Expert tips for a thriving garden this summer
When it comes to summer in the garden, preparation is key to ensure your plants and veggies survive the scorching summer sun. While the effects of the heat on your garden will vary depending on where you live, summer brings common challenges to all gardeners. To help you with your to-do-list this month, Over60 spoke to Yates gardening expert, Angie Thomas. Here she shares her advice to keep your plants are in tip-top shape, as well as her suggestions for the veggies and plants to be growing right now.
What should people be growing in January?
Herbs like basil, chives and parsley are ideal for sowing in January, as are vegies like lettuce, beans, silver beet and radish, so there are plenty of delicious edibles to grow throughout summer.
In the flower garden, seeds of marigolds and pansies can be sown, and vibrant seedlings for flowers like petunias can brighten the garden, including in containers and hanging baskets. It's a challenging time to plant shrubs as the January weather can be so hot, however with consistent, regular watering, new shrubs like azaleas, gardenias and camellias can still be planted. Don't forget to mulch to limit moisture loss!
What gardening chores can people do at the beginning of the year to ensure a healthy and beautiful garden for the rest of the year?
At the beginning of each season, apply an organic fertiliser like Yates Dynamic Lifter onto garden beds, around trees and shrubs and in the vegie patch. Dynamic Lifter contains organic matter which will help improve the soil and also supplies plants with organic, slow release nutrients. Apply a 5cm layer of mulch over garden beds, around trees and in the vegie garden. This helps to keep the soil cool and moist and also helps reduce weed growth. Control weeds in lawns with Yates Weed'n'Feed (or Yates BuffaloPro Weed'n'Feed on buffalo lawns) and also control weeds in garden beds with spot sprays of Yates Zero Weedkiller. It's important to control weeds before they have a chance to set seed, as this will help reduce them over the coming years.
How should people best prepare their gardens in summer so plants don’t die in the heat?
If potted plants, flowers and gardens are being left over a summer holiday, here are some tips to help them survive the heat.
- Group potted plants together so watering is easy if someone is minding your garden. Move tender plants to a shaded position where they will benefit from natural rainfall.
- Place saucers under tender potted plants like hydrangeas to catch excess water for plants to draw on during hot days.
- Spray plants and seedlings with Yates Waterwise Droughtshield to help reduce water loss from the leaves and increase the plants’ chances of survival.
- An application of Yates Waterwise Soil Wetter around the root zone in garden beds will help get water where it’s needed by breaking down the waxy water repellent layer that can develop on soil surfaces.
- Spread some Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food and a 5cm layer of organic mulch on garden beds and around trees to provide a slow release of nutrients and help reduce moisture loss while you’re away.
- Set up a watering system or soaker hose on a tap timer to apply water to your garden at regular intervals.
- Group indoor plants together in a well-lit bath or the laundry sink, water them well and place a wet towel under the base of pots to maintain moisture.
- Mow the lawn before you leave, but don’t be tempted to mow it too low as longer lawns dry out less and stay greener during summer.
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