Spring and garden are buzzing!

In spring, gardens are filled with new growth, flowers and tasty produce. Birds and insects are busy visiting flowers to pollinate.

To keep the garden happy and healthy, pay attention to regular watering, fertilising and maintenance such as deadheading. It’s also time to plant ahead for a bountiful supply of fresh vegetables for summer and gifts from the garden.

Caring for spring-flowering bulbs

Enjoy the beautiful flowers on spring bulbs and then give the plants the care they need to reward you again next year.

During this month, spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, narcissus, Dutch iris and hyacinths are finishing their floral show but building a store of nutrients in the bulb for next year’s growth.

Remove spent flower stems and the feed bulbs while they are actively growing in spring. Then allow them to die back naturally in late spring. For massed bulbs, scatter a pelletised fertiliser such as Seasol plus Nutrients Roses & Flowers.

For smaller plantings or containers, use either a pelletised fertiliser or liquid feed with PowerFeed PRO SERIES Roses & Flowers.

Bring in the pollinators

Encouraging beneficial insects such as pollinators and predators to gardens ensures good fruit set and healthy plants.

Pollinators include honeybees, native bees, wasps and other insects. There are also a host of insects that eat and control pest insects, including ladybirds and their larvae, wasps and spiders.

Planting flowers that offer lots of nectar is an ideal way to attract these good guys to the garden.

Plants that help feed beneficial insects include herbs such as borage (Borago officinalis), rosemary, flowers such as salvias, calendula, lavender and daisies, and some weeds such as dandelions.

Starting a lawn from seed

Spring is a great time to start a new lawn using seed or to patch bare spots.

For success, prepare the area well.

• First, remove weeds by hand or with a spade and then rake over the soil to remove clods.
• Apply Seasol Super Soil Improver hose-on to boost soil health, and water the area well.
• Next, rake for a level surface and to create a surface to hold the seeds. Broadcast seed evenly.
• Then rake again to lightly cover the seeds. Water well using Seasol Lawn & Turf Starter to improve seed germination and strong root development.
• After, water the soil well and keep it moist at all times. Do not overwater the soil as the seeds may not germinate.
• Avoid walking on the seed bed and, if necessary, deter birds that may feed on the seeds. This can be done with netting or bird scarer tape.

Laying lawn seed

Start by selecting a seed mix that is appropriate for your garden, ensuring you have enough seed for the entire area. To achieve a uniform lawn, use the same seed mix throughout. To determine how much seed you need, estimate the size of your lawn and check the seed pack for its coverage information.

You can expect the seeds to germinate and sprout in approximately seven to ten days. After germination, it takes around five to six weeks for the lawn to establish itself. During this time, apply Seasol Lawn & Turf Starter weekly for the next six weeks to enhance seed germination rates, promote strong root development, and encourage healthy growth.

Once your lawn is growing, it will need additional feeding to achieve a lush, green appearance. Use Seasol for Lush Green Lawns, which not only feeds and revitalises your lawn but also conditions the soil, benefiting both the surface and the roots. Safe on all lawn types including Buffalo. 

For more information, check out our laying lawn seed guide.

Five important jobs for mid-spring

1. Top up mulches and plant groundcovers to cover bare soil to reduce weeds. Mix Seasol Organic* Worm Fertiliser into the soil when planting to improve soil health and aid plant establishment.
2. Clean and refill bird baths to encourage native birds into your green space.
3. Step up watering as temperatures increase and check that water is going down into the soil. Apply a soil wetter such as Seasol Super Soil Wetter & Conditioner if you find water pools on top or running off the soil.
4. Train climbing plants and roses onto trellises, and ensure they are properly tied in. Prune any dead or diseased foliage to keep your plants looking good.
5. Repot potted plants to give them a new lease of life with a premium potting mix such as Seasol Advanced Potting Mix.

Did you know this about tomatoes?

While most of the fruit we eat is pollinated by insects such as bees, tomatoes rely on vibration for good fertilisation. This is known as buzz fertilisation.

Vibration is needed to release pollen within the flower. Tomato flowers have anthers (pollen-producing parts) with small pores at the tip. The pollen is trapped inside these anthers and needs to be shaken loose, which is what buzz-pollinating bees do.

Honeybees can spread pollen very efficiently, but don’t perform buzz pollination. This is done by bumblebees (found only in Australia, specifically in Tasmania), some solitary native bees, such as blue-banded bees, and also by the wind. To mimic the buzz of a bee, vibrate tomato plants in flower with an electric toothbrush!

Tomatoes also need fertilisation to support fruit production, such as PowerFeed PRO Series for Tomatoes & Vegetables. Apply weekly during the flowering and fruiting season for optimal fruit formation and tasty produce.

Watch out for aphids

Soft new spring growth can bring in unwanted pests such as aphids. Keep an eye out for clusters of aphids on new growth, particularly on roses and citrus. As they feed, aphids damage plants and spread viral disease.

To control squash or wash them off with a jet of water from the hose. Alternatively, control them with a natural spray such as Earthcare White Oil insect spray.

Always take a careful look at the pests before applying any form of control to look for natural predators, including ladybirds and their larvae.

If ladybirds are present, that may be all the control that’s needed. Some small birds also feed on aphids.