JUSTICIA AUREA
CARPHALEA KIRONDREN
DOMBEYA BURGESSIAE
THIS MONTH
IN THE GARDEN
with Jan
MAY
IN THE GARDEN
with Jan
MAY
CATTLEYA ORCHID
SAKVUA IODANTHE
SALVIA INVOLUCRATA
Let nature be your guide
MEGAKEPASMA
BRAZILIAN CLOAK
BRAZILIAN CLOAK
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Shrubs/Trees Abelia Abutilon Allamanda Ardisia (berries) Bougainvilleas Brugsmansia Brunfelsia Americana Buddleja Callicarpa (berries) Carphalea Kirondren Cestrum Dombeya burgessiae Grevillea Hibiscus Holmskioldia aurea Holmskioldia red Justicia Adhatoda Justicia Nodosa Megakapasma erythrochlamys Mexican Daisy (Montanoa Mussaenda Odontonema Plumbago indica Poinsettia Red/Yellow Poinsettia White (snowflake) Princettia (Pink Poinsettia) Roses Ruttya fruticosa Strelizias Strobilanthes (pink bells) Strobilanthes Goldfussia Tabernamontana Thunbergia erecta Tibouchina Tree Dahlias Triplaris Xanthostemon chrysanthus |
Perennials Ajania Pacifica Agastache Amaranthus Angelonia Anthurium Asters Chrysanthemums Cleome Coleus Cosmos Dianthus Gerberas Heliotrope Kniphofia (Red hot pokers) Nasturtiums Otacanthus Pachystachys Pelargoniums Ivy Pennisetum Grasses Pentas Pycnostachys Salvia Iodanthe Salvia Involucrata Salvia Leucantha Salvia Pink Icicles Salvia Pink Icing Salvia Purpurea Salvia semi-atrata Schaueria (Miss Milly) Scutillaria Solidago Statice (perennial) Tulbaghia Whitfeldia |
Orchids Bulbophyllum Cattleya Cymbidium spikes Dendrobiums (Hardcane) Phalaenopsis Vanda Zygopetalums Bromeliads Aechmea Guzmania Hohenbergia Tillandsia Vriesia Succulents Aloes Zygocactus Bulbs Dahlias Gladioli Haemanthus albiflos Hippeastrum reticulatum Vines Aeschynanthus Dalechampia Hoya Ipomoea Horsfalliae Ipomoea lobata Mandevilla Maurandya |
Happy Mothers’ day to all the gardening Mums and if you do get a potted Chrysanthemum don’t forget to plant it in the garden after it has finished flowering. It will reward you for many more years, not only with lovely flowers but also memories.
THE DRY
During a long spell of dry weather plants will automatically bring in coping mechanisms such as yellowing and dropping of leaves and die back of branches. This is most noticeable in shrubs and trees. The leaves will of course create mulch which is good for the plant. The die back of branches is because of the restriction of water and usually these are the lower branches first.
Trees usually grow taller in drought as they are sending their roots down further to seek out moisture. Mulching helps keep any moisture in the soil and of course conditions the soil to make it more moisture retentive. This is all part of nature.
If the leaves are wilting, watering around the base of the tree, shrub or perennial; this more beneficial than watering the leaves. It is important to notice the drip line of the trees, which is the perimeter of the outside branches and water within that perimeter.
Perennials don’t have the mass root system of shrubs and trees and are therefore prone to more wilting. Mulching is extremely beneficial and watering to bring the plant back from wilting. Watering is always best done deeply and less often than small amounts constantly and of course during the cooler parts of the day. With perennials, I think that it is also best to prune them so that the water does not have to travel as far to the ends of the branches.
Plants need water to flower and extreme dry will stop or reduce the flowering, so it is better to sacrifice the flowers to save the plant. Lawns will always come back so don’t waste water on them.
May is a BIG cut back month
Trimming Salvias: The honeybees and the blue banded bees love salvias and I always leave cutting back the salvias as long as possible as even if there are only a few flowers left as the bees are busy getting as much pollen as they can.
The summer salvias with be over their flowering and can be cut back by two thirds, leaving one third. You will find that a lot are producing new shoots at the base and that is a good sign to cut back. These include Anthony Parker, Blue Abyss and Meighan’s Magic. The large Salvia Mexicana which is very tall and hardy can be cut back right to the ground as it tends to fall over if left too large. The Wendy’s Wish salvias, Waverley and Phyllis’ fancy can be cut back by half. The smaller salvias like Mystic Spires, Nemerosa and the Microphyllas just need a trim with the hedging shears.
It is a good idea to take cuttings in case some should not survive. This is easily done by cutting a piece about 20 cms long which has a joint. Cut about 6 cms below the joint leaving 14 cms above the joint. Place the cutting in a pot with the joint just below the surface of the soil. Keep watered and sheltered over winter.
The trimmings from the large Salvias are easily mulched with a mulcher and the mulch can be put straight back onto the garden. The smaller salvias can be cut and dropped straight back onto the garden.
Cut back all the Heliconia stems that have flowered and put them straight back on the garden as mulch.
VEGETABLES
When to plant vegetables is critical. Brassicas, onions, peas and vine tomatoes are best grown through the cooler months. Most vegetables need full sun so choose your site that will get at least 5 hours of sunlight. Morning sun is preferable and also you will need access to water. You may need to use netting or fencing to keep the birds and other hungry critters away.
Vegetables like lots of organic matter, so have a composting bin nearby where you can put the vegetable ‘scraps’ and then fork the composted matter into the soil prior to planting. You can also put in a green manure crop and fork that back into the soil.
ORCHIDS
You will need to make sure that the Phalaenopsis and Hardcane Dendrobiums are protected from the cold as they don’t like to get below 10 degrees Celsius in winter.
Do not overwater the Softcane Dendrobiums or else you won’t get flowers. I change the sprinkler systems to twice a week for 5 minutes for the orchids from May to August.
Good Gardening
Jan
THE DRY
During a long spell of dry weather plants will automatically bring in coping mechanisms such as yellowing and dropping of leaves and die back of branches. This is most noticeable in shrubs and trees. The leaves will of course create mulch which is good for the plant. The die back of branches is because of the restriction of water and usually these are the lower branches first.
Trees usually grow taller in drought as they are sending their roots down further to seek out moisture. Mulching helps keep any moisture in the soil and of course conditions the soil to make it more moisture retentive. This is all part of nature.
If the leaves are wilting, watering around the base of the tree, shrub or perennial; this more beneficial than watering the leaves. It is important to notice the drip line of the trees, which is the perimeter of the outside branches and water within that perimeter.
Perennials don’t have the mass root system of shrubs and trees and are therefore prone to more wilting. Mulching is extremely beneficial and watering to bring the plant back from wilting. Watering is always best done deeply and less often than small amounts constantly and of course during the cooler parts of the day. With perennials, I think that it is also best to prune them so that the water does not have to travel as far to the ends of the branches.
Plants need water to flower and extreme dry will stop or reduce the flowering, so it is better to sacrifice the flowers to save the plant. Lawns will always come back so don’t waste water on them.
May is a BIG cut back month
Trimming Salvias: The honeybees and the blue banded bees love salvias and I always leave cutting back the salvias as long as possible as even if there are only a few flowers left as the bees are busy getting as much pollen as they can.
The summer salvias with be over their flowering and can be cut back by two thirds, leaving one third. You will find that a lot are producing new shoots at the base and that is a good sign to cut back. These include Anthony Parker, Blue Abyss and Meighan’s Magic. The large Salvia Mexicana which is very tall and hardy can be cut back right to the ground as it tends to fall over if left too large. The Wendy’s Wish salvias, Waverley and Phyllis’ fancy can be cut back by half. The smaller salvias like Mystic Spires, Nemerosa and the Microphyllas just need a trim with the hedging shears.
It is a good idea to take cuttings in case some should not survive. This is easily done by cutting a piece about 20 cms long which has a joint. Cut about 6 cms below the joint leaving 14 cms above the joint. Place the cutting in a pot with the joint just below the surface of the soil. Keep watered and sheltered over winter.
The trimmings from the large Salvias are easily mulched with a mulcher and the mulch can be put straight back onto the garden. The smaller salvias can be cut and dropped straight back onto the garden.
Cut back all the Heliconia stems that have flowered and put them straight back on the garden as mulch.
VEGETABLES
When to plant vegetables is critical. Brassicas, onions, peas and vine tomatoes are best grown through the cooler months. Most vegetables need full sun so choose your site that will get at least 5 hours of sunlight. Morning sun is preferable and also you will need access to water. You may need to use netting or fencing to keep the birds and other hungry critters away.
Vegetables like lots of organic matter, so have a composting bin nearby where you can put the vegetable ‘scraps’ and then fork the composted matter into the soil prior to planting. You can also put in a green manure crop and fork that back into the soil.
ORCHIDS
You will need to make sure that the Phalaenopsis and Hardcane Dendrobiums are protected from the cold as they don’t like to get below 10 degrees Celsius in winter.
Do not overwater the Softcane Dendrobiums or else you won’t get flowers. I change the sprinkler systems to twice a week for 5 minutes for the orchids from May to August.
Good Gardening
Jan
WHAT IS FEATURING IN THE GARDEN IN MAY:
