Page 15 - Blue Valley Issue 2_2023

GARDENING

Autumn in the garden

utumn is a wonderful time in the garden and as the
cold winter days approach, gardens reveal a brilliant
Adisplay of berries and the autumn foliage of deciduous
trees and shrubs. Strelitzia, bougainvillea, red-hot pokers and
roses will be bursting into bloom. If your garden tends to
look a bit dull at this time of the year, visit your local garden
centre to select some late summer and autumn beauties to
plant in your garden; these will be well established by next
autumn and reward you with their bountiful displays.

TO DO LIST TO HELP YOU KEEP ON TOP OF
IMPORTANT GARDENING CHORES:
• Water shrubs and plants with shallow root systems like
azaleas and camellias during the dry spell in summer
rainfall areas.
• Collect seeds from late summer annuals like zinnias,
cosmos, cleomes (spider flowers), gaillardias and
hollyhocks.
• Lift gladioli corms, shake off the soil, and then store in
a cool, dry place in paper or net bags. Discard damaged
bulbs. If lifting dahlias, keep them covered with slightly
moist sand or sawdust to prevent them from drying out. Photo by Peter Burdon
• Take cuttings of plants like fuchsias, heliotrope, daisy
bushes and soft sappy plants like impatiens and lawn this winter to keep it looking good. Lift the mowing
plectranthus, which are intolerant of cold, wet weather. height and cut down on mowing, use some contour lawn
• Pinch off faded flowers from Iceland poppies, calendulas, dressing or fine compost for your lawn to encourage root
violas and pansies to encourage further flowers. development, keep lush and healthy growth, and make sure
• Foliar feed all existing annuals and bulbs fortnightly or you water your grass after lawn dressing it. Consistently rake
use organic compost before the cold weather sets in. your lawn, remove the fallen leaves and other debris. Remove
• Cover sensitive plants in colder regions with lightweight, any broad leaf weeds.
frost cover, hessian, straw or cardboard boxes.
• Lay down thick mulch or contour compost around frost- TEN OF THE BEST VEGETABLES TO GROW THIS WINTER
susceptible plants to insulate the roots. 1. SHALLOTS: To keep shallots growing, you’ll need to make
• Clean up under hedges, clean out gutters and drains, rake sure the soil drains well and stays quite dry.
up fallen leaf litter and other debris, and loosen the soil to 2. CAULIFLOWER: Don’t let sunshine reach the cauliflower
expose insect pests which may be sheltering there. curds, this will cause them to discolour. Tie the leaves
closed over the curds with string.
ALOES AND WINTER FLOWERING RED-HOT 3. BROAD BEANS: Broad beans grow well and best in a sunny
POKERS spot sheltered from wind. They enjoy moist, well-drained
Feed and mulch your aloes and winter flowering red-hot soil.
pokers (Kniphofia) for a beautiful show in winter. Kniphofia 4. THYME: Thyme can be used as an edible ground cover. It
‘Royal Strain’ flower in winter and produce wonderful dark also grows well between rocks and paving.
red to bright orange flowers with yellow bases. Kniphofia 5. GARLIC: Garlic does best in well-drained, rich soil with lots
‘Yellow Cheer’ can also be planted now; they produce yellow of compost.
flowers in summer and autumn. 6. SPRING ONIONS: Spring onions do well in loose soil that’s
well fertilised and drains well.
Aloes planted in flower borders amongst other plants often 7. WINTER GEM LETTUCE: Lettuce grows well in rich, cool
receive too much shade and water, making them susceptible and moist soil, as its 95% water.
to rust, and if the days are still sunny and warm, powdery 8. MICRO GREENS: Keep the soil damp and remove weeds
mildew can develop. Always position them in an open sunny for best growth.
position and avoid overwatering. 9. SPINACH: The trick to good spinach is a good start. Keep
it moist and cool.
LAWN 10. SNAP PEAS: Severe frost might kill your pea plants, so
Winter is many gardeners’ nightmare. It either means a cover them up if the temperature is going to dip below
muddy mess or sad, bare turf. Make sure you maintain your zero.

BLUE VALLEY NEWS • Issue 2 2023• 13