Early Spring Gardening Tips to prepare you for Spring

Following on from Natural Plant Disease Treatments and Common Plant Diseases in your garden, we will be talking about how plants are transitioning into Spring and what steps you can take to ensure you get the most out of the flowering season.

Do Plants Hibernate?

All around the world except in the warmest of regions, most plants experience a period of ‘Dormancy’ throughout Winter. Plants that are actively growing cannot combat the freezing temperatures and harsh frost, therefore plants have adapted by going dormant during this yearly winter wonderland.

As clever as plants are, they still need some TLC to help get them back on their roots and start preparing for the Spring Show! As new shoots are emerging, roots actively growing and the production of photosynthesis is in the air using a slow-releasing fertiliser is the perfect way to assist plants without killing them with love and nutrients.

The First Fertilise of Spring

There are many ways to feed your plants, and while there is a large selection of Fertilisers not all of them are safe or the best option for an early Spring feed. Using a slow-releasing fertiliser will allow your plants to begin the process of waking up, firing up those nutrient uptake abilities and photosynthesis production without sending it into shock from the change in temperatures and environmental conditions. Seasol has a Power-feed Controlled Release fertiliser range for vegetables, fruit, citrus and flowers along with a two in one all purpose including natives.

The same goes for your lawns, select a fertiliser suited to your grass type and follow the application details on the product ensuring you get the most out of your slow-releasing fertiliser and remember to always water your plants thoroughly after the application.

Early Spring Tasks

Tip-pruning your plants is a great way to give them that extra push to begin actively growing again, removing any dead or old foliage is also a great way to allow room for new growth along with doing a spring clean and pulling out all the weed, the cold weather slows down plant growth allowing those pesky weeds to get ahead.

Tip-pruning

Mulching your gardens is another excellent step to help retain the moisture during the warmer days and limit exposure from the harsh sun on their delicate roots. In early Spring, hold off for 2 weeks before re-mulching, especially if you’re in a colder climate as the soil may still be cold and will need some time to warm up and promote soil microbe activity.

When you’re mulching ensure that you create a ‘bowl’ around the base of the plant, the purpose of mulch is to retain the moisture, leaving the bowl will allow the water to sit and then travel down to the roots. Remember to keep mulch away from the stem of the plant to avoid diseases, suffocation and in rare cases even dehydration as too much mulch can limit the flow of water and air in the soil.

Conducting a soil pH measure is a great way to tell what nutrients your soil may be in demand for, most plants like a pH level around 6.5 to 7 and can show signs of stress if the Acidic (1-6) or Alkaline (7-14) level in the soil is too high.

We hope you have enjoyed this article and are prepared for the battles and joy that Spring brings with it, good luck!

Happy Gardening,
Katanah & The Landscape Solutions Team!