Now winter has passed, we’re welcoming warmer and longer days. It’s also the perfect time to start thinking about what to plant now it’s spring!
In this planting guide, you’ll find the best types of plants to fill your garden with now so they can thrive in the summertime. Now is also a good time to start planning for what you’d like growing during winter.
3 BEST Plants for Spring
1. Herbs
Imagine summer barbeques with fresh basil garnishes straight from your garden. Or an ice cold pitcher of water filled with mint to keep you refreshed throughout those warm Australian days.
Spring is the perfect time to begin planting herbs such as parsley, thyme, basil, coriander and mint. The best part is, you can grow herbs with very little space. All you need is a windowsill or balcony!
How to care for herbs this spring:
Plant your herbs in a good quality soil in a pot that allows for plenty of drainage. While it’s best to keep the soil moist, ensure you don’t soak your spring herbs as they don’t like to be overwatered.
As for fertilising, you’ll only need to do so sparingly as some common ingredients can actually inhibit the growth and flavour of your herbs.
2. Bulb Plants (Lilies, Tulips, Etc.)
Spring is the perfect time to plant summer-blooming bulb plants, such as lilies and tulips. However, there are dozens of stunning bulbs to choose from, including daffodils, freesias and irises.
What we love about bulbs is the wide variety of colours available. You can scatter white, yellow, pink and all sorts of coloured bulbs throughout your garden to really bring the spring vibes.
We love the fragrance of the oriental lily, however be careful choosing what to plant as most varieties of lilies are toxic to cats.
How to care for bulbs this spring:
Most bulb plants will benefit from a well-draining loose soil so their roots can grow easily. You’ll need to water your bulbs once a week and feed them with a good-quality fertiliser every few weeks.
What you do need to be cautious of is how much sun to expose your bulbs to. Each type of bulb has different requirements so be sure to ask your local nursery staff what they recommend. For example, lilies and daffodils will need at least 6 hours of sunlight a day to produce their gorgeous flowers, while others will need more or less.
How much sunlight your spring bulbs need will depend where you plant them in your garden, and of course your climate zone. It’s good to map out your garden before you start digging to ensure you have enough appropriate space for each type and to ensure you’re happy with the number of plants you’ll have in each area.
3. Fruits and vegetables
While some fruit and vegetable plants thrive in a bit of winter frost, there are plenty that thrive in the sun too. For those who live in warmer, tropical parts of Australia, think about planting citrus fruits, tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchinis, If you’re not in these more humid areas, peas, corn, spinach and strawberries will give you plenty of return on investment.
Creating your own fruit or vegetable garden will not only provide you with fresh and delicious produce, but can save you some money on your next grocery bill. You may even have enough to give to friends and family!
How to care for spring fruits and vegetables:
Once you have set up an area for your new fruit or vegetable garden, make sure you have a good-quality soil for the seeds to grow in. Add a layer of mulch preferred by your type of fruit or vegetable once planted to help the plants retain moisture. Give the new plants a good watering, ensuring you water them again each week.
You will want to add a good quality fertiliser, but avoid adding any manure directly to the plants to stop any contamination.
Feature Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash
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