April

MID-AUTUMN

Now is the time to plant winter-flowering annuals such as Poppies or Primulas. Daffodils do not do well in the Illawarra. The climate is too humid during summer and it does not really get cold enough. Many bulbs just rot in the ground. A solution is to plant fresh every year. However, the Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum) is an excellent flowering bulb in the Illawarra. They can be neglected and ignored, but will still come up year after year. Feed them with a light sprinkling of a slow-release fertiliser when they first show their shoots and they will respond the following year with a better show.

If you are thinking of planting a tree for foliage this is the time to visit nurseries to see the trees while they are in their autumn colour.

• Michaelmas Daisies (Perennial Aster) which have taller growing flowering branches in lilac, pinks, red, blues and white.

• Easter Daisy (Aster Ericoides) with tiny white daisy flowers at this time.

• Anemone Hupehensis, Japanese Windflower, is a perennial which is attractive in its single or double forms in dark pink, light pink and white. Do be careful with this very vigorous perennial or it will spread underground rapidly.

• Plectranthus is reliable for its purple flowers

• Penstemons are delightful.

You may be disappointed the first year, but usually perennials flower better in their second season.

HINTS AND TIPS:

Do not use fresh chicken manure on ANY plants as it is too acidic. It will burn new shoots and roots. It is best if it is allowed to "age". Add to the compost bin to enrich or place somewhere in your garden, preferably away from the house so the "aroma" does not upset sensitive noses. Mix and cover with straw and leave until it has broken down. Then it will be safe to use. While in the nursery cast an eye over the Sasanqua Camellias to see which colour, size and shape you prefer.

Garden Maintenance

April is a good month to tidy up the garden and plants, such as Chrysanthemums, Asters, Dahlias, Pelargoniums, Impatience and Roses. Divide plants such as Perennial Phlox, Stokes Asters and Shasta Daisies if clumps are getting too large, any time from now through the winter. Pot up surplus plants to give away to friends and family. Straggly growth on Dianthus and Carnations can be cut off and the strongest pieces potted up too. Dig up and divide clumping perennials, such as irises and mondo grass. Prune your geraniums. Cut back the vigorous stems by two-thirds. Cut to just above a node. Remove dead woody stems and remove any dead leaves.

Snails and slugs, particularly baby snails, are in plague proportions, especially in the Agapanthus. Don't spray, just remove and squash - the birds will eat them as by the middle of the next day there is no trace of their remains. Try not to use snail bait because of the birdlife and larger lizard such as Blue Tongues. Native birds are attracted to Salvias, Camellias, and Callistemons as well as the usual Grevilleas.

There are a couple of hundred different species of Grevilleas. The most well-known is Robyn Gordon and Sandra Gordon, a vigorous yellow flowering tree-like shrub. Moonlight has a lemon-coloured flower and Sylvia has very large attractive pink blooms. Bottlebrushes have attractive papery bark and the white flowering variety Citrinus White is lovely.

If this is a wet month, watch for petal blight on early-flowering Azaleas and spray with a fungicide. Mildew may be a problem on Hydrangeas, Roses, and vegetables, so use the same treatment.

Don't mow the grass too short now, because weeds will encroach in the bare spots as growth will be slowing due to the lovely cool nights. Sow new lawns early this month. Check local nurseries for seed suitable for your area and conditions.

Plant spring-flowering bulbs. This is a good time to put in freesias and snowbells.

© 2020 West Wollongong Garden Club Inc.