Gardening guide Australia: Summer 2022/2023, top four tips
Your garden hates summer as much as you love it, here’s how to bridge the gap.
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Summer is here, so rip out the wide brimmed hat, long sleeved shirt and slap on the sunscreen because our garden needs us more than ever.
I know for many; summer is a happy time. Christmas is just around the corner. The days are getting longer, sunsets are getting more spectacular, there’s the smell of rain and fresh cut grass in the air, cold beer in hand, cricket on the radio, sprinklers full blast on the parched turf and the thought of a cooling swim in the pool or, even better, the beach.
Now that’s Summer.
Sadly though, for the garden lovers and landscapers it means some long days toiling away in the heat or humidity, remembering to keep the fluids up so the dehydration doesn’t set in and take its toll for what, in Australia, is normally a long hot run of dry weather.
It’s exactly the conditions that your garden doesn’t like, so this is a great place to start with my Top 4 Summer Garden preparation tips so you can have your garden humming during the hottest season.
GARDENING GUIDE AUSTRALIA: SUMMER 2022/23 – TOP FOUR TIPS
Soil preparation
In the perfect world you would have started with good soil, if not preparing your soil will be even more important.
Good quality soil ensures plants have nutrients to cling to during stressful hot conditions. Water will be retained for longer in quality soil meaning plants will not dry out as quickly.
To improve your soil, I recommend breaking it up with a pitch fork or shovel. Add in a quality organic product like manure or blood and bone. Bags of compost material from your hardware store are equally as good.
The same will go for your potted plants. When starting, use a quality product. Cheap mixes are just that — cheap. They don’t have the body, nutrients or water saving ability a premium mix will have.
With the higher-end mix your plants will grow stronger and healthier roots and be able to support themselves through a heatwave, holding on and standing up tall.
When it comes to soil, get the best you can afford, your plants will thank you for it.
Water
Water is life both for us and our garden during summer so give it a good drink. You need to ensure the soil remains moist but not wet or your plants will develop root rot or fungal diseases and no one wants those.
The best time to water your garden is in the morning.
This is generally the coolest time of the day; it allows the water to soak in the soil but dry out enough through the day reducing the risk of your soil remaining damp. Having long periods of wet soil increases the risk of disease.
Watering the garden gives us a great opportunity to hydrate ourselves, cold beer in one hand and hose in the other, or you may choose one of the many varieties of sprinklers on the market.
Your local hardware store will have a huge range available. Choose the one that will cover the area you need without having to move it too many times and provide you with enough water to make an impact for your plants to quench their thirst.
If the budget allows it perhaps look at an automated irrigation system. They are very efficient and you can set them to water when needed. It helps take the guesswork out of it and if you happen to be away on holiday your plants are taken care of. If this is an option, speak to your local irrigation installer for a quote.
Fertilise
Now that your plants are in good soil and are getting water, they need food. A good slow-release fertiliser will do this. Liquid fertilisers can also add the extra nutrients your plants need to grow stronger, happier and healthier.
A stronger, happier plant will promote a more resilient root system, absorbing water efficiently and retaining moisture and nutrients easier. This is crucial as we head into the hotter months of the year.
Mulch
This is a crucial ingredient that many gardeners take for granted. I consider this to be like a warm hug for the garden.
Mulch is amazing for your garden. It has many jobs: it breaks down and provides nutrients into the soil that your plants absorb; it helps hold moisture into the soil by protecting it from the harsh hot rays of the sun; and it prevents weeds from germinating. Pretty important roles I say.
Use a quality organic mulch, one that will break down. The larger bark chips may help with weed prevention but they give nothing to your garden by way of food and moisture-holding properties.
Tea tree mulch is a great all-rounder. It will give you some longevity and do everything your garden needs. For vegetable patches try sugar cane mulch. I like to have my mulch approx. 75mm in depth and I will refresh my gardens and top up mulch a minimum once a year or as needed.
Get these four things right and I assure you your garden will come through summer with a glowing report card.
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR IN THE GARDEN IN AUSTRALIAN SUMMER 2022/23
Storm warning
Summer can also bring storms and the current La Nina weather pattern is forecast to continue until early 2023. Your garden needs rain but too much rainfall can create problems. Heavy rain can damage plants, erode soil and wash your mulch away. The combination of excess rain, moisture and humidity also creates the ideal environment for bacterial and fungal infections in your garden.
Prepping your garden for the summer downpour is more about water management. Ensure all debris is removed from waterways and clear your gutters and drains. Trim any damaged plants and ensure that any debris or mulch washed against the trunk or stem of your plant is pushed away, this can create root rot from excess moisture.
In any major storm event, please contact your local council and follow their advice, have an emergency kit at the ready, remove all garden furniture and loose items that may cause damage to both plants and the house.
Summer plants
I have spoken about getting your garden game ready for summer, and admittedly there is a lot of work needed to make sure your plants remain happy and healthy. This doesn’t mean that you cannot have fun and add joy and life to your existing garden. Yes, summer is hot but you can still have the buzz of a nursery visit and returning home to add your purchases to the garden.
Be wise, choose plants that will be suited to the climate. Things like succulents, natives, flowering geraniums, Kangaroo paw and summer annuals like gazanias could be great choices.
In the vegetable patch look at things like lettuce, salad greens, tomatoes and zucchini which all thrive in the summer weather.
Don’t forget the lawn
With the increased heat and water reduction, your lawn may not grow as fast as other months so I suggest adjusting your mowing height allowing for a longer blade of grass to help with water retention.
Mowing in the middle of the day will cause the grass leaf to burn more than it would from early morning or late afternoon mowing. If you do it in the late afternoon a nice cold beverage could be the reward!
Use a catcher to prevent excess grass laying on your lawn, which prevents air circulation, increasing the risk of fungal infections.
Look at aeration. This can be as simple as stabbing a pitch fork all over the lawn allowing water to sink deeper helping the roots of the grass penetrate further where it is cooler and more moisture is present. Soil wetting agents can also be of benefit.
Get your tools ready:
Garden tools
These guys are the driving force behind keeping your garden looking good. Look after them and maintain them and they will reward you with years of service.
Below are my 10 must haves in any garden tool collection:
Gloves – Must be durable and fit properly
Secateurs – A multi purpose pair of bypass secateurs is a definite.
Loppers – Used for larger branches. Get a ratcheting type to make life easier.
Garden fork – Can be used for turning soil or aerating your lawn. The tines on cheap forks often bend, a good quality fork is needed.
Hand trowel – A metal blade will be stronger but again the better quality ones will have less flex or bend than the cheaper options. Some even have a depth gauge on them which can be useful when you are planting seedlings.
Spade – For digging holes to [plant plants, garden edging, lifting turf or moving small piles of material.
Rake – This is like a broom for your garden. Great for raking up leaves and debris from your lawn or garden.
Mattock – Broad blade one end and a pick or axe the other. Good for digging, prying or chopping. Choose one that feels comfortable and not too heavy.
Garden hoses/Nozzle – Buy the best quality you can. Look at its kink rating and get the highest you can. Get a multi function nozzle to connect into the end.
Wheelbarrow – This is the workhorse of the garden. Helps move materials around. Can double as a seat and a place to store cold drinks at a party. I love my wheel barrows! Summer is when these bad boys shine.
HOW TO FINALLY FIX THAT FOREVER LEAKING TAP
Leaking tap? don’t be a drip!
Got a problem outdoor tap, constantly dripping or hard to turn off? Follow these simple tips and not only will it save on your next water bill, it will also save on a plumber’s bill. With Xmas around the corner both are very welcome!
Step 1: Ensure you have the correct tools ready to go. Below is a list of what you may need.
Adjustable spanner or shifter
Flat head screwdriver
Valve repair kit. This should contain all your washers needed in required sizes and lubricant. This will be available at your local hardware store.
Old rag
Step 2: Turn off your water at the mains. This is generally located at the front of your property in an accessible location near your boundary fence. If in a unit or townhouse it will be located under the laundry, kitchen or bathroom cupboard. Do not forget this step before proceeding!
Step 3: Using a shifter or multi grips tape off the top section or spindle of the offending tap. If the tap is a chrome tap, wrap this with a cloth to help prevent damage to the tap.
Step 4: You can just replace the jumper valve in the end of the spindle but if we are going to the trouble of doing this let’s do it right. Let’s replace all the washers and O-rings in the tap using the valve repair kit and lubricant we have at hand.
Step 5: Reassemble the tap in the reverse fashion we removed it, be sure not to over tighten as this will compress the items replaced and you will end up with the same problem.
Step 6: Turn the mains water back on. Please make sure all items have been tightened and are safe to be used again before doing this step.
If the tap is still leaking it may need to be reseated. This is the process of smoothing out the body of the tap so the washer can get a tight seal. A reseating kit can also be bought from the local hardware store. Follow the instructions on the pack.
Please check with your local plumbing regulations to make sure the works you are doing are not illegal and need to be completed by a licensed plumber.
Dennis Scott is the gardening guru on Selling Houses Australia. Watch or stream Selling Houses Australia on Foxtel.
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