|
"In
the Garden" with Jane Edmanson January
2010
 |
For
the New Year, we have had some encouraging rain in the
southern parts of Australia. It is one of those strange
weather patterns that we will have to get used to, long dry
spells and then sudden down pours. As gardeners we seem to
be adjusting quite well to a different regime of rain, in
fact the gardens down here look terrific. It is my guess
that in the past we have been over watering our gardens and
now with a bit more thought, a bit more plant protection,
using the right mulch and improving your soil, it is all
going to make our gardens successful.
|
|
Common
Pests on Summer Vegies
|
|
If
you have planted your vegetable garden, you will be noticing
their growth right now, and be anticipating some beautiful
harvests. You just need to be a bit vigilant with any
problems that may arise.
There is quite a range
of pests and diseases that can attack your vegetables, so it
is important to identify the problems quickly and treat them
appropriately. Chemical pesticides need not always be the
answer, and use these products as a last resort, or aim for
the lowest toxic products available |
|
Caterpillars
Caterpillars,
the larvae of moths and butterflies, are common vegie pests,
mostly attacking leaves. Keep a special watch on those in
the brassica family, like cabbage and cauliflowers, if you
are growing them as seedlings, as they can do severe damage.
If you spot the larvae, pick them off. Otherwise use a
product such as Amgrow
Organix Derris Dust,
or Amgrow
Organix Pyrethrum to kill them.
|
 |
 |
|
Slugs
and Snails
Overnight, these creatures can destroy delicious
leaves of lettuces, basil etc. Other alternatives are to
scatter a thin layer of lime, crushed egg shells or sawdust
around prize seedlings. Plastic soft drink bottles cut to
fit over young plants will protect them also. Snail bait,
used with great caution and in small amounts, or better
still one that includes pet deterrent, can be used.
|
|
Birds
Birds
may only be scratching around for worms, but in the process
dislodge your mulch and scatter the earth near and far,
birds can be annoying.
Wire, supported above the vegie ground, will mostly
do the trick, while on larger plants use bird netting.
Scaring them away by plastic streamers, wine cask bladders,
anything to waft in the wind will work and need to be
changed occasionally.
|
|
 Aphids
The
sap-sucking aphids are one of the worst problems, especially
on soft new growth. You can put your faith in lady birds to
keep them at bay, or vigilantly squash them between your
fingers. A swoosh of soapy water, or a spray of Organix
Pyrethrum, or chilli-garlic sprays will knock them,
but be ready for the next generation to attack. As with
thrip, you will need to repeat every 2 weeks. A systemic
insecticide like Amgrow
Conquer can also be used.
|
|
Whiteflies
These
tiny insects live on the backs of leaves, especially
tomatoes and beans and fly up in great hordes when
disturbed. They are only a bother if in large numbers and
spraying with Rogor
100 may be useful.
|
| What
to do in the garden in January |
-
It
is a good opportunity to prune judiciously, especially
from wispy bits of branches that got away from you with
the spring rush.
-
A
good time to take cuttings, to grow new plants for
giveaways to friends or neighbours. Propagating cuttings
is easy, best done early in the day, take approximately
10cm of top growth, remove leaves apart from a few at
the top and put them into a pot with Amgrow
Seed Raising Mix and
cover with a plastic bag. Cuttings should root in 6 - 8
weeks.
Keep them moist, it in a shady spot - azaleas, daphne,
fuchsias, just about any plant will grow from cuttings.
-
Succulents
are all the go, especially look for different leaf
colours and textures. Feed with Nitrosol
or Harvest
and repot if necessary using Amgrow
Succulent’N’Cacti Mix, a well drained sandy
potting mix. You can pull off small offsets of clump
forming succulents and repot.
-
Prune
any climbing plant that has finished flowering, in
particular wisteria with the long wispy stems that
become a tangled mess, cut them right back.
-
Plants
in containers will need to be regularly fed and watered,
use Amgrow
AquaMagic water saving granules to store water
round the roots, and an Amgrow
mulch on top of the soil surface to save water
evaporation.
-
Keep
pruning topiary plants such as the conifers, box and
figs (Ficus) that keep growing over summer and will need to be
clipped back, just spend ten minutes doing this and you
will keep the shape of your topiary.
|
| Helpful
hints to liven up your summer garden |
Look
out for some colourful plant to brighten up shady spots.
Impatiens are good or hydrangeas. Fuchsias
are also long flowering in dappled shaded spots.
- Remember
to snip off the spent flowers of roses, annuals and
perennial plants as they finish.
- A
mown lawn really completes a garden, but do not cut it
too short over summer
- Potted
colour of plants in large pots already flowering can be
dotted around for an instant effect.
- A
spectacular hanging basket, or a decorative feature such
as a bird bath or lovely pot, will give a special touch
to the garden.
|
|
Listen
to Jane on 3AW’s ‘The Big Backyard”, Saturdays
and Sundays 8am – 10am, talkback questions
welcome
www.mytalk.com.au |
|
|