Not much watering had to be done this week after the rain, so good to get rain at night.
The hedge trimmer has been on the go again here and yes the plants and shrubs did shudder to their roots when it came their way! If it needs it, it gets it! Trimming with secateurs is not practical in our large garden. February is the month that new growth on all plants, shrubs and trees will have reached maximum height and width so if growth is interfering with space and blocking light take it back, the next stage is for this growth to harden and make new buds.
Our buddleia's have been flowering for a while now attracting butterflies, to keep it flowering remove spent flowers plus the thin branches they are attached to. When finished flowering they can be taken back to the ground to allow new fresh growth to take them through the winter. Buddleia's are a great fill in bush and look attractive with their blue green foliage even without the blue, pink or white flowers, plant at the back of a border and you will not be sorry.
Begonias, petunias and Lilly's are taking center stage now begonias are tropical perennials and like partial shade. Strong sunlight will burn leaves and blooms and grown in dense shade they will grow more leaves than flowers. Wind protection is needed as stems are damaged by strong wind.
Begonias prefer high humidity not wet soil, let the top inch of soil dry out before watering.
Petunias: dead head these often, cutting back and feeding petunias will keep them flowering all summer long.
Lillies: should be in good draining soil but never be allowed to dry out, mulching helps with this. Lilies do not re bloom, remove faded flowers so plants don't waste energy making seeds, leave foliage until it turns brown and energy from this is stored in bulbs for next years flowers, cut dead stalks in late autumn. Large lily clumps can be divided up and shifted straight after flowering.
Anemones and ranunculus: will be in Garden centers now I pop them in the fridge for a month in paper bags (not plastic) then soak them overnight in tepid water before planting, this simulates a winter chill then they are stimulated into growth with the water warmth before planting. Staggering the planting over several weeks will extend the flowering.
Lawns: continue to stay green with the rain and warmth which means no slowing down in growth. Daisies and clover are thriving on moist green lawns, spot spraying on a warm dry day will get rid of both as well as that creeping tiny leafed weed with yellow flowers that forms a mat in lawns, every part off this needs to be zapped because it flowers and seeds very quickly then spreads from lawn to lawn when mowing.
Fruit: It is time to shorten back fruiting leaders on grape vines, growth is needed for the fruit starting to form. If a leader has produced too many bunches remove some when shortening back.
Veg Garden: Get seeds in the garden now for autumn veg, lettuce, carrots, beetroot, dwarf beans, parsley, parsnip, silver beet. Keep mounding up late plantings of potato rows to encourage bigger shores, corn can be mounded also as they have a shallow rooting system and mounding helps to keep them upright in strong winds. Corn demands a very high level of nitrogen, the more available nitrogen, the closer plants can be spaced.
Cheers, Linda.
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