Gosh it’s been hot! It also seems to be entirely good fortune if you have been under a storm cloud.
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Some I speak to are running low on water, some on town water are running high on water bills, while others have been lucky enough to have had a deluge.
Plan your watering regime so you don’t miss any special treasures, particularly shrubs and trees planted bare-rooted last winter or anything planted recently.
Whatever you might be watering, the best time to do it is in the morning or evening.
If you have plants that have developed brown patches on their leaves, they could be suffering from leaf scorch...
Water well and less often, rather than a sprinkle here and there. Be sure to water thoroughly because mulches can absorb water from the surface.
Also ensure you have water available for birds and insects such as bees, hoverflies, lacewings, lady birds and predatory wasps that visit your garden.
If you have plants that have developed brown patches on their leaves, they could be suffering from leaf scorch, caused by high temperatures and/or a lack of water.
With a good watering, the plants will recover and some new growth will occur. However, the leaves on some trees and shrubs will be discarded and it will look as if autumn has come early.
Plants can be protected with shadecloth or even an old sheet strung up to provide shade, especially during the middle of the day.
Jobs for summer
Pinch out sideshoots on tomatoes to get a larger crop. Keep vegies regularly watered to stop them getting woody and less flavoursome.
Deadhead roses and early-flowering perennials to keep a tidy look and prolong the flowering season. Leave roses that will develop hips, though so their hips develop for autumn interest.
Garden ponds are full of flamboyant foliage at this time of year. Any pond weeds or aquatic plants that are taking over and crowding out other plants can be removed using a rake and lightly skimming the surface.
Leave the debris in a pile beside the pond for a few hours to let any insects, frogs or other inhabitants scurry back to safety in the water.
The first meeting for 2019 for the Armidale Garden Club will be February 28 (the fourth Thursday of the month). Mark the date in your calendars.
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