February
February can be an unpleasant month!
- February can be a very unpleasant month, with high heat and humidity. This can have an effect on gardens, with some plants succumbing to fungal diseases. There are some products you can pour or spray over your plants if you see sudden signs of wilting due to these diseases. The organic Eco Fungicide is one such product.
- There can be a rather 'wild' look in the garden at this time of year. I don't mind this effect, but some trimming back and deadheading this month will tidy the garden up for autumn, when our gardens can look at their very best.
- Give your camellia shrubs a dose of a liquid fertiliser such as Aquasol at this time.
- Vegetable gardens need attention: keep picking crops as they mature and give liquid feeds on days that are not too hot. Seeds of peas, spinach, carrots, cauliflowers, broccoli, beetroot, silverbeet and radishes can be sown this month. If you lack space, try growing a few crops in large tubs placed in a sunny position. Citrus can be fed at this time, making sure the fertiliser is watered in well.
- This is a good time to divide and replant bearded Iris. They need to be grown in a sunny, very well-drained position. The tattered leaves of hellebores can be cut off now to allow fresh new growth to occur.
- Some people prune back their Hydrangea macrophylla in this month. This can make those bushes carrying a lot of burnt flower-heads look much better; but if you prefer to keep the ageing flowers, wait till July before you prune them. Note that the thin-stemmed Hydrangea types such as the 'Endless Summer' collection should be pruned in February to give them a longer period of time to regrow. This can also apply to other thin-stemmed types, such as Hydragea serrata. Pruning now can free up space around the shrub so that spring-flowering annuals or perennials can be introduced. Roses can be lightly trimmed to promote an autumn flush, as can Fuchsia. Abutilon have been badly attacked by the leaf-rolling caterpillar this year so cut them back hard or try Success spray - a harmless bacteria-based spray that really does seem to work. The scruffy old leaves of Acanthus mollis can be removed now, as fresh new growth will soon appear.
- Spring bulbs will start to appear in nurseries and catalogues soon, but shouldn't be planted until April. Many bulbs are not suitable for our climate but usually, those which hail from South Africa or Central or Southern America will do well. Cold-climate bulbs such as tulips and hyacinths need to be put in the refrigerator crisper towards the end of this month to chill them for later planting in May.
- This is a good time to take cuttings of shrubs. Place the cuttings into an open propagating medium and keep in a humid environment untill they take root. Remember to label all cuttings!
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