Spring is the perfect time for setting up herb gardens, planting out pots of colour, and preparing the soil ready for flower beds and hanging baskets.
Daisies, marigolds, dahlias, lavender, geraniums and petunias celebrate summer and suit well-drained soil with good morning sun.
Chives, dill, parsley, sage, oregano, thyme and mint will reward you with an abundance of fresh herbs for your spring and summer table.
Dig, Mulch, Fertilise
Preparation is key to gardening success.
- Dig over soil to loosen the roots.
- Remove weeds.
- Dig in a good quality compost or manure mix, preferably containing a wetting agent.
- For flower beds, add a quality liquid or granular fertiliser or an organic fertiliser like dried worm casings or liquid.
Growing in pots and hanging baskets
Growing in pots or hanging baskets is ideal for courtyards, decks, balconies and smaller areas.
Today’s best choice for pots is eco-friendly recycled plastic. If you’re going for the Mediterranean look, faux-terracotta plastic pots are lightweight and retain moisture better than the real thing.
A coir lining for hanging baskets helps retain moisture and prevent soil loss.
For flowers use a good quality organic potting mix with a moisture retaining agent and fertilisers.
Herbs do best in a light potting mix with aerating additives like coconut coir. Avoid mixes with bark and loose compost which can encourage fungus and attract bugs. Dried or liquid fish meal and worm casings are ideal natural fertilisers.
Position, Position, Position!
Your garden will flourish best when your plants get the right amount of sunshine.
For herbs that means three to six hours a day, and some hardy herbs will take direct sunshine all day. Good sunshine and the right soil will ensure healthy, bushy growth with well-developed aroma and flavour.
When selecting the seeds or seedlings for your flower beds consider the amount sun and shade in your garden. Flowers that require full sun will need at least six hours of direct sunlight a day.
Add impact
Pop pots of flowering plants or herbs amongst the in-ground plants in your garden, or hang flowering baskets from trees or plant stands to give your spring garden extra pizzaz.
Tuck herbs into odd corners, and between rocks. Low growing thyme and oregano make a hardy, fragrant ground cover and edging plant.
DON’T FORGET TO MULCH AND TO WATER – PLANTS CANNOT LIVE ON LOVE ALONE.
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