Yeah, it’s spring, enjoy the warmth as you garden!
Although spring brings a rush of joy to the hearts of all gardeners it can be a topsy turvy season that swings from warm to cold.
However, as September gets going it brings lots of rewards and plenty of time to get outdoors and enjoy your garden. It is the reward for planting, tending and nurturing your garden as it bursts into spring growth.
Find the hose
One of the first tasks of spring, especially after a cold wet winter, is to find the hose! Yes, sudden bursts of warm weather and lots of new growth mean gardens are in need of regular watering.
Check that watering systems are working well. Look for blockages, broken emitters and cracks or holes in pipes and repair or replace as needed. Pay particular attention to new plantings which may be out of reach of the watering system and need extra piping or emitters to ensure they are well watered.
Also, check that water is going down into the soil when watering. If you see it pooling on top or running off the soil, it could be hydrophobic – repelling water. Applying a soil wetter like Seasol Super Soil Wetter & Conditioner will help to ensure water penetrates down to where it’s needed, the plant’s root system.
Get feeding
Spring is also the time to give the entire garden, including the lawn, vegies, flowering and native plants and established trees, a good feed with an all-purpose garden fertiliser such as PowerFeed All Purpose including Natives. It’s also ideal for Aussie natives, as it’s low in phosphorus.
PowerFeed is a fast-acting liquid that goes to work immediately when applied via a watering can (50mL concentrate per 9 litres of water) or use the ready-to-use hose-on. Simply attach it to your hose, and it will treat 100 square metres of lawn or garden.
If you prefer to use a granular fertiliser, use Seasol plus Nutrient All Purpose including Natives every 6 to 8 weeks.. For an established garden, spread 100 grams per square metre and water in thoroughly after application. For ease of use, the best time to feed the garden with granular fertiliser is just before rain is forecast to wash it in.
Spring citrus care
That heady fragrance in the garden is probably from the flowers in bloom on backyard citrus, including oranges and lemons. Spring, when citrus are flowering and starting to set tiny fruit, is a critical time to care for these trees.
To keep citrus healthy and productive, remove weeds from around the base of trees and top up organic mulches to deter future weed growth. Feed trees every two to four weeks with a complete citrus food such as PowerFeed PRO SERIES for Fruit & Citrus. Apply to the soil out to the edge of the tree’s canopy. It’s also ideal for potted citrus.
Keep trees well-watered regularly throughout spring and as fruit matures in summer to ensure good fruit production. Erratic watering or allowing trees to dry out can lead to fruit drop, as can exposure to cold winds.
Citrus fruit formation
Expect some fruit drop to occur even with good care. This is normal if crops are heavy. Shelter trees from cold winds to improve fruit set and tree health, and harvest fruit as soon as it’s ripe to allow the tree to put more energy into more fruit.
As well as forming fruit, citrus also produces tender new growth, which is highly attractive to the citrus leaf miner. Affected leaves carry distinctive wriggly lines caused by the feeding of small insects in the leaves. Prevent damage by spraying new growth with a horticultural oil such as EarthCare White Oil insect spray. Always remember to spray both sides of the foliage and repeat 14 days later if necessary. Do not spray when beneficial insects are around.
Badly damaged growth can be trimmed off, bagged and binned. Spray new shoots as they appear.
Five important jobs for early spring
- Apply Seasol to new plantings, including seedlings, to reduce transplant shock and allow roots to grow and get established.
- Feed roses and flowering plants with PowerFeed PRO SERIES for Roses & Flowers to encourage lots of strong new growth and beautiful blooms.
- Although it seems early, review your bushfire plan and work on tidying gardens and removing fire hazards, especially along fence lines.
- Clean up debris and leaves from lawns from winter storms and apply Seasol Lawn Care to enhance lawn and soil health for lush green foliage.
- Walk around your green space and make a list of spring jobs to be completed. If you have a few spare spots in your garden, check out your local hardware or garden centre.
Vegetables to plant in spring
Even non-gardeners are gripped with spring fever and the urge to plant something in the garden or even in a pot on the balcony, or a herb garden by a window. Spring is an ideal time to try your hand at vegetable growing, and given the high cost of living, growing your own vegies makes good economic sense, plus the taste is yummy.
Vegetables to be planted now include tomatoes (cherry tomatoes are good for new gardeners), beans (try dwarf or bush beans in containers), cucumbers, potatoes, sweetcorn, pumpkin, zucchini, lettuce, silverbeet and herbs such as basil, parsley or rosemary.
When setting up your vegie garden, ensure you pick a location with at least six hours of sun and use a premium potting mix like Seasol Advanced Potting Mix.
Planting out vegetables
If your area is warm and frost-free, sow seeds or plant seedlings into prepared garden beds or containers. If your part of the world is still cold or experiences late frosts, delay planting out into the garden until next month.
To get a head start, sow seeds of frost-tender plants such as tomatoes in containers in a warm, sheltered location (such as a greenhouse) and transplant seedlings into individual pots. In all areas, be prepared to protect frost-sensitive vegetables in garden beds if cold conditions return.
When planting, give each plant lots of space to grow and keep new seedlings regularly watered. Where birds, insects, possums or other backyard visitors are likely to see the vegetable garden as a smorgasbord, cover new plantings with bird-safe netting to keep them safe while they establish roots. Water plants in with Seasol and follow up with regular liquid feeding every 7 to 10 days with PowerFeed PRO SERIES for Tomatoes & Vegetables.
