WHAT a summer! The recent rain has lifted our spirits and with the future forecasts promising more we look forward to autumn, our favourite gardening period.
WHAT a summer! The recent rain has lifted our spirits and with the future forecasts promising more we look forward to autumn, our favourite gardening period.
This is an important season to prepare the garden colour for late winter and spring. Lots of flowers can be sown from seed in early autumn. Sweet pea, possibly the most popular flower are mostly climbers which need support. Sow directly into a well-drained soil in a sunny position, traditionally by St Patrick’s Day – March 17.
Pansies and violas are wonderful spot fillers and are such cheerful little flowers. An unusual variety is Yates Pansy Black Night. Calendulas are cheerful orange/yellow daisies adding warmth to the winter garden. Also they’re helpful in deterring insect pests. Even planting amongst the vegetables.
Keep removing dead heads off flowers regularly to get an autumn flush and unless required for seed just take the goodness from the plant.
With Lasiandras, the flower of the month in Wauchope, many gardens exhibit at least one of these brilliant purple trees or shrubs. They can benefit from a hard prune after flowering to re-shape the bush as over time they become ungainly and are not pleasing to the eye. Many varieties are available with colours ranging from white through pink to deep purple. Enjoy the beauty and colour of our town this month.
Garden club events in the next few months include an Open Gardens Day at Kendall with eight different gardens from Laurieton to West Haven, Kew, Kendall and Lorne being open on Saturday March 29, 9am-4pm. This is a great way to see local town and country gardens at their autumnal best or only $10 per person, children free. Tickets can be purchased from Kendall School of Arts, Comboyne Street, Kendall.
Our own Densey Clyne’s garden will be open from 9am-5pm on Saturday April 12 in Secombes Lane. Entry is $6 with refreshments available all day for $5.
A Mother’s Day Stall will be held outside of the Hastings Street, Co-op IGA store on Saturday May 10 so come and purchase a gift of plants or mouth-tempting treats for your Mum. Proceeds this year will go to the Palliative Care unit at our hospital.
Plant your winter vegies – spinach, parsnips, turnips, broccoli, leeks and all those others you like in the next few weeks. Dig in some compost and Dynamic lifter pellets and away they’ll grow!
Good gardening.
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