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GARDEN TIPS FOR AUGUST 2010
THESE ARE TIPS FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA
PLEASE NOTE THIS INFORMATION IS FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CONDITIONS, this information could be used for other areas where the climate, soils etc, are similiar.
Check with your local Garden Centre or Nursery first.
CHECK THE GARDEN FOR PESTS
MEALYBUGS are fluffy-coated sucking little creatures which are often established on plants which are growing indoors or on verandahs and covered patios areas.  They conceal themselves at the base of plants or in the creases of the leaves where the main stems join. If left on the plants their numbers can grow until they're capable of seriously weakening the host plant. The movement of ants on plants is usually a sure sign of Mealybug or some other sucking pest feasting. One old time remedy was to swob each mealybug with methylated spirits, which was very tedious and was not always so successful.
The use of Confidor will make it easier to control these unwanted pests. Spray all over the affected plant. But take the infected plants outside into the shade if they usually lives indoors while you are spraying. After the spray has dried, the plants can then go back into their usual position. Spray twice more, a couple of weeks apart. After that, leave the systemic Confidor to do its job. Check, and follow up if necessary, in a few months time.
Keep a sharp eye out for those small tree-dwelling snails, they love the fresh new magnolia leaves. The little snails never come down from the branches, so they will need to be track down and squashed between your gloved fingers.
Sprinkle around a few Blitzem or Baysol pellets to catch the ground level snails.
LAVENDER
 Lavender is often found in lists of useful plants. It's hard to believe that something so pretty can also be useful, but there's a long recorded history of lavender being employed in such mundane household tasks as washing clothes (indeed the word 'lavender' is derived from the Latin word for wash). Lavender is also said to have many medicinal properties, although it's mostly grown for its good looks.
How to grow Lavender
Lavender needs an open, sunny position with good drainage. It does best in Mediterranean - type climates with cool, moist winters and hot dry summers, but there are now so many lavender varieties available that it's possible for lavender to grow successfully in all but the most tropical of climates. In humid regions the lavender known as 'Allardii', which is a cross between a couple of particularly hardy varieties, does especially well. 'Sidonie ' is another good all-round performer in a wide range of climates.
Lavenders appreciate an occasional dressing with Garden Lime ( if the soil is acidic)or, better still, with some Dolomite. During their growing season they can be fed with Munns Organic Garden Booster, Thrive Soluble Flower & Fruit Plant Food. Not only does this encourage good flowering, its high proportion of potassium boosts the plant's resistance to disease.
Regular light pruning will also help lavender to stand up to disease. Never cut into old, leafless wood, it won't usually re-shoot. If diseases like mildew do become apparent, begin spraying with Yates Rose Gun.
Want more lavender in your life? Lavender can be grown from seed (in fact it becomes a seed-borne weed in certain climates) and Yates seed range includes a packet called Munstead Strain, a compact grower that is popular for hedging. Seedlings that are sown in early spring are usually ready to be planted out in the first summer.
SEED OF THE MONTH
Yates CELERY Green Crunch, is a crisp variety that produces sweet, moist stalks with very few strings. The Celery seed can be a little slow to germinate so it’s best to start it off in pots or trays filled with pre-watered Yates Seed Raising Mix. Sprinkle seed on the surface and cover lightly. Water gently again and keep moist right through the germination period. Germination usually takes between 2 to 3 weeks but may take even longer in cool conditions.  While the seeds are germinating, spend some time preparing the garden bed. Dig in manure and a complete fertiliser such as Yates Professional Blood & Bone or Dynamic Lifter pellets. A couple of weeks later (unless you’re in an alkaline area) mix in some Yates Garden Lime.
Thin crowded seedlings, discarding the excess, and transplant into the garden bed when they are about 10 cm tall. Celery seedlings don’t like having their roots disturbed so handle them with care and try to keep a small amount of mix intact around the roots. After transplanting, water in with some Yates Nature’s Way Seaweed Tonic. This will help the roots to settle and begin to grow.
Celery can be planted quite closely together but must be well watered and fed regularly with Thrive Soluble All Purpose. A layer of mulch will help keep moisture in the soil.
Blanching (whitening) of celery is not as fashionable as it used to be but, if you want to produce those desirable white stems, during the last month the stems can be wrapped in foil or paper to exclude the light. Empty milk cartons are often used instead of foil or paper because they stand
up to the constant moisture.
Watch out for aphids on the young shoots – control with Yates non-toxic Natrasoap Insect & Mite spray.
For more information contact Judy Horton (02) 97949481 judy.horton@yates.com.au www.yates.com.au
PREPARING THE GARDEN FOR THE HOT SUMMER ONSLAUGHT
A good heavy layer of mulch cuts down on water loss and keeps down the weeds that consume ground moisture. With hot weather and a shortage of water again this year, your plants will suffer great stress.
HAVE YOU MULCHED YOUR GARDEN?, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU DO SO NOW.
Click here for information on Garden Mulch .
TAKE TIME TO PREPARE FOR SPRING
August is just a month away from spring when it all happens in our gardens. Technically its still winter, but with a sunny day that appears every now and then, life in the garden begins to move. Those cold Southern winds tend to drive the true garden lovers back inside their warm home. But somewhere out in the dark of the night the insect world is preparing for a large scale attack.
CITRUS
Citrus need similar care: good sun shine, well-drained soil and regular feeding. Fertilise at this time of year with Citrus Food, in early summer with Dynamic Lifter organic pellets and in early autumn with Citrus Food again. Keep the root area beneath the tree free of grass, and mulch with a compost-rich layer. Don't let the mulch contact the trunk of the tree because this might cause the bark-rotting disease called collar rot (treat with Yates Anti Rot). Regular applications of PestOil will keep citrus free of scale insects, aphids, young bugs and citrus leaf miner.
Citrus gall Look for lumps which have developed in the stem where the gall wasp laid its eggs last season. Simply cut off the affected parts, wrap them securely in plastic and put them into the bin (not the compost). If you do nothing, in spring a new generation of wasps will emerge to start the whole cycle all over again. There's no chemical control for this pest. A good feed of citrus food will quickly help replace the lost growth.
PRUNE THIS MONTH
Cut back grass clumps that are looking ragged and untidy. Ornamental grasses, such as the popular Red Fountain grass , can be cut down almost to ground level. After pruning, feed with some organic pellets to encourage new shoots to sprout from the base.
TIME TO FEED
This month is when certain type of plants begin their new growth. Citrus, roses and hibiscus are all strong feeders and they will need plenty of nutrients to sustain their new growth and to encourage production of plenty of flowers.
Feed with Munns Organic Garden Booster.
Deciduous magnolias burst out into new growth after flowering, so only give the plants a light sprinkling of Dynamic Lifter pellets.
FLOWERS SEED TO SOW NOW
ALYSSUM
Low-growing alyssum never goes out of fashion and, in these drought-conscious times, it's comforting to know that, once established, this dainty flower needs very little extra water. Seed packets range includes traditional white alyssum (called 'Carpet of Snow' because of its ground hugging habit), pink 'Rosie O'Day', purple 'Royal Carpet' and the charming mixes 'Lavender & Lace' and 'Berries & Cream'.
Prepare summer colour for your garden by sowing seeds of Brachycome Pacific Mix, one of the varieties in Yates Waterwise Collection.
This selected form of the Swan River Daisy from Western Australia has evolved to handle periods of hot, dry weather. In spite of their tough constitutions, the blue, mauve and white daisy flowers look surprisingly dainty and delicate.
Nasturtiums, old favourites that are still in vogue, are some of the easiest flowers to grow from seed. Nasturtiums are great for kids, too, because, unlike many flower seeds, nasturtium seeds are large enough for little fingers to handle. It helps to be aware that nasturtium seeds have two major requirements for germination: they need darkness, so should be completely covered. Choose either rosy-red or Nasturtium Cherry Rose, or Jewel Dwarf with its mixed colours of orange, red and yellow.
Nasturtiums would have to be one of the most versatile plants that can easily be grown from seed. They are a wonderful plant to get young children's interest in gardening. Nasturtiums need only a moderate temperature to germinate. If the weather is still very cold outside, then sow some seed in 5 inch squat pots to a depth of about 12 mm and place them inside the house. Nasturtium seeds need darkness for germination to take place, so put them in the children's room so they can watch the seed germinate.
Nasturtiums can be grown in hanging baskets or grown over low walls and they can even be planted in rockeries. They flower during the warmer parts of the year giving the garden a mass of colour. The leaves can be placed in sandwiches or tossed salads and the flowers can be used as a garnish. Here is another bonus. The buds can be pickled and used as capers.
Marigolds The cheerful, warm colours of marigolds fit perfectly into the summer garden. Sow marigolds now, either directly into the garden bed in warm climates or, in cooler areas, into small pots for transplanting after the weather warms up in spring.
Yates Marigold Safari Mixture has a beautiful blend of orange, yellow and scarlet flowers on semi-dwarf plants.
VEGETABLE SEED TO SOW THIS MONTH
Chilly August days are just right to think about sowing chilli seeds. Start them off in pots of Seed Raising Mix and transplant into larger containers or out into the garden when the weather is warm enough.
Long Red Cayenne Chilli develops pencil-like mild green or hot red fruits that ripen over many months.
Burke's Backyard Thai Chilli is also long lasting with small, bell-shaped fruits that colour from green to cream, purple then red, becoming hotter along the way.
Chillis can continue on producing for a year or two depending on the weather.
EARLY START FOR TOMATO
In many places it's too early to plant out tomatoes, but they can be started indoors from seed.
They'll then be ready to go outdoors once the soil is warm.
New season's tomato seeds are appearing on the shop shelves at this time of year. In cooler districts Apollo Improved is probably the best variety to plant at first, because it's a little more cold tolerant than most of the others. This is not simply a matter of the plant surviving the cold. Air temperatures also need to be warm enough for the flowers to develop into fruit. And this is where Apollo Improved has an advantage, because it will begin to form fruit at lower temperatures than other varieties. Of course, if you garden in warmer areas (or in a cool climate, but you're prepared to wait a bit longer) your choice of tomato varieties will be far greater.
Tiny Tim is the best tomato for pots. While the tomatoes themselves are small, even more importantly, the plants have compact growth. Tiny Tim has sometimes been described as a tabletop tomato.
If you're planning to grow your tomatoes in the garden, you'll have a far greater choice of varieties. The all time favourite tomato in Australia is Grosse Lisse, a name that translates roughly as 'big and smooth'. Grosse Lisse fruit are large and prolific. As you'd guess, this means that the plants should be staked to support the weight of the fruit, and it's preferable to get the stakes in place before planting.
Big Beef is a variety with large, meaty fruit. One slice of Big Beef fits perfectly on a slice of fresh bread or toast.
Summertaste is an Australian-bred tomato that is ideally suited to those warmer climates where tomatoes can sometimes be difficult to grow. Summertaste is particularly disease resistant and, although it's touted as being a good tropical variety, it does equally well in cooler areas.
Sow tomato seeds into pots filled with a Seed Raising Mix. Leave them on a warm windowsill. Water the pots well at planting time and use one of those water-filled mist sprayers to keep the mix moist. After the seedlings have emerged begin watering them weekly with half-strength Aquasol or Thrive Soluble Plant Food. It's also a good idea to rotate the pots regularly so that the tiny plants have even access to light. If you don't do this they'll grow sideways and you'll have great difficulty getting them back on the straight and narrow!
Baby Beets
Even if you don't have much room for a vegetable garden, it's easy to find enough space for a few baby beets. These trendy mini vegetables will grow just as happily in pots as they do in garden beds. There's one trick to remember, though, beetroot seed comes surrounded by a corky coating, so it's best to soak the seeds in water for a few hours before sowing them.
Spring onions
Popular spring onions are great for the inexperienced vegetable grower. They take up so little room they can even be sown into fruit boxes or pots. After the seeds germinate, thin out the young plants to avoid overcrowding. Either transplant the excess seedlings into other garden beds or toss them into salads and stirfries.
Carrots can be sown for much of the year, August is one of the best months to start them off (especially if they follow a leafy winter crop such as lettuce or cabbage). They need a soil that is well-drained, preferably a sandy type mix. This will allow the carrot roots to grow straight into a lower level without forking.
If your soil is heavy or clayey, build a raised up carrot bed that sits well above the natural soil level. It's always a good idea to mix some Gro-Plus Complete or Munns Organic Garden Booster into the soil before planting. Its balance of nutrients will encourage good root growth.
If you would like to grow Carrots in shallow soil or pots then the Baby Carrot are the best choice.
Manchester Table is an old favourite carrot variety with long roots that can grow to 20cm in soft, light soil.
PEAS
These are originally native to Turkey, West Asia and the Mediterranean. They have been a basic human food for about 1,000 of years and they are even mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. When you grow and eat your own peas you're celebrating a very long-standing human food tradition, and you're also able to enjoy fresh peas at their very best.
Teach your children the facts of life of the plant world.
Did you know that the average young child believe peas are produced in factories? That's because they've only ever seen peas in plastic bags in the freezer cabinets at the supermarket. One way to introduce children to the wonders of the plant world is by growing peas. Not only will they experience the joy of gardening, but they'll also come to appreciate that peas come from living plants.
Fortunately it's really easy to grow peas from seed. In warm areas they should be sown in autumn to crop throughout the cooler weather. At this time of year gardeners in warm areas will have the greatest chance of success with the popular Chinese Snow Peas. They crop quickly and seem to stand up better to higher temperatures.
Germinating your Peas
Choose a sunny, protected spot that hasn't recently been used to grow peas and beans family. Dig some fertiliser (Gro-Plus Complete) into the soil.
Sowing peas
Water soil well the day before you plan to sow pea seeds. This means that the soil should be slightly damp the next morning, which will be perfect for sowing. As long as the soil remains damp, the peas shouldn't need watering again until after the seedlings have emerged. Once they're up they'll grow rapidly, but young plants will need protection from snails and slugs. Sprinkle around some Blitzem or Baysol pellets.
Mid August is the time to start planning and preparing the ground ready for your Spring flowering garden. While you are cleaning and digging the garden beds over, start thinking about what varieties and colours will look best in different locations of your garden. Certain colours often contrast with different types of shrub foliage, where others will clash, so now is a good time to take a look at the situation.
Consideration must be given to the different types of seedling growth habits, as an example tall Cinerarias should not be planted among or in front of Primula. If you need help, do not be afraid to ask your local Nursery person, they are there to help you.
TIME TO PRUNE THESE PLANTS
Hibiscus, Gardenias, Plumbago and Fuchsias.
Cut back geraniums (pelargoniums) and feed with a sprinkling of pelleted fertiliser and re-pot them if necessary. Have some fungus spray on hand, ready to be prepared to use as soon as there are any signs of leaf spots, such as rust.
Start applying Hydrangea Blueing Tonic to the varieties of hydrangeas you wish to intensify their summer flower colour.
GROWING DAHLIAS IN YOUR GARDEN
This is time to plant Dahlia Tubers. They come in a great range of colours as well as different types of flower shapes. The flowers are ideal for summer gardens and look great in flower arrangements.
Dahlias need a well drained sunny position and shelter from the wind. The plants die down to an underground tuber in the winter and they can be planted in early spring. For those people who live in a frosty area I would suggest you wait until the danger of frost is over before planting the Dahlia tubers.
Dahlias come in many different forms. The most popular forms are, Exhibition (Decorative), Cactus, Waterlily, Show Pompone and Bambino.
Exhibition or Decorative types produce the largest flowers with fully double broad blooms.
Show type Dahlias are also large flowered. Cactus Dahlia flowers have medium sized attractive flowers with curled, pointed petals.
The Ball type Dahlias produce beautiful rounded flowers and have larger blooms than the similarly shaped Pompone types.
Pompone Dahlias are smaller in size than the Ball. Their flowers are so dainty that they can be mixed in posies.
The Waterlily Dahlias have beautiful medium sized flowers resembling a waterlily.
If you wish to grow a low growing bush Dahlia which bears a lot of flowers over a long period, then I would suggest that Bambino is the variety for you. This dwarf variety comes in a pack of assorted colours.
Snails and slugs love Dahlia plants and flowers, so make sure that you put down some Slug and Snail bait. Feed with Munns Organic Garden Booster.
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