Hello and welcome to a brand new year! I must be getting old because they seem to fly past in the blink of an eye!
January is often a time of change for many people. We make New Year's resolutions about things we want to do and alter in our lives in the coming year, and we can apply that same mindset to our gardens. It’s a good time to reflect on the past year, evaluate what worked well in the garden, what didn't, and plan any changes we'd like to make. Naturally, we need to consider the weather when planting anything; hot weather isn't ideal, but last month had some pretty cool and wet days, so we have to be flexible and adapt as needed.
Fungal Disease In Gardens
There is currently an increase in fungal diseases affecting gardens due to the wet weather. Problems such as powdery mildew and black spot on roses are particularly severe. Some rose varieties are more susceptible than others, and factors like lack of sunlight and poor airflow contribute to this issue. Keeping your plants healthy is key; the healthier your roses, the better they can resist black spot. Enhancing the overall vigor of your rose plants through generous applications of a specific rose fertilizer containing potash, alongside improving growing conditions, can reduce the incidence of pests and diseases. Using a foliar spray with a seaweed-based product will help strengthen your plants' cell walls, providing additional support. Remove and rake up infected leaves, disposing of them in the waste bin rather than the green waste. If necessary, apply a Rose Spray to control and manage the issue.
Caring For Your Fruit Trees & Summer Veggies
Fruit trees will require plenty of water as they approach maturity; giving them a good deep soak once a week will be highly beneficial. After picking your fruit, it’s the perfect time to consider a 'summer prune.' Pruning during this season leads to less vigorous regrowth compared to traditional winter pruning and might even eliminate the need for winter pruning altogether. Additionally, it's beneficial for the development of fruiting buds for the next season, much like providing a good feed after fruiting.
Summer veggies can still be planted; there's plenty of time for them to grow and yield a crop before winter sets in. In stores, there's also a selection of bananas available, and yes, these will grow and fruit in South Australia. Citrus plants can be planted now, but they'll require a little TLC if the weather turns extremely hot. It's important to get them in the ground and established before the soil temperature drops in autumn/winter.
With the recent rains, lawns will still require regular mowing. Try to resist the urge to lower the blades too much and instead maintain a slightly longer length. This approach makes it more difficult for weeds to take hold, and longer grass shades the soil, reducing the need for excessive watering. Weeds tend to proliferate after rain, so it's essential to stay on top of them by either hand-weeding or using sprays. Additionally, if you haven't already, consider applying mulch. A good layer of mulch can significantly decrease the number of weeds in your garden!
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Grab These Plants In-store Now
The garden centres are full of great looking plants at the moment and while you’re perhaps on holidays this is the perfect time to visit and check out what’s available. Heat loving plants like Frangipani, Hibiscus and Salvia are looking good now and can be planted. Bougainvillea are hard to come by at the moment but hopefully will be around in numbers soon and they just love a hot sunny spot in gardens. If you want or need to garden indoors there are plenty of great looking plants for you to choose from too including the Enliven range which contains quite a few “collectible” plants.
Final Notes
Be sun smart when you’re out and about, when the sun comes out it has a real sting! Pop in and see us, we’d love to see you and are only too happy to help you with all your gardening queries.
Ask one of our knowledgeable garden staff members for advice if you have any questions regarding anything having to do with your garden, indoors or out. We would be pleased to lead you on the correct path. Call us on 1300 165 165 or visit your local store.