Read our tips from top garden experts like Didi Hoffmann and Keith Kirsten and get ready for Spring. Don't worry most of them are quite simple and don't require lots of hard work, some even just suggest sitting and enjoying the fruits of your labour!

1. Plant out young and fresh Basil and Chilli plants or seedlings, they're so important for adding flavour and bite to the summer menu. They both enjoy full sun and rich, well drained soils.



2. Take cuttings from your succulents. It is an easy and simple way to increase the number of Echeveria, Graptopetalum and other rock rose type plants in your garden. Using your mature plants, cut off rosettes of leaves with a length of stem attached and plant these directly into their new position. They do superbly in pots and rock gardens.



3. Deadhead spring flowering annuals on a continuous basis in order to prolong the flowering season.



4. Slugs, snails and other critters make their presence felt in early spring. Be on the look out for the telltale slime trails they leave behind after their nocturnal ravaging of your favourite garden plants. Put down snail and slug bait wherever you suspect their presence may lead to serious devastation.



5. Every garden needs a Curry leaf tree (MURRAYA koenigii), an essential ingredient of so many Indian dishes. Be on the look out for citrus psylla, they often attack the newly emerging spring growth causing the mature leaves to have a blistered or bubbled appearance. Spray with a registered insecticide as the new growth commences to prevent this disfiguration.



6. Refresh, top-up or replace pebbles around your garden. Especially between paving stones where dust and mud accumulate to spoil the effect.



7. Spruce up swimming pool surrounds in anticipation of the long, hot summer season ahead.



8. Prune back spring flowering shrubs as they finish flowering. This simple rule allows them the longest possible re-growth time before the next flowering season.



9. Plant out Impatiens and Begonia seedlings as soon as all danger of frost is over. They are unrivalled for creating months of endless colour in the spring, summer and autumn garden.



10. Visit your local nurseries and garden centres, they are sure to be filled with lots of lovely new and unusual spring flowering plants for your garden.



11. Mulch and tidy-up Hydrangeas. Cut out all the dead wood, apply a balanced fertiliser at the recommended rate, and in addition use blue Hydrangea food on all those that produce blue flowers. Mulch with a layer of kraal manure first and then cover with dry leaves from the previous fall. Commence with regular, deep penetrating watering to optimise new spring growth.



12. Fertilise and feed like crazy - perhaps this is the most important spring garden chore. Select the appropriate fertiliser for the right plants and apply at the recommended rate, no more, as this can cause serious damage. Keep granular fertiliser away from the stems of all plants. Water thoroughly immediately after application.



13. Whip your lawn back into shape after the winter season. Top dressing, fertiliser and water are the key ingredients.



14. For the romantics at heart, garden lighting and outdoor oil lamps lend a special touch to those evenings spent at home.



15. Clip your topiary specimens regularly, especially now whilst they are busy making new spring growth. Remember the less you cut or clip off the plant each time the better it is for the long-term condition and hence the lifespan of the topiary or lollipop.



16. Re-pot mature or pot bound container plants - both indoor house plants and outdoor potted plants. Remember to loosen the roots from the tightly compacted root ball to allow them to grow and develop in the new soil.



17. Lend sway and movement to the summer garden with soft, feathery ornamental grasses. A few of my favourites include: ARISTIDA junciformis, PENNISETUM setaceum 'Atropurpurem' and MISCANTHUS sinensis 'Zebrinus'.



18. Hug your CUPRESSUS macrocarpa 'Gold Crest' and enjoy the heady lemon fragrance of the aromatic foliage - definitely a therapeutic gardening experience of the highest order.



19. Plant herbs for your summer braais or barbecues. You can add the leaves and stems of Rosemary and Bay leaf to the coals during the cooking process to enrich and enhance the flavours. For added flavour when making kebabs, use the stems for skewers.



20. Take time to sit back, relax and enjoy the rich reward of your labours of love: your garden paradise. Remember too, to talk to all your favourite garden plants every day - they simply love it! Just watch them respond.



21. Add an element of fun to your garden with some funky, fashionable and eye-catching decorations. Almost anything, from old watering cans to pots, brooms, shells, even candelabras, can be turned into a decorative garden object.



22. Pot up instant spring colour with dramatic combinations of red, purple and blue. Fill hanging baskets or containers with a mix of trailing scarlet Verbena, blue Salvia and purple Petunias, offset with the feathery grey foliage of plants like Helichrysum or Dichondra 'Silver Falls'.



23. Even in the smallest garden, find a place to create a quiet nook where you can retreat with a mug of coffee, a book or just your thoughts. A bench surrounded by beautiful plants is all you need.



24. Throw an impromptu spring picnic in your garden - just a rug, some cushions and your favourite picnic food, and enjoy the sights and smells of spring bursting out all over.



25. Di-Di Hoffman of Bouquet Garni suggests starting a kitchen herb garden; so that you can have fresh herbs at your fingertips all summer long. Grow the herbs in pots in a sunny spot. Start with Parsley, Mint, Thyme, Rosemary, Marjoram, and Chives.



26. Invite birds into your garden with a birdbath or feeder. Just keep it out of reach of the cats.



27. Plant a tree - September is Arbour month, after all. Why not plant one of the two trees of the year; the Baobab or the False Cabbage tree. For more information on them visit you local garden centre.



28. Add interesting new textures to your garden with pebbles, gravel, paving, mirrors or trellis panels.



29. Dispose of all your old pesticides and poisons and stock up on new organic or environmentally responsible sprays that are safe for family and pets.



30. If you've not already done so, buy your first rose - and make it a fragrant one so that it lifts your spirits every time you inhale its perfume. Ludwig Taschner suggests 'Double Delight', 'Red n Fragrant', 'Just Joey', 'Sheila's Perfume' or 'Garden Queen'.



31. Change your garden's colour scheme by adding some instant colour using bedding plants. By using vibrant colours you can dramatically change the feel of a garden.



32. Sow seeds of some flowering varieties that can be cut for the vase: Bells of Ireland, Hollyhock, and Sunflowers are just three that come to mind.



33. If you've got the space add a waterfall or trickling water to your garden and put your old, rusted wheelbarrow out to pasture at the same time - hang it upside down and have water trickling down.



34. Plant some catmint for your cats; they love rolling around on the foliage and it also helps to keep the flea population under control.



35. Plant lavender; it adds colour and fragrance to the garden and the flowers can be picked and used in bathwater, on puddings and in ice cream.



36. Collect small edible flowers from your garden and freeze them in ice cubes; it adds a colourful dimension to a drink.



37. Invest in one or two sisal nesting logs; the barbets will soon hollow them out. If you are lucky enough you may even find bush babies using them.



38. Impress your friends when they come round for a meal - sow Yellow Cherry tomato seeds or Cloud Nine white brinjals. These two varieties are recommended by BallStraathof.



39. Create a continental garden by laying paving and adding some Mondo grass between the pavers, you can add a 'Zen-like' corner by incorporating bamboo plants or a water feature.



40. Plant Bulbinella and other medicinal herbs and experience the wonderful healing power of nature's own pharmacy.



41. Make your garden water-wise by covering every bit of exposed earth in your flower and veggie beds with mulch - use peanut shells, bark chips, pebbles, pine needles or leaves mixed with grass cuttings.



42. Train your lawn to be water-wise. Water it well only once a week - this will encourage the roots to grow deeper. Also, don't cut it too short as this keeps the roots near the surface and more likely to dry out.



43. When planting out new seedlings bought from the garden centre, pinch off all their flowers. This increases the seedling's chances of stronger growth and better flowering later.



44. Check your irrigation system; make sure that all the spray nozzles are working and in the right place. It is easier to see this when your garden growth is still sparse.



45. Pick the experts' brains - attend local garden talks and demonstrations on how to care for your garden. You'll make new garden friends in the process.



46. Take a walk in your garden on a fresh spring morning and pause to wonder at the miracles that nature performs at this time of the year.



47. If you haven't yet planted nectar-rich plants that the sunbirds, those creatures bedecked in shining iridescence, love, then do so now. The hours you will spend watching them sipping at the blooms will be well spent.



48. Take a break from the spring garden chores and watch as the bees, impatient to harvest the golden pollen within, push aside the crinkled satin petals of a poppy to reach this rich source of food and fill their pollen bags. Notice how they find it difficult to take-off with all this extra weight.



49. Pick the flowers of your Iceland poppies when they are still in full bud and watch them open indoors.



50. The good earth, dried out by winter sun and lack of water, gives off its richly brown aroma when it rains. Make sure none of the rain water is lost through run-off, which can also cause loss of precious top soil. Dig trenches across slopes and place stones to make miniature dam walls, giving the water time to seep into the earth.



51. Buy a tank or two to collect roof water. Make a channel from the base of a down pipe, to lead the water to a small or large water feature.



52. If you have plants growing in the spaces between your pavers, make sure those plants benefit from the rain by loosening the soil in which they are growing, as it can get quite compacted over time.



53. Growth hastens in spring, as plants take advantage of the warmth and moisture to produce new stems and leaves. Have you made sure there is no unwanted woody growth on your shrubs? If there is, remove it as soon as possible. Both winter and spring flowering shrubs can be pruned to a good shape immediately after flowering. Thereafter give them encouragement in the way of a good feed and watering, replenishing the soil around their bases with organics and chemicals.



54. Shrubs will provide soft wood cuttings now.



55. The surge in growth during spring affects all plants, including weeds. The weed seeds wake from their winter rest, to relish all that is on offer. Nip them in the bud, or at least in their stems! Pull them up mercilessly, dig a small hole nearby, chop them up, place them in the hole and cover it over. If you haven't had time to deal with them and they are already starting into flower, cut the flowers off with secateurs or a pair of sharp scissors, before they set seed. Take the saying "this year's seeds mean seven years' weeds" to heart!



56. Perennials take on many and diverse forms. Rising up from the rather sad looking clumps of the previous year's dead stems, they may be carried away by the spring surge and become floppy. If so, create a support network of bamboo or other sticks around the outer edge of the perennial clump – in a very short time the new growth will cover these sticks, at the same time using them for support.



57. Take notes of all that is happening in your garden right now - what's in flower, the successes, the failures, the lovely colour combinations, what did well and where; so you can think of all these things when you plan for next spring's garden.



58. If your dogs have taken to using your lawn as a toilet, try the following: fill plastic cool drink bottles with water and throw them on the lawn, making sure there is one every ten metres or so in every direction. For some unknown reason, the dogs will keep well away from these bottles and, once they have done what they need to do elsewhere, collect up the bottles for next time.



59. This is not really a tip but a spring resolution: resolve never to take for granted all the happenings of spring, remember to take the time to wonder, and to get a little closer to your garden and its daily miracles.



60. Rejuvenate your patio, poolside or kitchen courtyard. Take the bull by the horns and re-arrange your pots, throw out the old stuff and replant with some exciting new shrubs, roses and perennials. For year-round colour and interest look for the following plants: Hemerocallis 'Stella Supreme' and 'Ruby Stella' (Daylilies), Cordyline 'Caruba Black', Burgundy Iceberg, Proven Winner's Ajuga 'Black Scallop', Osteospermum 'Springstar' Series (African daisy), Proven Winner's Plectranthus 'Blue Spire', Miniature orange and Azalea 'Encore' Series.



61. Remember to fertilise and nurture your indigenous and exotic cycads as they are starting to enter their growing season, keeping in mind to use only organic fertiliser.



62. Plant any one of the following foliage plants to give you all year round greenery to use in your flower arrangements: Ruscus (Butcher's Broom), Sarcococca (Christmas box), Aspidistra (Iron plant), Rhumora (Leatherleaf fern), Myrthus (Myrtle), Viburnum tinus (Viburnum). They will work beautifully with arrangements of Chrysanthemums, roses or lilies, or a combination of flowers.



63. Be water-wise and pull out that invasive alien that has been bugging you for a long time. Seek out rewarding alternative plants at your local garden centre.



64. Start a vegetable and herb garden. Get yourself a Down to Earth Organic Vegetable Chart; it will give you great tips and guidance on what to plant with what.



65. If you are planting a new lawn, remember to use Munn's Lawn Starter soil conditioner. If you have both sunny and shaded areas to cover, sow Munn's Pixie Sun 'N Shade grass, which will grow in almost all areas, from those that get full sun to those that are up to 85% shaded.



66. One of the 'hottest' indoor and subtropical shade plants to arrive on the South African gardening scene is Cordyline 'Caruba Black', an upright Cordyline with stunning deep chocolate foliage. Planted in combination with ground cover plants that have contrasting lime green and yellow foliage makes a superb focal point for the patio or indoors.



67. Think African-style (formal or informal), and incorporate the following into your outdoor areas: African Clay pots; Gravel; Thatch; Re-cycled gum and old wood benches, fences and pergolas; Aloe, for winter colour - look out for Aloe Hedgehog, a new dwarf compact aloe for a pot or as a groundcover.



68. For summer-long colour in your garden, plant some of these today: Argyranthemum spp.(Daisy bush), Coleus, Hemerocallis (Daylilies), roses, Cannas, Angelonia 'Angelfaces' and Arctotis spp. - look out for Arctotis 'Pumpkin Pie' and 'Sunspot' from Proven Winners.



69. Spring is a good time to prepare your tools for the summer gardening season; making any necessary repairs or new purchases.



70. Have the soil in your garden tested. If you're putting in a new lawn, or bed or you had problems last year growing your favourite vegetables, soil testing provides the feedback to help you determine what fertilisers and soil conditioners are necessary for optimum results.



71. Join a garden club; it will be a good place to meet other gardening enthusiasts and get new ideas.



72. Check the seed you saved and stored from last year's garden. Discard anything that is damp, diseased, mouldy or otherwise in bad condition. Look over what's left and determine what you need to buy.



73. Accessorise your lawn, garden and flower beds! Statues, gazing balls, sundials and garden whimsies make the space uniquely yours.



74. Build a birdhouse or bat house. Give your bird feeders and birdbaths a good scrubbing.



75. Paint your garden furniture.



76. Build a rock garden; it is the ideal low maintenance, water-wise garden.



77. Is an unused hammock hiding in your house or garage? Hang the hammock and then try it out, for at least an hour...



78. Send your mower and leaf blower for servicing or, if you have the right tools, sharpen the mower blades yourself. Refill your mower with oil, install fresh spark plugs and lubricate moving parts if necessary. Clear the lawn of winter debris, and look for areas that need reseeding before mowing.



79. Pick a bunch of fresh flowers from your garden and place it indoors or on your patio. Picking the rewards from your garden and being able to share them with others is so much part of gardening.



80. Plant a shrub that you can train to become an espalier. This form of training plants makes the most of wall space and adds a decorative touch to courtyards. Attach wire ties to the wall horizontally and train the branches along the ties.



81. If space is lacking, plant up a funky pot with seedlings and veggies. Not only will it look great but it also can be a source of fresh lettuce for your salads.



82. Go out and get a smart attachment for your tap.



83. Prepare for gorgeous summer evenings. Stock up with incense sticks, which you can burn to add that extra mood to evenings.



84. Buy a pair of gardening boots. They are a 'must' - how many pairs of shoes have you messed up in your garden?



85. Find a spot for a lovers bench in your garden. Place it in a secluded, softly shaded position and enjoy it.



86. Clean out the pumps in your water features and make sure that no plant material is stuck around the impeller.



87. If you don't have a good garden hose sprayer, invest in one. Make sure that it is a reputable brand for which you can get spare parts if the need arises.



88. Put aside a basket just for you garden. You can use this basket to carry around your secateurs and your small garden tools, and to collect flowers when picking them.



89. If you have not yet done so then do this now: clean up your secateurs! Replace the blades if necessary and store them in a safe place.



90. Plant a lemon tree in a sunny position - no garden should be without one - and then look forward to your own lemons for G and Ts this summer.



91. If the areas where you planted mondo grass still have some bare spaces, divide the clumps that have filled out and fill up the bare patches.



92. Invest in a good pair of edging sheers for your lawn. Resolve never to use a spade for this purpose again.



93. Make compost! If you don't already have a compost heap or bin, first decide where you will put one - choose a space that is easily accessible; mark the area off and either build a compost bin or purchase one from a garden centre.



94. If a flowerbed is difficult to get to, place some wooden log edging around the perimeter of the beds, making it easier to maintain.



95. Now is a good time to divide aquatic plants in your pond; replant them into new aquatic plant bags. Be ruthless with those plants that are dominating the pond.



96. Plant a 'smelly' patch! Choose an area in your garden alongside a path and plant Lavenders; when you walk past and brush against them the wonderful scent will lift into the air.



97. Use trellis to create private areas within your garden or around your veranda. If you use trellis from Décor Lattice you can be that it has been treated against rot and insect attack with an environmentally friendly treating agent that does not contain chrome or arsenic, which are potentially harmful chemicals.



98. Check for algae and moss on paving. Scrub regularly or wash down with a solution of copper-sulphate or 2 parts water to 1 part bleach.



99. Alice Spencer-Higgs suggests that you use every opportunity to dig well-rotted organic compost into your garden to improve the soil structure. Of course, this could be compost purchased in bags or your own 'homegrown' compost.



100. Keith Kirsten recommends that you regularly prune your DURANTA 'Sheena's Gold' to maintain a neat, compact plant.



101. Treat yourself to a subscription to The Gardener magazine. A subscription gives you 20% off the cover price.

• Spring into a new herb year