The days are getting longer, but the weather still feels cold and wintry. Signs of spring are appearing with beautiful daffodils, jonquils and golden wattle blooms. Be ready when spring bursts into life with these ‘7 Steps to Prepare the Garden for Spring’.

Step 1 – Assess your winter garden

Enjoy the beauty of your garden as you wander through it and observe any changes that are needed.

• Start to clean up winter damage, rake leaves, deadhead flowers and sweep paths and driveways.
• Look closer at what’s thriving and what may be struggling and try to determine the reasons for success, or failure. Common reasons plants fail over winter are that the location is too exposed to cold conditions, too wet, or lacking moisture (for instance under the eaves or wind exposed).
• Identify empty spaces and consider what you could plant there. Ideals include a shade tree for summer comfort or flowering annuals to add instant colour to a dull space.
• Create a list of tasks to do once the weather gets warmer.

Step 2 – Prepare the soil for Spring planting

It’s the perfect time to give your soil some TLC and rejuvenate it ready for spring planting and lush growth.

• Remove weeds, dead plants, and debris that may have appeared over winter.
• Put your hands deep into the soil and assess its condition:
  • Is it too dry even though it’s rained? It could be repelling water and need an application of soil wetter, such as Seasol Super Soil Wetter & Conditioner.
  • Is it too wet and plants are suffering? Check that the water drains correctly, and if not, look at ways to improve it. It may need extra drainage or raised garden beds.
  •  Is the soil too compacted? Can you move your hands through it? Compacted soil means water, air, and nutrients don’t reach the plant roots. digging organic manure, homemade compost, and/or Seasol Super Compost will help to improve its health and structure.
• Plants take a lot of nutrients out of the soil each season, so rejuvenate the soil by adding organic matter such as well-rotted manure and homemade compost and/or Seasol Liquid Compost. This no-dig option helps to improves worm and microbe activity.

Step 3 – Prepare the lawn for lush, green growth

Give the lawn care now to ensure it can spring into lush green growth for family and friends to enjoy over the warmer months.

• Inspect the lawn by raking it to remove leaves and debris that may block sunlight. Raking the lawn also removes unwanted thatch.
• Soil under lawn can become compacted over winter. To aerate small areas, use a fork; for larger areas, hire a coring machine to get water, air, and nutrients back into the soil. Apply Seasol Lawn + Soil Booster to improve lawn and soil health, and water it in thoroughly after application.
• As you water the lawn, ensure the water is soaking in and not pooling on top or running off. If it’s not absorbing, apply Seasol Super Soil Wetter & Conditioner to help the soil retain water.
• Apply Seasol Lawn Care to your lawn every couple of weeks to give your lawn a boost and promote healthy growth.
• Service the lawn mower to get it ready for the busy season ahead. Now is the perfect time to get it to the lawn centre before it gets too busy.

Step 4 – Prepare plants for beautiful spring growth

The winter weather and chill can damage your garden, so give it some TLC for beautiful spring growth.

• Clean up the areas around your plants. Remove dead foliage and prune away any diseased foliage to prevent it from spreading. This will also provide your plants with some breathing space.
• Finish winter pruning. Deciduous trees, roses, shrubs, and vines benefit from a good prune to encourage a burst of healthy new growth.
• Trim back overhanging foliage from pathways, driveways and garden beds to let the sun in.
• Give plants a complete garden health treatment with Seasol Plant + Soil Booster to prepare them for the growth period ahead.
• Remove weeds and add more mulch to retain soil moisture and warmth and to deter weed growth.
• Check, maintain, and repair garden tools. Clean and sharpen them ready for spring.

Step 5 – Rejuvenate pot plants

Low light and cold, wet conditions can impact potted plants, so it’s important to give them extra care to keep them looking good for spring.

• Carefully inspect all your pots for spring maintenance. Look for plants that are pot-bound and in need of a larger pot once warmer weather arrives.
• Ensure pots are in the right position to receive winter light and sun. If necessary, move them to a lighter or sunnier spot.
• Remove any damaged or diseased foliage. If plants have died, remove the dead plants and try to determine the cause. Were the roots saturated or too dry? Empty out the old potting mix, clean the pot and refill with fresh mix before replanting.
• Dust the leaves of indoor and balcony plants with a damp cloth to ensure the pores are open and free to breathe.
• Keep an eye out for pests and use EarthCare White Oil insect spray before they become a problem. This will also give the leaves a nice shine.
• Give your plant’s health a boost with Seasol Pots & Plants. A convenient ready-to-use trigger spray that is easy to apply to the potting mix.
• Check the potting mix and note which pots need topping up or replacing in spring. You can revitalise the potting mix with Seasol Potting Mix Booster, which adds beneficial microbes to extend the life of the soil mix.

Step 6 – Get ready for the change of seasons in the vegie patch

As we’re getting ready to welcome spring, here are some tips to get your vegie patch ready for the change of seasons:

• Harvest any remaining winter produce to enjoy their best flavours.
• Say goodbye to plants that have finished producing, and if they’re diseased, dispose of them in the rubbish bin.
• Take care of your soil using Seasol Biochar with Zeolite. It helps to replenish nutrients and promote a healthy environment for your plants. It promotes microbial activity, improving water-holding capacity and nutrient retention.
• Keep an eye on soil moisture and use Seasol Super Soil Wetter & Conditioner if needed to make sure your plants are getting enough water.
• Start sowing seeds for spring crops like tomatoes, chillies, cucumbers, and capsicums, and don’t forget to plant repeat harvest crops such as lettuce for those delicious salads.
• Replenish mulch and use PowerFeed PRO SERIES for Tomatoes & Vegetables to keep your plants happy and produce tasty crops.

Step 7 – Quick and simple jobs for great Spring results

1. Harvest citrus and give your trees a fast-acting feed with PowerFeed PRO SERIES for Fruit & Citrus.
2. Prune flowers by picking them to arrange in a vase. Deadhead spent flowers.
3. Remove weeds along the driveway or paths. Use EarthCare Organic WeedKiller spray or handweed.
4. Check the moisture in the compost bin. If it’s too wet leave the lid off or add a cover if rain is forecast. If it’s too dry, leave the top off if rain is expected, or use the hose add moisture. Dig it through with a fork.
5. Make sure climbing plants are supported by their trellis or climbing frame. Secure any wayward tendrils by using garden twine to give them extra support.
6. Liquid feed hanging baskets with PowerFeed All Purpose including Natives.
7. Check soil moisture underneath eaves and water as needed.