Spring Detox for the Garden

A Spring Detox for the Garden

It is time to revive our gardens with a thorough spring detox, helping them recover from the effects of the cold winter months. We asked landscape professionals about the precautions that should be taken now and the essential garden maintenance practices for spring, so that we can fully enjoy our gardens during the sunny days ahead.

March Is the Ideal Time to Plant Long-Flowering Plants

“In spring, plants develop stronger foliage and begin to form buds. The development of a plant’s structural framework also depends on timely pruning. Before the growing season begins, flowering plants can be cleared of dead and broken branches, while their healthy growth can be encouraged through selective pruning.

As with all plants in the garden, lawns may also suffer damage and deterioration during the winter months. One of the most important maintenance tasks in spring is controlling weeds. Particularly in lawn areas, weeds that emerge in spring can be removed by hand or controlled with appropriate herbicide treatments.

Following winter precipitation such as snow and rain, lawn areas should be inspected for signs of settlement or unevenness. If moss has developed within the turf, the area should be raked to remove it. Iron sulphate or an appropriate moss-control treatment can then be applied.

The timing of early-spring pruning should be carefully determined. Spring is the ideal season for planting species that remain in flower for an extended period during summer. Plants that are planted once and return each spring, flowering throughout the summer, can likewise be planted during this period.

Among these plants, hydrangeas—one of the most popular choices—can be planted in shaded areas. Azaleas, begonias, rhododendrons, and camellias are suitable for partially shaded locations, while Osteospermum, commonly known as African daisy, and Felicia species, known as blue daisies, can be planted in sunny areas.”

— Zeynep Küçükali