December

WHAT CAN YOU DO THIS FESTIVE SEASON?

Water pots and hanging baskets daily in this very hot weather. Don't buy new plants or make new plantings if you are going on holiday unless you have a very dedicated and loyal gardening friend to water by hand. Indoor plants can be grouped in the shower and sprayed and then left with the door closed to keep them damp while you are away.

Hydrangeas make good pot or tub plants for shady patio and balconies and can be taken indoors for decoration while in flower.

Other true blue flowers for summer are the blue Skybush (Ceratostigma willmottianum) from the plumbago family, Plumbago itself and Felicia, a shrub with bright blue daisy flowers with yellow centres. Evolvulus is a ground cover for a sunny spot. Stoke's Aster is another with lovely daisy-like flowers.

Summer flowering Daylily (Hemerocallis) is flowering wonderfully now in my garden in bright yellow, the same colour as Freesia rose, and Aquilegia. The flowers only last one day but there are so many blooms they last for weeks in the sun or partial shade and come in a great range of colours and heights. Daylillies are a great filler, with bright green clumps of new leaves in early summer.

Scented summer flowering gardenias and some Jasmines, such as Star Jasmine, are easily grown near outdoor entertaining areas.

HINTS AND TIPS:

For browning Gardenia leaves, sprinkle on the soil some Nemacur and water in to deter nematodes. This is also good for Chrysanthemums.

For Christmas create an inexpensive present by dividing succulents such as Echeveria (hen and chickens) and pot them into pretty bowls.

Garden Maintenance

Deadhead annuals regularly and foliar feed every two weeks to prolong the flowering season. Conifers respond well to a light trim. Indian Hawthorn, Kalmia, Deutzia and Weigela should be trimmed after flowering. If you haven't pruned your spring-flowering rosa Banksia do so now. Lavender can be cut back 2cm including the last of the flowers. Prune young plants to encourage bushy growth. Box, variegated Abelia, Elaeagnus, Euonymous grown for leaf colour can be trimmed back 5-10cm to induce bright new foliage.

© 2020West Wollongong Garden Club Inc.