5 Great Tips for Revitalizing Your Home, Garden & Surrounds

ShowMe’s Guide to Spring Garden Preparation and Maintenance

Winter has run its course and gardens are begging for attention and maintenance. Typical needs are lawn renewal, flower and shrub planting, pool care, general garden service and outbuilding maintenance. The good news is that, even if you’re not blessed with green fingers, is it possible to get your spring garden looking its blooming best. And, if you live in Paarl, you can do so quickly and easily using the services of local suppliers. Here’s how…

1. Pool Cleaning

Photo: redbeacon.com

When it comes to pool maintenance, the best method is definitely prevention. Brush, vacuum and skim your pool on a regular basis, checking the skimmer basket every time you do – allowing it to overflow or sit for hours full to the top with debris leads to poor water circulation, which, in turn, gives algae a foothold. And test the water often, too – as much as every day if your pool is in frequent use as suntan lotion and body creams can lead to chemical imbalances. If it is necessary to administer chemicals, it’s definitely best to consult a pro – take a water sample along to your local pool shop and let the experts advise you on what’s needed to maintain a sparkling blue oasis.

If you prefer to spend more time in the pool than cleaning it, go for advice to Michael Wilmot of Colin’s Pool Services in Paarl, a guy who has the weekly pool-cleaning ritual down to a science. He can skim, vacuum, clean your pool, and administer chemicals in under an hour – not much more time than it takes to suit up, slather on sunscreen, and haul out the lilo. You can contact Michael on 076 830 9462.

2. Weeding, Mulching and Fertilizer

Photo: bobvila.com

You’ve probably heard the saying, ‘A stitch in time saves nine’, but, when it comes to weeding, this truth is greatly increased if weeds are ‘subtracted’ before their ‘multiplication factor’ kicks in. Hand weeding is easier while the ground is still moist from recent rains but, when doing so, try to disturb the soil as little as possible – the more the soil is turned over, the more dormant weed seeds are brought to the surface, giving you new problems. A gentle, organic fertilizer at this time of the year will also help create head-turning results later in the season. When applying granular fertilizers, be sure none settles on leaves or they may burn. Mulches such as bark chips, straw and other loose coverings placed on the surface assist the ground in retaining moisture in summer and also suppress the growth of weeds, while improving soil texture and encouraging beneficial soil organisms. Mulches are a simple, low-cost way of improving and protecting flowerbeds and are best applied from mid- to late-spring, when the soil is moist and warm.

Need help on what to plant, when and how? Consult VIP Gardens Landscaping & Garden Maintenance for advice on weeding, mulching, feeding and plant selection for the Paarl area.

3. Lawn Care

Photo: smilinggardener.com

Good soil is living soil but, since many home lawns have poor quality soil, top-dressing is important, say those in the know at Paarl’s VIP Gardens Landscaping & Garden Maintenance. Top-dressing is a way of adding organic material and restoring the balance to home lawns, building better soil and improving soil condition. Top-dressing lawns is best performed using compost, the goal being to build better soil structure and a better environment for micro organisms. To reduce the cost of the top-dressing, compost can be mixed with topsoil or river sand and an appropriate amount of fertilizer. When top-dressing, first mow the lawn as low as possible without “scalping” the grass. Then, spread the top-dressing over the lawn to a depth of 1 to 1.5cm, lightly working it into the grass with the back of a rake – the object is to get as much top-dressing touching the soil as possible. With sufficient watering, much of the top-dressing should work into the soil in as little as a few weeks.

For specialist assistance on planning and care of your lawn and garden, call Janet vd Merwe and the experts at VIP Gardens Landscaping & Garden Maintenance.

4. Outbuilding and Garden Shed Maintenance

Photo: harbornesash.com

Appearances count. Improve those of your house and garden this spring by following the advice of Paarl handyman, Ian Laing of In Line Handyman Services. Winter takes its toll on gutters and paving, says Ian, so clean gutters and remove algae from paving with a high-pressure hose. Windows, too, take a beating, especially wooden ones. Timber windows need to be given a good sanding and cleaning, and then must be painted with a UV-resistant varnish. Fresh putty needs to be applied to areas where it is flaking. The exteriors of buildings also take quite a knock during winter and now is the ideal time to repair those surface cracks in walls. You need to open the cracks with a chisel to properly remedy the problem, advises Ian. Then remove all the loose dirt and fill the gaps with an external crack filler. Allow that to dry properly, then seal with a plaster primer and, once dry, apply two coats of your wall paint. Save on cleaning agents by using a water-based primer, adds Ian.

Short of time? Let Ian Laing of In Line Handyman Services do your outbuilding and garden shed maintenance jobs quickly and cost-effectively for you.

5. Choose Correct Garden Tools and Outdoor Materials

Photo: ghantapic.blogspot.co.za

Your local hardware is a one-stop shop for everything from garden tools to weed-eaters, fertilizers to paints. Ask to see long-handled tools like trowels, forks, rakes and hoes – these enable one to work far more quickly clearing weeds, turning the soil and preparing for plantings; all without straining your back! Also, a lick of paint can be quickly and smoothly applied using a long-handled roller and will work wonders on the appearance of your garden structures and walls. The QCO range of exterior paints available at Buco Hardware in Paarl is just the thing for your outdoor paint job – the QCO Economical PVA, a smooth matt water-based paint, is a good low-cost option for walls, and the QCO Acrylic Roof Paint, a great long-life choice for providing protection for all types of roofs. And, for the longest-lasting paint job, always apply at least two coats – either a coat of primer and a coat of paint, or two coats of exterior house paint. Whether gardening or painting, for the best results generally try to pick a day that isn’t too hot or windy – the heat of the sun or excessive wind can dry out soil and set back young plants as well as cause paint to dry too quickly and prevent optimal paint film formation.

Visit Builders Trade Depot in Paarl and talk to their friendly staff for advice on garden tools and implements, fertilizers, weed killers, seeds, outdoor paints and for all other DIY requirements.

Obtain professional advice and assistance on garden preparation and maintenance from these convenient Paarl suppliers and specialists:

• For pool care, contact Colin’s Pool Services on 076 830 9462
• For weeding, mulching and fertilizers, contact VIP Gardens Landscaping & Garden Maintenance.
• For planning and care of lawns and gardens, contact VIP Gardens Landscaping & Garden Maintenance.
• For outbuilding and garden shed maintenance, contact In Line Handyman Services.
• For advice on garden implements, chemicals and exterior paints, contact Builders Trade Depot on 021 868 3040

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