Summer Gardening

SUMMER GARDENS

Summer is an important time for gardens and indoor plants, especially in Melbourne where the weather can be unpredictable and extreme. Having said that, there are still some great flowering and edible plant varieties available for summer gardening to keep it looking great. Flowering natives, daisies and chillies make great additions for adding colour to the garden or in pots. There are also some great evergreen climbing plants such as Mandevilla with red, white and pink flowers. Stephanotis floribunda (Madagascan Jasmine) is also a great plant similar to Chinese Jasmine with an amazing aroma but it has bigger leaves.  In this addition of our blog, we’ll talk about some of the most important things to think about in summer for outdoor gardens. You can also read about indoor plants for summer here. 

When it comes to outdoors during summer it’s an important time to protect the plants from water loss. It is best to plant low water requirement plants that are tolerant of drying out and to know the best times to water the garden.

PLANT SELECTION 

We always suggest being vigilant when choosing new plants in the heat of summer. It’s best to plant sun-loving and low water requirement plants. Although you might be planting drought tolerant plants, it’s important to understand that they will still need some water. This is especially true in the first few weeks while the plant is adapting to its new environment. We suggest using a liquid plant starter or Seasol when planting. This helps the roots to establish quickly and reduces transplant shock. Placing mulch around the new plant will also help to reduce water loss in the heat. However, try to avoid planting on days of extreme heat to avoid the plant going into shock.  

When choosing plants for pots, make sure to select a good potting mix with fertiliser already in the mix. If located in full sun, the pots will dry out quicker than in the garden so it’s important to monitor the plants when it’s really hot, windy and dry. If possible, try and move pots into protected places on really hot days. Using water storing granules in the soil can also help retain moisture around plant roots.    

Mulching

If you haven’t already topped up the garden with mulch in Spring, it’s not too late to do it now. Adding a thin layer of mulch to the garden will reduce water loss from the soil on the drier days. Ideally, it’s better to put down a good layer in spring. You can continue to top it up throughout summer if you notice parts of the garden are drying out. Use 20mm sized chips as these will last longer and retain moisture more effectively.

For veggie patches and herbs, pea straw or lucern mulch is a good option. It helps reduce water loss and as it breaks down it will add nutrients to improve the soil structure.

Weeding

Weeds love summer because generally they are quite resilient plants that can survive with little to no water. So, it’s a good time to tackle them now. After an early morning watering of the garden, pull the weeds out while the soil is still wet. They should come out much easier. Removing weeds will also help your plants, as it will reduce the competition for water and nutrients, especially during days of high heat. 

Watering

On hot days in Summer, water the garden early in the morning or late in the evening when the sun has gone down. Water the soil and not the leaves of the plants as this will more effectively reach the roots of the plant. 

If you’re going away for a long period of time consider installing a temporary drip irrigation system on a simple timer. A cheap alternative is to use recyclable plastic bottles half buried upright in the garden with small holes at the bottom. Fill the bottles with water before you go at the water will slowly drip through into the soil. One of our team members can describe this process to you in store. 

When it comes to planting veggie seedlings, make sure they receive plenty of water either in the morning or evening or on hot days water at both times if needed.

Pests – White Flies

Those little white flies that live on the underside of many plants in your veggie garden often appear in large numbers during summer. They look like tiny little moths and they suck sap from plants. They can cause plants to lose vigour and drop leaves and fruit if the infestation is heavy. We are often asked more often in summer about how to get rid of whiteflies.

We suggest trying Eco Oil and EcoNeem when whiteflies first appear as directed on the product.

You can also try companion planting such as planting flowering plants such as nasturtiums and daisies which can attract predatory insects that feed on the whiteflies.