Spring might have you dreaming about trips to the nursery and a garden full of new plants, but before spending money on anything new, it may be worth taking a closer look at what is already growing, gathering dust or waiting to be dealt with at home.
As warmer weather approaches, gardens across Nelson Mandela Bay will soon be getting a little more attention after the winter months.
But according to Kate Johnson, Operations Manager at the South African Landscapers Institute (SALI) KZN, spring garden preparation does not necessarily have to start with buying something.
“It’s exciting to plant things for the summer,” says Johnson. “But before adding anything to your outdoor space, it might be worth doing something else first: assessing your garden with fresh eyes and really seeing what you’ve stopped noticing.”
Think of it as spring cleaning, just outdoors.
Here are six places she suggests starting.
1. Deal with plants that have taken over
That shrub that looked perfectly proportioned when you planted it may now be swallowing everything around it.
Spring is a good opportunity to decide whether an overgrown plant needs a trim, a more substantial prune or a new home altogether.
It is also worth looking at plants that are technically healthy but simply do not work in their current position.
If something constantly requires more water, maintenance or attention than you can realistically give it, Johnson suggests considering whether it could be moved or replaced with something better suited to the space.
Not every plant needs another season of good intentions.
2. Look for hidden deadwood
Dead and damaged branches can be easy to miss, particularly inside dense shrubs and established trees.
Once spring growth begins, they can become even harder to spot.
Take some time to inspect larger plants rather than simply looking at them from a distance. Removing damaged growth can improve a plant’s appearance and health, while larger dead branches may also pose a safety risk.
For anything high, particularly large tree branches, bringing in a professional is the safer option.
3. Clear out the garden graveyard
You probably know exactly where yours is.
It is the corner containing leftover bricks, old paving stones, pieces from previous DIY projects, broken outdoor toys and several things you’ve been keeping because they might be useful one day.
Spring is a good time to make a decision about them.
The same applies to the collection of empty pots many of us somehow accumulate.
If a pot has been sitting empty for a year, decide whether you’re actually going to use it. Keep what has a purpose, donate what someone else could use and get rid of what is broken.
4. Make a decision about that ‘someday’ project
Maybe it was going to become a vegetable garden.
Perhaps you planned a herb garden, water feature or beautiful new outdoor area.
Then life happened and the designated patch of garden has spent the past year becoming increasingly good at growing weeds.
Johnson’s advice is simple: either give the project a genuine start date or reconsider the space.
Sometimes clearing an abandoned plan makes more sense than feeling guilty every time you walk past it.
5. Check the things around your plants
Plants are not the only parts of a garden that need maintenance.
Take a look at your trellises, edging, raised beds, outdoor furniture, benches and birdbaths.
After months or years of exposure to the elements, some may need cleaning, repairing, treating or replacing.
Getting these smaller jobs out of the way now can make a surprisingly big difference to how your entire outdoor area looks heading into summer.
6. Give the garden shed a spring clean too
If you have ever bought a second garden tool because you couldn’t find the first one, only for the original to magically reappear later, this one is for you.
Garden sheds and storage areas have a habit of becoming dumping grounds for unused tools, broken equipment and things we fully intend to repair “one day”.
Go through what you have before buying anything else.
Throw away items beyond repair, donate duplicates you no longer need and organise the tools you regularly use.
Johnson also recommends having outdoor power equipment serviced before the busiest gardening months begin.
“Spring has a way of energising people to get stuck into their gardens,” she says.
“Sometimes the best place to start is by tackling those bugbears first, so your outdoor space can work for you instead of the other way around.”
And perhaps that is the real spring gardening checklist: before adding more, make the most of what you already have.
For larger landscaping projects or specialist garden advice, homeowners can find registered landscapers through the South African Landscapers Institute. The advice was shared by Johnson as part of SALI KZN’s regional partnership with Husqvarna South Africa.
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