BY STANLEY LONGWORTH – HORTICULTURIST, SYDNEY’S PLANT MARKET
As nature awakens from its winter slumber, breathe new life into your garden! With the promise of vibrant blooms and bountiful harvests, dive into a series of essential spring gardening tasks that will set the stage for a flourishing summer.
Fertilising is critical in your gardening routine. Boost your plants by feeding them well —including your lawn, hungry fruits and vegetables, and roses, gardenias, and hibiscus. Strong nourishment now will ensure they thrive in the warmer months ahead.
Once you’ve fed your garden, re-mulch your beds to suppress weeds and preserve moisture during the heat of summer.
Give your hedges a proper haircut. Most hedging plants (aside from conifers) can withstand a good pruning back to old wood, and will recover rapidly. For flowering shrubs, prune them as soon as they finish blooming. This ensures they maintain their shape and encourages healthy new growth.
Now is the time to re-pot your cymbidium orchids using a specialised potting mix. Tend to your indoor plants as well—trim away any dead or yellow leaves, give them a wash, and a good feed. If your lawn needs some love, consider laying new sod or renovating patchy areas. This is the perfect moment to plant vibrant summer annuals such as petunias, torenias, salvias, and begonias, adding splashes of colour to your outdoor space.
As temperatures rise, make sure to reprogram your irrigation timers and check your watering lines for functionality. This ensures your garden will receive the hydration it needs to thrive.
For those considering new shrubs and trees, don’t delay! Planting them now allows ample time for roots to establish before the heat sets in.
Spring into action in the veggie patch! Plant summer vegetables including tomatoes, capsicums, chillies, cucumbers, and eggplants. If space permits, consider adding zucchini, pumpkins, sweet corn, and melons. To cloak an unsightly shed or fence, try choko or passionfruit vines.
There’s a stunning array of blooms that thrive in spring. Embrace Australian natives like waratahs, kangaroo paws, and bottlebrush, which are all in flower now. Additionally, traditional favourites such as wisteria, jasmine, and bearded iris will bring beauty and colour to your garden.
This spring, roll up your sleeves and embrace the joy of gardening. With these essential tips, your garden will flourish, providing you with beauty and bounty throughout the summer months!
