Mandurah is not an easy place to keep a garden, especially if you’ve got a taste for non-native plants.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
February is one of the hottest months of the year.
High temperatures and strong afternoon wind can really take a toll on your green friends.
However, there are a number of easy measures to take to avoid losing plants to the extremes of summer.
Especially during sprinkler bans it’s recommended you take to hand-watering early in the morning or, if you don’t get time then, in the evening.
This allows plants time to absorb water before it can evaporate, thereby wasting much less.
Similarly, watering directly at the base of the plant, around the root line, instead of from above, will improve the amount of water actually absorbed by the plant, and reduce the risk of spreading disease by splash.
Soil preparation can also make a huge difference in the efficiency of your garden.
If you’re starting from scratch, I absolutely recommend adding clay to the soil.
The sand plains we live on are hydrophobic, meaning the water does not easily penetrate the soil to the plants’ roots, but thoroughly mixing in garden clay (about 3kg per square metre) can help improve absorption.
Add half a bag of compost to the mix, and some chunky mulch around the root line, and you’ll be well-set to plant most common garden plants.
Of course, if your garden is already established it may be too late to add clay.
In that case, to ensure your diligent watering pays off, it’s important to add a soil wetter (which can be either liquid – for use in a watering can – or granular – to be applied directly to the soil) to ensure the water reaches the plants’ roots.
Some plants – especially those that originate from shaded, rainforest regions, and some fruit and vegetable plants – will be susceptible to sunburn.
If they’re in pots you may need to move them under a porch or tree for the height of summer, or you can prevent sunburn using a shade cloth.
Remember, wind also contributes to water loss, especially in the hot weather, so providing shelter to some of your more ‘sensitive’ plants – ficus, ferns, fruit trees, etc. – may be necessary to avoid them losing their leaves from shock, or drying out.
Do you have a gardening question for Jess? Send your queries to jess.cockerill@fairfaxmedia.com.au