Stunning Splendour

Spring has sprung, and gardens are blooming in all their glory – but this probably took some planning

- Kelebogile Nondzaba

Avid gardeners all around are enjoying the delights of their beautiful spring gardens. But these little bits of heaven didn’t just happen – months ago green-fingered enthusiasts were braving the cold to get their soil and outside areas just right.

“Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t start preparing your spring garden then,” says Arthur Mennigke of The Naked Gardener. “While your garden might not look its best in the colder months, it is the best time to reassess what changes you would like to make for the new gardening year.”

This includes pruning back deciduous trees that might have obscured vistas or caused too much shade in flower beds. “It is the best time to move plants as most are dormant or semi-dormant in that time. You can prepare your lawns for the new season in August by scarifying (removing dead grass) from lawns such kikuyu and Cynodon.

“Early August is also the ideal time to prune roses, and to follow up with a good rose fertiliser once pruned to promote healthy spring growth and abundant flowers,” he says.