It’s hard to believe the jacarandas will soon drop its purple and the summer heat will fall across the land. With only 10 days left of spring, Gunnedah Times asked the Gunnedah Garden Club members for their top tips as the season shifts to summer. Here is what was said …
- Gunnedah looks beautiful right now, with all the jacarandas heavy in bloom, leaving a carpet of brilliant purple below. It is sure the town could hold a jacaranda festival of its own. But a word of warning. Do not run barefoot through these fallen blooms, or you might get stung by a bee, who are busy gathering their pollen.
- With summer approaching, now is the time to clean up your garden. Prune or remove old spring flowers that have finished blooming. Dead head your roses, so they can give you another flush. Succulents are very hardy and can be just as attractive as flowers in your garden.
- Mulching is important to keep in the moisture. Sugar cane is good, or wood chips. The larger sized pine bark chips look more natural in the garden and are more stable when using the blower to clear off leaves.
- Council may have water restrictions during summer, so listen out for the scheduled times permitted to water your lawns. Evenings are a good time, because the grass grows better if the soil is warm overnight.
- Keep an eye on those yellow patches in your lawn. Bugs love humidity and eat the grass roots, so spray as needed, or you can lose your lovely lawn and be left with patches of dirt.
- Ensure your pot plants are getting some shade and regularly water them, as they dry out so quickly. Use rain water if you can, as it does not leave that calcium build-up on your pots from hard bore water. Do not, however, leave water lying in the saucer or the mosquitoes will enjoy breeding in it. So, keep some spray repellent by the door and don’t forget your sunscreen and hat! Happy gardening.
