62 MAY 2019 GARDENING AUSTRALIA
PHOTOSISTOCKWrapwatertimersandanyother
gardenfittingstoprotectthemfrom
thecoldinfrostyareas
Spraypathswithamosscontrolto
preventthembecomingdangerously
slipperyduringwinter
Removewinterweeds,particularly
chickweedandclover,astheyappear
Beginapplyinglimetoyourblue
hydrangeastochangetheirsummer
flowercolourtopink,oralumtopink
hydrangeastoturnthemblue
Divideandreplantpolyanthus
clumpsintofresh,enrichedsoil
Keepwaterfeaturescleanby
removingfallenleavesanddebris
frombirdbathsandponds(below)Plantseedlingsoficelandpoppy
enmasseinasunnyspotinthe
garden,oralargepot,forabrilliant
displayinwinterandspring
Cutbackdeciduousvinesonce
theirleaveshavefallen,andusea
wirebrushtoscruboffunwanted
rootsclingingtobrickwalls
Fillpotswithpansiestoprovide
beautifulportablecolouraroundthe
gardeninlatewinterandspring
Aerategrassrootsinlawnswith
agardenforkandsowcool-season
grassseed,suchasryegrassor
fescue,intoanybarepatchesLoopercaterpillars
Loopersareclassicstorybook
caterpillarsthatmovealong
bypullinguptheirrearends,
humpinguptheirmiddlesand
stretchingouttowardsthefront
(hencethe‘loop’).Often,thefirst
sign they’re around is when you see
their droppings beneath a chewed
fl ower or vegetable. Loopers chomp
voraciously so, if they’re causing too
much damage, pluck them off with
gloved fi ngers or spray with pyrethrum.o i now
LIFT &
STORE dahias
Pest
alert
Once dahlia leaves have turned brown,
cut the plants down at ground level. If your
winter is usually mild and your soil is well drained,
the tubers can be left in the ground. Dahlia tubers
are prone to rot in cold, wet conditions, so if you have any doubt, it’s best to
carefully dig out the tuber clumps with a garden fork. Clean off the soil and
store the tubers in a cardboard or foam box, covered with a layer of slightly
damp potting mix or sand. In spring, they can be divided and replanted.
And here’s a great tip: clip an appropriately coloured clothes peg onto each
clump, so you can remember the fl ower colour for next season’s planting.