spring action plan

Time to plant:

Annuals – Petunia, snapdragon, alyssum

Herbs – Dill, basil, marjoram

Veges – Eggplant, lettuce, tomato

Perennials – Osteospermum, lavender, Federation daisy

Climbers – Jasminum polyanthum, star jasmine

Natives – Kangaroo paw, tea tree, lilly pilly

To do’s:

Prune wisteria

Keep growth under control without loosing the beautiful flower blooms by removing any spindly growth but leaving those that have fat flower buds that will bloom in spring.

Throw the compost around

Dig around the bottom of your compost bin or heap and use the rich, dark brown soil on your garden to give your plants a good kick-start.

Bye bye bulbs

Remove any of the dead flower heads left on your bulbs but leave the foliage to yellow and die down, this will feed the bulb for the next flowering season.

Divide perennials

Dig up and divide perennials such as agapanthus, ajuga and chrysanthemums for better growth and flowering, it will also stop your clumps looking straggly.

Tip prune

Snip off the new top growth of your plants to make them thicker and to create more stems for lush foliage and colourful blooms.

Pest watch

Keep checking all your plants for pests, as this is the time they descend. Control them by removing, squashing or spraying as soon as they appear so they don’t have a chance to breed.

Lush lawns

Top-dress your lawn with a premium topdressing for an even surface. Follow with a complete fertiliser like Water Smart Slow Release Lawn Food or No.17 Lawn Food.

Weeds beware

Pull out all weeds as they appear so they don’t have time to flower and set seed which will create more weeds in your garden.

Buzz off

Stop mosquitoes breeding by keeping containers under pots free of water and turn any unused pots or containers upside down so they don’t collect rainwater.  

Feed trees

Make some holes with a pitch fork around the roots of your trees and fill with fertiliser. Add an extra sprinkle on the surface and water it in.

Tough Agapanthus

Agapanthus are not fussy about what soil they grow in, they can withstand coastal situations and even the occasional flood and frost. Plant them in containers on hot, sunny balconies, verandahs and patios for a tall floral display. When it comes time to divide them you can be brutal. Dig them up and simply split the fleshy roots into sections with an axe or shovel, tidy up the roots with some secateurs and replant in a sunny spot.

 

Related articles:

September, October, November
June gardening guide
March, April, May
June, July, August
Winter wonders
Autumn - time to: buy now, sow and plant guide
Autumn bulbs and winter colour