Spring Flowering Tips For You

Choose a sunny spot in a garden that receives at least 6 hours of sunshine a day. If there are any weeds or grasses in the area, spray with Yates Zero Weed Killer and let them die back completely (usually around 2 weeks).

Mix some Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser into the soil, to enrich and improve the quality of the soil and help give the new flowers the best possible start. Follow the directions on the seed packet and either sow seed direct where the flowers are to grow or sow into trays of Yates Seed Raising Mix. Water gently and keep the soil moist. For seedlings grown in trays, transplant them into their final home once they're large enough to handle.

Once the seedlings are established, encourage lots of healthy growth and promote masses of vibrant flowers by feeding each week with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food. It's as easy as adding 1–2 capfuls into a 9L watering can and applying around the plants and soil. No backyard? No worries! Many flowers are also perfect for growing in pots. Seed packets include helpful information about whether your chosen flower is suitable for growing in pots. Compact flowers that are perfect for growing in containers and window boxes include 'Dwarf Sensation' sunflower, 'Dwarf Scarlet' salvia, alyssum 'Cameo Mixture' and marigold 'Petite Yellow'.

• Spray azalea flower buds with Yates Mancozeb Plus Garden Fungicide & Miticide to prevent azalea petal blight. Spraying should start at the early bud stage.
• Before every new shrub is planted, mix a handful of Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food into the soil in the bottom of the planting hole. It will improve the quality of the soil as well as providing a source of organic slow release nutrients to the plant as it starts to establish.
• Feed orchids each week with easy to use, fast acting Yates Thrive Orchid Liquid Plant Food to replenish their nutrient reserves as they continue and finish flowering.
• Before planting new spring vegies (either seedlings or seed) mix some handfuls of Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food into the soil. It not only feeds the new plants with gentle, organic slow release nutrients but also nurtures and improves the soil. Healthy soil = healthy plants.
• Wet weather brings out snails & slugs which can quickly destroy vegies & flowers. Around ornamental plants use Yates Blitzem Snail Slug Pellets. 
• New rose foliage and buds are a magnet for aphids. Protect with Yates Rose Gun Advanced, which will kills aphids on contact as well as travel throughout the plant to kill aphids that are 'hiding' in hard to reach places.
• Feed roses each week with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food which will encourage healthy leaf growth as well as lots of lovely flowers.
• Before planting out flower seedlings and potted colour, enrich the soil beforehand with handfuls of Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food. It both nourishes and improves the soil and feeds the plants with organic slow release nutrients.
• Spot spray weeds in garden beds with Yates Zero Weedkiller before they have a chance to take over.
• During periods of hot weather, spray foliage of sensitive plants with Yates DroughtShield. This is particularly important at the moment as the hot, dry weather has come early and new young leaves have not had the chance to harden up yet.