We accompanied Susana Assis and Bernardo Sena from the Interior Decoration and Maintenance team, coordinated by Filipa Costa Almeida, on a visit to a private client for occasional maintenance to prepare the plants for the new season.
1. We started with cleaning and pruning
We removed dry leaves and dead or diseased branches to stimulate growth.
Pruning was light for both shrubs and fruit trees, as the client wants the shrubs to maintain a natural look.
Drastic pruning was avoided so as not to cut the flowers that will bloom in spring.
2. Treatments
Since no signs of pests were detected, there was no need for treatments.
3. Fertilizing
With spring, plants enter a growth phase and need to be fertilized to help with flowering.
Don’t forget that after fertilizing, plants must always be watered!
4. We checked that the pots and planters were still suitable for the size of the plants, so no repotting or transplanting was necessary.
If you feel the need, spring is the ideal time to do it, but always check that the new pot has good drainage, place a layer of expanded clay at the bottom, and use new substrate.
5. Watering
Adjust the watering frequency: plants will start growing faster and will need more water. But don’t let them get waterlogged, so the roots don’t rot.
If you feel the need to maintain soil moisture, you can cover it with pine bark, for example.
Photographs © Pedro Bettencourt / Companhia das Cores
© Companhia das Cores for Horto do Campo Grande
