After a hot summer, autumn weather is finally here and we are loving it! This is the ideal time to be out in the garden, enjoying the last of summer blooms and preparing for the cooler months.
Acorn Nursery and the Oaks cafe will be closed tomorrow for Good Friday. We will reopen at 8am on Saturday and will be open as usual for the rest of the Easter long weekend. We hope we'll see you then!
Daffodil King Alfred - from $15.00
King Alfred is a fantastic trumpet daffodil that flowers early in the season so you wont have to wait too long to see them. Scatter throughout your garden or plant in a large group for some late winter brightness!
Available in packs of 10 or 20, will grow to 40cm tall.
Tulip Ile De France - $9.95
Ile De France is a classic red tulip that looks great on its own or mixed in with other varieties. They do well in both garden beds and in containers.
Available in packs of five, will grow to around 50cm tall.
Tony's Tips
April 2024
Autumn is one of the best times of the year in Melbourne, with bright days and cool nights. We’ve had a warm and dry late “Indian Summer” but, now the weather has changed, we can plant with confidence. We're enjoying the lovely mild autumnal weather almost as much as our plants!
The first of the new season Hellebores are in this month. We will have more as the season progresses. After planting, make sure to water them regularly so they can do their best work.
Arthropodium is a native rock lily that is great in shaded areas and under trees. We now have a new variegated variety called Moonbeam. The showy variegation and pale pink flowers will brighten up any shaded position.
Autumn is the best time to do major (and minor!) planting. This is a great time to consider how you want your garden to look in the future. Just remember to prepare the soil well to ensure the best establishment of your new plants.
Things to Do:
- Trim old foliage from Hellebores and check the underside of new growth for aphids. They're getting ready for their time to shine!
- Feed Buffalo, Kikuyu and Couch lawns to fatten them up for the winter cold.
- Check Azaleas, Viburnums and Portuguese Laurels for Lace Bug and control them now.
- Gather autumn leaves into a hole, bin or pile. Some Blood & Bone will have them well on their way to becoming compost.
- Feed Citrus, Camellias, and Daphnes to ensure they have a productive winter.
- Feed Gardenias now to protect them over the cooler months.
- Plant Pansies, Primulas, Poppies, Violas and Foxglove seedlings for winter and early spring colour.
Plant of the Month
Plectranthus Mona White, Pink & Amethyst
Plectranthus Mona Lavender has been around for ages and is a brilliant perennial for shaded areas, flowering from March to June. Three new colours have just been released; White, Pink and Amethyst, which is a lovely purpley pink shade. They are all equally as good as the original, just now in a more interesting colour range! A great plant for under trees or semi-shaded situations.
