APRIL

A busy time in the garden with much to be done before the days shorten and plant growth slows for the winter months.

In the vegetable garden continue to plant seedlings of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts, silver beet and spinach. Broccoli is the easiest of the brassicas to grow and will continue to produce smaller heads after the first crop is harvested, making it possible to extend the season for quite some time. Cauliflowers are more difficult to grow, use compost and manure and blood and bone as they need a lot of nitrogen, wood ashes or lime should help to produce solid flower heads which can be protected by breaking the inner leaves to cover the head. Brussel sprouts are slow growing plants, grow them in beds which have been enriched as they are heavy feeders.
Carrots love light sandy soil and will not do well in heavy soil, hard clay or rocky soil, they are biennial, growing an edible root one year and seed head the next. Leave a few to seed each year as they attract beneficial predator insects to the garden. Still time to plant broad beans for eating or to use as green manure.
Spinach is more difficult to grow than silver beet but is a good cold weather crop, it is a heavy feeder which will bolt to seed in hot weather.

Harlequin Bugs
If you have armies of these pests, don’t despair, into a spray bottle filled with water squirt a generous amount of detergent (dishwashing detergent will do) this is safe and effective and it is important to remove as many as possible before they hibernate for Winter.

Liquid Manures
Can be made easily and cheaply and will provide valuable nutrients for your plants A strong bucket or container (preferably with a lid to prevent unpleasant odours and keep flies out) is half filled with garden wastes, weeds, herbs and manure if available and is filled to the top with water. Leave for 2-3 weeks, then dilute with water to about the colour of weak tea, use around vegetables and as a general garden pick me up. Residue can be placed in the compost heap.
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In the flower garden  for late winter- early spring colour plant sweet peas for a fragrant display. Plant in furrows, in full sun in soil enriched with manure, water once and then very sparingly, apply liquid fertiliser to seedlings and provide something for them to climb on and you should have a wonderful display

Autumn is  the time to divide perennials such as Kniphofia, Clivia,Agapanthus and Dietes. Dig up the clump, trim foliage back to about  10cms, divide clump and replant the most vigorous shoots. Kangaroo Paws which have spent flower heads and are looking tatty can have both spent stalks and leaves trimmed. Camellias can be fertilised now and bulb planting should be well under way.
For those of us who are considering more waterwise gardens, try Gaura Ballerina rose,(deep pink) the tough little seaside daisy, Erigeron Karvinskianus which looks so delicate but is indestructible, Dietes ,(Iris like blooms and very tough) Ajuga Caitlins Giant, Salvia Microphylla (Hot Lips) and Salvia Waverley (mauve). Plants to 1 metre include Hebe Snowdrift ,Hebe Buxifolia (white flowers) and Cistus Crispis (cerise flowers

Australian native plants have low water needs when established, are tough and undemanding and save us a lot of heartache and unnecessary expense.
 Drifts of Dianella Tasmanica

with nodding blue flowers, Kangaroo paw, (yellow gem) Correa Dusky Bells,Patersonia Occidentalis(purple flag) Brachyscome and Scaevola, can create a breathtaking cottage garden .
Alogyne Hakeifolia Melissa Anne has deep mauve flowers, and Alogyne Hakeifolia Elle Marie which has yellow tulip shaped flowers are wonderful accent plants, they grow to 2 metres and always invite comment.      
Ground covers include Grevillea Poorinda Royal, Grevillea Carpet Queen, Grevillea Juniperina, Banksia Giant Candles, Darwinia Citriodora and Grevillea Lanigeria.
Larger shrubs include the striking Kunzea Baxteri with its striking scarlet bottlebrush flowers tipped with gold and Edna Walling Little Snowman (Euc Pauciflora Frosty)
These are just a few of the huge range of native plants available for our gardens, add some water and your garden will become a haven for our native birds and a source of pleasure for you (and them)



 In the orchard gather and discard fallen fruit to reduce pest infestation, mulch well, but be sure to keep the mulch away from the trunks of trees.  If space is limited consider a ballerina apple, these attractive small trees have an upright habit, make a great focal point in a formal potager and when established bear a good crop of delicious apples.

Autumn is a good time to look around your neighbourhood if you are interested in purchasing trees for autumn colour, those in your locality which have done well despite the adverse conditions are probably the best choice. While all the signs are favourable for a better season ahead we still need to focus on those plants which perform well under difficult circumstances.