W
elcome to a new
gardening year!
Kick it off with a few
projects and finally
achieve that perfect
outdoor oasis you’ve always dreamed
of. The secret to success is to have a plan,
so we’ve asked the experts for strategies
for each season to ensure this year is the
year for your garden.
Eggplant
Summer
Tomatoes
Planning
30 bunnings.com.au |
Zucchini
What
to plant
You can still plant summer
vegies in the heat, but take
precautions to protect them
from the hot conditions
Care and maintenance
If summer’s rapid growth has
taken over, you’ll need to get
rid of weeds and debris to
better understand the lay of
the land. Hand pull weeds or
use an organic weedkiller for
large areas. Secateurs, loppers
and a pruning saw may come
in handy, too, for tackling
overgrown shrubs and trees.
Seasol seaweed health
tonic concentrate,
$22.95/2.4L,
I/N: 2962112
Pope 7.5m soaker
hose, $14.81,
I/N: 3123300
bunnings |
bunnings
SHOP
Eco-Organic
Garden ‘Slasher’
organic weedkiller
concentrate, $31.75/1L,
I/N: 2962229
Fiskars ‘P321’
solid bypass pruner,
$24.95, I/N: 0241661
Fiskars
aluminium
weeder,
$10.95,
I/N: 3360133
Coolaroo 3.66m
wide 50% shade
cloth in White,
$27.40/linear m,
I/N: 3300400
Take care with
what you plant
in high summer
– plants need
more water and
care to become
established in hot
conditions. Those
you could plant
now include
summer vegies
such as beans,
chillies, eggplant,
tomatoes, sweet
corn, pumpkin
and zucchini.
Consider erecting
shade cloths
to reduce heat
stress and apply
a fortnightly
dose of seaweed
solution to
promote healthy
roots. Always
water deeply, as
this encourages
the roots to grow
deeper into the
soil, which in turn
helps plants
better withstand
hot, dry periods.
Photography (main) Gap Photos/Robert Mabic; (left, eggplant, tomato, zucchini) Getty Images;
(opposite, main image) Gap Photos/Ernie Janes; (centre, murraya, daffodils) Getty Images.
While summer isn’t the
best season for planting
projects, it’s a great time
to plan for the year ahead.
Sue Edwards of Seasol
suggests looking at your
space, the time you want to
spend in it and the purpose
it serves for you and your
family. Make a wish list,
which might include a vegie
patch, a scented garden,
entertaining areas, paths,
a lawn, a water feature or
an irrigation system.
Also consider how you
can improve existing
features – do you need to
cut back an overgrown tree,
or does the lawn need
a weed treatment?
“Starting with a plan will
help you determine what
needs to be done, which
products need to be
purchased and a suitable
time frame,” explains Sue.
Horticulturist Chloe
Foster (@fosteryourgarden)
suggests observing your
garden before embarking
on major works. “Watch
how sunlight moves through
the garden and see where
rain runs and pools,” she
says. Understanding your
garden’s microclimate helps
ensure you’re working with
it, rather than against it.