5 spring jobs to help your permaculture garden thrive

Spring in the veggie patch is all about preparation — the work I put in now can spell the difference between a plentiful summer bounty and a pitiful harvest.

As the days grow longer, so does the garden to-do list. Thankfully, it’s a joyful time to get outside, as flowers burst open and plants seem to grow taller by the hour.

Here are five jobs I’m prioritising this season for my backyard permaculture patch, within the temperate climate zone of Tarntanya/Adelaide. They’re suitable for most Australian climates in spring.

1. Fertilise veggie beds and top up with ‘chop and drop’ layers to prepare for hungry crops ahead.
2. Sift cured compost and add a 5-10cm layer to veggie beds.
3. Transplant warm-weather seedlings once the threat of frost has passed, and start summer seeds inside.
4. Plant out citrus trees once the soil warms to 16+ degrees, and snip out citrus galls before the wasps hatch in mid-spring.
5. Create shade structures, including hoops of poly pipe that can support shade cloth, in preparation for the heat ahead.

For more information, including details on how to approach these jobs with a no-dig, permaculture mindset, head over to the full story I wrote for ABC.

This story is part of a regular column I write for the ABC, one of Australia’s most-read news websites. You can browse my full story archive here.