There is still work to be done in the garden to ensure that by the time spring comes
around, all the ‘jobs to do’ are completed! I know that we can keep cosy indoors on
chilly winter days, but the garden does still need some attention. Here are a few things
to work on over the next few weeks.

• Winter weeds in lawns can become a problem. One of the worst is small leaf clover.
This has a very fine root system and spreads in amongst the grass. Tiny yellow
flowers identify this plant pest. The best way to eradicate it is by hand. Hard work,
but effective. Use an old dinner knife to dig down and ease the roots out

• Another weed to eradicate from the lawn is the Bindii which can be effectively
controlled with sprays. Ask your garden centre to identify this plant and what control
sprays to use on your grass type.

• Liquid fertilise all the spring flowering bulbs and annuals every fortnight. Yates
Flower & Fruit fertiliser is excellent for this purpose

• Onion weed will be sending up new growth in flower beds. A wipe with a brush or
cloth dipped in glyphosate can work, but needs to be repeated several times. Digging
deeply when the soil is damp and carefully removing ALL the bulblets is another way.
Either way, patience is essential!

• Perennials such as Day Lilies and perennial Asters can be lifted and divided.
Remember to treat newly transplanted shrubs, perennials and annuals with diluted
Seasol

• You can still plant vegetables such as Spinach, Silverbeet and Tuscan Kale. A few
lettuce seedlings planted out every couple of weeks will keep the family in salads
through late winter and early spring

• Camellia Sasanquas that have finished flowering can have a tidy up if necessary, if
you are in a frost-free area, otherwise wait until danger of frost is past

• Camellia Japonicas are a mainstay of colour in winter gardens. Local garden centres
will have a good supply of these easy-to-grow shrubs

• Similarly, there should be good stocks of new season’s ornamental deciduous trees
in garden centres over the next few weeks. Now is the time to buy and plant these –
don’t wait until spring when the choice of selection will be more limited

• New season’s Roses will be available. When selecting, check that there is no sign of
die-back on the stems – yellow to brown ends of the pruned branches. These often
indicate that the limb will die back which is not a good sign. * Rose pruning tips will
follow in the next media release. Rose pruning is generally done in late July

• Check for any mealy bug on indoor plants (white cotton wool-like little creatures)
and spray accordingly

Courtesy NGINA (Nursery & Garden Industry NSW & ACT)