After months of cooler weather, Sydney gardens are ready to wake up and grow again. Spring is one of the most important times of year for garden care, the work you do now will set the tone for how healthy, vibrant, and low-maintenance your outdoor space will be throughout summer.
Here are some of the key jobs you should tackle in your garden this Spring:
1. Fertilise Your Lawn and Plants
During winter, lawns and plants can lose their colour and strength. Applying a slow-release fertiliser in Spring helps restore nutrients to the soil, thickens up your lawn, and encourages healthy new growth in plants. This not only makes your garden look lush, but also improves its resilience as temperatures rise.
Tip: Choose a fertiliser suited to your lawn type and apply it evenly. Water it in well to activate the nutrients.
2. Aerate and Topdress Your Lawn
Over time, soil can become compacted, making it harder for water, oxygen, and nutrients to reach the roots of your grass. Aeration relieves this compaction, while topdressing improves soil quality and helps level uneven patches in your lawn.
Tip: Use a garden fork or a mechanical aerator for small to medium lawns. Topdress with a sandy loam soil to support healthy root growth.
3. Refresh Mulch in Garden Beds
A fresh layer of mulch does more than make your garden look neat, it helps retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weed growth. It also improves soil fertility as it breaks down over time.
Tip: Apply mulch 5–7cm thick, keeping it clear of plant stems to prevent rot. Organic mulches such as bark chips, sugarcane, or straw are great for Sydney gardens.
4. Check and Adjust Irrigation
As the days get warmer, your plants will need consistent watering to stay healthy. Early Spring is the perfect time to test your irrigation system or set up a watering schedule.
Tip: Water in the early morning so plants can absorb moisture before the heat of the day. Deep, less frequent watering encourages stronger root growth compared to shallow, daily watering.
5. Stay on Top of Weeds
Weeds love Spring just as much as your plants do. They grow quickly and compete with your lawn and garden beds for nutrients, water, and sunlight.
Tip: Remove weeds early before they spread. Consider a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent summer weeds from germinating.
6. Prune and Tidy Up
Pruning in Spring encourages new growth and keeps plants healthy. Trim back any dead or damaged branches, shape shrubs, and remove spent flowers to encourage more blooms.
Tip: Always use clean, sharp tools to avoid spreading disease between plants.