5 tips to make garden & balcony fit for spring
The days are getting longer, birds are chirping again in the morning and the first pollen is already on the way? very clear: spring is coming. High time to make balcony and garden ready for the nice season. I'll tell you what to do to make your home oasis come out of hibernation.
There is a lot to do outside after the long, cold season. Garden, balcony and terrace must be prepared for the garden season. When you can start working depends on the weather. As a rule of thumb, if temperatures are no longer regularly falling at minus temperatures during the night and the ground is not frozen anymore, you can start working. Ideally, the soil is already slightly dried up by the first warmer sunny days.
1. Prepare the soil
The basis for all flowers, shrubs and trees is the soil. Magnificent flowers and lush greenery thrive only when the conditions are right. First loosen the floor thoroughly with a rake. They ensure that the soil is aerated and can absorb rainfall. You can remove sprouting weeds and old leaves as well.
In the next step, you should incorporate compost and fertilizer. In the past season, the plants in the beds have taken many nutrients out of the ground. That's why replenishment is important now.
Old soil in window boxes and pots, however, should be replaced with new ones before planting. However, the old earth can be recycled: simply compost with other materials from the garden. You can later mix the finished compost with soil and distribute it in the garden and balcony boxes.
2. Cutting, necking and repotting
Spring is the right season to cut back on plants. It depends on the timing: Most fruit trees, shrubs, perennials or vines, should be trimmed as possible, before they wake up to new life and show the first fresh shoots.
Transplanting is also the best way to survive most plants in March. Now you can move young plants into larger pots or a shrub to another location in the garden. For winter storage in the basement or garage stored plants, you can now bring back into the open.
3. plant spring messengers
Spring time is planting time. Whether young fruit trees, shrubs or perennials? Now is the most suitable moment for planting. You can set colorful accents with early bloomers. For example, the forerunner of the new garden year includes forsythia. Depending on the weather, she is already stretching out her yellow flowers to the sun in March. The broom or some ornamental cherries are also among the early flowering plants. And of course there are also many flowers that open their buds early? for example primroses or forget-me-nots. If you use the first mild days for planting, you will soon see a splash of color in the garden or on the balcony.
4. Welcome animals
Also for the animals in your garden you can do something after the winter. For example, the breeding season begins for many bird species between March and April. With nest boxes you can offer the animals a suitable place for nest building. These should be placed in well protected locations. However, busy terraces or balconies are not suitable. So that predators do not approach the brood, the boxes should also be at a minimum height of two and a half meters. Remember that the boxes have to be cleaned every winter!
Wild bees, ladybirds, lacewings and co are also happy about nesting and breeding opportunities. With insect hotels can you lure the beneficial animals into your garden? best in a sunny, wind and rain sheltered place.
5. Bring up garden furniture
For a long time, the terrace and balcony were deserted. But soon there will be relaxed breaks and convivial rounds. At the latest then should everything seem inviting? so cleaners out and go? s. Start with the floor: stone slabs or wood tiles should first be swept thoroughly and then wiped. Wooden floor can be additionally polished with special care products or colors. With tiles and planks, do you also make sure that everything is still stuck? and possibly repair damage.
Now it's time for the furniture. Tables and chairs that spent the winter outdoors need to be cleaned. Plastic furniture can be easily cleaned with water and detergent. Wood, on the other hand, needs a more specialized treatment. It does not tolerate corrosive cleaning agents and should also be rubbed with wood care. This extends the lifetime of the furniture.
All done? Then spring can come!
