Handy summer tips

By Paul Pickering
AS THE days get warmer and our gardens wake from a winter’s slumber, few people will need much convincing to drag themselves out of the house and into the backyard over the coming months.
But while spring is a time to celebrate the fresh foliage and kaleidoscope of flowering colours, it is also a crucial period in a garden’s life-cycle.
As the avid green thumbs at the Ferny Creek Horticultural Society (FCHS) know all too well, there is a host of important spring jobs to be carried out in order to prepare gardens for the sunny days ahead.
Having presented their annual Spring Show last weekend, the crew at FCHS sat down to prepare a list of handy tips for hobby gardeners.
Unfortunately, the starting point is the necessary but tedious task of weeding.
While it may be too late for many, the key is to prevent the weeds from flowering and setting seeds that can lead to a garden infestation.
Lawns can also be aerated and fed during spring, sowing new seeds and over-sowing existing lawns.
Garden shrubs will benefit from dead-heading and a light pruning after flowering to maintain their shape.
Les Worsley from the FCHS recommends that clematis supports be checked in a bid to guide them in the right direction, while blossoming roses can be treated to a sprinkling of lime and potash.
The FCHS is happy to provide further direction for local gardeners, and can be contacted on 9755 2771.