o i now
GetaheadstartwithsummerflowerssuchasCaliforniapoppies,alyssum,
petuniasandsalviasbysowingseeds.Investinagoodseed-raisingmix
ormakeyourownmixtureusingcoarsesand,sievedcompostandcoirpeat.
Agoodtipistostartbyspreadingalayerofmoistenedsphagnummossbeneath
themixtoholdextramoisture.Readseedpacketscarefully,takingspecialnote
ofthesowingdepth,andsowasperinstructions.Placetheseedtrayinalightly
shadedspotandwaterwithamistsprayerwhenrequired.Aftertheygerminate,
separatecrowdedseedlingsintoindividualpunnetsectionsandfeedevery
weekwithhalf-strengthliquidplantfooduntilthey’rereadyforplantingout.
Waituntilthesoiliswarmtosowsummerflowerswithlargerseeds,suchas
cosmos,zinniasandsunflowers,directlyintogardenbeds.Sow some SUMMER colour
74 SEPTEMBER 2019 GARDENING AUSTRALIA
TOP JOB
Picksweetpeas(above)regularly
topromotecontinuedblooming
Divide clumps of comfrey and
replant around the garden, adding
theexcess,nutrient-richleaves
tothecompost
Move pot plants that have been
overwintering in sheltered spots out
intotheopenandgivethemaspring
feedwithslow-releasefertiliser
Sow seed or transplant grass
runnerstofillanybarepatchesin
winter-damagedlawns
Choose and plant a native climber
such as Pandorea ‘Snowbells’,
oldman’sbeard(Clematisaristata)
orsnakevine(Hibbertiascandens)
Pull out annual weeds as soon
astheyappear,wellbeforetheyhave
thechancetodevelopseeds
Increase the frequency with which
youwaterindoorplants,andgive
themsomeslow-releasefertiliser
Tip-prunenativeshrubsto
encouragebushierspringgrowth
Move potted cyclamens into a dry,
shadyspotaftertheirflowershave
finisheddyingdown
Mulch potted plants with a layer of
pebbles to deter weeds and encourage
water to trickle through to the rootsCLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE
Raised in multicell punnets, these
plugs of alyssum seedlings are ready
to plant out; a lilac-coloured salvia;
petunias come in a wide range of
colours; a bee collecting pollen
from an orange California poppy.