Welcome to our October blog, it looks like we’re in for a very warm rest of spring and summer going by the weather we’ve had so far, although some cooler showery days ahead this week.
October is the month when things really “get going” in our gardens. The soil is now warm enough to plant all the summer vegetables we love, as well as any citrus that have been waiting on the back burner. Let’s take a look at some of the things to do this month.
Perfect time to check your Irrigation System
Even though we're going to get a sprinkle this week, it won't be enough to properly water anything. Given that we've already experienced days above 30 degrees, this is the perfect time to check your irrigation system before a sustained run of hotter weather. If you have a mains controller with a battery backup, change the battery. Similar to your smoke alarms, replace the battery at the start and end of daylight saving to ensure your program is saved in case of a power supply failure.
Run your system manually to ensure it's working properly, flush filters, fix any leaks, and replace any drippers or sprayers that aren't functioning. If you don't have a watering system, now is also the perfect time to install one. It saves water and time, allowing you to go away for extended periods with the assurance that your garden is being looked after.
Check hoses and hose fittings for wear, especially O-rings, and replace if necessary.
All of the garden will now be looking for regular deep watering, especially fruit trees and lawns. Once a week, apply a good, soaking drink to your trees, and depending on your lawn type, do the same. I have a kikuyu lawn and will normally only water it fortnightly, at least 25ml, unless we have really hot weather. Pots and hanging baskets will need more water, so you will need to check them daily.
Treating your whole garden with a wetting agent will certainly be beneficial. It will increase water absorption and help your soil hold moisture for longer, saving you both time watering and costly water!
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Get your Mulch on!
Having done the above, the next thing to consider is mulch. Do you just need to top up existing mulch around your plants, or do you need to start from scratch? Mulch comes in many different forms, such as Pea Straw, Sugar Cane, Pine Bark, Coloured Barks, Forest Mulch, and more. It really doesn’t make any difference which one you use; choose one to complement your garden style. The important thing is to actually use one.
You can significantly reduce water evaporation from the soil around your plants. Similar to the wetting agent, using mulch saves time on watering, not to mention the cost of water. If applied thick enough, mulch also helps suppress weeds, which compete with your plants for water and can look unsightly.
If you want to fertilize your plants, do this at the same time. Scrape the mulch back to expose the soil, apply the fertilizer, and replace the mulch. Placing the fertilizer directly under the mulch means that it will get into the soil quicker and go straight to work, without having to work through the mulch first.
The soil is now well and truly warm enough for all the summer veggies, so if you haven’t got yours going yet, there is no better time to get them in. A great range of tomatoes and chillies are in garden centers now, along with all your other favorites. If you don’t have room in the ground, as lots of new dwellings don’t these days, there are other options for 'growing your own.'
Raised garden beds have been around for quite a few years now and come in a huge range of shapes, sizes, and colors, all of which are absolutely fine for growing veggies and herbs. I use four at home myself, as I can’t grow in the soil due to root competition from trees just over my fence line. Large pots are also great, and don’t forget vertical gardens, which also come in a large variety.
Time to Plant Some Citrus & Berries
It’s okay to plant citrus now too. If you’ve been putting that off, plant them out to give them time to settle in before the really hot weather arrives. Other heat-loving plants like hibiscus, bougainvillea, and frangipani will be arriving soon and can go in straight away too.
Berries make a splash in this month’s catalog, with six different varieties to choose from. These are easy to grow either in pots or in the ground; they just need a spot that gets at least half a day’s sun and something for them to climb or be tied up to. Autumn fruiting varieties, such as Raspberry Heritage, should be pruned to the ground in winter. Summer fruiting plants should be pruned after fruiting—cut the fruiting canes to ground level and leave or tie up the non-fruiting canes for the next year. Don’t forget to net them when fruiting; birds love them too, and you’ll be making berry smoothies in no time.
Remove the canes that cropped this year, but leave the new canes, as these will bear next year's crop. Then, tie them to your trellis.
Prepare your Lawn
Summer grass lawns, such as couch and kikuyu, can be mowed very short now if they are 'spongy,' as this will remove the dry thatch. This will help get moisture down to the soil, as thatch is quite often water-repellent. If your lawn has become compacted or you had wet spots visible in winter, you can now consider aerating the lawn and applying some gypsum to help 'open up' the soil. Aerating is easily done with a digging fork, working the tines into the soil and wriggling them around, or you can hire aerators from hire companies. Gypsum can be applied after aerating or at the same time as feeding. Water it in, and it will begin to soften hard-compacted soils.
Final Notes
Lastly, don’t forget to be sun smart now; apply sunscreen, wear a wide brim hat and keep yourself well hydrated.
Ask one of our knowledgeable garden staff members for advice if you have any questions regarding anything having to do with your garden, indoors or out. We would be pleased to lead you on the correct path. Call us on 1300 165 165 or visit your local store.