The first signs of spring will appear some time this month, and with them early bloomers like magnolias, azaleas and pieris. You can get a head start on the busy spring planting season now by planting the last of your summer-flowering bulbs, pruning camellias to shape, and fertilising grass for a healthy, vibrant summer lawn.

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Plant

  • Flowers: Ageratum, candytuft, cleome, delphinium, larkspur, linaria, lupin, mignonette, dianthus, snapdragon, statice, alyssum, Virginia stock, impatiens, marigold, petunia, phlox, verbena.
  • Trees and shrubs: This is the last month to plant bare-rooted roses, deciduous fruiting and flowering trees.
  • Bulbs: Agapanthus, bearded iris, canna, daylily, gladiolus, hippeastrum, pineapple lily, tuberous begonia.
  • Vegetables: Artichoke, carrot, lettuce, parsley, parsnip, radish, silverbeet, sweet corn, tomato, pumpkin.

Fertilise

  • Fertilise citrus with specially formulated citrus food.
  • Fertilise hydrangeas using a blueing compound if you want blue flowers in December.
  • Fertilise lawns in preparation for spring growth.
  • Feed roses with a complete rose food to help the developing buds and new spring growth. Mulch with lucerne.

Prune

  • Prune camellias to shape if necessary after flowering.
  • Finish pruning winter-flowering roses.
  • Remove frost damage on plants, but only if there is no chance of further frosts.

Pests and diseases

  • Spray and feed all citrus and rose bushes after pruning with lime sulphur, to prevent scale on trunks and branches.
  • Keep watch for aphids on new growth and buds.
  • Slugs and snails are looking for tasty veggies, bulbs and flowering seedlings so protect them with snail pellets. If you have pets, use pet-friendly pellets (in accordance with product instructions).
  • Spray lawns for bindii.
  • Hungry caterpillars are on the hunt. Keep them away with Dipel or Success Ultra.

 

General garden care

  • Repot your indoor plants. Remove any brown or shrivelled fronds from indoor ferns.
  • Regularly water azaleas to extend blooming. Avoid wetting the flowers as this spreads petal blight.
  • Try not to over-water flowers as this will cause rot.

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