The need for action in the garden cannot be ignored any longer as spring is upon us.
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There is planting, pruning and trimming to be done as well as starting a regular fertilising programme - and there's more - you can add lawn mowing, weeding and spraying.
But, before you become overwhelmed with aching joints just thinking about it there are a couple of points worth considering.
Firstly, with the hot summer just a couple of months away the garden becomes a focal point for outdoor living so its well worth the effort getting it, and yourself, in good shape now.
Secondly, gardening can be a great joy, or if your imagination will not stretch quite that far, it is at least a satisfying and rewarding activity.
Weeding to get clean garden beds is probably the worst job. I would tackle weeding first to get it over and done with while your enthusiasm is still high.
Hand weeding is the best method for garden beds but for paths and driveways a weedicide is easiest. A garden fork is a great tool for chipping away weed seedlings which can be left on the soil surface for the sun to shrivel and kill.
If you have oxalis rampantly taking over your garden then you really have a problem.
This nasty weed has clover-like leaves and underground clusters of small bulbs which have the frustrating habit of falling apart as you dig them up.
To eradicate this weed in a couple of seasons dig the ground over and remove as many bulbs as possible then deeply mulch the bed with straw.
As the oxalis leaves appear through the mulch take a rake and move the mulch backwards and forwards breaking the leaf stems which will eventually starve the oxalis.
Potted plants and hanging baskets can have weeds too so don't forget to weed them. After hand weeding containerised plants replace any lost potting mix, water and feed if necessary.
If your garden has not received much attention over the winter there is sure to be a little pruning that needs doing to gain a sense of control.
The general rule is to prune back shrubs and small flowering trees as soon as flowering is completed.
Remember, the basic reason for pruning is to shape the plant and stimulate new, healthy growth.
Some plants just need the tip growth nipping back by about 5-10cms while others may need quite drastic cutting back.
Most native plants respond well to tip pruning but be careful not to prune back into old wood.
The next job is to get the soil fertilised for spring/summer plantings as well as feeding the existing plants.
Organic material is essential for soil fertility and conditioning and is best supplied in the form of well-composted plant matter.
But compost alone cannot supply all the nutrients that are required for healthy plant growth so chemical fertilisers are needed to supplement the compost.
These are commonly known as complete fertilisers because they contain all the major and minor elements plants need for healthy growth plus they also contain minute amounts of trace elements essential for plants even though they are only required in very small amounts.
The garden should now be in good shape for the coming months.
Diary
October 15: Australian Native Plant Society, Max Fry Hall, Gorge Road, Trevallyn, 7.30pm. Toni Cochran speaks on Inala - the Gondwanaland Garden. Visitors welcome.
October 16: Launceston Horticultural Society, Windmill Hill Hall, High Street, Launceston, 8pm. Speaker is a representative from Neutrog Australia, producers of organic biological fertilisers.
October 19: Australian Native Plant Society's native plant sale, Max Fry Hall, Gorge Road, Trevallyn, 10am-2pm.