If you’re finding it difficult to garden in the heat try getting up an hour earlier in the morning to garden. It’s light at 6.00.am, much cooler and so calm and quiet.
Top up any mulch that has broken down/ blown away as it is one of the most important months for moisture retention and to keep plant roots as cool as possible.
Grubs and caterpillars are everywhere at this time of year, use a natural spray like ‘Dipel’ or ‘Success’ both of which are caterpillar specific and there is almost no withholding period.
At this hot and humid time of the year watch out for fungal problems like powdery mildew and black spot on roses, try using potassium based preparations - they are very effective and ecologically sensitive.
Feed citrus and roses, you should be doing this 2 or 3 times/ year. Use fertiliser boosted with potash to increase flowering, fruiting and help strengthen against disease. There are some organic ones available now or buy some Sulphate of Potash and add it when fertilising.
Keep fruit trees consistently moist or they will drop fruit, again mulching helps here and use the mulch right out to the drip tip of the tree.
Dead head plants regularly especially annuals, perennials, roses, agapanthus and any scorched Hydrangea flowers.
Give NSW Christmas Bush a trim to tidy up after flowering and dead head spent Kangaroo Paw flowers. It’s a good time to lift and divide Kangaroo Paws if necessary.
You can start to prepare veggie beds for autumn planting now by digging in plenty of well composted organic matter and or animal manure - water in well.
Keep an eye on plants like basil and lettuce as they are inclined to go to seed in hot weather. Harvest them regularly.
It’s time to start looking at spring bulb catalogues now in preparation for autumn planting. Buy them soon so that you get the pick of the new season’s selection but DON’T plant them until late April – around Anzac Day. The soil is far too hot at the moment. Store the bulbs in a cool dry place
Camellias are producing flower buds this time of year so avoid trimming if you can. The best time to prune Camellias is just after they’ve finished flowering before new growth starts.
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Mark's Corner
The February Garden
Mark Morrison - Friday, January 28, 2011
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