Mulch and feed azaleas and camellias with an acidic mulch like pine bark . Use acidic peat moss when planting new plants to provide them with the acidity that they require.
Plant irises in rich soil, to which superphosphate has been added. The rhizomes should be half exposed to the sun and the soil should be kept moist.
Stake tall-growing perennials and trees to protect them against the strong southeasterly wind.
Remove the buds of a few of your dahlias. This will encourage the development of soup-plate sized blooms.
Prepare trenches for sweet peas. Choose a sunny spot and dig a trench 25cm deep and wide. Fill with compost, manure and slow-release fertiliser.
Pull out suckers (fleshy, thornless shoots) from bougainvillas and the base of rose bushes.
Feed and deadhead annuals and perennials to prevent them from going to seed.
Fertilise fuschias with a high potassium fertilizer like 3:1:5
On your to-do list for January / February February 10, 2009
GARDENING TIPS FOR DECEMBER / JANUARY February 25, 2008
(Compiled by Lyn McCallum)
Remember to adhere to the water restrictions.
Keep all your flower beds well mulched. If you have a well-point or borehole, remember that it is better to water your garden less often, but deeply. This applies to lawns as well as flower-beds. Don’t waste your water just because it is free! Please use all water as sparingly and sensibly as possible.
December and January are the months hydrangeas look their best. Keep the bushes well mulched as they need lots of water and deep mulching helps conserve moisture. Before picking hydrangeas for the vase, make sure the flowers are fully mature. This is only once the tiny florets in the centre of the coloured bracts of the flowerheads are open. Before arranging, scrape the bottom 5cm of the stem fairly vigorously and plunge the stems up to their necks in cold water and leave overnight.
Continue deadheading your annuals and perennials to prolong their flowering time. Picking for the vase also helps prolong flowering time. Give the plants a boost by either applying a sprinkling of Rapid Raiser lightly dug into the soil around the plants, or a liquid drench or foliar feed of Nitrosol, Organiksol or Seagro
Containers need special attention during the hot, dry months of the year. Keep well watered and feed at least once a month with Rapid Raiser or a liquid food such as Nitrosol, Organiksol or Seagro. Mulching your containers will help conserve moisture.
Hanging baskets planted up for spring and early summer will probably be nearly over by now. Planting up baskets in the heat of summer is not recommended, as they dry out too quickly in the hot, windy conditions.
Continue to feed your lawn every 6-8 weeks with Blade Runner. Don’t cut the grass too short. Longer grass blades help the grass to make the food necessary for lush growth, helps conserve water, and protects the soil and root system. Water lawns deeply – about 30mm per application. This is best done in the morning, so it can dry out before night, thus preventing fungus diseases.
Feed your rose bushes with Sudden Impact, 3.1.5 Organic or well rotted cow manure. Keep dead-heading to encourage more flowers. Watch out for fruit and rose beetles! And remember to mulch!
Camellias and azaleas should be starting to put on new growth. Feed with a fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants and keep well watered and mulched. Leaf mould made from either oak leaves or pine needles makes a perfect acid mulch for camellias and azaleas. Mulching is particularly important in these plants as they have a shallow root system. Check the drainage in container grown plants. Both camellias and azaleas hate to have wet feet. On very hot days azaleas will benefit from a spraying of water.
Summer annual bedding plants can be planted out now. Prepare the soil by removing weeds, dig in compost, Hoof and Horn or Bonemeal and Bounce Back, and water well. Plant out the seedlings in the cool of the evening, not in the heat of midday. Water in well and protect from slugs, snails and cutworms. At first, in very hot weather, give each tiny plant an umbrella of leafy twigs for sun protection. Newly planted out seedlings will also benefit from a watering of Kelpac.
Keep your vegetables watered and well mulched, which, as well as keeping them damp longer, will suppress weed growth. Shore up potatoes with soil to encourage good tuber formation. Harvesting vegetables such as peas, beans, tomatoes and “cut and come again” lettuces, every day encourages production of more pods, fruit and leaves. Keep a wary eye out for slugs, snails and caterpillars. Feed your vegetables with Nitrosol or Organiksol or Seagro, Bounce Back or Rapid Raiser. An application of compost will also be beneficial.
Prune summer flowering shrubs such as Mock Orange (Philadelphus), Bridal Wreath (Deutzia), Cape May (Spirea) and Weigela once they have finished flowering. To keep these shrubs in a good shape, shorten all the stems, and then remove a few of the oldest stems.
Turn the compost heap regularly and keep it damp in the hot, dry weather. Remember not to put weeds that have gone to seed on the heap.
Once bougainvillea’s have finished flowering, they can be trimmed to encourage midsummer and winter flowering. Remember, don’t give your bougainvillea too much water or food – this encourages leaf growth at the expense of flowers. But remember, bougainvillea’s in containers do need a moderate amount of water and some food.
