Beaches COVERED. Issue 31—Salty Summer

Summertime in the garden

Summer is a great time to get outside and spend time with family and friends in your garden. The sun is shining, and with more time spent outdoors, it’s easy to keep your plants thriving. But if you want your green space to thrive this Summer, check out these tips from the team at Harvest Native Nursery.

At Harvest Nursery, we have lots of beautiful Australian natives that naturally cope extremely well with the hot weather. Always chat to your plant expert about what will work well in your garden.

Many people will water their garden late in the afternoon or when they get home from work, but the best time to do this is actually in the morning. If you do get the hose out in the evening, make sure you give your green space time to dry out before sunset.

And one of our favourite things to talk about in Summer is mulch which, believe us, will be your best friend during our hot seasons.

MULCH IS YOUR MATE

Mulch provides a blanket for your plants to avoid cold, heat, weeds and assists with moisture retention by reducing evaporation. It also provides shelter for animalia and insects. These little critters like to answer the call of nature where there is mulch; therefore, their bathroom habits will feed your plants.

One can still plant out the garden in Summer as it only needs a good soak when you plant. Then keep wateringevery four days for about three weeks (depending on the time of year and rain patterns).

It is best to use leafy, not too barky mulch to a depth of about 50mm. Bark may take nitrogen out of the soil to help it break down. This is not ideal, but what you really want is the nitrogen to stay in the soil for plant nutrition.

And here’s our best rule of thumb, green or not - if the soil is dry about 50mm down (thumb length), water your plant. Remember to water thoroughly or not at all. You do not want the roots to be teased to grow to the surface which will happen if you only water lightly.

Also, ants love the dry area at the base of the plant if you only water lightly. This isn’t a problem if the plant is in the ground, but it is a big problem if the plant is in a pot.

Most natives would appreciate a modest amount of fertiliser. Please make sure that you choose a quality brand that is suitable for natives. Aim to use a slow release fertiliser however, for a quick nutrient boost liquid fertilisers are also excellent. Ensure you follow the instructions on the pack.

Prune the shrubs every six months or so if need be. The aim is to have happy, bushy plants, not leggy and scrappy ones. Nip the tops of the bush often, like a possum, to keep the plant bushy or cut back by one third, like a wallaby, if the plant has become leggy.

We hope that these handy hints will help you all enjoy your time in the garden. Not only will you see the results of your labour in the plants but also the animalia and insects will have a safe space to live and thrive. •

Harvest Seeds & Native Plants has Grown

We have two acres full of beautiful local and interesting Australian native species from tube stock to advanced plants to suit any garden or project.

What's on Offer?

A wide variety of Australian native plants, including an extensive range of Bushfoods and Medicinal plants.

Revegetation and re-wilding consultancy

Expert horticultural advice

An eclectic mix of Australian Made Products and Gifts

Gift vouchers enclosed in unique pictorial cards of local wildlife and flora produced by local artists

Contract propagation and growing of native species, small or large projects

From small home gardens to large regeneration projects, we have you covered!

HARVEST SEEDS & NATIVE PLANTS 281 Mona Vale Rd, Terrey Hills 2084 // 02 9450 2699 Insta: @harvestseedsandnativeplants // harvestseeds-nativeplants.com.au sales@harvestseeds-nativeplants.com.au