Time to spring into action in the garden

Spring is here this week and it's time to get back into the garden.

To make your lawn look lovely this summer, you need to put in a bit of work now. Top dress with a good quality lawn fertiliser. If your lawn needs repair in patches, use lawn seed and lawn mix. Spray with Turf Clean to get rid of weeds and Lawn Prickleweed Control if this is a problem. It's also a good time to sow new lawn.

Protect new rose growth from pests and diseases with Super Spectrum. Apply rose fertiliser to promote healthy growth and vigorous flowering.

Plant strawberries, blueberries and rhubarb for delicious desserts this summer. Feed berry fruit, citrus and fruit trees with citrus fertiliser. Remember that citrus are hungry plants so be generous with the fertiliser. Hang codling moth traps in apple trees to prevent caterpillars entering the fruit.

Grow your own vegetables for Christmas dinner. Sow beetroot, broccoli, broad beans, carrots and peas directly into your garden bed now. Sow courgettes, cucumbers, capsicum, tomatoes and eggplant into seed trays ready for planting out in October.

Potatoes can now be planted straight into the garden or in a tub or planter. Swift is a good early potato. Desiree and Allura are reliable and a variety of Maori potatoes are available.

Use acid fertiliser to feed your Rhodos, Azaleas and Camellias after flowering to re-energise them and keep them healthy. Plant up hanging baskets, pots and containers with your favourite summer flowers. Impatiens, Lobelia, Alyssum and Petunias will all do well.

These gardening tips were supplied by Palmers, New Plymouth.