#containergardening Archives - Page 2 of 5 - Andrea Whitely Garden Consultant

It’s perfect timing for a heatwave if you ask me. Netflix has just released the latest season of Grace and Frankie and it’s going to be an absolute scorcher outside, most of this week, so, well…. I can’t possibly garden, can I?

Yesterday, at my place it got up to around 41 degrees Celsius, that’s about 106 in Fahrenheit and it is darn hot and your plants will feel it as much as you but as you will, so can your plants survive….here’s how.

GET UP EARLY

Early morning is the best time to get out there and water your plants by hand. So, grab yourself a nice cup of tea or coffee if that’s your poison and head out into the garden. Man (or woman) yourself with the hose and a good shower head attachment, I love the DRAMM rain wand attached to the hose as it allows me to get right up into my hanging baskets. I have the short one and the long one and have been trialling them over the past two years, they are sturdy and strong and don’t leak. The DRAMM rain wand is not made of plastic and so can withstand the hottest sun without cracking or splitting.

DRAMM Rain Wands come in all these glorious colours

BE THE PERFECT HOST…..NOT EVERYONE NEEDS A DRINK RIGHT NOW

Your finger is the best moisture monitor you will ever own, so before you water your containers, check first that the soil is not still moist. If it feels dry when you stick your finger (I use my pointer finger) into the soil then it needs a drink, it’s as simple as that. I hear from so many people that they are watering every day and their plants are “still wilting” wilting or that the plant looks floppy which in fact can be a response to too much love and too much water! Most containers only need watering three times a week, indoor ones even less. Please do not water your indoor plants and outdoor containers every day, they absolutely don’t need it.

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Well, it might not feel like it as we shiver through more rain and cold weather here in Perth but nature is telling us that Spring is just around the corner.

We have had record rains this August and everything is about to burst into bloom.

Have you noticed the Acacia -yellow wattles and Chamelaucium uncinatum-Pink Geraldton Wax, in bloom on the side of the freeways and roadways?

Nothing says Spring quite like our Aussie wattles

More Geraldton Wax..ooh I can smell that honey-scented fragrance now

That’s natures’ way of saying, hang onto your sun hats, Perth peeps, our very short Spring and long HOT Summer is on its way.

Qualup Bells and Everlasting daisies are in flower right now!

Here are 6 Things to do this weekend to have your garden looking spring ready

1. Improve your soil

Add some mature compost or soil conditioner around the base of your plants and let the last of this rain soak that into your sandy soil for healthy spring/summer blooms. Your plants will be more disease resistant and much better able to survive the summer heat. It’s worth it!

2. Plant some natives

Grevillias offer striking colour and lots of food for pollinators

The garden centers are full of our West Australian native species in flower, even if you don’t have a native garden, why not introduce a few to help out the pollinators, you know, the birds and the bees, they need your help.

Look at these beautiful blooms-only in WA!

3. Weed, weed weed

No-one likes the prospect of this but it simply must be done! The rain has provided lots of nutrients and water to the soil which means that the weeds have all shot up-do yourself a favour and remove them before they take over completely! I use my favourite weeding tool the fabulous Cobrahead weeder

4. Plant some Annuals

Check out the seedlings at the garden centre, nothing says Spring quite like some pots of annual colour either side of your front door.

How about growing some pretty petunias for spring colour? These ones were in Michigan last year when I was there…..they get fed with liquid fertiliser for Flower and Fruit every week!

5. It’s Mulching Time

Time to get some mulch onto your garden beds so that your plants will be able to thrive in our hot summer sun. I like to use either straw mulch or Marri woodchips depending on the type of garden I am working on

6. Indoor Plant tidy up

Have a close look at your indoor plants, put them out in the rain or give them a hose down outside, wipe off the winter dust and give them a light dose of liquid fertilizer before bringing them back inside for your indoor jungle to be at its best for Summer entertaining

Pop your indoor plants outside for some rain and a bit of a wash down before bringing them back in for the summer

Need Help to get started??? email Andrea on nolilwhit@bigpond.com to make a booking

Tag: #containergardening

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