Garden Clearance and Skips in Spring

After a long and wet winter that seemed never-ending, spring is finally around the corner. And for all garden enthusiasts out there that can only mean one thing: It’s time to spring clean your garden.

Here are 6 useful tips to get you going:

1. Prepare your Tools

Before digging in it might be a good idea to check the status of your gardening tools. Do they need cleaning? Scrub off any rust that may have formed and give the tools a light coating of mineral or vegetable oil to prevent future rusting. If you use a weed whacker, lawn mower or  hedge trimmer, check the blades and make sure everything is clean and sharp. If any blades need sharpening, a local hardware or gardening store will be able to help you.   

2. Clean Up Winter Debris – Hire a Skip

Now that your tools are in top shape it’s time for garden clearance. As you look over your garden or yard you may notice lots of dead material such as fallen tree branches, plants and other leftovers from the harsh winter weather. Why not hire a skip and have all the old garden leftovers removed in one go? Skips today come in many smaller sizes, they are not all industrial strength, and may be an ideal solution to help spring clean your garden.

3. Prune and Trim

Next up: pruning and trimming. If you have trees in your garden, start by trimming any damaged branches. If more help is needed, arrange for a professional tree trimmer to take care of your trees and keep them in top shape. Then prune and trim any weather-worn bushes, shrubs, perennials or hedges before they start blooming. Add the debris to your skip and your garden clearance will be done in no time.

4. Nurture the Soil

Give your garden soil a good feeding. Early spring is the best time of year to add some fertiliser. Buy slow release or pellet form fertiliser and, after the next rain, distribute it throughout your garden. It will break down and sink into the soil, where it will be used to fuel growth and flowering, leading to beautiful blooms.

5. Mulch Flowerbeds and Planters

While mulching your garden is not mandatory, it has many benefits. A good mulching job will inhibit weed growth, keep in soil moisture, and moderate fluctuations in soil temperature. Spread the mulch to about 5 cm in thickness over any exposed soil and use organic mulch if possible.

6. Make a New Garden Plan   

If you are considering any changes to your landscaping, now is a good time to make a plan. Create a sketch of your garden and see where you would like to add or remove plants, flowerbeds, planters, shrubs, etc.   

Put in a little effort at the beginning of spring and you will be able to enjoy the rewards later. Your plants will be beautiful and your whole garden will be in great shape for the growing season.

Image from www.freedigitalphotos.net