Garden Tasks For Mid Spring

GARDEN TASKS FOR MID SPRING
Now is the time to be planting Dahlia tubers. If you would like the growing guide mentioned in last months email send me an email and I will send you the link  

For warm season grasses like Buffalo, Couch and Kikuyu, it’s time to do your spring renovation.  This might include scarifying, dethatching, aerating, topdressing and fertilizing.

Fertilise your roses. I like to use “Sudden Impact” fertiliser this also works well on hydrangeas, agapanthus, hibiscus and many other flowering plants.  Use this now in October to give them a boost before flowering starts.

Purchase and plant out your summer flowering bulbs like lilies, belladonna lilies and gladioli.

Your winter flowering bulbs will be finishing up now. Ideally it is always best to let the foliage die down naturally before you lift them up however, when the flowers do finish if you have time cut back the dead flower head (not the flowers stems just the dead flower) This will stop them from going to seed and will help the plant put energy back into their bulb for next year’s growth.

In the veggie patch I will be planting out salad leaves (like Mizuna, English Spinach, Rocket), tomatoes, zucchini, corn, cucumbers, capsicum and radishes

Herb Garden – With the chance of frost starting to reduce planting out annual herbs such as basil, dill, coriander and flat leaved parsley. You can also plant out perennial herbs now like rosemary, all varieties of thyme, chives and oregano.

Check that irrigation systems are working to their full potential before the hot days arrive. I also check what irrigation parts we have on hand. I usually like to have some back up parts like joiners, clamps and T’s in the irrigation kit just in case we need them.

Plant out summer flowering annuals in the cutting garden, veggie patch or even just for a splash of colour through the rest of the  garden for summer. Some summer flowers you could plant are alendula, Cosmos, Cornflowers, Poppies, Love in the Mist, Zinnias, Sun Flowers, Cerinthus major and Queen Anne’s Lace.  

Start to think about netting your summer flowering fruit like Cherries, Peaches and Apricots. One thing to consider is the size of mesh you use as it can be hazard in trapping wildlife. In the state of Victoria, legally the netting can only be 5mm x 5mm mesh to help prevent wildlife from becoming caught.