This is the year. You are going to get ahead of spring with your garden and nothing is going to stop you. Once the mornings begin getting warmer and it gets harder to justify staying in bed that little bit longer, it’s time to get out into the garden and start making things happen.
Start with Fertilising
Begin by fertilising your lawn but make sure to take the Northern Territory soil quality into account. Dig the ground and pay head to the turn up of clay as you will need to use gypsum to help with soil quality. Avoid using chemical fertilisers but, instead, do use manures and mulch. Most Northern Territory gardens will fare well with moderate fertilisation.
Grass Health
A moderate-release complete garden feed will help revitalise your grass areas. Remember to remove any dead growth using a metal rake as you go. You can breathe new life into areas which look scant with water and organic matter. Simply work the mixture into the soil, along with soil wetting agent, to help the area thrive in spring. Also, make sure you keep everyone off areas that are being revamped until the new grass is growing healthily.
You can also do some serious lawn maintenance by spreading organic mulch on exposed areas of soil and in your lawn beds. This will help prevent weeds and grass from encroaching on your plants and shrubs. Now that your lawn and garden has received some initial TLC, start sowing seeds and planting any cuttings so that they have time to establish and begin growing strong.
Planting Season
The earlier you plant perennials in spring the better. They are cheaper earlier in the season and need around 45 days to establish. Make sure to also begin replanting any of your old favourites from years gone by but you can also make room for new annuals, shrubs and trees. Weeds have a way of encroaching on garden space which could be used for new horticulture but once you have weeded out you should have room for new additions to your garden.
Garden Tools & Accessories
Invest in a steel garden shed, these garden savers are great for storage and do not require digging new foundations. As long as the surface is flat, a steel garden shed will provide you with a safe place to keep valuable garden tools and other important items. Additional tools to invest in this year may include handy snippers, hedge shears, pole pruners and ground hose guide.
Weather & Pests
Make a point of keeping up-to-date with the latest weather and pest reports for where you live in the Northern Territory. As the two greatest threats to a healthy spring garden, knowing how to react to changes in weather or a plague of pests is essential for every gardener. If you haven’t already, start looking for local gardening groups that you can join to help you keep your garden healthy, strong and colourful throughout the spring and summer months. You can even join online groups to get instant advice at your fingertips.
