Garden Activities for this month from Global Garden

for Australian gardeners

September

Sow herb seeds

Treat hydrangeas with aluminium sulphate (blueing compound) if you want blue flowers.

Prune back poinsettias hard after flowering and feed them with a slow release fertiliser.

Mulch beds to conserve spring moisture, but don’t spread the mulch more than about 7-8cm deep (less if it's a fine mulch.)

Feed roses and keep watch for aphid infestations.

Dead-head daffodils and other early spring bulbs that have finished flowering but keep watering and feeding the foliage.

Plant waterlilies in sunny ponds. They need 5 hours of sun to flower.

Prune any wayward branches of camellias and give a light tip prune to maintain density and shape after flowering is completed.

Prune back the yellow winter-flowering Jasminum mesnyi severely when flowering is complete. This plant makes a very attractive standard.

Treat infestations of scale with white oil or PestOil.

Plant seeds of herbs such as chives, marjoram, sage, parsley and dill.

Plants lots of gladioli corms for Christmas. Try 'Red Majesty' and 'Green Ice' for the traditional red and green Christmas colours.

Purchase potted azaleas in flower.

Cut and replant the tops of Tree Ferns (Dicksonia antarctica only) if they are too tall. The bottoms of the old plants can be removed - they will not regrow.

Prune hibiscus plants early this month to promote summer flowering, but not too severely.

Treat lawns to destroy weeds - especially Bindii - before they have a chance to seed.

Repot indoor plants.

Propagate new bromeliad plants by removing "pups" from the sides of mature plants and potting them up into good quality potting mix.

Visit some gardens in the Open Garden Scheme and be inspired.

Prune native plants that have finished flowering.

Protect clivia flowers from snails. They love them.

Prune back passionfruit vines to the main leaders.

Protect tulips from aphids with pyrethrum spray. Aphids spread viruses.

Feed roses and keep watch for aphid infestations.

Prune flowering peaches immediately after flowering to allow the development of new wood for next year's flowering.

Remove emerging weeds before they can seed, then mulch well to prevent further weed germination.

Sow tomato, capsicum and lettuce seeds in punnets and transplant later.

Aerate and fertilise lawns.

Keep spring flowering bulbs well-watered and fed, even after flowering is complete.

Dig in green manure crops just as they start to flower.

Deadhead pansies and violas to keep the flowers coming.

Protect newly planted seedlings with snail bait. Snails will become active as the weather warms up.

Remove spent orchid spikes.

Plant Calla rhizomes for Christmas colour. Potted up they make great gifts.

Prune Gauras back by two thirds.

Fertilise all plants.

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