- It’s time to get diggy with it. After rain, head out, dig a hole and have a look at how far moisture has penetrated. If it’s dry, improve by aerating and adding organic matter.
- Living mulches like thyme and oregano, or flowering favourites such as alyssum and chamomile are great growing under larger plants in the garden, as a low border, or around the edge of a pot.
- Now that your precious proteas have finished their flowering, it’s time for a haircut. Cut stems back to about 10cm from the main branch – this will stop them getting leggy as they grow.
- Make sure you get out and about this weekend and hunt out our wonderful native wildflowers. Many are in full bloom now and putting on a tremendous show.
- Codling moths are on the move and heading to a Malus near you so, if you grow apples, plant nasturtium or lavender around your trees to repel them, or plant dill to attract predatory wasps.
- The three sisters, an ancient Native American planting technique, is wonderful for small spaces. Planting beans, corn and pumpkins as companions means they protect and support each other.
- Fan flowers (Scaevola sp.) are an absolute must-have in a garden. Great as a groundcover or in a pot, these native stunners bear masses of purple to white flowers.
- With the warmer weather upon us, coriander is running to seed, so it’s time to save some for next season (and some for the kitchen). Allow the seeds to dry fully on the plant, snip off the stalks and store in a paper bag.
- It’s time to plant edible and ornamental gourds, be they warty, bitter melons or bottle gourds. They are vigorous vines, so give them something strong to climb on, and water regularly.
- Get set to get wet and dedicate a couple of shallow water trays to growing some healthy H²O-loving herbs. Try native mint, Lebanese cress or even Vietnamese mint.
- Flowering now is the scented daphne (Phaleria clerodendron). A rainforest plant from north-east Queensland, this highly ornamental shrub is beautiful and the scent intoxicating.
- Bring the outside in with a cat garden, purr-fect for your indoor puss. Try pet-safe plants such as cat grass, catnip, mint and even lemongrass that your furry friend will love!
- It’s time to top up your mulch. Any straw-based mulch is great, but pea straw gives you the added bonus of (yup, you guessed it) peas, which are great for the garden.
- Find a warm, sunny spot in your patch and pop in an eggplant or two. Most varieties will need to be staked and all of them will benefit from consistent watering. Feed when they begin to bud.
- If you grow kangaroo paws at your place, give them a crack as a cut flower. Cut the stems about halfway up when the flowers start to open, stick them in a vase and enjoy!