By Daniella Sperotto
A beautiful garden makes a beautiful home, yet looking after your garden is no task to frown upon. It is the essential ingredient to ensuring your garden remains in its best condition, where flowers bloom, and trees and shrubs are healthy and lush.
Green fingers or not, your plants, trees and shrubs require constant, proper care and attention all year round. What you put in is ultimately what you get out, thus by seeing to a few crucial elements, your blooming beauties will be thriving in no time.
Many home owners find it easy to get a garden started, but keeping it healthy and thriving for lengthy periods is always a demanding task. Knowing what to do and when will help your garden, but essentially it all boils down to what plants you buy or have in your garden.
“Ensure when buying the plants that you understand what conditions they prefer, whether it be sun or shade. Also remember to check the soil conditions (acidic or alkaline). One of the biggest problems we see is people planting plants and not knowing how big these plants get or what damage they do to the house or other structures,” explains Nicholas Spargo of Spargo Landscape Consultants.
Whether you have acres of land or are looking to add a couple of pots to your apartment balcony, looking into what plants will best work for you is the first step to the successful growth of your garden.
Prepping your soil before planting is next on your list. Although you may think that soil is soil and just popping your plants in the ground is fine, you would be wrong.
“Soil preparation is vital,” agrees Simon Taylor of Apalis Gardens and Irrigation. “Remove all rubble, tiles and so forth, and try to be as organic as possible. Mix organic compost with your soil, and add some organic fertiliser which will not burn the plants,” he adds.
If you are planting in pots, don’t just use potting soil. Rather mix it in with compost and a heavier soil mix which will help your plants retain water.
Once in the ground, compost and especially fertiliser should be added throughout the year to help keep your garden healthy. But above all, “watering or a good irrigation system is one of the most essential items that your garden will need”, explains Cheral Kennedy of Living Matter. Plants need water every day to ensure that they not only grow, but also to guarantee their survival.
It is recommended to water in the morning, or late afternoon in the colder months and make sure your water goes all the way to the roots.
Similarly, be careful not to overwater your plants causing them to rot from the root up. Pay attention to your garden and plants – enjoy them and give them all the nutrients that they need, and they will flourish throughout the year.
“Maintain your garden throughout the year – that means winter too – and you will see the difference in spring and summer. The more time you put into your garden, the more benefits you will see,” concludes Nicholas.
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