Revitalise Your Garden: Spring Gardening Essentials

As nature awakens from its winter slumber, September and October present the perfect opportunity to breathe new life into your garden. With the promise of vibrant blooms and bountiful harvests, it’s time to dive into a series of essential spring gardening tasks that will set the stage for a flourishing summer.

Nourish Your Garden

With everything bursting into growth, fertilisation becomes a critical step in your gardening routine. Give your plants a boost by feeding them well—this includes not only your lawn but also those hungry fruits and vegetables, along with roses, gardenias, and hibiscus. Strong nourishment now will ensure they thrive in the warmer months ahead.

Once you’ve fed your garden, consider re-mulching your garden beds. Fresh mulch not only suppresses weeds but also acts as a protective layer for the soil, preserving moisture during the heat of summer.

Tame Your Hedges and Shrubs

As the growing season kicks off, it’s time to give your hedges a proper haircut. If they’ve grown too tall or wide, this is the ideal moment for a trim, allowing for rapid recovery. Most hedging plants, aside from conifers, can withstand a good pruning back to old wood.

For flowering shrubs, a simple rule of thumb is to prune them as soon as they finish blooming. This practice ensures they maintain their shape and encourages healthy new growth.

Potting and Planting

For those with a passion for orchids, now is the time to re-pot your cymbidium orchids using a specialised potting mix. Don’t forget to tend to your indoor plants as well—trim away any dead or yellow leaves, give them a wash, and provide them with a nourishing feed.

If your lawn needs some love, consider laying new sod or renovating patchy areas. Additionally, 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.

Irrigation and Establishment

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 as the best time is in Autumn! Planting them now allows ample time for roots to establish before the heat sets in.

Veggie Patch Alert

Spring is the season for action in the veggie patch! Plant a variety of summer vegetables, including tomatoes, capsicums, chillies, cucumbers, and eggplants. If space permits, consider adding zucchini, pumpkins, sweet corn, and melons to your garden mix. For a creative touch, passionfruit or choko vines can beautifully cloak an unsightly shed or fence.

Celebrate Spring Blooms

As you venture into planting, don’t overlook the 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!

Stanley Longworth 

Sydney's Plant Market 

Horticulturist