Now we’re free of frost until autumn and the soil is warming, it’s planting time for everything, says gardening writer JACKIE WARBURTON.
All annuals, vegetables and shrubs can be planted and watered every few days or until there is new growth.
If planting large trees and shrubs in the warmer months of the year, they will need a lot more care than if they were planted in the cooler months.
As a general rule, plant deciduous plants when they are dormant in winter and evergreen plants in autumn and spring. Avoid planting in the peak of summer when it is too hot.
MANY natives grow well in our climate and a new experimental way of growing them is in a “woody meadow”.
A selection of plants is chosen to create a woody meadow, and the growing media is sandstone, scoria and different kinds of gravels as inorganic mulches that do not hold weed seeds.
Do an annual coppice (hard trim) of all plants, trees and shrubs to 20 centimetres off the ground to promote bushy, flowering growth. Their spread will be enough to keep the weeds at bay.
At six plants a square metre the garden bed will fill in no time.
The woody meadow garden at the University of Canberra was developed in 2022, coppiced in 2023 and still growing strong.
More on woody meadows at relandscapedesign.com.au
BLUEBERRY can be planted in the garden now in a sheltered spot away from the winds.
Blueberries can also be used as an “edible hedge” and the best species to use for our climate is Northern High Bush (Vaccinium corymbosum), which can grow up to 1.5 metres tall in an acid soil with a low pH around 4-5.
While a blueberry bush will flower and fruit on its own, it will perform better with another close by.
Companion plants are other berries that like the same soil conditions such as strawberries, cranberries and berry canes. Strawberries can be divided and replanted to create new plants.
IT’S important to use someone who knows how to prune maples correctly as their graceful shape can be destroyed in a few chops with the loppers.
Maples should only be pruned when there is foliage on the trees and they are growing. Pruning at this time will prevent blackening of stems.
Aphids can be a problem with maples after good spring rains. Aphids leave behind a sticky residue on the leaves and stems. They also affect the understory plantings creating a sooty mould.
It not only looks unsightly, but it is hard to remove an infestation of aphids by hand. Encourage small birds such as Silvereyes, Spinebills and Spotted Pardalotes to the garden to forage on aphids and do all the work for you.
Jottings
- Keep watering all flowering and fruiting plants. Water in the cool of the day and prevent any overhead watering.
- Keep lawns watered to keep the grass growing strong to compete with weeds.
- Continue to mound soil around potatoes.
- Net all fruit trees from insects and birds.
- Plant potted colour out for Christmas colour.
- Remove scapes from garlic and harvest as leaves are wilting.
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