The daffodils are out, the birds are singing and the mornings are getting lighter - Spring is definitely here! If you’re a keen gardener or have been planning a backyard upgrade, the warmer weather is your sign to get planning and planting.
From fruit trees to flowering ground cover, read through our spring planting recommendations below.
Start from the ground up
Before heading to the nursery or the garden centre, it’s important to get your soil sorted. Soil quality has a huge impact on the success of your spring planting, and we recommend enriching your soil with compost or other fertiliser before your new plants go into the ground.
Fertilising is especially important if you previously had other plants in the same patch of soil (often the case for raised garden beds or planter boxes). Adding compost or fertiliser replaces nutrients used by plants in previous growing seasons.
Trees and shrubs
Autumn is the best time to plant new trees, but you can still plant now - if you’re quick! Ideally, get any new trees planted by the end of October; this gives the trees time to establish roots and adapt to their new environment before the hotter summer months, which can place additional stress on young trees.
If you’re planning to plant fruit trees, spring is a great time to plant citrus, apples, and any sub-tropical fruiting trees (like passionfruit and tamarillo).
Remember to give newly planted trees a good layer of mulch, to protect their roots and help them grow. Some tree species may also benefit from staking while they’re young, especially if they’re in a location which is exposed to high winds.
In the vegetable garden
Spring is the vegetable gardener’s favourite time of year; there’s a wealth of edible goodies that are ready to plant now and can be harvested in summer. Lettuce, beans, courgettes, pumpkins and eggplants are just a handful of options; check the Tui planting calendar for more.
Spring is also a good time to plant root vegetables like parsnips, potatoes and kumara. If you’d like your potatoes ready in time for Christmas dinner, choose a fast-growing variety like Rocket or Swift.
If you’re not confident growing vegetables from seed, your local garden centre will have plenty of seedlings ready for planting.
Add some colour
Spring is the perfect time to add some colour back into your garden, either with flowering bedding plants or brightly coloured annuals.
Flowering bedding plants can be planted in early spring, although if you’re in a cooler area and still getting the occasional frost, it might be sensible to wait until October. Bedding plants are a fantastic way to add visual interest to your garden; they tend to be relatively low-maintenance and there are plenty of stunning options available. Snapdragons, dianthus and alyssum are all Kiwi classics.
Early spring is also a good time to plant “potted colour” flowers: bright, cheery blooms like marigolds, pansies and petunias. Again, you’ll find plenty of options at your local garden centre.
Ready to get started?
While we can’t help with flowers and veges - they’re a little too small for our team - if you’re planning on planting shrubs or trees, we can help. Our experienced arborists can help you choose plants that will thrive in your location, and we can also carry out larger planting projects.
