Spring is the most beautiful time of the year and if you want to have a sensational garden, now is the right time to plan and plant it. Plants are waking up, mulch needs to be removed, a winter clean-up has to be done; it sounds difficult but gardening is exciting and invigorating.

The first task for your spring gardening is to rake your lawn and clean up fallen branches and debris, but you must wait until the soil is no longer wet enough to form a ball in your hand.  Luckily we are enjoying sunny days already, but don't wait too long to start your clean up, you must start as soon as possible. Re-seed bare or damaged patches of lawn. Scratch up the soil with a rake first. Mix a shovel of soil with a couple of scoops of grass seed and spread into the patch you're fixing. Rake the soil level and keep well-watered until seeds germinate and the new grass establishes. Read more:

Usually you will see new growth at the base of your plants. This is the best time to remove winter mulch and prune plants down to ground level. It's much easier to cut plants back before the old growth gets twisted up in the new growth.

Weeds make your garden untidy and unattractive. Damp soil makes it much easier to pull young weed seedlings. Pull off any plant material that shows signs of disease and any seed heads, weeds or otherwise, that could become a problem.  You must never compost weeds. They'll come back to haunt you.

 Soils and fertilizers
It's advisable to test your soil before you start planting anything. Most plants enjoy a good feeding in the spring, when they're having their initial growth burst. If you have rich, healthy soil, all you need to do in the spring is a bit of top dressing with compost, manure or a complete slow release organic fertilizer. If you prefer using synthetic fertilizers, you can start applying it once your plants show signs of new growth, but decayed organic matter is preferable. The reason for adding additional organic matter to your soil is to provide food for the beneficial microorganisms that release nutrients into the soil as they decompose the organic matter. For more information on soil and fertilizers, click here.

Resist the urge to start digging in your flower beds too early. You can damage the soil's structure. If you pick up a handful of soil, it should fall apart, not stick together. When it's dry enough, you can start to dig beds and add compost or manure in preparation for planting. Read more:

For more information on spring gardening, click here.

For more information on growing and maintaining flowers and plants, click here.
 
Sources:

• Harmonious living 
• About.com
• Flower Gardening com 

Last Update: 16 September 2011

by Zanele Matshotyana