get in touch with them on 08 9240 6304 or through their website https://www.dickiestrees.com.au.
