6 summer gardening jobs

From weeding to restoring furniture, there are plenty of odd jobs you can do outdoors to get your garden looking it’s best for summer entertaining. Here’s 6 to get you started:

1. Mulch your beds

Mulching your garden beds should be at the top of your summer gardening to-do list. Not only will mulch protect your gardens from the scorching heat by limiting moisture loss and conditioning the soil, it will also save you from weeding. You’ll need about 50-75mm of good quality mulch. Try to avoid laying the mulch too thick, as the water won’t make it down to the soil and your plants will dry out.

You’ll need about 50-75mm of good quality mulch. Try to avoid laying the mulch too thick, as the water won’t make it down to the soil and your plants will dry out.

2. Restore your outdoor furniture

Furniture that’s been exposed to the elements over the years can look a little tired, especially if debris or water has been allowed to collect on its surface. Spending an afternoon or two restoring your outdoor furniture will instantly improve the look of your outdoor space and encourage you to spend more time outside.

Timber furniture can easily look like new again with these tips. If your fabric is looking a little dull, consider investing in quality fabric to recover your cushions. And to simply give your outdoor furniture a lift, occasional cushions are a great way to add colour and texture to freshen up your sofa or chairs.

3. Prune your plants

Pruning plants will help improve their overall shape, encourage new growth and maintain their health. Remove any of your plants dead or broken branches to speed up wound healing. Plants such as roses can be pruned in early February and fruit trees can be given a haircut immediately after harvesting. Once your shrubs such as star jasmine, lavender and bottlebrush have finished flowering.

Plants such as roses can be pruned in early February and fruit trees can be given a haircut immediately after harvesting. Once your shrubs such as star jasmine, lavender and bottlebrush have finished flowering.

4. Get painting

Add some colour to your garden, refreshen up your home’s exterior or black out those fences. Painting can be difficult in summer because the paint can dry fast, but it’s often the best time to ensure you avoid the rain. If you are keen to get painting the exterior of your house or areas within your garden, the ideal conditions to do so is when the temperature is between 15-30 degrees and humidity 20-70%.

Stick to painting in early mornings or late afternoons and follow the shade. A hot surface in full sun may inhibit the paint from adhering properly, resulting in obvious brush marks and possible peeling later on.

5. Planting veggies

While you’ve got some time on your hands, why not add planting produce to your list of summer gardening jobs. Depending on your climate, there are plenty of veggies you can pop in the ground ready to harvest later in the year.

• Warm areas – plant zucchini, cucumber, eggplant, capsicum and tomatoes towards the end of the month. Lemongrass will survive the heat and asparagus can go in if you have a cool spot.
• Temperate – it’s still a little hot for herbs, however, lemongrass can be planted. Leeks, beans, cucumber, zucchini and spring onions are perfect for planting this month. At the end of January, start sowing your root veggies.
• Cool areas – now’s a great time to get your herbs in. Think basil, sage, dill and parsley. You can start planting seeds of long season brassicas and root veggies. Other veggies including spring onions, lettuces, zucchini and leeks can also go in.

6. Weeding

Lastly, the dreaded weeding is a summer gardening job hard to ignore. Hopefully, since you’ve been diligent at laying down your mulch, your weeding is kept to a minimum. Weeds will, unfortunately, grow like wildfire during the summer and their seeds will spread if you don’t stay on top of them.