Welcome to the February Garden Notes. The weather is very unpredictable at the moment, reaching for the sunscreen one day and looking for a jacket the next!
The cooler days are giving our gardens a bit of respite, but February can be very hot so still be vigilant with watering, especially pots and hanging baskets. We’ve had some rain too, but not enough to get down into the subsoil so make sure you keep the water up to trees and shrubs, fruit trees in particular. Top up mulch as required, apply a seaweed concentrate regularly and use wetting agents to increase water retention.
Another great product to help with watering trees and shrubs is the Greenwell Tree Surround. Developed and produced right here in Adelaide these plastic surrounds come in two handy sizes to suit almost all trees and are very easy to install. Check them out when next instore.
Strange as it may seem it’s actually time to start thinking about getting the garden ready to plant winter veggies. The Brassica family; cabbage, cauliflower etc, are what we call “gross feeders” meaning that they require a rich soil full of nutrient and organic matter to perform well. Digging in animal manures such as cow manure, or organic composts like mushroom compost, and letting them sit for a few weeks before planting will provide the perfect start for your plants when you do put them in.
Don’t forget that if you are limited for ground space to grow veggies, you can always grow them in pots and raised garden beds. These come in a range of sizes and styles now, either flat packed easy to assemble or a range of pre-assembled ready to go! It’s a good idea to line them with weed mat to prevent soil washing out and if they’re on soil this will help to keep roots from adjacent trees and shrubs from invading the growing space. You can use a bulk potting mix to fill and add cow manure and compost to the top 200-300mm to provide enough goodness for your plants.
Contact us or visit your local Stratco store for further expert lawn and garden advice.