Better_HomesandGardensAustralia-February_2017

gardendiary

Keep plants thriving with plenty of food and water

If you’re a carrot

lover, pop in

another crop

now for autumn

harvests.

Key to climate zones

Z5 Z6 Z7 Z8

Z1 Z2 Z3 Z4

Gardens get a real boost when you add a visual

focus, such as an old-fashioned birdbath. And birds

love them too. The added pay-off is that your place

will quickly be transformed into a birdwatcher’s

paradise, with both local and migrating birds

dropping by for a drink, splash and preening session.

There are all sorts of designs to choose from

• just make sure it’s elevated, so neighbourhood
  cats can easily be seen approaching! Refresh
  the water every few days to keep it clean.

In each issue we give

ideas, tips and planting advice

for different climate zones,

so it’s important to find the

zone number for your area.

Naturally, there will be cooler,

warmer, wetter and drier areas

in each zone, so ask

a horticulturist at your

local nursery which

zone best matches

your conditions.

Flowers

Zones 2–5

Ageratum,

aquilegia, begonia,

bellis, candytuft,

Canterbury

bells, cineraria,

cornflower,

delphinium,

gypsophila,

hollyhock, larkspur,

nasturtium,

nemesia, pansy,

penstemon, poppy,

primula, salvia,

statice, stock,

sweet pea, sweet

william, verbena

and wallflower.

Zones 6–8

Alyssum,

begonia, cosmos,

gomphrena,

petunia, portulaca,

salvia, torenia

and zinnia.

Vegetables

All zones

Carrot, lettuce.

Zones 2–5

Broccoli, brussels

sprout, cabbage,

cauliflower,

kohlrabi, parsley,

peas, radish,

rhubarb, shallot,

silverbeet, spinach

and spring onion.

Zones 6–8

Capsicum, eggplant

and tomato.

PLANT

NOW

Bathing beauty

Febru a ry

46 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS, FEBRUARY 2017 bhg.com.au