A 6-Week Plan for Hobart Gardens

As winter comes to an end, your garden starts waking up. Spring is the perfect time to encourage healthy growth, vibrant flowers, and strong, resilient trees. However, a little preparation before the growing season makes all the difference.

Hobart’s cool climate means gardens often remain dormant well into late winter. By tackling a few simple jobs over six weeks, you’ll give your trees, shrubs, lawns, and garden beds the best possible start to spring.

Week 1: Inspect Your Trees and Garden

Start by walking through your garden and checking everything carefully.

Look for:

• Dead or damaged branches
• Broken limbs from winter storms
• Signs of disease or fungal growth
• Loose branches that could become hazardous
• Trees growing too close to roofs or power lines

Next, inspect your garden beds. Remove fallen branches, old leaves, and any weeds that have appeared over winter. Cleaning now reduces pests and diseases before new growth begins.

Week 2: Prune for Healthy Growth

Late winter and early spring provide an excellent opportunity to prune many deciduous trees and shrubs before vigorous growth starts.

Focus on:

• Removing dead or crossing branches
• Improving airflow through the canopy
• Shaping ornamental trees
• Trimming hedges to encourage dense spring growth

Avoid removing too much foliage at once. Instead, make clean cuts and maintain the tree’s natural shape.

If you have large trees or need significant pruning, it’s safest to call a qualified arborist.

Week 3: Feed the Soil

Healthy plants begin with healthy soil.

Add compost or well-rotted organic matter to garden beds to improve soil structure and encourage beneficial microbes.

Around trees and shrubs, apply a slow-release fertiliser designed for Australian conditions. This provides nutrients gradually as temperatures rise.

Remember to water thoroughly after fertilising.

Week 4: Mulch to Lock in Moisture

Mulching offers one of the easiest ways to improve garden health.

Apply 5–8 cm of organic mulch around trees, shrubs, and garden beds.

Mulch helps:

• Retain soil moisture
• Suppress weeds
• Improve soil as it breaks down
• Protect roots from temperature fluctuations

Keep mulch away from the trunk of trees to prevent moisture build-up and rot.

Week 5: Refresh Your Lawn and Garden Beds

As the weather warms, your lawn will begin growing again.

This is a great time to:

• Repair bare patches
• Aerate compacted soil
• Apply a spring lawn fertiliser
• Edge garden beds
• Divide overcrowded perennials
• Plant new shrubs and flowering plants

Many Tasmanian gardens burst into colour with spring bulbs, native shrubs, camellias, azaleas, and flowering fruit trees.

Week 6: Prepare for Rapid Spring Growth

Everything begins growing quickly once spring temperatures arrive.

Now is the time to:

• Check irrigation systems
• Deep-water newly planted trees
• Remove any remaining weeds
• Monitor trees for insect activity
• Schedule any larger pruning or tree maintenance before summer

Regular inspections throughout spring allow you to spot problems before they become expensive repairs.

Why Tree Maintenance Matters Before Spring

Trees use enormous amounts of energy producing new leaves and branches each spring. Deadwood, damaged limbs, or overcrowded canopies force trees to waste valuable resources.

Professional pruning helps trees:

• Produce stronger new growth
• Improve airflow
• Reduce disease risk
• Increase sunlight penetration
• Maintain a safe structure
• Enhance the overall appearance of your property

Healthy trees also cope better with Tasmania’s changing weather conditions throughout the year.

Get Your Garden Ready for Spring

Preparing your garden doesn’t need to happen all at once. By spreading the work across six weeks, you’ll create healthier trees, stronger plants, and a garden that thrives throughout spring and summer.

If your trees need pruning, shaping, deadwood removal, or a professional assessment before the growing season begins, the team at Matthew Clements Tree Service is here to help. We provide expert tree care across Southern Tasmania, helping homeowners keep their gardens safe, healthy, and looking their best all year round.