Ask any garden lover ‘how does your garden’ grow and myriad answers will come flowing back to you.
As Bendigo is renowned for its public gardens, Fairfax Regional Media asked Brendan Beale, team leader of the intensive horticulture unit at the City of Greater Bendigo, to share his gardening knowledge season by season.
SPRING
“Your lawn will need more work in spring. It’s a good time for aeration, top-dressing the bare areas and fertilising to give it a boost,” Brendan says.
- De-thatch warm-season grasses
- Drop the mower catcher a little bit
- Fertilise and water as new growth takes off
- Roses will be blooming, so spray aphids early using a translocated pesticide or natural alternative such as soapy water
- Monitor for scales and mites - use an oil spray as it is an organic product that will coat the plant and stop the insects for getting into the plant, as well.
Tip: “If you are not sure on what to plant ask at your local nursery as they will have insider knowledge on what will grow in this area,” Brendan says.
SUMMER
“A good mulch layer will stop evaporation. Remember, a deep watering a couple of times a week is always best as it encourages the water to penetrate deeper into the soil,” Brendan says.
- Good compost will help hold moisture in your soil. Well-rotted horse or cow manure is good. If it’s too green it will be hard on your plants, so let it rot down. It must smell earthy and not be offensive in odour.
- If needed, add more organic mulch on top. In time it will turn into compost.
- Deadhead and trim roses four or five nodules down the steam for a fresh flush of flowers in summer.
- Trim natives to keep them in shape after flowering. Don't fertilise as they don't like phosphorus
- Fertilise exotic plants and perennials.
Tip: “Don’t over think things too much. Gardening sounds complicated but it can be simple,” Brendan says.
AUTUMN
“Gardening can be frustrating, but it can be very rewarding,” Brendan says. “It takes effort to achieve a good garden and autumn is one of those times when doing some work can set you up for the year,” Brendan says.
- Fertilise - deciduous plants will love it as they will start to store nutrients
- Lawns - dethatch warm-season grasses, fertilise and top dress. Cool-season grasses may also need to be de-thatched
- Spray out aphids as autumn and spring are the crucial times for ridding them from the garden
- Plant daffodil and jonquils. Jonquils will flower in winter and daffodils in spring.
- Keep garden tools in prime condition
Tip: “Don’t over-think it too much. Plenty of plants are resilient and tougher than what we think,” Brendan says.
WINTER
“Is about setting you up for spring by doing maintenance such as mulching, pruning, fertilising,” Brendan says.
- Prune roses, fruit trees, plant bare rooted trees or shrubs, deciduous trees
- Cut back perennials and consider dividing herbaceous perennials
- Lawns - broadleaf weeds are prevalent through winter. Warm grass will be slowing down and going yellow.Cool season grasses, such as rye grass, will need a bit of aeration and thinning out to keep them healthy through winter
- Lower mower height on cool season grasses only
- Plant tulip bulbs in June/July
- Mulch - with plenty of moisture in the ground get a new layer of mulch in garden beds to lock in moisture
- Check garden supplies and ensure all tools are in good shape.
Tip: Hold back on the fertiliser as plants not growing much. About 10g per sqm is plenty at this time of year.
“There is no real bad time to mulch - if you need to mulch, mulch. But first, give your garden a good soak,” Brendan says.
Use anything well rotted and not too fresh. It must be odourless and aged as it will use up valuable nitrogen in the soil when it’s breaking down, which then won’t be available for your plants.
Pure mulch such as clean straw, sugar cane mulch is good. It’s messy to work with but once laid out and sprinkled with water settles in OK.
Lucerne mulch is more expensive but a legume will put nitrogen back into the soil for plants.
Garden design is quite a personal, like clothing, it depends on what peoples tastes are, Brendan says.
“For example, many people don’t like cacti, but they are quite bold and can make a statement in a garden. A garden filled with trees and sweeping green lawns are popular with our warm climate,” he adds.
Brendan’s tips for achieving good garden design:
- Consider your climate and what will grow? Many plants that grow in Melbourne or Queensland will struggle here.
- Soil, here we are on gold country, very tough, so consider pH.
- Water supply, plants will need to be considered on their need for water.
- What plants do you like?
- Do you want shade, consider large trees, if they will fit in your yard?
- How much time do you have to maintain your garden?
Bendigo’s Rosalind Park will be flush with colour this spring as more than 30,000 tulips bulbs bloom.
“It’s a traditional activity for the council to plant bulbs. They make a magnificent display each year and people do look forward to seeing them in bloom,” city horticulturalist Brendan Beale says.
Brendan says the horticultural unit was diversifying this year by including more perennials in the city’s main garden.
“It will make it more sustainable.”
