Signs of Autumn are apparent now with cooler mornings and nights, wonderful warm ripening days as leaves begin to turn. Well that is how it usually plays out as nature navigates through climate changes.
Planting: With days shortening and nights cooling, warm ground begins to retain moisture again making Autumn one of the best times for planting trees and shrubs to settle in before the coldest stage of winter. Always plant trees and shrubs to the depth they were in the pot or bag and stake well if tall.
Seed sowing: As I have mentioned, March is the month to collect and sow seeds, hardy annuals can be sown directly where they will flower. A majority of the seeds I collect are stored for a spring sowing as needing to protect germinated seedlings through the winter can be tricky.
Hardwood cuttings: This is the time to take hardwood cuttings, place cuttings in a water filled container as they are taken. Prepare cuttings by removing bottom leaves and cutting top leaves back by half. Push cuttings into river sand, keep moist and hopefully over a few weeks they will develop roots in the warm sand. Then rooted cuttings can be potted on into potting mix fill pots to sit over winter making more roots. Once pots are filled with roots cuttings can then be potted on into bigger pots. At this stage pinching tip growth back on the cuttings will encourage nice bushy plants.
Bulbs: I notice some spring bulbs are pushing through which means it is bulb planting time, iris, crocus, hyacinth and daffodils along with any daffodil bulbs you need to shift. Bulbs require deep planting in a sunny well drained spot. Tulips and lilies can be planted in May / June.
Hedges: will have finished pushing out this year's growth so get them trimmed well before frost's arrival to damage new growth, especially the lovely photinia red robin, if trimmed now beautiful new, bright red growth will be enjoyed during winter.
Ponds: Warm water in ponds will be heating up especially small shallow ponds, warm water has low capacity for holding oxygen, so you may see your fish gasping for air close to the water surface. A minimum depth of two feet is suggested for the bottom of a shallow pond to remain cooler. If your pond has no waterfall or fountain algae is sure to grow as water heats up. A natural way to stop this happening is to add barley straw or barley straw solution to the pond, as barley straw decomposes it releases something similar to hydrogen peroxide (H202) which will eventually kill the algae. Fill a string bag with barley straw and weigh down with a rock. If there is a waterfall or fountain, place the straw where water will flow through. Top up pond water gradually so the temperature does not change dramatically for fish.
Lawns. Grass grub damage may be showing up now in lawns with black birds letting you know just where they are, if it is a large area leave the birds to deal with them then rake out all damaged patches and re-sow. By May grubs will be too deep for birds or products to make a difference.
Vegetables: All seeds sown now will germinate but watch the heat, I cover my seed boxes with shade cloth to keep them from the harsh sun.
If planting out seedling plants I would cover them as well with shade cloth to help keep moisture in and white butterflies and birds off. There is time from now to sow a green crop in vacant areas of gardens, blue lupin, mustard or alfalfa will add natural nitrogen to soil. Dig in before it develops firm stalks, or just cover with compost for worms to take down into soil when bedding gardens down for winter.
Cheers Linda
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