Images by Robin Powell
Admire
Hyacinths, tulips and Dutch iris are blooming. Prolong the dazzle with regular liquid fertiliser.
Prune
Passionfruit vines should be cut back by a third. Also clear lower growth to increase airflow. Flowers will appear on new season’s growth.
Follow the trim with a feed.
Trim azaleas after flowering.
Cut banksias if necessary, but only back to green wood.
Other natives can be trimmed by one-third to keep them neat, compact and longer-lived.
Pick
Grevilleas and Geraldton waxes make brilliant posies, and picking is a good way to keep the bushes trim.
Feed
Use a slow-release fertiliser for native plants and a specialised slow-release fertiliser for potted plants to power new growth.
Divide
Clumping perennials such as sedum, shasta daisy, lambs ear, gazania and salvia can be divided now. Replant in groups of two to five plants
for a better result.
Divide and repot water lilies. Add a fertiliser tablet to the pot and top with a pebble mulch to keep the roots in place before submerging.
Watch out
Remove bindii by hand before they set their summer barbs.
Protect seedlings against snails and slugs by putting out upturned pots of snail bait.
Blast aphids off new growth with a strong jet from the hose.
Plant
Dahlia tubers can go into a well-drained sunny spot now.
Use summer-loving annuals such as petunia, portulaca sun jewels, zinnia and lobelia in bare spots.
Last chance
Repot and replenish all potted plants. Refresh with a light root ball trim (we use a bread knife for this job) and fresh potting mix. Water with
seaweed solution.
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