5 ways to flex your green thumb in the garden during COVID-19

We’re all spending more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is the perfect opportunity to spend some time outdoors creating a new garden, showing your current one some TLC and improving your outdoor space at the same time.

Not only will hours spent outside improving your garden be good for the soul, it will be a welcome change to have something new and positive to focus on that doesn’t cost much money and in fact could save you some.

Right now home is where the heart is – so spend your time tending to your garden as it will be good for your soul. Picture: Realestate.com.au/buy

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1. Plant your own pantry

With the future still a little uncertain, now is the time return to a more simple way of life and grow your very own pantry in your garden. You will save money and trips to the shops.

So if you’ve been thinking more about how you consume and want to dedicate the love, time and care as we spend more time at home, it’s time to get planting.

Here are some great garden pantry growing how-tos:

• How to make a vegetable garden
• How to grow herbs
• Complete guide to growing fruit trees in pots

2. Let it bloom

Autumn presents the perfect time of year to plant bulbs as it allows them enough time grow before they are ready to flourish come spring.

Everyone could use a bit of colour right now. Picture: Unsplash

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And right now there’s something to be said for planting something new, tending to a garden and the hope and positivity it brings by watching the colours bloom. We could also use a little extra colour, optimism and a sense of things renewed right now.

If you’re worried about social distancing, you don’t even have to go into a store, simply order your seeds or young plants online and have them delivered.

3. Tend to the lawns

During autumn it’s a good time to give your grass a good watering once or twice a week as it will help it stay green as we head into winter.

Tending to your lawns will pay off with healthy green grass. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

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It’s also a good idea to keep up mowing the lawn to let the sun and warmth in – this is especially needed in shaded areas.

4. Perfect pruning time

While you’re spending more time at home, it’s a great idea to get the secateurs out and prune back any shrubs and trees in your garden.

It’s time to get busy pruning those trees and shrubs. Picture: Realestate.com.au/buy

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With the hard sun now gone to bed for a few months, this is prime time to cut things back as things won’t get burnt.

5. Get rid of fruit flies

Those damn fruit flies love to come out around this time of year, so with more time on your hands you’ve got the perfect opportunity to create some sprays or traps to keep them at bay in the garden.

For some great ideas on how to rid fruit flies from your garden and home, read: How to get rid of fruit flies.