Spending time in the great outdoors is an integral part of our lifestyle here in Perth, and that certainly includes our own gardens.
Many families like to while away the long, hot summer days playing cricket on the lawn with the kids, dipping in the pool or having a barbeque and a few drinks with friends and family
And that’s all much more enjoyable in a beautiful garden with a healthy lawn and thriving plants.
Need some tips on how to get there?
Here’s our checklist for what to get done in the garden so it’s ready for summer…
Fertilise your garden
When the warmer spring weather hits, plants come out of their winter dormancy period and start showing new growth.
Give your plants a helping hand. A combination of both organic (such as Blood and Bone) and synthetic fertiliser (such as Osmocote) is very effective.
Get mulching
As temperatures rise (and boy, don’t they rise in Perth?!) over the next few months, it’s really important to keep your soil moist. – and its micro-organisms active. Mulch plays a big part in reducing water loss, so be sure to spread a layer of 8-10cm thickness over your garden beds.
Bark mulch (pine bark) has the added bonus of stabilising the pH of your soil.
Prune (if you haven’t already)
Pruning is ideally best done during winter, but if you haven’t got round to it there’s still time – do it today!
If shrubs are flowering, wait until they’ve stopped doing so before you prune.
Check your reticulation
Spring is a great time to make sure your reticulation system is ready for the hot months that lie ahead. It’s essential that the right amount of water is used (too little or too much can cause real problems) and that your garden is getting the best coverage.
Make sure that all your sprinkler heads are working and that they’re spraying water in the right direction – and covering all the areas you want watered.
Here are some of our tips for doing your own reticulation repairs.
Give your lawn some love
We all know that as the weather warms up, your grass will grow faster. But so – of course – will the weeds.
If you don’t want to use a chemical weed killer, then unfortunately you’ll need to physically remove them yourself.
If you’re happy using chemicals, we recommend that you apply your selected weed killer three to five days before mowing in order for it to fully penetrate the weeds.
Watch out for pests
Aphids and psyllids will start to show themselves around now – they’ll most likely be found on the stems of plants or on the leaf.
There’s a variety of treatments for pests out there depending on whether you prefer the organic or… less organic approach. From essential oils to chili and garlic… there are a lot of anecdotal accounts of success getting rid of pests through unconventional methods!
Need help getting your Perth garden ready for summer?Here at Luke’s landscaping we offer reticulation installation and reticulation repair as part of our service. Call us today and let us give you a hand.
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