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Welcome to the September newsletter from Meredith Nursery we hope you enjoy it...please let us know if you would like to see any particular areas covered or any comments you have.
September
Spring has arrived in the garden, blossom trees are flowering, daffodils are nodding their heads in the sunshine and the garden is full of heavenly smells, it is a time of anticipation and renewal for all gardeners, a reward for hard work and planning over Winter. The nursery is bursting at the seams and with more plants arriving daily there is something for everyone. As always the garden moves on and we must plan and work for the months ahead.
In the Spring kitchen garden there is much to be done. Plant seedlings of cabbage, capsicum, silver beet, cucumber, lettuce, chinese cabbage, celery, snowpeas, brussel sprouts and onion.
Plant seeds of carrot, parsnip, radish and peas. Be sure to buy fresh parsnip seed each year as older seed has a poor germination rate.
Tomato plants can go in now in frost free areas, mix some compost into the soil before planting and some blood and bone with added potash will ensure a good start.
Mulch tomato plants close to the stem, this encourages more roots to stabilize and feed the plant.
In frost prone areas protect potato plants by covering them on frosty nights.
Protect vulnerable emerging shoots and seedlings from slugs and snails.
Give fortnightly applications of liquid fertiliser to all seedlings to keep them growing strongly.
Sweet corn, chilli, eggplant, tomato and capsicum can be planted from mid September in most areas except those which have late frosts.
Beds from which winter vegetables have been harvested can be prepared for spring planting, apply a dressing of compost, aged manure and blood and bone with some added potash.
Capsicums and chillies enjoy similar conditions to tomatoes, some aged manure and compost, blood and bone with some added potash and your crop will be off to a good start.
For root crops use a bed that has been manured for a previous crop. Planting root crops in freshly manured soil will case forking of the roots.
Rhubarb can still be planted in heavily manured, mulched soil. A heavy feeder, it needs to be regularly fertilised for best results. Flowering reduces the vigour of the plant so remove any flower stalks as soon as they appear. Do not harvest in the first year to allow the plant to establish. To harvest, a sharp tug is all that is necessary to remove the stalk from the plant.
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Compost which is almost ready will benefit from turning, be sure to keep it moist but not wet and cover to produce that dark humus which is such a valuable addition to the garden.
In the herb garden now is a good time to repot mint, apple mint and chives. Do not use high nitrogen inorganic fertilisers on herbs as this will result in soft sappy growth, lacking in the fragrance which is such an essential part of the herb.
Herbs in pots close to the kitchen door tend to be used more often and a larger pot planted with a variety of the more commonly used herbs is both an attractive and useful addition to the patio.
A large shallow pot can be used in the same way to grow a variety of lettuce and salad greens in different colours and textures, for delicious and nutritious salads.
Remember to water herbs in pots and mulch herb beds in spring to conserve moisture and prevent weeds from germinating and competing with your herbs for nutrients, light and moisture.
Clumps of chives and garlic chives can be dug and separated now.
Chives make a wonderful border in the vegetable potager, particularly if allowed to produce their stunning purple flower heads.
Annual herbs such as parsley can be planted now, however basil should not be planted until all danger from frost is over.
In the home orchard last minute plantings can still be made.
Pears to choose from include Josephine, Packham’s Triumph, Corella and Beurre Bosc.
Apples include that wonderful all purpose apple Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Jonathon and the really delicious Cox’s Orange Pippin.
Amongst the stone fruits the nectarine Firebrite and peaches Alberta, Red Haven and the clingstone variety Pullar are worth consideration.
It is important when you are buying new trees to choose healthy, vigorous specimens, look for a straight, sturdy trunk and several well placed branches that are not too vertical.
This is important as the angle between branch and trunk will determine the strength of the branch in later years and the amount of fruit the tree can carry.
Mulching is all important to retain valuable moisture and ensure the best conditions for your trees as spring gives way to summer.
Kiwi fruit require moist soils with plenty of organic matter added so they should be heavily mulched as summer approaches.
Water in the garden is always attractive and is best kept as simple as possible. A garden pond or even a wooden half-barrel can add another dimension to your garden.
The moist edges of a pond can be planted with the beautiful Louisiana Iris which thrives in moist soils and is superb when in flower, the Japanese Sweet flag which enjoys the same conditions and the beautiful rainbow parsley ”Pink Flamingo” is a spreading herb with pink tipped variegated leaves, great for pond edges.
In the pond the upright water milfoil is a native plant with bright green plumes trailing across the surface of the water. This plant is excellent shelter for fish and as habitat for spawning. The addition of fish deals with the problem of mosquitoes and provides flashes of colour and life in the garden. Beware however of adding ponds to the garden while there are small children in the household.
Include some climbing plants in your garden; they are a crucial element in creating vertical structure. They can be grown against walls or fences and screens and can be grown over arches, pergolas and arbours. Cane tripods and more elaborate ornamental obelisks can be used for seasonal plantings such as sweet peas, runner beans and clematis.
Choose your climber to suit the site and check soil and drainage. It is worthwhile talking to your nursery about eventual height and spread, in order to obtain a plant which best suits your needs.
Where summer shade and winter sun is a requirement then a deciduous plant such as Vitus (Grape) is the best choice, however if you want a rampant grower to hide an ugly shed or structure then the native climber Kennedia nigricans with its striking black and yellow flowers would be a good choice.
Climbers grow in a variety of ways and understanding how they climb will also influence your choice of both plant and support.
Tendril climbers will grow both horizontally as well as vertically, they have tendrils which grab hold of the support available.
Twining plants climb by means of their stems twisting around a vertical support to grow upward.
Clinging plants attach themselves by aerial roots or small sucker pads and need no other support. Beware of attaching them to house walls where they will leave unsightly marks if they have to be removed.
Scrambling climbers do not attach themselves naturally, they depend on shoots being supported by other plants. In the garden they need to be tied to supports to increase height and spread and prevent an unsightly tangle of branches.
Planting climbers
As with all garden plants it is worthwhile taking some trouble initially.
Prepare the ground deeply and thoroughly before planting.
Incorporate some well rotted manure or compost and a handful of blood and bone.
Dig the planting hole to a depth and width larger than the plant’s rootball.
Spread out the roots away from the wall or support.
Plant at the correct depth, firm soil so that the soil mark on the stem is at ground level.
Water in well with seaweed fertiliser and mulch to keep the soil moist.
Some suggested climbers….
Wisteria sinensis (Chinese wisteria) has twining stems and flowers with 20-30 cm racemes in white lilac and purple. Looks superb with the flower trusses hanging through a pergola. Develops a large trunk with age.
Pandorea Jasminoides (“Lady Di”) a dense vigorous climber, delicate white trumpet blooms in summer and autumn. Enjoys moist well drained soils and tolerates light frosts.
Climbing Roses “Pierre de Ronsard” beautiful pink blooms, cupped in old rose fashion fading to palest pink as they age. Prolific bloomer, a breathtaking sight over a garden arch or arbour. Now available as “Red Pierre de Ronsard”, same cupped blooms but a striking red flower.
Vitus (Grape) available in both fruiting and ornamental varieties, which colour beautifully in autumn, vigorous and hardy, good for winter sun and summer shade.
In the rose garden bush roses include Fiona’s Wish, Spirit of Peace,(a buff/apricot rose with a beautiful form), Pink Iceberg, Kardinal, a reliable and much loved red and the David Austin rose, Katherine Morley.
In 3ft standards we have old favourites like Just Joey, Julia’s Rose, Troilus and Cymbaline, and in 8 ft standards the beautiful “New Dawn”. These are just a few of the roses still available for a short time, bare rooted.
In weeping standard flowering trees we have the double crimson weeping peach, a hardy, deciduous tree, which has deep crimson flowers down the branches in a beautiful cascading display.
The weeping mulberry is another lovely deciduous tree; it has glossy green foliage, a beautiful spring display and looks great in pairs, or in rows, for a striking garden feature.
The flowering cherry has pink buds and white pendulous clusters of flowers, quite breathtaking above spring bulbs when in flower.
The weeping elm has a flat topped head of weeping branches, and when mature provides a lot of shade as it forms a garden “room” underneath its branches.
The weeping birch is an attractive tree with typical white trunk topped by graceful weeping foliage.
Two lilacs worthy of mentioning are, Mrs Edward Harding, a semi-double, perfumed magenta/claret coloured shrub and Cora Brandt, which has white flowers in spring.
For a small flowering tree the flowering peach Prunus Persica Versicolor is lovely, deep pink, pale pink and white blossoms cluster together on the tree to produce a breathtaking sight in springtime.
In the dry ornamental garden we have Kniphofia “Traffic Lights” which grows to 40cm.has a striking red and green flower in spring and summer and looks terrific planted with the dwarf agapanthus “Peter Pan”.
For edging try Liriope (Muscari) “Big Blue”, happy in full sun and part shade, is good for coastal conditions, frost tolerant and hardy.
The silky grey leaves of the silver bush (Convolvulus cneonum) lighten the garden and the pink buds in spring and summer become a mass of white flowers.
It likes a sunny position, grows 30-40 cm high and 45cm wide. Drought tolerant when established.
The native garden is a delight with so many beautiful plants available, plant some native plants in your garden, and enjoy both them and the native birds they will bring to your garden.
Amongst the banksias B. Coccinea (Scarlett Banksia) has stunning grey/scarlet flowers in spring and summer, grows 3-5m likes well drained soil and is drought tolerant.
Banksia Spinulosa is a dwarf banksia, which grows to a height of 1.5m and 1m wide, it has large golden flower heads in autumn and winter, likes acidic well drained soil in a sunny position. Prune after flowering.
Banksia Media prostrate has large golden cylindrical flowers in autumn and winter, serrated leaves, grows about 1.5m high and 2m wide. Moist well drained soil, and the addition of a small amount of lime to the soil should ensure success.
A lovely little shrub to 60cm high and wide is Melaleuca Thymifolia “ Cotton Candy” which has deep mauve/pink flowers in winter and spring. Try this in a pinkish terracotta or a deep blue pot for a great effect, Does well in the open garden also.
Hakea “Burrendong Beauty” is a spectacular and hardy plant to1.2m high and 1.5m wide. Pink flowers in winter, and likes a well drained soil.
Waratah “Corroboree”to 3m high and wide is a prolific flowerer, great for attracting birds to the garden, likes well drained soil and is frost hardy when established.
A small eucalypt which is most attractive is E.Platypus Heterophylla the coastal moort, 4-6m high, dense glossy green foliage, smooth light brown bark and fluffy white flowers in spring. Avoid water logged soils, otherwise hardy.
Great for coastal planting is Westringia “White Rambler” a dense evergreen semi prostrate shrub, 1m high and 3m wide which will layer itself. White flowers in spring and summer; this is a great plant for embankment stabilisation.
Smaller grevilleas, “Scarlet Sprite”, “Rock n Rod” and “Jump n Jak”, will flower prolifically bringing honeyeaters to your garden.
Pultenaea Pedunculata which grows 30 cm high and 1.5m wide has yellow and red pea shaped flowers in spring and summer, is a great carpeting plant. Grow in well drained soil. Tolerates short periods of drought.
For that boggy spot in the garden we have many beautiful plants like lomandra and callistemon. These plants happily cope with both wet feet in winter and dry feet in summer making them ideal for that difficult spot in your garden.
Well that’s about it for this month, take a walk around your neighbourhood and enjoy the spring gardens, it is a good chance to see many beautiful plants and trees at their peak and a useful aid in planning your own garden. Happy Gardening
Marg and the Team at Meredith Nursery.
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