It’s hard to believe given the craziness 2020 is delivering, but Spring is just around the corner. In Brisbane’s Inner West, that means our gardens and yards are about to come back to life and we’ll be spending more time outdoors. Below are five enjoyable ways to get your outdoor living spaces ready for Spring.
1 Use the cooler winter weekends to clean up
While the days are cooler and the sun not as harsh, it is the perfect time to get outdoors and start preparing for Spring. Clear garden beds, weed and feed, remove plants that no longer appeal and fix any retaining and fencing that needs attention. You will appreciate the effort later.
2 Visit local nurseries for inspiration
Make a day of it and visit one of Brisbane’s beautiful nurseries for some planting inspiration. My personal favourite is Brookfield Gardens. They have a beautiful selection of plants, pots, and homewares and the Wild Canary Bistro is a perfect spot to stop for lunch. Our local Farmers Markets also have a great range of pots and plants to choose from. Check out Kelvin Grove on Saturdays or Milton on a Sunday.
3 Create a herb garden
You don’t need a lot of room to create a self-sufficient herb and vegetable garden. Spaces can be created in corners of yards and even on decks and veranda’s. There are plenty of online resources for learning what herbs and vegetables work well together and thrive in our conditions and a subscriptions to online magazine hub Readly gives you access to plenty of Australian and International Gardening and Home titles. When it comes to purchasing, I love Bunnings for good quality and affordable herbs and vegetables. Their fruit trees are excellent too.
4 Think about bees!
Bees are nature’s powerhouse and there has been a recent surge of interest in keeping bees in backyards all over Brisbane. Native bees have proved popular as they are stingless, easy to care for and have the added benefit of producing up to 1kg of honey a year. Hives can be placed in backyards or on decks and it is lovely sitting at dusk with a wine in hand, watching them come home from a busy day of pollinating! The best source to learn more about Native Bees and whether they are suitable for you is the local Brisbane website https://sugarbag.net
5 Get planting
After all your preparation, you will need some time at the end of August to get planting. Remember to feed your gardens with plenty of water and some good quality fertiliser and in no time you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your hard labour!!
