Let's face it, we aren’t exactly spoiled with year-round great weather on these shores – which is why we want our gardens in tiptop shape once the sun decides to make an appearance.
However, if you want a stunning garden this summer then the reality is you’ll need to put in the work. No doubt your garden has taken a bit of a beating over the winter months and it’s probably looking a little drab at the minute. But by putting in a little extra effort you can turn your outdoor space into a relaxing and hassle-free retreat, giving you more time to unwind and catch the rays when the sun shows up.
The key is knowing where to focus that effort. As the old adage goes, knowledge is power, which is why we decided to create our Ask an Expert monthly edition where once a month we’ll speak to an industry professional to get their expert opinion on a range of garden-related topics. In these posts, we’ll offer guidance to our readers and help them avoid some of the common mistakes people make in the garden.
For this month’s edition we spoke to Kierin, owner of McCorkell’s Gardens and Grounds based in Manchester. Kierin has worked in the gardening and landscaping industry for 15 years, so he definitely knows a thing or two about preparing gardens. After a long discussion on a range of topics, here are Kierin’s 7 top tips for getting your garden ready for the summer.
Time to Pay Attention to Your Lawn
Your garden should now be bursting into life so you need to think about fertilising and feeding your lawn. Your grass has been battered over the past few months with all the rain and poor weather, and essentially it’s been neglected, so now is the time to start looking after it again. Start by aerating the lawn, which is where you perforate the grass with a fork to allow water and nutrients to get to the grassroots. Once you’ve aerated the lawn, then fertilise your grass to give it some much-needed nutrition.
In February people should start to consider cutting their lawn. When you cut it for the first time, cut and collect and you can add the clippings to a compost heap to create some additional fertiliser. Once we start getting into spring and summer, I recommend using a mulching kit that you attach to your lawnmower. This will collect the grass cuttings and re-cut them even finer, leaving them on the ground in the soil below your lawn. This is the technique used on football pitches, bowling greens and golf courses and essentially you’re putting all the goodness back onto the lawn so I really recommend mulching.
Easy on the Fertiliser
If you put too much fertiliser down it becomes like poison and it scorches the lawn. The most common mistake I come across with lawn care is people who say they put numerous chemical products on their lawn and it’s wrecked their grass.
Realistically, unless you’re in a really shaded area where your lawn isn’t getting enough sunlight to prosper, you should only really be using chemical fertilisers twice a year - when winter first kicks in and at the end of winter. In summer and spring, you should be getting sufficient rain and sunshine where you don’t really need any fertiliser. The only exceptions would be where there’s been a drought or it’s a high traffic area, and even then I’d say use it sparingly.
Ideal Time to Cutback and Reshape Shrubs & Trees
Do all your cutbacks before spring arrives. If you’ve got any overhanging trees or shrubs that you haven’t cut back and reshaped in winter, now is the time to do it. Tackling this now means that once they burst back into life they’ll burst into the new shapes that you’ve created, which is much easier than trying to reshape them when the leaves are back.
Turn Soil Over Regularly to Prevent Weeds
If you have weeds in your soil then make sure you cultivate it regularly as this will help to keep them away. Just make sure you don’t go too close to your flowers as you might destroy the roots. If it’s on your paths or coming through a patio then don’t cut them, just spray them with weedkiller.
Because soil cultivation leads to moisture loss, make sure you do this before the warmer weather arrives or it’ll end up drying out.
Make Sure Plants are in the Right Place!
People often put plants in the wrong area. For example, they buy plants, and on the instructions, it might say it requires medium to moderate sunshine and they’ll put in a heavily shaded area because that’s where they want it to go, so they don’t take on board the plant’s needs. Just make sure you plant the right plants in the right environment, otherwise, the plants aren’t going to survive.
If Buying Turf, Consider Where it’s Come from
People will often buy turf that’s grown in the countryside on a turf farm where there are no trees, they’ll unroll it in their garden underneath a tree and naturally, it’s going to thin and die out. You need to consider where the turf has been grown and the environment it’s used to, as it’s become accustomed to a certain amount of nutrients and sunlight and without that, it’s bound to dwindle.
Paint Fences to Prevent Damage
Your fences should be painted to help prevent any cracked panels. Hopefully, if you’ve got fencing you will have prepared it before the winter, so if you’ve had any storm damage or wear and tear you’ll only need to do some touch-ups and minor repairs to the fence panels and fencing to stop it getting any worse.
Ideally, this should be done towards the end of summer or early autumn ready for winter, so if you didn’t remember last year make sure not to forget this time around!
Summary
With winter still in the rearview mirror, chances are your garden is looking a little dreary at the minute. However, with spring now upon us and better weather not too far away, it’s time to start thinking about preparing your outdoor spaces for the warmer months ahead. By taking these tips on board we can be better prepared and avoid many of the common problems we see in the garden. Thanks to Kierin for offering his expert advice to our readers.
