Spring clean your garden to get rid of the winter grime like green algae's. Sharpen your tools, check irrigation system for leaks etc. Start sowing all your seedling trays using seed-raising mix. Fill the trays close to the top, moisten and lightly compact before sowing. Root crops are best sown directly into the beds as they don’t appreciate being disturbed. As are sugar snap and ordinary peas.
In late September stake your climbing plants so they don’t fall over under the weight of the pods later on.
Give newly planted fruit trees a good watering twice a week throughout spring and summer, once their leaves have unfurled. Feed all fruit trees and protect from fungal and bacterial diseases and invasive insects.
Plant flowers which will attract bees as they are needed to pollinate your plants in order that they bear fruit. Flowering herbs are also good for this purpose. Plant perennial herbs.
Start attacking weeds now to keep them under control. They’re easier to get rid of when they are young.
Make sure you protect your strawberries and other fruit plants and trees from fungal disease.
This is a good month to start a compost heap if you don’t already have one. A pile of kitchen scraps, grass cuts, manure, plant and tree prunings, leaves, seedless weeds, coffee grounds, paper and cardboard, and wood-ash (not coal-ash) in a sunny spot in your garden is all you need. Avoid citrus peels, spicy leftovers, dog or cat excrement, meat, fish, oil, bones, pine needles, gum leaves, diseased plants and invasive weeds. See http://www.composting101.com/ for more details.
Put out nesting boxes to encourage wild birds to take up residence in your garden.
Mulch all flower beds and liquid feed them. Prune back finished blooms opn early flowering shrubs.
Lawns: prepare and sow new lawns. Existing lawns can be fertilised, and weeds can be dealt with.
VEGE PATCH
Harvesting: Broad beans, cabbage, shallots, snow peas, cauliflower, onion.
Seeds to sow: artichoke, asparagus, beetroot, bok choy, broad beans, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, corn salad, courgette, onions, parsnip, peas, radish, spinach, silver beet, swede, tomato, turnips.
Note: Make sure you protect any seedlings from late frosts. You can cut off the bottoms of plastic bottles and put them over the seedlings.
FLOWER GARDEN
Sow and plant: Alyssum, Arctotis, Asters, Begonia, Candytuft, Carnation, Celosia, Cosmos, Cornflower, Dianthus, Delphinium, Forget-me-not, Gazania, Impatiens, Larkspur, Linaria, Linum, Lobelia, Lupin, Marigold, Nemesia, Pansy, petunia, Phlox,Poppies, Portulaca, Salvia, Snapdragon, Statice, Stock, Strawflower, Sweetpeas, Sweet william Violas and Zinnias. Dahlia seedlings can be planted now.
For more of what to plant in your climatic zone, click here