The work you do in spring decides how your garden copes with summer. Get the soil fed, mulched and weed-free while it still holds spring moisture, and you'll water less, weed less and come home from the holidays to a garden that's still thriving.
1. Feed the soil
- Dig Daltons Compost into vege gardens and annual beds before planting.
- Top up raised beds and large planters with Daltons Garden Mix, which includes a wetting agent and controlled-release fertiliser.
- Feed shrubs, roses, hedges and borders with Landscaper Pro Flora 5/6 Months. One application carries them right through summer.
2. Clear weeds
- Weed thoroughly now, while weeds are small and the soil is soft.
3. Water deeply, then mulch
Mulch locks moisture into the soil, so the soil needs to be moist when it goes on. Give beds a deep soak (or mulch after good rain), then spread:
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Vege gardens and strawberries: Add a 50mm layer of Daltons Compost on top of the soil and around plants.
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Shrub beds and borders: Mega Mulch or Black Mulch at about 100mm.
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Feature beds and around trees: Bark Nuggets No5 at 75–150mm.
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Dry, sunny banks: Mega Mulch, which binds together and stays put.
Keep mulch clear of stems and trunks. Not sure which to use? See Choosing the Right Bark.
4. Water smarter
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Deep and less often: a long soak once or twice a week encourages deep roots that cope with heat. Frequent light sprinkles keep roots near the surface.
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Early morning is the best time to water, before the heat and wind dry things out.
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Water the soil, not the leaves. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses under mulch are the most efficient.
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Group thirsty plants together so you can water them without over-watering everything else.
- Pots dry out fastest. Move them into afternoon shade over the hottest weeks, and use Daltons Potting Mix, which includes a wetting agent and coco fibre for moisture.
More in How Often Should I Water My Garden? and How to Water Raised Beds During Water Restrictions.
5. Toughen up plants
Regular applications of Daltons NZ Natural Liquid Seaweed through late spring help plants build resilience to heat and drought. See Liquid Seaweed: What It Does.
6. Get the lawn ready
- Feed with Landscaper Pro All Round for a 4–5 month feed that carries the lawn into summer.
- Raise the mower height as it warms up. Longer grass shades the soil and copes better with dry spells.
- If grass grub or porina were a problem last year, apply Acelepryn GR in spring for season-long protection.
7. Cut the maintenance
Thinking about replacing a hard-to-water strip of lawn or a thirsty bed? Decorative stone over weed mat needs no watering or mowing. See Decorative Stone Ideas for a Low-Maintenance Garden.
Quick answers
When should I mulch for summer? Late spring, while the soil is still moist and before the heat arrives.
How deep should mulch be? Around 75–100mm for most bark and mulch products.
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