Diane Beddison

“There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments.”
                                      — Janet Kilburn Phillips

Plant of the Month

Want the wow factor in your garden? Grow some Kangaroo Paws in a group. I prefer to grow the taller Anigozanthos flavidus, as they are tougher and tend to live longer. The landscape series come in wonderful colours. Our photograph is of Anigozanthos flavidus ‘Landscape Lime’.

Landscape Lime (Anigozanthos flavidus). (Photo supplied)

Kangaroo Paw will attract birds and makes colourful cut flowers.

Kangaroo Paws flower best in full sun. Whilst they will grow in a wide range of soils, they do not like sitting in water. If your drainage is poor, plant them on mounds. They look spectacular between landscape rocks and if you purchase rocks with a rectangular profile, they double as casual seating.

During winter, their stems may be blackened by serious frost and snow. However, they will resprout from their underground rhizome. Wait until the danger of frost is over and cut the dead stems to the ground.

Prepare your garden for summer

Many of you look forward to a more leisurely lifestyle over summer, with less work and more entertaining. Plant growth also tends to slow as water is less available whilst hot sun causes moisture loss.

Often plant leaves droop on hot days. This is because the stomata on the leaves have closed to stop transpiration and retain water. If the plant does not recover in the evening when the temperature drops, make sure you water that plant. Photosynthesis cannot occur when stomata are closed so plant growth is often slowed during summer.

The best thing you can do now to assist plants to survive summer is to mulch areas of bare soil. Spread a coarse organic mulch to a depth of 40-50cm over soil. If you are in a Bushfire Prone Area, gravel for mulch may be more practical. Make sure mulch is kept away from the stems of plants. Poorly placed mulch can cause collar rot in trees and can suffocate small plants.

Other ideas to help plants stay hydrated include:

  • Check that all hoses, sprinklers, and irrigation systems are working correctly.
  • Cut the lawn higher over summer to retain moisture.
  • The best time to water is early morning when the air is cool, especially when a hot northerly wind is expected that day.
  • Make it easier to water pot plants by putting them next to each other in groups chosen according to their water needs.

Time away from home

Here are a few more ideas to protect your precious plants:

  • Give your garden a through watering in the two days before you leave.
  • For a water wise garden, filled with natives or succulents and tough Mediterranean plants, which may be all they need.
  • Otherwise, ask a neighbour to check your garden twice a week and hand water plants that look stressed. If you have an automated irrigation system, their task should be easy.

Gardening fun

If you are spending time at home, why not improve your outdoor space with these ideas:

  • Create a child friendly space with low seating and winding paths for interest. Choose tough plants (including some Australian natives) plus tactile plants such as lamb’s ears. Make sure to include a shade tree. And remember that the plants should all play their part in creating a cohesive garden.
  • Create instant colour with pots of annual plants placed near doors or within your entertaining space.
  • Research heat tolerant plants and plan which ones to plant in your garden before next summer.
  • Add a special seat in a shady spot to read a book or just relax.
  • If you are handy, rectify hard landscaping issues such as unsafe steps.
  • Routinely refill bird baths with clean water and add water to a shallow dish with rocks for bees.

Diane Beddison is a frequent visitor to Daylesford and the Principal of Beddison Garden Designs: www.beddisongardendesigns.com