Getting the best from your garden tends to mean treating it to regular maintenance – and let me tell you our garden has been left to do what it wants for the most part over the winter. We tried to trim and cut everything right back before the cold weather set in, but there were a few areas we probably could’ve done with tackling a bit more.
If it’s allowed to grow unrestricted, it might end up creating additional work in the long term but keeping on top of tasks more regularly, in smaller bursts, can really help. I did this with the hedges last year; we’ve got quite a lot of boundary hedges so sectioning them definitely helped when it came to tackling that one.
But how can we tell when garden maintenance is needed, other than just looking at it from inside the house?
The Unruly Weeds Have Taken Over
Sometimes, the most obvious sign that it’s time to don a pair of gardening gloves is when you finally notice the weeds. Weeds can be a blight on patios and garden paths. But the problems they pose go beyond the way they look. They can also compete with the other plants in your garden, sucking up valuable resources like water, light, and soil nutrients. Getting rid of them, therefore, should be a priority – unless you like the weedy and unruly look of course. The way that you do this will depend on the nature of the weed.
I try to keep the area under our trees free of weeds but they always come back. And don’t even get me started on the weeds that pop up through the brick weave – it’s relentless, but we are lucky to have a beautiful big garden so it’s one of those things that goes with the territory; you get rid of weeds in one area, and they pop up in another.
Your Plants Look Stressed and Lacklustre
Being a good gardener means having an idea of what your plants ideally should look like. This way, you’ll know when they’re in need of attention. Symptoms could include brown leaves, drooping, a lack of growth, or general dullness when they’re in flower. The solution might be to water more, or less, or to move certain plants out of the shade. The fewer different varieties of plants you have, the easier it will be to learn their various quirks and to take corrective action.
Our lavender was looking a little sad last year once all the bees had had their fill, so I gave it all a good trim just before winter set in last year and we’re now seeing new shoots and growth, although I’ve had to dig a few out because they’ve become too big and a bit too woody for the area that we have them in. The plan is to plant a few perennials in between the remaining lavender shrubs – low maintenance ones though, obviously!
Pests and Diseases are Making Their Mark
Sometimes, outside intruders will make their mark on your garden. In fact, many gardeners face a constant battle against pests like aphids, slugs, and even rabbits.
These can bring diseases, which can quickly spread through an entire plot (or even an entire garden). Keeping pests at bay might be a matter of judiciously spreading pesticide. Or, it might be that you can limit their spread by attracting the right predators. If your garden is filled with ladybirds, hoverflies, spiders, and toads, then populations of herbivorous animals will be naturally limited.
Our blighters are muntjac deer, but our garden has also managed to attract peacocks before. Luckily we’ve not had too many issues with pests or diseases as we have tried to take our garden right back to basics.
The Lawn is Looking Tired and Neglected
A lawn will need regular attention if it is going to thrive. You can do this by mowing it, watering it, feeding it, and scarifying it. Where growth is uneven, or plants other than grass are intruding, it’s a good idea to intervene quickly. Doing so could prevent the lawn from deteriorating further.
You might also seek to beautify your lawn with the help of decorations and other special elements. Borders can be demarcated with solar lights, for example, in order to keep the space looking good at night.
Your Hard Landscaping is Showing Wear and Tear
Thus far, we’ve focused our attention on the parts of your garden that aren’t alive. But non-plant elements can deteriorate, too. Paving might crack, fence panels might rot, and patios might suffer from a buildup of moss. Just look at our fence. It’s actually next door’s shrubs, trees and plants that are causing the issue, so we’re going to get it replaced in the next couple of weeks – not before I’ve trimmed their overhang right back though (don’t worry, they’ve agreed!).
Scrubbing surfaces, and protecting them, can be critical. This goes especially for timber elements, like decking, which will benefit from periodic refinishing. I’ve managed to jet wash the coping slabs and half of the patio already. It’s time to do the other half and then tackle the other projects I’ve started round the garden. Fingers crossed it all comes together over the next 12 months so that this time next year, it’ll be low key, easy planting and maintenance for me!