Spring Clean Your Garden

04/28/2009 - Gardening The Winter is over, the snow and cold weather is starting to fade into a distant memory or at least disappear from thought for the next eight months. Your attention starts to focus on your garden which has become a bit of a mess over the Winter period as the season goes into Spring. So, what exactly do you or should you be doing in your garden to get it into shape for the Summer? Follow the simple steps listed below and your garden will be in ship shape in no time this Spring.

Look After Your Lawn

Now it is time to start regular cutting of your lawn. The chances are the grass will be long so increase the height adjustment of the lawnmower to the highest setting and once this first cut has been done, go back over the lawn and cut it again on a lower setting. Cut your grass weekly as long grass takes more nutrients out of the soil and is harder to cut and may leave yellow patches on the lawn. If your lawn is established then apply a weed and feed and water in with a hose after a few days if it has not rained.

Tend To Your Pond

Chances are that your pond may have started to turn green and cloudy. This is mainly due to a rapid increase in algae, which flourish and grow in the warmer spring temperatures. Once the pond plants start to grow again, especially the oxygenating plants will start to use up the nutrients and create shade thus reducing the amount of algae. To hep speed up the clearing of the water, drop a string bag of barley straw into the pond. As the barley straw begins to breakdown, it will use up the excess nutrients so reducing the amount of algae and also blanket weed. If you have a waterfall or fountain try to position the barley underneath it and in still ponds weigh it down so it floats just below the surface of the water. Remove the barley after about six months before it completely rots down and starts polluting the water.

Leaves and More Leaves

Make sure to clean-up any remaining leaves and general garden rubbish. Any rubbish left will be home to snails, vine weevil, woodlice and slugs and could introduce infection and disease into your garden.

Protect Your Plants

Remember to protect plants from slugs and snails with slug pellets and course grit or traps. Alternatively try to encourage birds, hedgehogs and frogs to your garden as they all prey on slugs and snails.

What To Plant

Plant lily and gladioli bulbs in 4in (10cm) deep holes. Cover with them with soil or compost and gently firm down the soil to ensure that there are no air pockets as this may cause the bulbs to rot.

Following the simple steps laid out above this Spring and in fact every Spring should and indeed will help your garden flourish during the lazy Summer months