Keep on top of the weeds.
A few warmer days in a row can send the more promiscuous species to seed seemingly overnight.
The saying that "one year’s seeds equals seven years weeds" might be an old one, but it certainly still holds true.
The recent drying winds will have sucked some moisture out of the ground, especially where the earth is bare and not protected by mulch.
With all around us so lush and lovely, it can be tempting to assume that all is well underground.
Make sure that any roses, shrubs or trees that you planted in their bare-rooted form over recent months get a follow-up watering.
Keep tip pruning shrubs to encourage a good shape and thick growth. Just use your thumb and pointer finger to pinch out the very ends of the stems on plants that are getting out of shape.
At this time of year, you can do this with almost no noticeable effect on the plant. Keeping up with the pruning is much better than long, lanky, bare stems with leaves only at the ends.
You could find yourself having to prune off a season’s growth of long, whippy stems.
The weather is still uncertain. Continue to keep an eye on weather forecasts and cover any tender treasures, especially vegetable seedlings, if frosts are predicted.
Many who have planted seeds of frost-tender vegies will wait until the beginning of November (after Melbourne Cup Day) to plant them out into the garden.
You can, instead, leave the risk-taking to our local nurseries and buy advanced seedlings from them, ready to go straight into the ground when you decide the time is right.
In the meantime, you can set up frames for climbing beans, taller tomato varieties and cucumbers.
Instead of a trellis or staking tomatoes, consider putting a cylinder of mesh 1.5-2 metres high around each tomato seedling.
Use a type of mesh that you can fit your hand through to get at the fruit when it is ready.
A reminder to everyone that the Armidale Garden Club meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7.30pm at the Uniting Church hall.
All enthusiastic gardeners are welcome to come along to these meetings.
