GRAINNE O’REILLY regularly brings her home maintenance know-how to the Glenveagh Home Magazine on TheJournal.ie.
This week: giving your garden some TLC in time for spring.
Winter is coming to an end, and while that doesn’t mean the wild weather will improve, it does mean an end to the all-grey pallor that January and February days seem to have.
Daffodils and snowdrops are already poking their heads up here and there, leaves are beginning to bud on the trees, and there’s a little extra light in the evenings.
With those reminders of spring, your thoughts may be turning to the garden, which has most likely been forgotten about and neglected during recent cold weather, rainfall and storms.
There’s bad news and good news here. The bad: if your garden has been left to its own devices for any length of time, it’ll take a bit of work to bring it back around. The good: that work is relatively manageable and straightforward, especially if you break your garden down into sections.
Thinking of tackling the garden soon? Here’s where to begin…
1. Patios, paths, and decking
The first step is to clear moss, mould and mildew from the areas they thrive on, like stone, wood and brick. Sweep surfaces first to clear any fallen leaves or twigs. On patios and paths, a good scrub with an outdoor brush and warm water with a dash of washing up liquid will get rid of most growth or dirt. For decking, you may want to use a dedicated decking cleaner. These products will remove growth and restore the wood’s natural appearance at the same time. If you’d rather do this job with no chemicals, then use a power washer to give the surfaces a once over, then treat decking with a suitable wood oil.
2. Shrubs, bushes and trees
Late winter and early spring is the ideal time to prune deciduous plants and trees. At this time of year, their food reserves are safely stored in their roots so there’s plenty of opportunity for regrowth. Trim away any broken or obviously dead branches, and then prune back to the desired shape.
As a rule of thumb, prune last year’s growth to two or three buds above healthy stems. Can’t tell if a stem is dead or alive? Trim a small bit off and check inside – brown indicates a dead section but green means it’s still living. Trim back a few inches at a time until you can see green inside the stem rather than brown. Evergreen trees will also respond happily to pruning at this time of year. Pinch off old flowers, cut away damaged branches, and pare back straggly growth.
3. Pots and planters
Outdoor pots may have some algae or mildew on them after the damp winter weather, so scrub the outside down with a stiff hand brush. Remove any weeds or grass that have invaded the area and gently dig until you’re left with bare soil. Then, mix a little manure, compost or recycled green waste in with the existing soil, leaving your pots and planters ready for new seeds or bulbs.
You’ll find an abundance of bedding plants to choose from in all garden centres at this time of year. If larger potted plants aren’t thriving, you may need to top dress these. Gently remove the top layer of soil with your hands or a wooden spoon until you can see the roots, then fill in the space you’ve made with fresh potting mix and compost, pressing down firmly as you go.
4. Garden furniture and fencing
Spring is the ideal time to tackle any maintenance jobs around the garden, as you can see clearly what needs to be fixed while the trees and flower beds are relatively bare. Check fence or trellis panels for decay or loose fittings, and apply a wood stain on a dry day.
Squeaky gate hinges can be helped along with a little 3-in-1 oil or even Vaseline. As for garden furniture, do a general check-over for wear and tear, and tighten any loose screws or bolts. Metal furniture may have picked up a little rust over the winter; this can be treated with anti-rust primer and some exterior metal or enamel paint.
5. Lawns and grassy areas
I’ve left grass and lawn areas until last for a reason. Fallen leaves and dead grasses provide a vital ecosystem for hibernating insects, and much needed winter cover for small animals, so it’s best not to remove them until spring has officially sprung.
Ideally, wait until daytime temperatures are consistently above 10ºC to do any clearing, but if you really need to clear leaves before that, simply rake them to one side rather than removing them entirely.
To prep your lawn for spring, give it a once over with the lawn mower, ensuring the cutting height is at the top setting. Once trimmed, you will be able to assess if there is any moss that needs to be treated or bald patches to be reseeded.
Follow Gráinne O’Reilly @parsekus on Instagram for more home hacks and décor inspiration.
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