Mid-August is when I realise spring is almost here and as usual I’m somewhat unprepared.
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Never mind, there’s still – just - time to finish those vital winter jobs, rose pruning among them, that remained neglected while I sat in front of the fire absorbed in yet another gardening book.
It can be hard to get going when a lot of jobs are looming, especially on a wintry day. Knowing what you’re up against is a big help so start by walking round the garden slowly and making a list.
Rather than prioritising tasks on the principal of getting the most demanding ones out of the way first, begin with something small and easy.
You might like to mark your flowering bulbs so you know which ones to dig up and divide, should you wish to, later in spring.
Use small picnic knives and write with pencil, it lasts longer than an oil marker. This useful chore is totally unchallenging and once it’s done you’re inspired to keep going.
Another trick to help accomplish something is to take only the tool you need with you, not the full wheelbarrow load. This prevents those endless displacement activities, “I’ll get this out of the way,” that so often distract you when you were on the way to do something else (probably more demanding).
If you only have a hedge trimmer under your arm there’s a chance you’ll actually trim your hedge, rather than transplanting a tree or digging out a patch of couch.
A major task confronting me right now is pruning, including a couple of Christmas-flowering mop head hydrangeas that I planted several years ago and that have miraculously survived.
I also need to dig in a couple of handfuls of dolomite around each plant, to stop the flowers from turning blue in our slightly acid soil.
If soil pH becomes drastically low, hydrangea leaves may sometimes turn purple. Phosphorus is vital to plant growth, but extreme acidity can ‘bind’ it in the soil and prevent it being released to plants.
If soil pH becomes drastically low, hydrangea leaves may sometimes turn purple. Phosphorus is vital to plant growth, but extreme acidity can ‘bind’ it in the soil and prevent it being released to plants.
Once I’ve limed and pruned the hydrangeas I’m always tempted to poke a few stem cuttings into the ground, but I accept that this contradicts my philosophy of sticking to one job at a time.
Winter flowering shrubs such as Wintersweet (Chimonanthus), golden jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) and Winter honeysuckle (Lonicera frangrantissima) can be cut back now to prevent their becoming too woody.
If you thin out plants by removing the thickest, oldest shoots from the base, this saves any awkward decision-making over how hard to prune individual stems.
It also allows air and light into the plant which encourages new growth.
Spring and early summer are inspirational times for visiting open gardens. This year, Marcia Bonham’s garden at 250 Bridle Track Road, Duramana is open weekend 24/25 September, in conjunction with the Central West Group of the Australian Plants Society. Large, well designed garden with exotic and native plant areas. $5 entry; tea, coffee and homemade treats; proceeds to assist Hayley Porter in her recovery from a riding accident. Details phone Marcia, 02 6337 1117.
