Summer is undoubtedly one of the best times to enjoy the great outdoors in Australia. Get in early during Spring and get some of these jobs done and you’ll be able to enjoy a safe and tidy garden throughout Summer. Here’s our top tips on what to do during Spring to ensure you’re ready for a stellar Summer in the back yard.
Prune
Prune back rose bushes and other spring bloomers (once finished blooming). Also give woody ornamentals like hydrangeas a good hair cut. Cut just above the dormant buds or close to the main trunk of the plant. It’s also good practice to remove any dead or damaged stems at any time you see them in order to avoid attracting disease and insects. For any plants that bloom in Summer, prune these in early Spring. Why not save time by using a pole pruner– use this tool to remove stems all the way to the base of the plant – you’ll also save your back! Coastal Hire has a range of gardening equipment suitable for pruning and tree trimming. You can view the range on our website here.
Mow your lawn
Even in times of drought, it’s still important to continue to mow your lawn, however it is recommended to keep the overall length a little longer than usual, to provide shade to the soil and maintain moisture. Mowing your lawn will encourage the grass to grow longer from the roots, as it digs down deeper into the soil to find water sources. This will make the lawn more resilient during dryer times as it will be able to locate its own water rather than relying on you to water it on a regular basis.
Stay on top of weeds
Weeds are the free-loaders of the gardening world – they steal precious water and nutrients from your other plants! Make sure you stay on top of them and remove them as soon as you see them, to maintain a weed-free environment, especially in your vegetable patch.
Mulch garden beds
One of the best things you can do to prepare your garden for Summer is to give garden beds a good dose of mulch. Mulch helps the soil to retain moisture and stops it from drying out on hot days. It will also help keep those pesky weeds at bay. You can use a variety of different products to mulch, some of which include sugar cane mulch, pea straw, pebbles and pine bark. If you decide to purchase a big load of mulch from your local nursery, be sure to head to Coastal Hire and hire one of our box trailers or tipper truck, to make transport easy.
A word on watering
During Summer, your garden will benefit more from larger amounts of water, less often. A good rule of thumb is 2.5cm once a week for your lawn, and a good soak for your garden once a week. Avoid watering during the day as this can cause heat stress to plants and you’ll also lose water due to evaporation. Remember to adhere to local council water restrictions at all times. You can view the Port Macquarie Hastings Council water restriction information on their website here.
Bushfire Preparation
Living in Australia, it’s especially important to ensure that your yard and house are prepared for the incoming bushfire season. Clean out the gutters on your house and shed to ensure they are free of debris which can be a fire hazard in the case of bushfires or flying embers. To make it easy to reach high spots, why not look at hiring a scissor lift or boom lift from Coastal Hire? Rake up dry leaves and other materials like sticks and place into compost or dispose of them in your green waste bin. Remove any clutter or rubbish around your yard that could catch alight in a fire. If you need to do a tip run, Coastal Hire has a range of trailers as well as a tipper truck available for hire. Be sure to trim back low lying branches on trees, ensuring they are not too close or touching your house as these will also be a hazard in the event of a fire. Don’t forget that Coastal Hire has gardening equipment like pole pruners, hedge trimmers and chain saws available for hire.
For more tips on bushfire preparation, check out our blog post, or visit the NSW Fire Service website to learn about how to make your own Bushfire Survival Plan.
That concludes our list of suggested Summer Garden Preparation. We hope you find this list useful. Don’t forget that Coastal Hire has a big range of gardening, landscaping and earthmoving equipment suitable for a variety of jobs around the house and garden – come and see our friendly team for information or a quote!
