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Keep potted plants in mind when preparing to travel

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My first column of December will be decidedly different than most – normally, I am handing out hints for watering, not this year.

For example, gardenias, they generally have many yellow leaves, which can often be attributed to lack of water while they are budding and blooming. 

In every garden, they present a magnificent display of perfumed blooms.

The only drawback, however, the rain and strong winds are causing blooms to drop sooner than normal.

But, by this time of year, I suggest applications of cow manure and iron – and lots of watering.

Lawn pests seem to be drowning.

There are not many gardeners complaining about crickets and black beetles – the army grub generally hatch-out later in summer when it is hot and dry.

Colourful beds for Christmas should have been well and truly planted by now.

Don’t despair, there is still time to plant out punnets of advanced red and white petunias to fill beds and pots. 

Apply Flourish for Flowers and Foliage when you plant and then continue each week until Christmas.

If we do finally get a hot summer, I don’t think it will be dry.

According to our local weather guru Gavin Morris, the rain will persist. 

However, as we know, the weather can be changeable so during December don’t mow too low and without rain, water deeply every three or four days.

Holiday instructions won’t be as rigid this year either, if the weather predictions are accurate. 

Normally I suggest help from neighbours, family and friends to water gardens and pot plants.

But, if travelling away, some precautions should be put in place, particularly for potted plants.

I never mind watering my neighbours’ as she has them grouped on one verandah and out of the afternoon sun. 

Hanging baskets shouldn’t be left high and dry swinging in the wind.

Add them to the grouped pots, leaving a hose close by, remembering pots, for example, will be the first to dry out, even when garden beds hang in.

Flowers and veggies will need extra fertilising as most of the nutrients would have been leached out by the heavy rains. 

Apply dolomite to garden beds and add a handful of cow manure or blood and bone.

THIS MONTH

  • Prune side shoots off tomatoes – keep an eye out for fruit fly.
  • Plant dahlia tubers and gladiolus corms. Note dahlias are available growing in punnets.
  • Watch for black spot on mangoes and leaves – anthracnose will need to be treat regularly with a fungicide.

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