Gardening Australia – May 2019

PHOTOS

ISTOCK,

KIM

TRANTER/LAWNSOLUTIONSAUSTRALIA.COM.AU,

PHIL DUDMAN

TOPJOB

Plantalycheetree(above)inasunny,shelteredspot,but

havepatiencewhileyouwaitforittoreachfruitingmaturity

Diguptaroandcassava,thenplantnewcuttings–peel

anyexcessrootsandstoretheminthefreezer

Controlmealybugsonfoliageplantsbywipingthemoff

withastick,wherepossible,ordabbingthemwithacotton

budsoakedinmethylatedspirits

Removeexcessbananasuckers,usingaspadetolever

themawayfromthemainplant

Applyaliquidfeedwithtraceelementstopawpaws,

especiallyifthey’vebeenproducinglumpyordryfruit

Plantawarmth-lovingPanamaRedpassionfruitto

scrambleoverafenceoroutbuilding

Startahedgeofsnowbush(Breynianivosa‘Roseopicta’)

todecorateyourfrontfenceordefinethevegiegarden

Feedheliconias(below),cordylinesandornamental

gingers ithliquidpotashtoimprovediseaseresistance

raturesby

aladgreens,

winterherbs,

riander

gleafygreens

denwithliquid

verytwoweeks

eck palms and

move curled

nd eaten leaves

aused by palm

rt caterpillar

In e tropics

YOUR

PLANNER

PLANT LILIUM BULBS

Autumn is the season for planting stately liliums, the group of

plants that are often dubbed ‘garden aristocrats’. When shopping

for planting stock, check packaged bulbs carefully to make sure

they are plump and in good condition. Handle them with care

because, unlike most bulbs, they aren’t protected by a skin-like

coating. Plant them in the ground or pot as soon as possible,

so they don’t dry out. In cool areas, they will happily grow in full

sun but, where it’s warmer, it’s best to place liliums in a spot

with afternoon shade. Well-drained soil is a must. If you’re lucky

enough to have established clumps in your garden, late autumn

to early winter is a good time to dig up and divide the bulbs, and

spread them around the garden for extra splashes of colour.

Watch

out

Winter grass

invading lawns

Soft clumps of

upright-growing

winter grass start

appearing as soon

as the weather cools,

and it’s important to get rid of the grass before it fl owers and

produces its prolifi c seeds. You can cut out clumps at ground

level using a sharp knife or there are some registered herbicides

that can be used to remove winter grass in certain lawn types.

Make a resolution, too, to fertilise your lawn over summer so

that it forms a healthy, thick cover with no gaps to be invaded.

Lawn grasses will handle

the cool weather better

if they have plenty of leaf to feed the

roots. So raise the mower a notch or

two and the lawn will grow stronger.

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