January 31, 2017
As summer approaches, Russell has plenty of tips for people wanting to keep their garden looking nice in the heat.
- Use mulch to shield the soil from the summer sun, conserving moisture and keeping the root zone cool.
- Make sure to weed as they rob the garden of moisture and nutrients.
- Plant hardy seasonal colour such as petunias, angelonia, zinnia, echinacea or cosmos, just to name a few.
- The general rule is to prune anything lightly after flowering and if you have natives, a little harder pruning is okay for them.
- Raise your mowing height to encourage a denser lusher sward of grass which will compete with summer weeds.
- Keep an eye out for chewing and sucking pests as well as mildew and fungal problems and then treat as necessary.
Q&A
One word to describe your own garden: “Whimsical.”
The question you are asked the most: “Can you identify this disease, insect or plant species?”
Favourite plant: “My favourite tree would be a tupelo – it has the most perfect horizontal branching and is 100 per cent reliable for autumn colour.”
Favourite flower: “The easy-to-care-for camellia – has an awesome bloom in winter when not much else is flowering.”
Tips from Russell Brown, Gardening Guru.
