February may be the last month of summer but it certainly isn't the end of warm weather here in Melbourne. Our veggie gardens are going full tilt, flowers are blooming everywhere, and they should continue well into autumn. If you feel like your garden is not done with the season, it's not too late to plant all sorts of veggies and instant colour!
Keep an eye out next week, our long awaited shipment of furniture, homewares and interesting treasures is finally arriving!
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Tony's Tips
February 2022
February is the shortest month but can also be one of the most colourful and productive times in the garden. The Crepe Myrtles are spectacular at the moment, as are the Bougainvilleas, Vincas, Petunias and Impatiens. These plants can flower well into autumn with a little TLC. Most plants have small shallow root systems that can't hold and store water so frequent light waterings are needed at this time of the year.
The last month of summer is also the last month to do many things in the garden. Any leggy perennials and traditional Hydrangeas should be pruned back ASAP to allow for regrowth whilst it is still warm. Prune roses now and feed them to encourage a growth flush that will flower all through autumn. Most hedges should be pruned now to stimulate a bushy autumnal flush of growth. For many plants, it’s either a prune now or wait until late winter or early spring.
If you like Brussels Sprouts, February is THE month to plant them along with early Kale, Broccolini, Broccoli and other brassicas. Lettuces, spinach and rocket can also still be planted.
Things to Do:
- Control Whitefly and Mites with weekly applications of a mix of Eco-Oil and Neem Oil. These are difficult pests to control but this combination is safe and very effective. Pest Oil and Natrasoap are each also effective and safe but can only be applied when the temperature is at or below 25 degrees.
- Feed all Camellias with a suitable high potassium fertiliser and water frequently. Both sasanquas and japonicas are forming flowers so some encouragement now means more flowers for autumn and winter.
- Feed Cymbidium Orchids now with a high potassium fertiliser for maximum flowering this winter. My preference is orange Osmocote (for Pots and Planters) every six months. Water frequently through summer and early autumn.
- If your Gardenias need a trim, now is the time for their annual prune. I don’t like to prune off much more than 5 to 10%. Follow with a feed of Harry’s Gardenia Food to encourage new growth.
- Keep your fruiting veggies happy with plenty of water and a suitable fertiliser and they should remain productive through to late autumn.
- Watch out for dead patches in an otherwise green lawn. It’s usually Lawn Beetle Grub. There is a lot about at the moment and there are several ways to combat the issue.
- Azalea Lace Bug is prevalent at the moment. The best treatment is Conguard or Bug Killa. Rundown plants are more prone to infestation so the best prevention is a high potassium fertiliser to thicken leaf skin and regular watering.
Plant of the Month
Japanese Anemone
Japanese Anemones, also known as Windflowers, are an easy to grow perennial with masses of flowers in whites, pinks and mauves. They bloom in February and March and love a partly sunny position. We will have eight varieties coming in this month, including dwarf and tall varieties with single and semi-double flowers.
