While the mornings have been getting colder the days are still very warm. So it’s still all systems go in my yard.
What do I do during winter in my garden?
Lawn Care
At the turn of every season I like to soil wet and fertilise my lawn. Even though I know winter isn’t a time for large growth, I find the heathy it is all year the better it looks and less attention I need to ultimately pay to it. I use Plant of Health’s granular Soil Soaker and Lawn and Turf Fertiliser.
I find lawn weeds don’t grow anywhere near as quickly in winter as they do in spring. I believe if I can get on top of them now I won’t be doing the bindii dance in summer! Normally at this time of year I can easily dig up any stray weeds and I always mow with the catcher on. If by chance I do need to spray I try to do it about three days after rain when the weeds are young but not in flower yet. I use Searles ‘Lawn Perfect’ as it kills most of the weeds coming up in my lawn. I don't worry too much about winter weed as I find out it dies out quickly as soon as the weather warms up.
Fertilise and use soil wetter
At the turn of every season I also like to soil wet and fertilise my gardens and pots. I use Plant of Health’s granular Soil Soaker and Organic Link Fertiliser. Soil Soaker enables hydrophobic soils to become water penetrable and retain water. It also houses beneficial microbes, nutrients, silica and diatomaceous earth these make soil healthy which in turn improves root and shoot development and also reduces plant stress.
I will use Soil Soaker first then in a week or so give them all a good fertilise with Organic Link.
Feed my winter flowering plants
Sometimes we just can’t get around to fertilising all our plants. At this time of year if I can’t fertilise everything I like to pay particular attention to my camellia sasanquas and japonicas, rondeletias, zygo cacti, azaleas and my poinsettias to keep them looking good and help promote flowers. I will also start to liquid fertilise these plants with Silica and Potash fortnightly to promote flowering.
I like to give most things in my garden a good haircut in late winter so they can burst happily and healthily into Spring.
Spray my fruit trees and change my fruit fly trap wick
Citrus trees can prone to Leaf Curl and Leaf Miner. Both these problems are mainly caused by insects. Normally when my plants are under attack I trim off affected growth and fertilise with Organic Link. At this time of year my citrus are usually in fruit or flower and I don’t want to stress the plants out and cause a flower or bud drop. So I will start a weekly spray for at least four weeks with Plant Care and Neem Oil, mixed together to give them an immediate boost.
After fruiting I will trim and fertilise.
If you have any plants under insect attack, the neem and plant care treatment would work a treat.
While fruit fly isn’t meant to be active in winter I always change my fruit fly wick every three months or on the turn of the season, so beginning of Winter. Any fruit that is forming with get a spray with Eco-naturalure, an organic fruit fly spray to protect them from the odd pregnant female flying about! For more information on Fruit Fly click here.
Enjoy my Vegetable Patch
I’ve reduced my vegetable patch this year and I’m focusing more on herbs, leafy greens and snow peas. I could eat snow peas until I turn green! I am enjoying having a smaller area to take care of as its easier to manage. All vegetables are planted and I have been giving them a fortnightly liquid fertilise with Triple Boost and Neem (to help reduce bugs). One month in and I'm already enjoying bok Choy, spinach, cherry tomatoes and silverbeet.
Jobs done … I can kick back relax read my Winter About the Garden Magazine and enjoy the sunshine!