Somehow the year has flown by and we suddenly have seven weeks until Christmas! Coincidentally, this is the perfect amount of time for flowering seedlings to mature and many other plants to settle in. Plant now for a beautiful display over the holiday season!
Acorn Nursery is open as usual from 8am to 5pm every day over the Melbourne Cup weekend. It's a great time to get out and enjoy some gardening!
Tony's Tips
November 2024
It’s been a lovely spring so far and as the season continues, all the warm-weather plants are coming into their own! November is a great time to plant many of them as you won't have to wait long to see them perform.
Salvias are really putting on a show and we have many varieties and colours available now. We find the good varieties flower from October through to Winter. Just make sure to plant them in a sunny spot and give them a moderate prune in January followed by a hard prune in August or September. My favourites are the Wish series, including burgundy Love and Wishes, dark pink Wendy’s Wish and soft pink Kisses and Wishes, which will be available in about two weeks.
Mandevillas are colourful long-flowering climbing plants that are great in pots or the garden as long as they are planted in well-drained, improved soil or potting mix. For best results, make sure to water and fertilise them regularly.
The first Hibiscuses will come in this month. We particularly like the compact, bushy, long-flowering RioClara varieties. They are suitable for pots or well-drained, fertile, sunny spots.
Things to Do:
- Pest watch: A lot of insects have been hatching throughout October and will become a problem in the next two months. In particular, Lawn Beetle Grub, Azalea Lace Bug and Pear and Cherry Slug. Treat infestations early to prevent them from reproducing and becoming a problem!
- It’s warm enough to plant Basil and Vinca seedlings now. Go nuts!
- After the first flush of flowers, trim your roses and feed with a high-quality fertiliser to ensure they’ll be back in flower for Christmas.
- Feed warm climate Buffalo, Kikuyu and Couch lawns.
- Plant new Gardenias and feed your existing Gardenias with Harry's Gardenia Food.
- Feed fruiting veggies such as tomatoes and chillies when they are flowering and have formed the first pea-sized fruit to encourage fruiting.
Plant of the Month
Hydrangea White Knight
Traditional Hydrangeas will start flowering in late October and continue up until Christmas if pruned the previous summer. They give brilliant colour in shade and semi-shade, both in pots and in the garden. They also make for a terrific cut flower! One of our current favourites is Hydrangea White Knight, which features unique deep dark stems and clear white blooms that provide a unique floral display. These and many other varieties are in store now!
