APG Spring Gardening Tips

APG is Bedford’s commercial garden maintenance business with more than 30 years of experience. The team has pulled together some great tips to get your garden blooming this spring. With deep roots in South Australia, APG continues to grow and flourish, building on our proud history of maintaining green spaces across the state.

Spring is the perfect time to step outside, get your hands in the soil, and bring your garden back to life. A thriving garden brings beauty and provides a space for wellbeing, connection, and joy, just like the parks, gardens and green spaces we keep safe and manicured. Whether you are an experienced gardener or just getting started, spring is the ideal season to refresh your outdoor space.

Here are some top tips shared by the APG team for spring: clean up, check and improve your soil, choose the right plants, prune for growth, protect your plants with mulch and watering and feed your garden.

The first step in preparing for spring is a thorough clean-up. Winter leaves behind fallen branches, dead leaves, and other debris that can smother plants or harbour overwintering pests. Clearing away and composting this clutter helps your garden breathe again and allows you to see what needs work. Tidy up garden beds, rake the lawn, and remove old mulch to give your plants a clean and healthy foundation. Properly composting your green waste kills weed seeds and pests in the green waste and helps the dead organic matter break down into a form that is going to be more usable and beneficial for your plants.

Healthy soil is the starting point for a successful garden. After months of cold and rain, your soil may be compacted or low in nutrients. Loosen the soil with a garden fork and mix in compost or natural organic matter. This improves drainage, restores nutrients, and prepares the bed for planting. If you are unsure about your soil’s health, testing the pH or nutrient levels can be helpful. If you are cultivating vegetables, rotating different types of crops each season can facilitate balanced nutrient absorption. To further enhance your gardening practices, consider incorporating companion planting in which you grow certain plants together alongside your crops. This approach offers several benefits, including natural pest deterrence and improved soil health.

Spring is the optimal season for carrying out structured pruning across most garden plants. The removal of dead, diseased, or damaged wood reduces the risk of pests and fungal infection, while selective thinning improves air circulation and light penetration throughout the canopy.

• Shrubs: Trim back vigorous growth to maintain shape and encourage a balanced structure. Early flowering shrubs (such as camellias and azaleas) should only be lightly pruned after flowering to avoid cutting off next year’s buds. For shrubs that haven’t flowered yet, pruning now will encourage healthy growth and set them up to bloom in spring.

• Hedges: Carry out a formative trim to maintain straight lines and dense growth. Regular light pruning is preferable to heavy cutting later in the season.

• Trees and woody plants: Remove crossing or rubbing branches to reduce stress points and prevent long-term structural damage. Always cut back to a healthy bud or lateral branch to promote strong regrowth.

Well-timed and precise pruning improves plant health, enhances aesthetic presentation, and ensures your garden remains vigorous throughout the growing season.

Once your garden is planted, protect your hard work by applying a layer of mulch. Mulch helps the soil retain moisture, keeps weeds down, and improves overall plant health. Organic mulch options like bark or your own compost are especially effective during the warmer months.

As temperatures rise, watering becomes more important. Try to water early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid losing moisture to evaporation and avoid watering in the hottest parts of the day. Keep an eye on how your plants respond and adjust your watering routine as needed.

Learn more about our commercial garden maintenance services here, or contact us on 08 8275 0211 or apg@bedfordgroup.com.au

To discuss landscape construction needs, contact Bedford's landscape construction social enterprise, GreenInc on 08 8275 0211 or enquiry@greeninc.com.au.