Prep your garden, patio or balcony for spring in 5 easy steps

With the winter solstice officially behind us and longer days ahead, now is the time to brighten your home and mood by prepping your garden, patio or balcony for spring. All you need is a little time and some elbow grease to turn your outdoor space into a sanctuary. 

Are you looking for gardening ideas or ways to spruce up your outdoor space this spring? We'll show you how to turn your garden, patio, or balcony into a showstopper in five steps.

Spring is the perfect time to complete all those niggly maintenance jobs.

• Check fences, gates, gutters and trellises for wear and tear. Don’t forget your deck, pergola or other wooden features – they may require a revarnish! 
• Ensure your gardening tools are clean, sharp and in good working condition. This will make any upcoming gardening tasks a lot easier to complete.
• Add a fresh coat of paint to walls, fences, gates, planter boxes, raised beds and garden pots. You’ll thank yourself in the summer months when everything is looking pristine! It is also a great opportunity to modernise your aesthetics.

Cleaning up your outside area will give you a blank canvas to work from.

• Rake and clear away dead leaves, branches and debris accumulated over winter.
• Trim overgrown bushes, tidy your garden beds and prune dead or damaged flowers or branches from trees. This will encourage new growth and keep your existing plants healthy.
• Get ahead of the weeds before they take over your garden! Use weed killer to speed up the process if you have a lawn.
• Clean your planter boxes, garden pots or containers to limit pests and ensure the healthy growth of new plants.
• Sweep and wash your patio, deck, balcony, garden paths and outdoor furniture.

Healthy soil is the foundation for a thriving garden. Only start planting when your soil is light and loose and doesn’t form a ball when you grab a handful.

• Loosen the soil with a garden fork to aerate it. Remove stones, rocks and leftover annuals to give your new plants space to grow.
• Get a pH level test from your nursery to learn what your soil needs and then enrich it with fertiliser, compost or manure. If you have a lawn, cover it with a layer of topsoil and water it thoroughly. The topsoil will boost nutrition and speed up lawn regrowth.
• Apply a layer of mulch in garden beds and around plants to help retain moisture, suppress weeds and regulate soil temperature. This will create the perfect growing environment.
• Create a composting area and feed it with organic waste, like grass clippings, vegetable peels, paper and wood. Soon, you’ll have nutrient-rich plant food whenever you need it.

Now comes the fun part – planning and planting your garden.

• Create a planting calendar to record your garden plants and plans, including important information about what is needed for optimum growth.
• Choose seasonal flowers suited to South African spring weather, such as geraniums, marigolds, snapdragons, pincushions, clivias, gardenias, azaleas, roses and pelargoniums. 
• Attract bees to your garden with lavender, daisies and rosemary. Bees will help pollinate your plants.
• Start a small vegetable garden using window boxes, planter boxes or pots. For spring, grow herbs like basil, coriander and parsley or vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach and spring onions.
• If it is too cold outside, you can start sowing seeds indoors in paper cups, egg cartons and small pots, which can be moved outdoors when it warms up.

Create a comfortable and inviting outdoor space for entertaining this spring!

• Wash or replace your outdoor cushions and fabric coverings, add a colourful throw into the mix or lay out a patterned tablecloth.
• Decorate your space with hanging plants or cheerful garden pots with spring flowers. Add colour and texture with an outdoor rug or revamp old pots by spray painting them to match your décor.
• Lighting can completely transform your space. Choose solar fairy lights or lanterns to create a cosy atmosphere. 
• Install or check your umbrellas, awnings or shade cloths. In the harsh South African summer, you'll need some shade!
• If you have the space, divide your patio or balcony into different areas for dining and lounging. You can decorate the areas differently to separate them further. Creating different sections makes your space more functional and enjoyable.
• Find or make a storage box for your outdoor cushions and braai equipment. It can double as seating or a table. Another unique addition is a beverage station. DIY an old bar cart or put an old dresser on casters.

Prepping your space for spring may seem overwhelming but you don’t need to do everything at once. A few hours each weekend can make a world of difference. Before you know it, you’ll have completely transformed your garden, patio or balcony into an outdoor haven.