Nature has been kind to us. We enjoyed some lovely days over Easter and the school holidays. The autumn colours are simply stunning, becoming even more vivid as we head into May.
In the garden, winter preparations will be well underway. Summer-flowering perennials and annuals are still being cut back. Soft plant material can go straight onto the compost, while tougher, woody stems are better shredded or discarded. The more organic matter we can return to the soil, the healthier our gardens will be.
Now is the perfect time to sow spring-flowering seeds. Early sowing gives plants a head start, and seedlings, nurtured through winter, will grow stronger than new seedlings purchased in spring. Although top growth slows down over winter, root systems continue developing underground. Seeds to sow directly outside now: Alyssum, aquilegia, calendula, cornflower, perennial lupins, statice, stock, and sweet peas.
Seeds to sow under cover: Antirrhinum (snapdragon), dianthus, pansy, viola, poppy, scabious, sweet William, polyanthus, primrose, and primulas.
If you haven't yet lifted your gladioli corms, do it soon. After cleaning and drying them, dust with flowers of sulphur before storing them in old pantyhose or paper bags, never plastic.
Tall asters, which have been flowering beautifully, will now be flopping about without support. Make a note to cut back their new growth by half at the end of September; this will encourage bushier growth rather than tall, leggy stems. Asters also tend to exhaust the soil, so it’s important to divide clumps regularly once they finish flowering.
Leave hydrangeas to complete their wonderful autumn show. I've been taking hardwood cuttings lately, as I can never have enough of these beautiful plants!
Hydrangea cutting tips: Choose non-flowering shoots from the base or sides of a mature plant. Select cuttings in the morning, 5–6 inches (12.7–15.2 cm) long, cutting 2 inches (5.1 cm) below a leaf node. Remove lower leaves, keeping the top pair, and trim these by half to encourage rooting. Dip the base of each cutting in rooting hormone (liquid or powder). Plant into a mix of 1 part potting mix or peat moss to 1 part river sand, making sure the mix is damp. Insert cuttings about 2 inches deep and place them in a sheltered, lightly shaded spot outdoors. Cuttings usually root in 2–3 weeks, depending on conditions.
Roses:
As roses and other plants wind down for the season, diseases like black spot, mildew, and rust can appear—this is quite natural at this stage of the year.
Lawns:
With frosts on the way, lawns will begin slowing down. Apply a dressing of lime now to keep them healthy over winter and reap the benefits come spring. Try to stay off wet lawns as much as possible to prevent soil compaction, which can cause bare patches. May is also the last chance to treat for grass grub before they hibernate—remember to water in granules after application.
Vegetables:
Pumpkins should now be fully ripe. I like to line mine up along a sunny wall out of the rain to dry and finish ripening. If they sound hollow when tapped, they're ready to harvest.
Wet soil brings out snails and slugs, so protect young seedlings by using clear plastic bottles as cloches—simply remove the caps and cut off the bases. These mini greenhouses also help keep seedlings warm on chilly nights.
Easter or Anzac Day are traditional times for sowing broad beans, but it's still fine to plant them now. Along the coast, take advantage of the warm soil to sow or plant: leeks, turnips, broad beans, silver beet, spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, peas, beetroot, and broccoli.
Fruit:
Now’s a good time to remove dead wood from stone fruit trees like plums, nectarines, and peaches. If you're thinking about planting fruit trees, bagged plants available now will have the whole winter to establish strong root systems. Otherwise, bare-rooted trees will be hitting garden centres in June and July.
Cheers,
Linda
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