The cold of winter may still be in the air, but with the arrival of spring, now is the best time to plant your garden.
Australian gardener Tino Carnival lives in the village of Moenina (Hobart, Tasmania) and says that while it can be cold in many parts of Australia, "the winter places remain fertile."
"The days are getting longer and the work you do now will pay off later," he says.
Whether you live in a cold or warm climate, Tino shares his top four tips for getting your garden ready for spring.
Start with a general cleaning by removing weedsThe first thing to start with is shoveling all dead leaves and branches, as well as dirt and debris buildups, in and around the area.
"This will help discourage pests and diseases, as well as a nice and tidy waiting space to work," says Tino.
Many plants hibernate during the winter, but this is not the case with weeds.
Surprisingly, they can be useful in the winter and act as a "crop cover" to protect the soil.
But if you're an avid gardener, you'll know how fast they grow (and spread).
"Weed control is very important, especially in dormant winter crops such as asparagus and rhubarb," says Tino.
"This will reduce root competition and help with crown breaks."
Before deciding to plant new crops, Tino recommends removing all weeds.
Before planting, check the pH level of the soilAfter removing leaves and weeds from the garden, it's time to check the condition of the soil with a soil test kit (available at most nurseries or garden stores).
"If you've used the same bed for multiple crops, it's a good idea to check the pH of the soil," says Tino.
Follow these steps to test your soil:
"The calcium in the lime helps soften the soil," he says.
Keep your soil healthy by adding compostLoosening the soil and turning the bed will help keep weeds at bay, but it's especially important if you plan on growing root vegetables like carrots or beets.
The next important step in refreshing the soil is adding compost.
"Compost is a versatile soil conditioner, full of good things to keep [your plants] alive," says Tino.
To make compost, mixing old compost or blood and bone is another good way to restore soil nutrients, along with a layer of straw on top to prevent the soil from drying out.
If you've used straw mulch before and hate it when the wind blows in your yard, Tino says adding compost or wood chips on top will help keep it in place.
The transition from winter to spring also means that it is a good time to feed perennials or vegetables as well, such as rhubarb or asparagus.
A quick and easy way to do this is to put a bunch of blood and bone dust around the plant, then put a layer of compost on top.
Planting vegetables in the springNow your garden is ready for harvest - the big question is, what should you plant?
If you can't wait to get into the garden and grow something quickly, Tino suggests choosing seeds instead of seedlings.
"Get crops, lettuce, radish or even fast-ripening parsley," he says.
"[I'm] in and out in six weeks."
Before choosing which crops to plant, it is a good idea to rotate crops by pulling out the winter vegetables and replacing them with spring vegetables.
"[They] deplete the soil of nutrients and constant tillage can create a buildup of pathogens that love that particular plant family," he says.
When it comes to planting seeds, the rule of thumb is to plant seeds every four inches, or you can try Tino's approach and plant the seeds in rows.
While some crops like lettuce can be planted and harvested quickly, many are weather dependent.
"Don't sow too early," says Tino.
"You don't want your young plants wiped out in the cold spring weather."
The layout of your plot will leave room for growing next season's crops, such as tomatoes and peppers.
"Leave some space ... You don't want to arrive in November and suddenly you realize you don't have room for those wonderful summer harvests."
Check out this section and find other helpful tips on the Gardening Australila website.
ABC in your inbox every dayReceive our weekly newsletter for the best of ABC Everyday
