It's time to: September

Spring is here and there's plenty to do.

Here Elizabeth Swane talks about what's happening in her spring garden.

 

It's time to admire the cherry blossoms. Photo - Robin Powell

Admire

We’re loving pretty crabapples, pretty cherries and gorgeous flowering plums. Seek out the best performing spring blossom trees in your climate.

Feed

Boost soil health with compost.Spread organics 35 mm thick over the soil surface to nourish soil and plants.

Apply organically based fertiliser to all plants, especially roses, citrus, fruit trees and vines. Use a specialised fertilizer, such as Bush Tucker, for native plants.

Boostspring flowering bulbs with regular liquid feeds during and after flowering as they store vital nutrients for next year’s show.

Plant

Summer annuals, such as petunias, cosmos, salvias and zinnias can go in now and will flower their heads off until autumn.

Repot indoor plants that have been in the same container for two years. Refresh potting mix and add a spoonful of slow release fertiliser.

If you didn’t get around to dividing overcrowded cymbidium orchids last month, do it now. Divide into generous-sized clumps and repot into fresh orchid bark. Position pots in shade and water with seaweed solution.

Protect

Guard newly planted seedlings from snails and slugs with pet-friendly snail baits or traps.

Controlsap-suckingaphids on new rose buds with a blast from the hose, or spray with EcoOil.

Begin preventative sprays to control citrus leaf miner, which damages new foliage. Spray with Eco-Oil or Pest Oil every one or two weeks.

Weed

Stay on top of weeds in gardens and lawns by pulling them out by hand before they become rampant.