Get Your Garden Ready for Warmer Weather

By Liam Jennings

As the days grow longer and the temperatures rise, gardeners everywhere feel the urge to head outside and prepare their gardens for the warmer months. Spring is the perfect time to give your outdoor space a fresh start, whether you’re nurturing a vegetable patch, tending to a flower garden, or simply beautifying your yard. Preparing your garden now ensures that it will thrive in the coming season and helps set the stage for a bountiful summer.

Here are some essential tips for getting your garden ready for the warmer weather.

Clean Up and Clear Out

Before you can plant new seeds or tend to your perennials, you need to clear away the remnants of winter. Start by removing any dead plants, weeds, and debris that have accumulated over the colder months. Dead leaves, fallen branches, and spent annuals can harbor pests and diseases, so it’s important to clear them out to create a clean, healthy environment for new growth.

Once the garden beds are clear, take a moment to prune your perennials and shrubs. Deadheading spent blooms and cutting back dead stems encourages healthier growth and prevents the plant from wasting energy. Pruning is especially important for rose bushes, hydrangeas, and other flowering plants that benefit from a good trim before the growing season begins.

Revitalise the Soil

After a season of dormancy, your garden’s soil needs attention. The cold, wet conditions of winter can leave soil compacted and depleted of nutrients. Start by loosening the soil in your garden beds with a fork or spade, which helps improve aeration and drainage. You might also want to add organic matter like compost, leaf mould, or well-rotted manure to improve soil structure and replenish nutrients.

Testing your soil’s pH can also be a good idea, as certain plants thrive in more acidic or alkaline conditions. If your soil is too acidic, adding lime can help balance it, while sulphur can lower the pH if it’s too alkaline.

Fertilise Early for a Strong Start

Fertilising in spring gives your plants the nutrients they need to grow vigorously throughout the warmer months. Different plants have varying nutritional needs, so consider using a slow-release fertiliser for general garden use, or choose a specific fertiliser designed for the types of plants you’re growing.

Organic fertilisers like compost or seaweed extracts are a great way to feed your plants while also improving the soil’s health. For flower gardens, you can add a balanced fertiliser that provides nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to encourage lush foliage and blooms. For vegetable gardens, opt for a fertiliser rich in nitrogen, which promotes leaf and stem growth, while phosphorus helps with root and fruit development.

Planting and Sowing

Spring is the ideal time to plant, whether you’re starting from seeds or transplanting seedlings. Hardy annuals and cool-weather vegetables like peas, spinach, and lettuce can be planted early in the season, while more tender plants like tomatoes and peppers should wait until the soil warms up.

For flower gardens, now is the perfect time to plant summer bulbs such as dahlias, gladiolus, and lilies. These plants will produce stunning blooms as the season progresses, adding vibrant colour and texture to your garden. Be mindful of the growing conditions of each plant and ensure that they are placed in the right spot—sun-loving plants should go in sunny locations, while shade-tolerant varieties should be placed in more sheltered areas.

If you’ve been dreaming of a herb garden, spring is the perfect time to start planting your favourite herbs. Parsley, basil, rosemary, and thyme thrive in warm weather and will be ready to harvest in the summer months.

Mulching Matters

Mulching is one of the best ways to protect your garden from the heat of the summer while helping your plants thrive. Adding a layer of organic mulch around your plants helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

Choose a mulch that suits your garden’s needs—compost, wood chips, straw, or bark mulch are all excellent choices. Apply a 5-7cm layer of mulch around your plants, being careful not to pile it too close to the stems or trunks, as this can cause rot.

Mulching also helps improve the soil over time as it breaks down, adding valuable organic matter back into your garden beds.

Irrigation Preparation

Warmer weather means your plants will need more water to stay hydrated. Spring is the perfect time to check your irrigation system or hose setup to ensure it’s working efficiently. Make sure your hoses are free from leaks and consider setting up a drip irrigation system to deliver water directly to the roots of your plants, where it’s needed most.

Watering early in the morning is best during warmer months as it allows the plants to absorb moisture before the heat of the day evaporates it. Aim for deep, infrequent watering to encourage deeper root growth.

Pest and Disease Control

With warmer weather comes an increase in pests and diseases. Keep an eye out for common garden pests like aphids, slugs, and snails, which can cause damage to tender new shoots. Consider using organic pest control methods, such as introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs, using neem oil, or setting up physical barriers like copper tape to deter slugs.

Inspect your plants regularly for signs of disease such as powdery mildew, rust, or leaf spot. Early detection is key to preventing the spread of disease, and removing affected foliage can help keep the problem under control.

Plan for Growth

As your garden springs to life, don’t forget to plan for future growth. Staking tall plants early will prevent them from flopping over as they grow, and ensuring enough space between plants allows for proper air circulation, which can help prevent disease.

Get out into the garden!

By giving your garden the care it needs now, you’ll set yourself up for a thriving, beautiful space all summer long. Whether you’re growing food, flowers, or simply enhancing your landscape, a little preparation in spring can make all the difference as the weather warms.

Shredded Rubber Mulch in Your Garden: Is it any good?

By Liam Jennings

Gardeners have experimented with various mulching materials over the years. Each offers its own set of benefits and drawbacks, with most eventually breaking down, fading, or blending into the soil. However, when rubber mulch—made from recycled tires—entered the market, it promised a long-lasting, low-maintenance solution that wouldn’t require reapplication over time. But like any product, shredded rubber mulch comes with both pros and cons.

What is Shredded Rubber Mulch?

Shredded rubber mulch is primarily made from recycled tires and comes in several forms, including crumbs, shreds, nuggets, and sheets. It’s widely used in areas like playgrounds, roadways, and running tracks due to its durability. When compared to traditional mulches, rubber mulch tends to be more expensive upfront but boasts a significantly longer lifespan, potentially saving money in the long run.

The Benefits of Rubber Mulch

1. Long-lasting Durability: One of the main advantages of rubber mulch is its longevity. Unlike organic materials, it does not decompose or break down over time, meaning it essentially remains in your garden indefinitely. Provided it’s not affected by extreme conditions like flooding or heavy erosion, rubber mulch will stay in place with little need for maintenance.

2. Moisture Conservation: Rubber mulch acts as a barrier that helps conserve soil moisture. Rain and snow can still penetrate the mulch and reach the soil, but the rubber prevents it from evaporating too quickly. This helps maintain moisture in the soil for longer, especially in hot or dry climates.

3. Colour Retention: Rubber mulch is available in a variety of colours, which tend to hold up well over time. Unlike organic mulches that may fade after a season or two due to sun and rain exposure, rubber mulch maintains its colour for years, providing a long-lasting, uniform appearance.

4. Environmentally Friendly Recycling: Since rubber mulch is made from recycled tires, it helps repurpose waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or oceans. It provides a practical and sustainable way to create a useful product out of discarded materials.

5. Effective Weed Barrier: When applied thickly, rubber mulch can be an excellent barrier against weeds. Due to its lack of pores and ability to retain little moisture, weeds struggle to take root. Seeds may start to germinate, but they typically die off quickly due to the absence of moisture.

6. Easy to Transport: Unlike heavier options like rocks or pebbles, rubber mulch is dense but relatively lightweight, making it easier to transport in large quantities.

The Downsides of Rubber Mulch

1. No Benefit to Soil Health: One of the biggest drawbacks of rubber mulch is that it does not enhance soil health. While organic mulches decompose over time, adding valuable nutrients and organic matter to the soil, rubber mulch is completely inert. It doesn’t break down, meaning your soil doesn’t get the same nutrient boost that organic mulches provide.

2. Heat Retention: Rubber mulch is known to absorb and retain heat, which can become problematic in certain climates. On hot, sunny days, it can trap heat, which may damage delicate plants and even burn the paws of animals walking on it. In extreme conditions, rubber mulch has even been known to combust, releasing harmful toxins into the atmosphere and the surrounding soil.

3. Difficult to Remove: Once you’ve decided to use rubber mulch, it can be difficult to get rid of if you ever change your mind. Unlike organic mulch that breaks down and becomes part of the soil, rubber mulch remains intact. Removing every last piece can be a tedious task, and disposing of it in bulk requires finding a proper recycling or disposal facility.

The Verdict

Rubber mulch has its place in certain landscapes, particularly in areas where little to no planting occurs, such as pathways, playgrounds, or non-vegetated spaces. Its durability, weed suppression, and moisture retention make it appealing for these uses. However, for traditional garden beds or areas where soil health and plant growth are priorities, rubber mulch may not be the best option.

While it may seem convenient, the long-term consequences of using rubber mulch in a garden should not be overlooked. Its inability to improve soil quality, potential to overheat, and difficulty in removal are significant drawbacks that need careful consideration. Before deciding to incorporate shredded rubber mulch into your garden, weigh the pros and cons thoroughly to ensure it’s the right choice for your space.

How to Harvest and Dry Herbs for Optimal Flavour and Use

By Liam Jennings

Herbs have long been valued for their culinary, medicinal, and aromatic qualities. Growing your own herbs at home offers a fresh supply of these versatile plants, but to make the most of your harvest, it’s essential to know when and how to pick and preserve them. Whether you’re growing basil, rosemary, thyme, or parsley, understanding the best practices for harvesting and drying herbs will help you maintain their rich flavours and potent properties throughout the year.

The Best Time to Harvest Herbs

Timing is crucial when it comes to harvesting herbs. To get the most flavour and potency, you’ll want to harvest at the right moment in their growth cycle.

1. Morning Harvests: The best time to harvest herbs is in the early morning, after the dew has evaporated but before the sun’s heat intensifies. At this time, essential oils—the compounds responsible for the aroma and flavour of herbs—are at their peak.
2. Pre-Flowering Stage: For most herbs, the optimal time to harvest is just before they flower. As herbs flower, they start diverting energy from leaf production to seed production, which can reduce the concentration of essential oils in the leaves. Keep an eye on your plants, and when you see buds beginning to form, it’s time to start harvesting.
3. Leaf-by-Leaf or Entire Plant: Depending on the herb and your needs, you can harvest individual leaves or entire sprigs. For perennial herbs like thyme or rosemary, you can harvest sprigs throughout the growing season. For annuals like basil or cilantro, you may want to gather the entire plant before the first frost.

How to Harvest Herbs Properly

Proper harvesting techniques not only preserve the quality of the herbs but also ensure that your plants remain healthy and productive.

1. Use Sharp Scissors or Pruning Shears: Always use sharp, clean scissors or pruning shears to cut herbs. This will ensure a clean cut and reduce the risk of damaging the plant or introducing disease.
2. Don’t Strip Too Much: When harvesting perennial herbs, avoid taking more than one-third of the plant at a time. This will allow the plant to continue growing and producing more leaves throughout the season.
3. Focus on New Growth: Harvest from the top of the plant, where the youngest and most flavourful leaves are located. This will encourage the plant to produce more branches and leaves, promoting bushier growth.

Drying Herbs: The Best Methods

Once you’ve harvested your herbs, the next step is to preserve them through drying. Drying herbs allows you to enjoy their flavours year-round, even after the growing season has ended. There are several methods to dry herbs, each with its own advantages.

1. Air Drying Herbs

Air drying is one of the simplest and most traditional methods for drying herbs. It works best for herbs with low moisture content, such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, and sage.

• Step 1: Gather the herbs into small bunches. Tie the stems together with string or twine, ensuring the bunches are not too thick to prevent Mold formation.
• Step 2: Hang the bunches upside down in a warm, dry, and well-ventilated area. Keep them out of direct sunlight, as too much heat can cause the essential oils to evaporate.
• Step 3: Allow the herbs to dry for about 1 to 2 weeks. You’ll know they’re ready when the leaves crumble easily between your fingers.
• Step 4: Strip the leaves from the stems and store them in airtight containers away from light and heat.

2. Oven Drying Herbs

If you’re short on time or live in a humid climate, drying herbs in the oven is a faster method. This method is especially good for herbs like basil, parsley, and mint, which have higher moisture content.

• Step 1: Preheat your oven to the lowest possible temperature (ideally between 32°C and 45°C).
• Step 2: Spread the herb leaves in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Be sure the leaves are not overlapping.
• Step 3: Place the tray in the oven with the door slightly open to allow moisture to escape.
• Step 4: Check the herbs every 10 to 15 minutes to ensure they’re drying evenly. Most herbs will take between 1 to 2 hours to dry completely.
• Step 5: Remove the leaves when they crumble easily, let them cool, and store in an airtight container.

3. Dehydrator Drying

Using a food dehydrator is a more controlled way to dry herbs, and it’s ideal for those who regularly preserve large batches of herbs. A dehydrator allows for consistent airflow and temperature, which can help preserve the flavour and colour of your herbs.

• Step 1: Arrange the herb leaves in a single layer on the dehydrator trays.
• Step 2: Set the dehydrator to its lowest temperature setting (around 35°C to 45°C for delicate herbs, and up to 125°F for sturdier herbs).
• Step 3: Check the herbs after 1 to 4 hours. The drying time will vary depending on the moisture content of the herb and the efficiency of the dehydrator.
• Step 4: Once dried, store the herbs in airtight containers to retain their flavour.

Storing Dried Herbs

Proper storage is crucial to maintaining the potency of your dried herbs. After drying, herbs should be stored in airtight containers like glass jars or metal tins. Keep them in a cool, dark place, away from sunlight and heat, as exposure to light and moisture can degrade their flavour over time. Ideally, use dried herbs within a year for the best flavour, though some herbs may last longer.

Using Dried Herbs in the Kitchen

Once dried, herbs become a versatile addition to your kitchen pantry. Use them to season soups, stews, meats, or vegetable dishes. As a general rule, dried herbs are more concentrated in flavour than fresh herbs, so you’ll need about one-third the amount of dried herbs when substituting them for fresh ones in recipes.

Conclusion

Harvesting and drying herbs is a rewarding process that allows you to enjoy the fresh flavours of your garden year-round. By knowing when and how to harvest your herbs and selecting the right drying method, you can preserve their essence and flavour, ensuring that your kitchen remains stocked with homegrown goodness even in the off-season.

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