Put some zing into SPRING
From reviving lawns to planting baskets, the key jobs to help...
AS THE weather starts to warm up, it’s time to give your garden some attention to ensure it looks fantastic this spring and summer. From reviving lawns to sorting out sheds, and from planting up hanging baskets to tidying borders, here are eight key jobs that will help prepare your plot for the sunny days ahead.
PEP UP THE LAWN
Dead grass, moss and weeds build up on the surface of lawns over time, forming a layer known as ‘thatch’ – the material is visible under the grass and spongy to walk on. Apart from hampering growth, it impedes drainage and creates an environment for diseases to flourish. Remove with a lawn rake. Heavy foot traffic on well-used parts of the lawn will lead to compaction, resulting in weak growth and poor drainage. Treat by plunging a garden fork into the ground every 4in across the affected area. Perk up tired lawns with a granular or liquid fertiliser. These are high in nitrogen, helping pallid grass turn green.
CLEAN SURFACES
Make the most of bright, dry days by cleaning patios, decks and driveways. Over the past few months, moss, algae and dirt from feet will have left outdoor surfaces grimy and slippery. The quickest way to shift dirt is to use a pressure washer on a high setting. If you don’t have one, scrub with soapy water and a broom with stiff bristles. White vinegar is useful for getting rid of stubborn stains.
SORT OUT PONDS
Make sure ponds sparkle by twirling out blanket weed with a cane, leaving the stuff on the side for a day to allow any wildlife to return to the water. If duckweed is present, skim off with a small net. Many aquatic perennials will flower poorly if congested. Rejuvenate by lifting containers, removing the rootball and splitting into smaller pieces. Repot a section into the same container using fresh aquatic compost. Introduce new plants, if necessary, aiming to cover about a third of the surface with foliage. Use a combination of floating aquatics, oxygenating plants, water lilies and marginal plants.
PLANT UP HANGING BASKETS
Add vertical interest by planting up a hanging basket. Combine upright fuchsias, pelargoniums and heliotropes with trailing petunias, dichondra and helichrysum.
Use fibrous-rooted begonias, marigolds and ageratum to fill gaps. Fit a liner inside the basket and pour a 1in layer of compost into the base. Make slits around the outside and feed through trailing plants. Fill twothirds of the container with compost, and then repeat the process. Fill with compost until it is within an inch of the top and then plant up the surface – place taller varieties at the back, compact plants in front and trailers around the edges.
Water and keep in a light, frost-free place before displaying in late May or early June.
FRESHEN UP FURNITURE
Prepare garden furniture for the season. Wipe down items that have been in storage and stick outdoor cushion covers in the washing machine on a low cycle.
Tables, chairs and other things that have been exposed to the elements will need more attention. Remove rust from metal furniture with wire wool and then treat with rust converter liquid before repainting. Scrub rattan furniture with soapy water and allow to dry naturally. Refresh wooden furniture by sanding and then recoating with oil, preservative or paint.
TIDY BEDS AND BORDERS
Give beds and borders a quick service. Start by cutting down perennials left for winter interest, tugging up weeds and raking out leaves. Next, put supports in place for top-heavy, weakstemmed or floppy perennials – it’s best to do this before plants have put on too much growth, as shoots will grow through supports and provide a natural-looking display. Finish by mulching with a 4in layer of composted bark or garden compost. Take care not to smother low-growing plants or to pile up against the stems of woody plants.
PLANT SUMMER BULBS
Snap up some summer-flowering bulbs to ensure your garden stages a dazzling display. Brodiaea, dahlia, eucomis, gladioli, lilies and a host of others are ideal for planting in holes that are two to three times the length of the bulb – lilies do best if you add a layer of sharp grit to the bottom of holes to prevent rotting in wet ground. After plants start to die back in autumn, cut stems to ground level and protect with a layer of leafmould, garden compost or bark chippings. Those who live in colder parts should prise tender varieties from the ground and store in a frost-free place.
CLEAR OUT SHEDS
Sheds are invaluable for storage, but if the contents spill out when you open the door then restore some order.
Start by taking everything out on a dry day, and then sweep the interior, wash windows and scrub the walls.
Improve the structure’s storage potential by installing hooks, shelves and using jars for small items, such as plant labels. Make sure you assign space for large items, such as lawnmowers.
Take time to declutter before moving stuff back inside.