Introduce festive greenery to the table with a succulent Christmas tree. Purchase a cone frame from craft stores or fashion one from sturdy chicken wire. Line the inside of the frame with geotextile fabric and stuff with pre-soaked sphagnum moss. On the outside of the frame, cut slits into the fabric and insert succulent cuttings, stuffing holes with extra moss to secure, if needed. Repeat to cover the frame, using baubles or other decorative items between cuttings. Water well when the moss is dry.
Protect summer crops from intense summer sun by erecting a shade cloth. Use bamboo canes or star pickets for support but if space is limited, a large beach umbrella is useful.
Plant a mix of flowers to encourage pollinators to visit the garden. Try sunflowers, cosmos, zinnias, borage, and salvias. For more ideas, head to page 24 in our Summer 2023 Garden Clinic Magazine.
Going away this holiday season? Install automated irrigation and connect it to Wi-Fi so it can be easily monitored or changed, no matter where you are.
Does coriander bolt too quickly in your zone? Consider growing indoors in a well-lit kitchen.
Regularly liquid feed fruiting plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicum and chillies through summer. It offers quick access to nutrients, which will help keep them healthy and productive.
Erect a 'veggie tunnel' for cucumbers or zucchinis. This helps keep them off the ground, where pests and diseases can easily ruin the crop. Graham used bamboo, lightweight fencing mesh and a little tie wire. Insert bamboo ends into beds to form an arch, layer mesh over the top and secure with tie wire. Vines will be dripping with fruit!