Here
are some tips to prepare your lawn and garden this month:
- Native
trees are low maintenance; they have developed natural defenses
against insects and disease over the centuries, and they
rarely need pruning or feeding.
- Full
Sun Plant label means: At least 6 full hours of direct sunlight.
Many sun lovers enjoy more than 6 hours per day, but need
regular water to endure the heat.
- Partial
Sun / Partial Shade: These 2 terms are often used interchangeably
to mean 3 - 6 hours of sun each day, preferably in the morning
and early afternoon.
- Dappled
Sun: Dappled sunlight is similar to partial shade. It is
the sun that makes its way through the branches of a deciduous
tree. Woodland plants and underplantings prefer this type
of sunlight over even the limited direct exposure they would
get from partial shade.
- Full
Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight each day, with
filtered sunlight during the rest of the day. Full shade
does not mean no sun. There aren't many plants, except mushrooms,
that can survive in the dark.
- Money
Saving Tip: Clay pots which have suffered from frost damage
can still be used. Lay them on their side and half fill
with soil. Creepy-crawly plants, such as sedums, will look
natural growing out of the container.
- The
Australian palm, Cordyline australis,can look untidy with
the old,dead leaves hanging down the stem. Don’t cut
them off but pull them off one at a time working up from
the bottom.
- Start
spraying roses to control black spot and mildew. Removing
infected leaves early in the season may help to retard the
rate of disease spread. Spray evenly with fungicide to help
control black spot.
- Give
the spring bulbs which have finished flowering a feed of
general purpose fertilizer to build up their strength for
next year.
- Not
all insects are pests. In fact, the majority of bugs living
in your garden are helping your plants to grow in numerous,
unseen ways. If you are having a problem with pests in your
garden, you probably have an imbalance of fauna or an imbalance
of soil nutrients. The more insects and other fauna in your
garden, the less likelihood the “pesky” ones have
of surviving. You will find that most insects eat those
moths and maggots that are eating your plants.
- Pine
straw and oak leaves make great mulches, but they acidify
the soil over time, so use them only in and around plants
that require acidic soil, such as azaleas or blueberries.
- Small
gardens are easy to manage, and by starting on a small scale
you'll quickly learn gardening basics such as weed control,
pest and disease control and watering requirements without
being overwhelmed. As you develop more confidence and skills,
you can expand the area or create a new garden bed elsewhere.
- Maintain
Healthy Soil: Try to avoid walking on the soil in established
gardens, as each step compacts the soil and this makes it
difficult for roots to grow. Create paths between rows or
in beds for you to walk and work from.
- Earwigs
can do quite a lot of damage if there is a high population.
They feed at night and hide in moist, tight-fitting places
during the day. Trap them by putting out moistened, tightly
rolled newspaper or corrugated cardboard in the evening.
In the morning dispose of the paper and the trapped insects.
- Rust
is one of the biggest problems for snapdragons. Overhead
watering is not recommended. Keep your plants growing by
watering and feeding properly. Plant in a different spot
every year.
- Carpenter
Bees do not sting and are considered beneficial insects
because they pollinate many plants and trees. They tunnel
nests into unpainted softwood such as pine, fir and redwood
used for house or garden structures. After the bees vacate,
fill the holes with steel wool and wood filler. Apply paint
to the surface to prevent re-entry.
- Cut
your lawn at the highest recommended setting. Most weeds
require plenty of light to germinate so you want to keep
the grass as thick and long as possible to create shade
near the soil surface.
- If
your grass won't grow in an area of high traffic, the soil
may be too compacted. Aerate the area and reseed.
- Once
flowers die, cut them and allow them to dry. Remove the
seeds by crumbling the dried flower head. Put the seeds
in an envelope for next spring.
- To
keep plants in hanging baskets and containers flowering,
choose a liquid plant food fertilizer with a high middle
number, for example 15-30-15. Fertilize established container
and hanging basket plants at least once a week.
- Periodically
lubricate tools with moving parts, such as pruning shears,
with light machine oil. Doing so prevents rust and corrosion
and maintains a smooth operating action Sharpen tools as
needed.
- Water
in the Morning between 5am – 10am because the sun is
low, winds are calm and temperatures are cool. Watering
during the day is less efficient because of possible water
loss due to evaporation. Watering in the evening may leave
plants wet overnight, which invites fungus and plant disease.
- Later
in the month, thin fruit on heavily bearing trees. With
triples and doubles, prune to singles.
- When
planting trees, don't give them too much organic matter
in the hole they're going in. If the hole is filled with
rich organic matter and compost but the surrounding soil
is hard and compact or less nutritious, the roots are less
likely to spread out into the soil. When the tree isn't
anchored well by large roots, it is more likely to be blown
over and be less healthy and less able to resist drought.
.jpg)
