The shortest day has been and gone. Dare you start thinking about spending glorious warm days in your outdoor room looking out over your beautiful spring garden? We think so! The prospect of opening your louvre shutters and taking in the wonderful sights of nature right there in your backyard should inspire you to get your garden ready for spring. Here are a few simple things you can do right now to prepare.
- Let the rain sink in. While you might have received plenty of rain already this winter, soil that has dried out over summer can actually become water-repellent (hydrophobic). This means your garden isn’t reaping the full rewards of all that glorious water. Look for water pooling on the surface of your lawn and garden - this can be a sign that they need help to let the rain sink in. A soil wetting agent and seaweed-based additives will help. You can also remove autumn leaves as they act as a barrier and stop the rain from getting to the soil where it’s needed most.
- Do some weeding. You might not like getting out on a winter’s day to remove weeds, but your spring garden will thank you for it. Weeds can mature and become set in your garden at this time of year, and they’ll strip the soil of nutrients as a result - your spring plants will miss out on all that nutrition and won’t thrive. Hand weeding is best as it will ensure you can take out the weeds roots and all.
- Prune, prune and prune. This is another job best done at this time of year to help you create a lovely, colourful garden heading into spring and summer. Rose pruning is vital, and once you’ve completed that task, apply a seaweed-based soil conditioner; this will help with future drought tolerance and pest and disease control, and help you manage current risks like frost. Hydrangeas and young deciduous trees can also benefit from pruning during winter.
- Don’t forget your veggies. Your vegetable garden should also be attended to at this time. Dig plenty of compost into the soil ready to boost nutrition for spring planting. You can soon plant cauliflower, broccoli, Chinese vegetables and certain lettuce varieties once the compost has broken down, with other types of produce ready to be planted in warmer weather. It’s also the best time to prune your fruit trees.
These simple tips will help you do the groundwork for a beautiful, healthy and abundant spring garden. The best way to enjoy that garden is from the comfort of your stylish outdoor entertainment area, and we can help you with that. Contact us to discuss all the spectacular options.