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Time to Spring Clean Your Garden

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Landscape expert Matt Leacy shares his top tips for ensuring your garden thrives this spring and summer.

CREATING A LUSCIOUS LAWN

One of the best things you can do for your lawn as we come out of winter is to dethatch. Thatch is an accumulation of dead organic lawn matter or a build-up of roots that can prevent moisture, nutrients and air getting through to the grass roots.

You should also aerate the lawn to help get water and nutrients through to the turf zone. Once you’ve removed thatch and aerated, add some coarse sand or top dressing over the lawn – and don’t forget to fertilise with something high in nitrogen, and preferably organic.

MAINTENANCE WILL SET YOU UP FOR SUMMER

It’s not necessarily the fun side of gardening, but now is the ideal time to get into garden beds and remove any weeds before the weather gets hotter and they really take off. And now is also the best time to prune plants to get them in prime condition for growth in spring and summer.

Ensure that any ornamental grasses like miscanthus are cut to about 100-200mm above the ground and that any shrubs such as bottlebrush that like to flower in spring are pruned well before their flowering month.

MULCHING IS THE GARDEN GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

Mulch is a must when it comes to keeping your garden beds looking great in summer. It will help your soil retain moisture as the weather heats up – and it’s also helpful for keeping weeds at bay.

I like to use an organic compost and a slow-release fertiliser. Dig it into the soil by hand where possible, but be wary of applying too close to plant trunks and stems. Excess moisture can cause stems to rot, so it’s generally best to mulch at least 50-70mm thick and to keep the mulch well away from stems and trunks. As the weather gets hotter, keep an eye on your plants and keep topping mulch up.

For more information, visit landart.com.au.

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