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Interveinal chlorosis on my peach tree A common issue we all deal with at some stage as gardeners is yellowing foliage. Take a look at the example pictured above, it's my own Trixzee™️ Miniature Peach tree which always looks amazing, lush and green each season, but, for some reason in the last 6 weeks it's turned a horrifying yellow colour. There are a number of possibilities. To better understand what causes yellowing let's back up a little first and look at how and why plants are green. Healthy plants produce chlorophyll, chlorophyll is the pigment responsible for them appearing green. Plants need to be green to be able to photosynthesise, it's how they harness energy from the sun to generate food for themselves. Possibility 1 - Incorrect pH If the pH is too high (Alkaline) or too low (Acidic) this will result in either 'nutrient lock up' an inability for the plant to access nutrients from the soil, or toxicity , essentially poisoning the plant. Symptoms Not only might the plant appear yellow, but it could possibly have burnt crispy leaf margins, possibly be stunted in growth and overall, be performing poorly. Remedy Determine the soil pH with a soil pH test kit and amend with either Elemental Sulphur if it's too Alkaline or Dolomite Lime if it's too Acidic to bring it back to within the ideal range recommended for the plant. Once the plant is back within its recommended pH range it will be better able to derive nutrients from the soil when you feed it. Possibility 2 -Hunger, lack of nutrients Plants use a massive amount of energy and nutrients Nitrogen Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) to grow and bear fruit and flowers. Reason A plant may be hungry and lacking in nutrients due to it not having been fertilised, it's ran out of nutrients as it's taken up all that was there available, or perhaps recent heavy rains has leeched the nutrients from the soil. A lack of nutrients can be responsible for yellowing. Remedy Apply a soluble fertiliser such as Seasol Powerfeed weekly to fortnightly alongside a quality organic pelletised fertiliser such as Neutrog Rapid Raiser. The soluble fertiliser will benefit the plant by being taken up straight away, and the pellets will be taken in gradually as they break down. Possibility 3 - Magnesium deficiency Magnesium, a secondary macronutrient is a close runner up behind NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) in its importance to a plant, it's the central core ion of chlorophill. It also plays a vital role in the metabolism of phosphorus and is responsible for the uptake and mobility of water within a plant. Sandy and acidic soils are more likely to be magnesium deficient. Symptoms Yellowing between the veins ( interveinal chlorosis ) initially in the older mature foliage progressing to the younger foliage as well. The plant may also be slow in its growth and development, and the fruit or vegetable yield may be low. Remedy Apply Epsom Salts (which is Magnesium). Manutec Magnesium Sulphate Possibility 4 - Iron deficiency Poor quality soils lacking in organic matter, heavy rain events or over watering, incorrect pH, or an imbalance of nutrients are all issues that could result in an Iron deficiency. Iron deficiency is a common issue in acid loving plants, Hydrangeas, Blueberries, Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Symptoms The new young foliage may appear pale yellow to almost white. Remedy Apply chelated iron as per the instructions for rates on the label, it may take a couple of applications to see the plant green up again. Along with applying iron, aim to rectify the underlying issues that led to the deficiency in the first place. Apply sulphur or lime to bring the pH back to the preferred range for your plant if the pH was the issue. If your soil lacks organic matter, add compost, animal manures and mulch to feed and improve the quality of the soil. Take a look at the image here below which shows the distribution of the yellowing. A visual cue might help you determine what's caused your yellowing. Image property of Mygardenlife.com Yellowing plants It can be like solving a jigsaw puzzle trying to determine what's causing your yellowing. Climatic factors such as recent weather events, the type of soil you have, and pH or nutrient imbalances can all be responsible. Try using a process of elimination beginning with the pH to determine which it is. Feel welcome to ask a question or share your experiences in the comments below. Have a lovely weekend, and as always Happy Gardening!😘🌸🌿

Written and edited by Tammy 24th August 2024 “Is it too soon to fertilise yet?" If you’re hesitating and unsure, the answer is no… not at all!! You only need look around us, deciduous ornamentals are breathtaking in full bloom everywhere throughout our town right now, the days are getting longer, and Spring is literally just around the corner. With everything beginning to wake from dormancy, now is the most important time of the year to start fertilising. Plants need a consistent source of nutrients to support their growth and well-being. A lot of plants will have struggled through the cold of winter and possibly been dealt the blows of sub-zero temperatures from frosts. It can be a struggle for them to get going again, particularly if the necessary resources are lacking. Which fertiliser you choose to use is going to depend largely on your circumstances, what you need to feed, and of course your personal preference for the brands you’re familiar and comfortable with. How I Like to Fertilise Liquids Soluble and liquid fertilisers and ameliorates are fantastic as that they're easily absorbed by the roots for the plant to begin reeking the benefits straight away. Without a doubt my hands down favourite is Seasol and I've been using it for years. The Seasol Complete Garden Health Treatment boosts plants immune systems and stimulates their roots to grow, while PowerFeed provides a source of nutrition. Approximately every two weeks from now on, throughout the growing season I like to apply a combined mix of Seasol Complete Health Treatment , and Seasol PowerFeed to any vegetable seedlings, flowering annuals, and cropping plants, including my fruit tree collection that are all in large pots/ wine barrels. It's fantastic for all perennials, shrubs, and bushes throughout your garden beds, and rest assured—it's totally safe for native plants as well. Remember, with solubles and liquids they don't persist in the soil for long, so you'll need to keep it up regularly if you're not providing your plants with something else in addition. Images credit to Seasol.com.au Organic Pelletised Fertilisers Diversity is the key; alongside liquid fertilisers that have the advantage of instant availability, it's smart to be in the habit of using a two-handed approach and apply an additional fertiliser, something to feed gradually and continually. My go-to is Neutrog. If you're not already familiar with Neutrog they are one of our few proudly SA home-grown companies, renowned worldwide now for their extensive range of organic fertilisers and soil ameliorants. (Look no further than the famous Flemington Race Course, home of the Melbourne Cup where the roses say it all!) Sudden impact for Roses. Meet Neutrogs' Rapid Raiser. A premium organic pelletised fertiliser that gradually nourishes your plants as it breaks down, while enriching your soil and its microbials at the same time. I like to top dress around my plants with it now, and then again in about another 6 weeks-time. You can safely apply it a couple of times per growing season, just follow the directions for rates for application on the back of the bag. Image credit to Neutrog It's all in the Mulch Before the hot weather kicks in, I can't stress enough that it's a must to mulch around your plants. Mulching not only insulates your plants and soil preventing dehydration, but it goes on to feed and nourish your soil too as it breaks down. Let me tell you about 'Who Flung Dung'. I'm Probably beginning to sound a little biased now, but once you begin using the Neutrog products, you'll understand why. Released into the market almost 5 years ago now in 2019, Who flung dung is an organic mulch and fertiliser two in one that comprises composted chicken manure and straw. Being high in Nitrogen, it's ideal for hungry fruiting, flowering and cropping plants. Spread a generous layer around your plants to insulate them from temperature extremes and prevent moisture loss, and at the same time it'll gradually feed them all the goodies they need to keep powering on. Image credit to Neutrog Little hint** REMEMBER, most Australian natives don't tolerate Phosphorus very well at all, so be mindful what fertilisers you use on them. Look for something that's specifically for natives. Neutrog does their own pelletised native plant food called Bush Tucker , which is recommended by the Australian Plant Society of Victoria, and often heard, highly spoken of by Gardening Australia's Angus Stewart. Bush Tucker is an organic based pelletised plant food that will break down and feed your plants gradually while benefiting your soil at the same time. If you've had any doubts, I hope this helps to put your mind at ease. It's absolutely essential to start feeding your gardens now as we head into Spring. Giving them the vital nutrients they need now from the right combination of fertilisers will boost their immune system and kick start their metabolism, setting the stage for strong plant growth right throughout the season resulting in stunning blooms, and bountiful harvests. You're always welcome to message me if you'd like more advice. Have a wonderful weekend, Happy gardening! 😘🌳🌹

Written and updated by Tammy 15th December 2024 Now more than ever with the costs of living making things a struggle for families, we're all looking for ways to consciously save money any way we can in and around our homes. Our gardens aren't the exception. There are lots of simple measures we can take to save water in our gardens potentially saving us hundreds of dollars a year. Tap timers. Replace the batteries in your tap timers at the beginning of each season and run them to ensure they're functioning correctly. Check for leaking taps and if need be, replace the washers and seals. Run a diagnostics check of your irrigation system strategically section by section assessing for leaks and blockages. Repair any leaking sections and plug any holes. Replace blocked drippers or jets. Make sure you're using the most efficient and appropriate jets or drippers for each section of the garden. Some parts may need 4 litre/hr drippers where other sections might be fine with 2 litre/hr ones. Mulch. I've said it before and I'll say it again, not only does mulching your gardens insulate plants from the radiant heat, but it aids water retention and prevents dehydration. Mulch also serves to nourish and feed your soil as it breaks down. Make adding a generous layer of quality mulch part of your regular seasonal garden maintenance and you'll potentially cut your watering expenses in half. Avoid watering in the hottest part of the day. You're far better off to water early in the morning, giving water the opportunity to soak in and avoid evaporating too quickly. Watering earlier also eliminates the opportunity for fungal issues and disease to arise as a result of excessive moisture overnight. When big rain is forecast, particularly summer storms, set out as many large catchment containers as you have, you’ll be amazed how much extra rainwater you can harvest from a single good downpour. It might just be enough to water all your potted plants for a week. Every drop counts. I have an old bathtub in my yard originally used as a raised garden bed that's no longer used and in need of recycling. In the meantime, every time there's a storm and heavy rains it completely fills giving m enough water to water all my potted plants. I feel like the cat that's got the cream!! 😁 Purchasing and setting up extra rainwater tanks isn’t cheap and isn’t always an option for all so be opportunistic. If you see secondhand shuttles/IBCs for sale and you have a spair bit of space at the back of the garden grab one and set it up. Create a catchment means on top to funnel the rain into it and a tap and the base and straight away, there’s an extra 1,000L of rainwater. Set up wicking beds for your edibles and veggie gardens where possible. They’re a far more efficient, and less wasteful means of hydrating your plants. Check out this link below to a short video where Sophie Thompson of the ABCs Gardening Australia demonstrates setting a wicking bed up using an IBC. It’s very clever! https://youtu.be/obNWr8MD0uU?si=L3kyMReen6Lp6-eZ Implementing as many of these measures as possible should see you saving a lot of money over time. Monitor your quarterly water bills too for exceptionally large spikes in usage and cost. An excessive bill in itself might be enough of a warning that there's a leak or an issue somewhere that needs to be addressed. Keep cool this summer and keep yourself hydrated too. Happy gardening😘🌸🌼💦

Written and updated by Tammy 8th December 2024 With only a few weeks to go till Christmas there's still time to find that last minute gift for your gardening enthusiast loved ones. I've done some brainstorming and come up with a few ideas for you. Gardening Gift Ideas The Diggers Club Books I ndoor plants Dwarf Citrus or other fruit trees Living Christmas tree Garden art Bird Feeder or Insect Hotel Hampers & Gift Baskets The Diggers Club Nan and Pop would love a few packets of Diggers heirloom veggie seeds, a pair of gloves and an annual subscription for the Diggers Club Magazine. The Diggers Club - Australia's No.1 Gardening Club Follow the link to the Diggers Club website to see their full range of heirloom seeds and gardening inspired gift ideas. Gift vouchers can also be purchased online, and if you're planning a trip to Adelaide SA, you'll find their shop within the Botanical Gardens on North Terrace. There in itself is another gift idea, the gift of an experience, a picnic lunch and day out exploring the Botanical gardens. Books Give the gift of books. There are so many fantastic books on gardening to choose from, but you won't get any better than 'From the ground up' by Sophie Thomson, SA presenter from the ABCs Gardening Australia . First published in 2010 the book is jam packed with everything you need to know about plants and gardening in South Australia. A wonderful resource that any gardener would be wrapped to have in their collection. Find your nearest Angus and Robertson bookstore or buy a copy online. Indoor plants Indoor plants are always in hot demand and have made a big come back in recent years. Most women will admit to having a modest collection and have at least a couple on a wish list that they're still dreaming of owning. Popular plants right now include Monstera Thai Constellation, Sansevieria snake plant, Anthurium, and Spathiphyllum Peace Lilly. Dwarf Citrus or other fruit trees What garden lover doesn't love being able to go pick their own fresh fruit from the tree. These days there's everywhere as many dwarf and miniature trees as there are regular full size growing varieties. Smaller varieties of fruit trees are perfectly suited to growing in pots making them ideal for small courtyards or elderly relatives who don't need a large volume of fruit, or are no longer able to maintain a large tree. Feel free to message me any questions, I myself have a good collection of fruit trees in pots😁🍋🪴 Living Christmas tree Blue star Christmas tree Picea pungens. No artificial tree can stand up to the beauty, fragrance and atmosphere of having a REAL tree in your home for Christmas. My little tree pictured here below. Outside 48 weeks of the year, and inside for 4. A lovely gift idea for a young family to be able to watch it grow over the years as the family grows. Once again more that suitable to keep in a large pot as they are slow to mature. (Check out my article on growing you own Christmas tree😁👇) https://www.tjsgardeningworks.space/post/grow-your-own-christmas-tree Garden art Bird baths, fountains, urns, water features, statues or a park bench for that tranquil corner to sit back and reflect. A lovely piece of garden art or garden furniture is sometimes that last finishing touch for a corner of the garden that your loved one has been wishing for. There's so many to choose from and a price range to fit everyones budget. Bird Feeder or Insect Hotel Bird feeders and insect hotels. Gardening enthusiasts are always thinking of not only their plants, but the wellbeing of the native wildlife and friendly pollinators too. Try your local pet stores and gardening supply stockists or have a go at making something as simple as these pictured below. Some of the loveliest gifts are the ones made from the heart, it's not about the stress of running around spending the most amount of money, it's the thought and love that's gone into it that makes it so special. You can find loads of tutorials and step by step guides online for making your own too. Hampers & Gift Baskets Put together a lovely hamper full of gardening inspired goodies. Add things like Packets of seeds. Hand trowel and fork. Gloves. Kneeling pad or gel knee pads. BHG or Gardening Australia magazine. Insect repellent. Fly veil to attach to a hat. Moisture meter reader. Twine or Jolly tie. Secateurs. Plant labels spikes. Decorative water mister/spray bottle. A voucher offering your time and help for a day in the garden with your loved one! Whether you feel inspired and creative, and decide to make a gift yourself, or you're still looking forward to that planned day out shopping around. I hope I've inspired you a little and given you a few more ideas. Happy Gardening!😘🌸   Other related posts you may like  The Perfect Christmas Garden Made Simple Make your garden the perfect place to celebrate Christmas and make memories with your family. https://www.tjsgardeningworks.space/post/christmas-colour-in-the-garden  Grow your own Christmas tree Everything you need to know about growing your very ow Christmas tree. https://www.tjsgardeningworks.space/post/grow-your-own-christmas-tree

Written and edited by Tammy 8th December 2024 With less than 3 weeks to go till Christmas the race is on to have our menus planned, presents wrapped and stacked and have our gardens looking amazing ready for the arrival of family and friends! Creating a festive vibe in your garden doesn't have to be hard or stressful. It can be as simple as planting some annual colour, hanging some lovely lighting for theatrics and creating a comfy corner to gather. Here’s just a few ideas to get you inspired. Christmas Garden Must Haves Annuals Poinsettias Hydrangeas Bromeliads Herbs Comfortable Spaces to Gather Make magic with lights Annuals When considering colour, it's often the first aspect that catches the eye. For instant impact and wow factor summertime annuals are a fail-safe choice. Among the favourites are Petunias, Vincas, Impatiens, Chrysanthemums and Marigolds, Snapdragons, Portulacas, and Salvias, just to name a few. Most annuals prefer a full sun to part shade location in a rich, organic, moist but free draining soil for their full flowering potential. Feed them Seasol PowerFeed weekly to fortnightly, along side a handful of quality organic fertiliser such as Neutrog Rapid Raiser. Remember to regularly deadhead them to encourage more blooms and prevent them becoming leggy.  Try for mass plantings of one or two colours in a couple of varieties, or pops of colour arranged and cascading out of pots and containers. The ideas are endless. Poinsettias If you prefer something a little more 'traditionally Christmas' originating from Mexico is the Poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima . Poinsettias always put in an appearance at the beginning of the festive season, it just wouldn't be Christmas without seeing them somewhere. Vibrant reds, dusky pinks, greens and whites. Smaller dwarf varieties grow between 25-50cm tall while others planted out in the ground can potentially reach in excess of 3 meters tall. When pruning and dead heading, be mindful not to get the milky white sap on you, it's toxicity can cause rashes and allergic reactions in some people. Growing requirements  Poinsettias need a bright light but protection from the hot afternoon sun. Rich, organic, free draining soil, or quality premium potting mix for pots or containers. Water regularly to maintain moisture. Too wet will cause root rot, while drying out too much will result in wilt and foliage drop. Give regular applications of soluble fertiliser alongside a controlled slow release. Hydrangeas Hydrangeas are stunning coming into their own right now. Deciduous, they begin flowering in November and continue right through to February. Their massive blooms in cool shades of snowy whites, dreamy pinks, blues and violets scream out femininity and contrast beautifully against their large, lush leafy green foliage. Perfect as show pieces in pots, or in those dappled shaded spots at the back of the garden bed to entice you in further. Growing requirements  Hydrangeas thrive in cooler climates. They prefer a rich fertile moist but free draining soil. An ideal plant for a shaded, sheltered spot such as under a tree where they'll receive dappled shade and protection from the hotter afternoon sun. They benefit from regular applications of soluble fertiliser alongside a controlled slow release tailored to acid loving plants. Mulch generously beneath them with composted animal manure and straw to add nutrition, insulation from the heat and aid water retention. Bromeliads Unique, and a tad exotic, Bromeliads bring a touch of flair to Christmas time with their vibrant bold colours and unusual shaped flowers. Grow them in pots, a shaded spot in the garden, or give them as a living gift. Bromeliads are epiphytic, in their natural habitat, co-dependent on other plants for support, they derive their nutrients and water from the air and rain. Think of staghorns, elkhorns, mosses and orchids. Growing requirements Suitable for indoors and outdoors, but keep in mind they are frost and cold sensitive so if growing outdoors, plant them in a protected spot or be prepared to move or cover them if need be. Water requirements, bromeliads have what is known as a 'vase' or 'vessel', where the foliage whorls around the flower in the centre creating like a tunnel. Keep water in the vessel and keep the soil damp but not wet. If growing in pots use an orchid mix as its course and free draining. If growing outdoors in the garden, give them a dappled shaded spot in a rich organic but free draining soil. Herbs Pot up some beautiful fresh seasonal herbs. Sweet basil, mint, parsley, rosemary, thyme, and sage. You don’t have to plant them in a garden bed, plant them into a lovely pot or large container right near the back door close handy for picking to add to your salads or mojitos. A collection of fresh herbs by the back door will look homely and appealing, smell divine and be one less thing to add to the supermarket shopping list, a win win win without a doubt! Comfortable Spaces to Gather While we all want our garden to be visually stunning and welcoming, it also needs to be user friendly and serviceable. You’re also going to want to have an inviting, comfy corner set up ready for outdoor entertaining. After all, it’ll be too nice to be sitting indoors or at some point it’ll be nice to adjourn outside. Fire pit adds warmth and charm to your garden. Place some seating around it and add cozy blankets and cushions for comfort. Gathering around the fire sharing stories with loved ones is where the best lasting memories are created. Make magic with lights Let’s face it, Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without the twinkling of lights. it’s where that magic feel begins. Be as simplistic or as flamboyant as you like. A single flood light shining up into the canopy of a large tree at the back of the garden, a garland of festoon lights around the patio, or thousands of twinkling fairy lights adorning every corner of the garden, there’s no right or wrong. Don't be afraid to get a little creative, if you have a Callistemon looking stunning right now, weave fairy lights throughout its branches and make it the star of your show. Whatever it is you decide to do in your garden this season for 'Christmas cheer' just be sure you enjoy doing it, after all that's what Christmas is all about, and that's what gardening is all about too! Happy gardening! 😘🎄🍒 Other related posts you may like Grow your own Christmas tree Everything you need to know about growing your very ow Christmas tree. https://www.tjsgardeningworks.space/post/grow-your-own-christmas-tree Gardening Inspired gift ideas Stuck for last minute gift ideas for the gardening enthusiast loved one? Look no further! https://www.tjsgardeningworks.space/post/gardening-inspired-gift-ideas

Written and edited by Tammy 14th November 2024 Tomato growing season is well underway, and if you haven’t already got some in, there’s no better time to do so than now. Originating from South America, a Mediterranean climate, tomatoes need warmth, sun, and a whole lot of nutrition to go from a little seedling to a mature plant baring masses of juicy tasty fruit within only a few months. Whether you're a 'newbie' to the world of growing tomatoes, or a seasoned pro, here are a few of my favourite tips. Variety Bush or Vine varieties Location Trellising and support Nutrition-what to feed your tomatoes Hydration-how much water do the actually need? Pests and diseases-what to look out for and how to treat Selecting the right Tomatoes for you What type of tomatoes would you like to grow? Small mouthful sized tomatoes such as 'Sweet Bite' or Tommie Toe' pop in your mouth, they're perfect for salads or the kiddies' lunchboxes. Larger hearty 'Beef Steak' type varieties are for the lovers of fresh tomatoes, seasoned with salt and pepper on a piece of toast. If making sauce and relish is your thing, you'll want to go with the tried and tested 'Roma' or 'Saucy Tom', and for those with dietary restrictions or an intolerance to anything acidic, stick with the likes of 'Black Russian' or 'Mellow Yellow'. Of course, if preservation of the old-fashioned heirloom varieties is important to you, keep an eye out for Tigerella, Lemon drop, Amish Paste and Principe Borghese, just to name a few. The flavours are amazing and second to none. Indeterminate/determinate Fancy terminology, but what does it mean? Also known as "Bush" tomatoes, determinate varieties remain smaller, (aprox 3-4 foot tall) bushier, and more compact. They tend to reach maturity quicker and most of their crop will ripen around the same time making these the most suitable for making sauces and preserves. In comparison, indeterminate varieties, also known as "Vining ", keep growing and producing fruit right throughout the season often well into Autumn. Because of their vine like, rambling growth habit, they can easily reach well in excess of 2 meters tall, so they do require staking or trellising. What you want to do with your tomatoes, be in pick them all quickly to make sauces and condiments or pick one or two at a time for your salads over an extended period, really will be what determines what variety you decide to grow. Location Whether you plan to grow them in pots, raised beds or out into the garden bed, tomatoes love the sun! Give them a spot on the Northern side of your house or a spot where they're going to get 6-8 hours of sun per day. Avoid planting in the same soil or location you had tomatoes, chillies or capsicums last season, the main risk being that you'll expose them to built-up soil borne diseases minimising the potential for healthy plants and good yields. Try a seasonal rotation of legumes then your tomatoes, as the legumes 'fix' nitrogen back into the soil that the tomatoes will be grateful for. Give each plant plenty of room to grow, don't plant them too close or overcrowd them, a lack of space, light and air circulation will give rise for the opportunity for fungal issues and disease to take hold. Trellising and support Pinch off the first 1 to 2 pairs of lower leaves and plant the seedling to that depth. Planting that extra couple of inches deeper into the ground allows extra roots to grow along the stem that's below the soil giving the plant a larger, stronger, more supportive root system. Give them a stake, trellis or framework to support them as they grow so they don't break, bend or snap under the weight of the fruit. Conical plant trainers are normally available in most garden centres now to coincide with 'tomato season', but you can also fashion your own using stakes and jolly tie, mesh or really you could utilise any resources you have available. Let your imagination run wild! Check out my short video here below, made last season, I demonstrated the ideal way to plant a tomato. 👇👀 Nutrition I mentioned earlier that tomatoes are hungry plants, and that they are! They require a lot of energy to go from a little seedling to a mature plant producing fruit within 3 months. Add generous amounts of organic matter to the soil at the time of planting along with some slow-release fertiliser specifically for tomatoes. Applying liquid soluble fertilisers such a Seasol PowerFeed at weekly to fortnightly intervals provides a source of nutrition that can be utilised instantly by the plant. Using a multi-pronged approach of liquids, organic pelletised fertilisers, and slow release ensures there's a constant supply of nutrition available for steady continual growth all season long. Hydration It's crucial to keep your watering rescheme regular. Inconsistent watering will do more harm than good with. Going from dehydrated to waterlogged and back and forth will cause disorders such as skin splitting and blossom end rot. Always water in the morning in the cool of the day so your plants have the opportunity to dry before evening. There's a far greater chance for fungal issues to take hold when plants are left damp or wet in the cool of the night. Don't forget to mulch around your plants as well. Mulching not only insulate them, but it helps preserve ground moisture preventing dehydration. Pests and diseases 'Vigilance is a virtue' be on the lookout for signs of pests and fungal diseases. A rain event bringing on damp, humid conditions will often see slugs and snails crawling around. Keep some snail bait in your toolkit, alternatively don't be afraid to go for a twilight stroll around the veggie patch. Most 'critters' are nocturnal coming out to feast under the cover of darkness. You'll be amazed how quick you'll fill a 4L ice-cream with snails , and your chooks will be even more delighted. Most fungal issues such as rust and powdery mildew thrive as soon as there's lack of air circulation, dampness and humidity. Allow for plenty of air circulation between your plants by giving each one plenty of its own space. Pinch off any old, yellowing or diseased looking lower foliage, it's not doing the plant any favours. Have a fungicide spray in your tool kit ready to go should you need it. Look for a product like Eco-fungicide. Gentle and environmentally friendly, the active ingredient is basically bicarb-soda so it's safe, nothing nasty in that. Alternatively, utilising what you have there at home, combine 1 part cow's milk to 3 parts water in a spray bottle and liberally spray to cover the foliage that looks diseased with it. ** I've included a couple of pics here below to show you what disease looks like on the leaves, and up the stems of your plants. Try not to despair, I know it's frustrating and disheartening, but it has been a bad season for pests (particularly on fruit trees) and disease on veggie seedlings. Just be quick to treat straight away at the first signs and remove the diseased foliage. Keep an eye out on the next newly emerging flush of foliage to see that it looks healthy proving that the treatment has been successful. Give your plants a regular dose of Seasol Health treatment too, it will boost their immune system making them stronger and more resistant to disease. If you feed your plants regularly, keep the water up to them, and keep them free of any pests or fungal disease, there's no reason for you not to be harvesting bountiful crops of tomatoes over the summer months. There's nothing more rewarding than harvesting your own fresh produce and the flavours just don't compare to the ones you buy off the shelf in the supermarkets. If you haven't already, grab yourself some tomatoes and get planting! Happy gardening🍅😘🌸

Written and edited by Tammy 28th September 2024 Despite the cool, mild and gloomy start to Spring we’ve had so far here in our region, summer vegetable seedlings are flooding into garden centres everywhere. Tomatoes in all your favourite varieties, cucumbers, zucchinis, pumpkins, chillies and capsicums. Let's not forget these sturdy, healthy and robust, these little seedlings have been given every opportunity for the best head start, germinating in greenhouses with controlled conditions, shielded from harsh winds, extreme temperatures, frosts, pests, and diseases. So, once we get them home, how do we give them the best chance to thrive and be successful? Seedling success tips Selection Climatise Prepare the ground Location Timing Handle with care Support Frost Prevention Hydration Nutrition Mulch Pest & Disease Prevention 1. Selection If you know what day of the week your local garden centre gets their fresh stock in, take advantage of that and go in that afternoon to have the 'pick of the crop' so to speak. Make sure you choose fresh, healthy strong looking seedlings. Avoid anything that looks sickly, limp, or diseased. 2. Climatise If you are buying them now, it's still early in the season, consider keeping them inside in a bright windowsill for a few more weeks, then progress them out onto the back porch as the days become consistently nicer, before finally planting them out into the garden. Climatising them gradually can help avoid sending them into shock due the extreme change in environment. 3. Prepare the ground Before planting them out, prepare the area well. Incorporate lots of organic matter, compost, aged animal manure, some blood and bone. Remember to add gypsum if you have heavier clay soils as gypsum aids drainage. 4. Location Planting your veggie patch in the right part of your yard can also have a huge baring on its success. Most cropping plants need atleast 6-8 hours of sunlight per day to successfully produce good yields. Pay attention to which side of your house get the beautiful sun most of the day and look to establishing your garden bed there. If it's not practical to do so or your soil conditions are less than ideal, consider a raised garden bed, or large containers. Using large pots or containers also gives the advantage of being able to move them from one location to the next if need be. 5. Timing Plant your seedlings early in the day when the weather is nice, sunny and mild, so they have time to acclimatise before the cold and damp of the evening sets in. 6. Handle with care Like all babies, they're fragile, handle them with care. Avoid damaging or disturbing their delicate root systems. Don't be tempted to try and separate the likes of spring onions or carrots, leave them be, they will sort themselves out (survival of the fittest) you can remove any smaller struggling ones as they begin to mature. 7. Support Some vegetables love to climb, peas, beans, cucumbers and indeterminate varieties of tomatoes. Make sure you provide them with a stake or trellis to help support them as they grow. Click the link here 👇😁 to head over my Facebook page and check out a small clip I shared last season explaining which varieties of tomatoes grow taller and require staking while other remain smaller bushes. https://fb.watch/uTgaaDDhjI/ 8. Frost prevention Monitor the weather forecast and have a survival plan in place. This probably sounds silly, but in reality, it's not! Spring always sees multiple nasty frosts here in our region, not to mention days of hot Northerly winds. A good frost will wipe out your vegetable patch in one night, so cover them up with frost cloth, some containers or milk bottles, or whatever you have available. 9. Hydration Always water your new seedlings in well with a solution of Seasol Health Treatment , looking for air bubbles to confirm they're watered thoroughly and there are not dry spots in their soil at the root zone. Adding Seasol health Treatment helps avoid transplant shock, boosts the plants immune system and stimulates the roots to get growing. Be consistent with your watering rescheme, if you're not consistent a whole host of issues can arise. Stunted poor growth, wilting, shrivelled small fruit and even split skins. 10. Nutrition Feed feed feed!! would your kids grow on an empty tummy? no, and neither will your seedlings. Feed weekly with a readily available soluble fertiliser high in nitrogen for foliage development such as Seasol Powerfeed , alongside a slow-release organic fertiliser such as Neutrogs Rapid Raiser. As your plants reach maturity and change to reproductive Potassium becomes important for fruit and flower development, so look for that branded Potash, such as Yates liquid Potash . Which fertiliser should I use?🤷‍♀️ 👈👀Check out this post here 11. Mulch Mulch generously around your little seedlings with some Rocky Point Sugarcane, it's a nice fine chopped up mulch that will pack neatly in and around them. Mulching not only insulates them, aid in water retention and prevent dehydration, but as it breaks down it continues to feed your soil. 12. Pest & Disease Prevention Finally, be vigilant and constantly on the lookout for pests, diseases and disorders . Hungry slugs, snails and earwigs will devour seedlings almost overnight, powdery mildew and rust are common fungal infections that will require a fungicide, and plants that generally look sad and aren't performing well, may have issues with inconsistency of water availability or even toxicity. If you're unsure, you're always welcome to contact me for more advice, or if you live in my neck of the woods...you'll most likely know where to find me 😜🪴 Without a doubt, if your taking onboard and implementing these 12 tips, you're going to be rewarded with a bountiful patch full of fresh produce to keep you going all season and perhaps even enough to share around with friends and family, there's nothing more rewarding! Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy your gardens. 😘🌸🌱 Other Posts You Might Enjoy How Frost Affects Plants & Tips for Preventing Frostburn Frosts are among the greatest adversaries for gardeners throughout the colder months. Days with clear, sunny skies often lead to subzero temperatures overnight, causing frosts to occur. Without being pro-active and having measures in place, the results can be detrimental. 5 tips for growing healthy Tomatoes🍅 Talk to any wise old gardeners in our community and they'll tell you to hold off until the October Show weekend to plant your tomatoes. I'm not entirely certain, but I'm pretty sure it has a whole lot less to do with Dippy Dogs and Fairy Floss and more to do with the soil temperatures and frost risks. Powdery Mildew ☘️ With Spring now in full swing and summer vegetable seedlings going into the ground left right and centre, powdery mildew becomes a hot topic. If you're vigilant and know what to look out for, and perhaps even what precautions to have in place, you'll be able to act quickly if it does show up for the party!

Written and edited by Tammy 25rd September 2023 One of the most important jobs at the top of everyone's 'to do list' right now is to feed your gardens. Whether it's your roses, lawns, garden beds, fruit trees or indoor plants, they're all going to need to be fed. It can be confusing trying to decide which fertiliser to use with so many available on the market. There are five main types of fertilisers that each have their own purpose and circumstances for use. Soluble Soluble - Soluble fertilisers come in a powder form that are dissolvable in water. Once dissolved they can be taken in by the plant immediately, so they are perfect for weekly feeding of hungry vegetable seedlings that use so much energy to grow and go on to produce crops. Look for the likes of Thrive . Liquids Liquids - Liquids are nutrient rich and readily available to the plant, they're ideal for regular weekly feeding. Most often you would buy them in a concentrated form and dilute them in a watering can. Some conveniently come in a ready to use form RTU, a 750ml spray bottle, great for anyone with only a couple of plants, or a 2 litre or larger that can be connected straight onto a garden hose for applying to larger areas like a lawn. My fav is Seasol Powerfeed it's a good all-rounder suitable for everything including natives. Organics Organics - Organic fertilisers are normally derived of decomposed animal manures, meat meal, plant matter and green waste that goes through a process to compress and dry it and produce a pelletised or powdered form. Look for the likes of Nuetrog Rapid Raiser. or Blood and Bone . These types of fertilisers are good to use either on their own or alongside liquids and solubles. They don't need to be applied as frequently as they take a little longer to break down and be taken in by the plant. They're also a source of nutrition for your soil. Slow release Slow release -These fertilisers rely on the climatic conditions such as temperature and rain which determines just how quick they break down. They're generally found in granular form and are a balanced NPK (Nitrogen Phosphorus and Potassium). They are tailored to the types of plants they're for, so one for lawns such as Brunnings 'green up ' will be higher in nitrogen, whereas one for fruit and vegetables will be higher in phosphorus and potassium. The nitrogen component works by aiding the plants' ability to photosynthesise, so it 'greens up' quickly, whilst other two elements are longer lasting aiding the plants vascular system, cell structure and root system. These types of fertilisers are good for routinely apply at the beginning of each season. Controlled Release Controlled release - Are the pretty little coloured balls you find within your bag of potting mix or on top of the soil of a newly purchased plant. A brand you might be familiar with is Osmocote. Each granule had a chemical coating that takes anything from 4-6 months (depending on the thickness of the chemical coating) to break down, gradually releasing the nutrients within. These types of fertilisers only need to be applied a couple of times a year. The good thing about them being so slow to release, is that there is no chance of burning your plants. What it is that you need to fertilise will determine how often you need to feed and what fertiliser to use. You're not limited to using just one product or the other either. For your veggie seedlings you might opt to use a controlled realise and add some soluble into your watering can every week as well and that's perfectly fine. Hopefully now when you're ready to stock up on fertiliser, you'll have a bit more of an idea as to what ones you need. As always if you have any questions or would like to know more don't hesitate to message me. But for now, stock up, feed up and Happy Gardening!😘🌸🪴

Written and edited by Tammy 25th July 2023 I remember wandering around amongst the plants in the first garden centre I worked in thinking how will I ever remember all these 'fancy' plant names, I can't even pronounce them! Fast forward to now and I'll let you in on a little secret...I still can't pronounce OR spell a lot of them, but I have become familiar with quite a few now and more importantly, I understand the significance of them. Firstly, what's botany? It's the scientific study of plants. Botanists study plant DNA/genetics, their physical appearance, their biology, a plants origin and its coping mechanisms for the place it originates and a whole lot more. It's these scientists who create names for plants, and not just any old name, formal names that conform to an international code so they can be recognised in all languages anywhere in the world. And why Latin? Well, because back in the 'old days' when they first began naming plants, Latin was the universal language used by scientists... so it makes sense, it's just stuck. When you pick up a plant in a garden centre, you'll see it's got a " name" (it's generally something easy to pronounce) like Pom pom, Pink Splash or Grey Box. Often the name has some relevance to the plant's physical appearance, or colour. It may even have been given in honour of the breeder or founder of the plant or someone of significance. Common names can change from one season to the next or even from one company to the next, different retail growers will put their own trademark name to a plant, but at the end of the day the botanical name for that plant will ALWAYS be the same. It could be an Ornamental plum Ruby Flare, or a Crimson Spire, depending on which company you buy the tree through, but both trees are a Prunus cerasifera. The botanical name for that tree doesn't change because it's what it is. Take the example of our pets. We can call our cat or dog whatever name we like, Fido or Rover, but the scientific name will always be Canine or Feline. And just to take it a step further, our pet dog, Fido? Fido is a Canine and he's a part of the terrier family. Terriers, cattle dogs, pointers, hounds are different breeds or families. So Fido's a terrier canine mammal in the animal kingdom. And back to our plant.... commonly known as Pom pom? It's a daisy, the formal name is Argyranthemum, it's in the Asteraceae family, of Angiosperms, which are flowering plants in the plantae kingdom. Next time you find yourself in a garden centre looking for a little red flowering plant called pom pom, or an upright ornamental plum tree with red foliage, keep an eye for those big tricky names on the back of the description tags, they might just help you to put the puzzle pieces together or help you to find or identify other similar plants in the same family. Happy Gardening!😘🪴

Written by Tammy updated 11th September 2024. Soil health is vital to the success of our garden. Have you ever felt frustrated thinking why does everything die or why can't I get things to thrive? You've heard the expression 'from the ground up'? When it comes to gardening it really is quite literally from the ground up. Like ourselves, soil is a living thing, it needs nourishment. Without good nutrition we become unwell, susceptible to illness, sickness and disorders and we fail to thrive. The principles are exactly the same for our soil. For our gardens to thrive and be productive we need to first focus on the health and nutrition of our soil. Plants take in nutrients from the soil to be able to grow, and somewhere along the line those nutrients need to be replenished. If you kept eating everything out of the pantry it would eventually be empty, there'd be nothing left to eat leaving you hungry, it would need to be restocked. Feeding our soil, like restocking our pantry is easy and needs to be done regularly. It's as simple as spreading a good layer of organic matter like animal manure, composted veggie scraps and green waste, or some bales of straw mulch around the garden. Meat meal-based products like Blood and Bone are fantastic too. Don't forget Legumes. These amazing little plants have the clever ability to fix nitrogen back into the soil, throw in a crop of soybeans, peas or broad beans, let them mature then dig them back through into the soil. Doing any combination of these things is going to pay you back ten-fold. Feeding the beneficial insects and microbials within your soil is what keeps the soil nourished and in turn allows it to feed your plants. Healthy soil equals a healthy garden. 😘🪴

Written and edited by Tammy 21st June 2023 With our daytime maximum temperatures here in the Limestone Coast not expected to get much over 10-11 degrees this week, we begin to feel uncomfortable, cold and sluggish. Our immune systems even slow down with the lack of vitamin D from the sun and we become at a higher risk of coughs, colds and bugs. What about our plants? Well, the evidence is there that they're not happy about it and don't cope well with it either. They slow right down with their growth and flowering, they can begin to look a little sickly and lacking in their lush green colour, and like us they become more susceptible to diseases and disorders. We begin taking extra multi vitamins and immune boosters to help boost ourselves and to prevent ourselves becoming unwell. It kind of makes sense and seems a logical thing to maybe consider doing the same thing for our plants too. This is the part where Seasol comes into it. Seasol Complete Garden Health Treatment is to a gardener what butter is to bread.... we go hand in hand. Every gardener owns a bottle or two. The active ingredients in Seasol are derived from seaweed making it a wonderful source of nutrition and trace elements. We garden gurus always recommend when you're transplanting anything to give it a soak first and water it in with Seasol. Not only does it help prevent and overcome transplant shock, but it helps to stimulate root growth and boost a plants immune system. Now perhaps even more so than ever as things start to struggle and look unwell in your garden, boost them up, give them a helping hand with some Seasol. It can be safely done every 2 to 4 weeks, all year round. Always apply any liquid applications to you plants early in the day so there's time for it to be absorbed and they aren't left wet into the evening hours increasing the opportunity for fungal issues or rot due to dampness to arise. A regular dose of Seasol when your plants are struggling might just be their saving Grace. As with any garden ameliorants, always read and carefully follow the instructions to apply them as per the rates on the labels. You'll find Seasol Complete Garden Treatment available online or in a major leading outlet near you. Rug up and keep warm over the next week with the extreme cold temperatures. Perhaps even throw some frost cloth or some form of protection over any little young vulnerable veggie seedlings too. And it you don't already own a bottle of Seasol, add one to your shopping list now and start boosting your gardens and plants to help see them through the cold. Happy Gardening😘❄️

Written and edited by Tammy 26th May 2024 With the hot weather now well behind us and Winter almost here, we’re all busying ourselves back out in the gardens. Autumn/Winter is traditionally the time of the year for planting all things deciduous, and bare root roses, fruit trees and ornamentals are now trickling into garden centres and nurseries everywhere. Last season I wrote a couple of posts sharing hints and tips on bare root trees, but this time I want to share with you some ideas and suggestions that might help with selecting the right roses for you. With so many to choose from it can be a little overwhelming knowing where to begin! Choosing that perfect rose When you shop online for something the first thing you do is 'set your search filters'. This narrows down the search to just the size, colours or fragrance that's relevant to you and the order of importance to you. Try to apply that same analogy when you're ready to start looking for your roses. Create a list of what's important to you and the order of those preferences from 'most' important to the least. Colour Fragrance Size Name Hardiness and integrity Bare root or potted A few old favourites you might've heard of to get you started. Colour. The colour of the rose is most often a biggie. Consider things like the existing colour scheme within your garden, you'll want to compliment that. If it's a brand-new garden and you're starting from scratch, putting your roses in first might be what sets the theme for everything else you plant. Fragrance. Fragrance is another important one for a lot of folks. In some people’s eyes a rose just isn’t a rose regardless of its beauty if it has no fragrance. If it’s fragrance that’s important to you, search primarily for the fragrant roses, then choose colour you love from within the fragrances you love the most. Size. Roses come in a multitude of sizes and varieties to fit different situations. Carpet roses as the name suggests, are a ground cover rose. They grow between 30-60 cm tall and spread to cover an area of upto a meter. Perfect for borders and fillers. Bush roses, depending on the variety can be maintained as small as 60cm tall right upto 2 meters. Standards are most commonly seen as 3 foot patios for smaller areas and 4 foots. Best suited to formal gardens, driveways, fence lines and entrance ways. Weeping standards are grafted onto taller 140cm to 180cm tall root stock. They make for a lovely stand-alone feature in the middle of a lawn to make a statement. A real showstopper in full bloom, when their long arching canes cascade over gracefully. Climbers are exactly that, they spread, ramble and cover a large area in no time. Perfect for covering arbours, archways or on a trellis for screening out a shed or fence. Name. Since the beginning of time, roses have been given great names of significance. It may be in honour of their breeder, in celebration of an occasion, or to commemorate someone of stature "The Queen Elizabeth Rose". If you're buying a rose to gift to someone, search for a name with relevance to the occasion, "Mothers Love", "Golden Jubilee". Chances are there will be a rose with the perfect name. Hardiness and disease resistance. Pending of where you live, your climate and your soil quality, you may be more concerned primarily with finding the hardiest most disease resistant varieties of roses over the colour and fragrance. More and more so now breeders are focussing on breeding their roses with an emphasis on them being more adaptable and disease resistant than their earlier relatives. If you've constantly struggled in the past with roses being susceptible to die back, fungal issues etc, this might be something to take into consideration when choosing your roses. Bare root or potted. Bare root or potted. Consider when the right time will be for you to buy your roses. There are pros and cons for both. Bare root season spans the cooler months when plants are dormant and will settle in nicely without stress as they're not actively growing. They're cheaper, and more compact taking up less room as you're not buying the pot and soil as well, advantageous particularly if you need a lot of them. Potted roses on the other hand, are purchased throughout the warmer months when they are actively growing. The obvious advantage being that you can see the foliage and blooms, appreciate their appearance and fragrance, and more importantly see that they are a healthy growing viable plant with an established root system, and it goes without saying, for those reasons you will expect to pay more. House keeping. Any roses you plant whether they are little carpet roses or climbers and standards, will need a minimum of at least 6 hours full sun a day for them to thrive and bloom. They are hungry feeders with the energy they put into producing their beautiful blooms, nothing comes for free, so be prepared to regularly feed them a good quality organic rose food such as Neutrog Sudden Impact for roses. Regular good deep soakings a couple of times per week over the warmer months will aid them establishing a strong deep healthy root system. Be vigilant for pests and diseases and treat them promptly before they take hold. *Hint Hybrid T -Singular large bloom per stem. Floribunda -Masses of smaller blooms than a hybrid T per stem. Decide what is of a priority to you. Is it colour, is it size for a particular location, or is it that you want your front yard to be filled with that breathtaking classic fragrance. once you've worked out your priorities, go to your local library of jump online and start browsing from the thousands of roses there are to choose from and start looking for your perfect rose. Knight Roses are proudly South Australia's largest wholesale supplier of roses since the 1950s. Growing 700 different varieties, the produce over 350,000 roses a year. They have a wonderful website that might be another good place to start for you and there's always a friendly voice on the other end of the phone if you need to know more. Buy Roses Online |100's of Bagged or Potted | Knight's Roses Australia (knightsroses.com.au) A dozen classic old favourites to get you started😁 White Iceberg- Bush or STDS one of the best!!! Guaranteed. Just Joey- Large Apricot bloom, hybrid T, fragrant. Peace- Soft yellow, pink rimmed bloom, fragrant, hybrid T. Double Delight- Two toned cream and cool red, hybrid T. highly fragrant. Gold Bunny- Large full golden blooms, hybrid T, faint fragrance. Freesia- Lemon yellow, highly fragrant, floribunda. Blue Moon-Large lavender/Lilac hybrid T bloom, highly fragrant. Heaven scent- Large classic soft creamy pink, highly fragrant hybrid T bloom. La Sevillana-Classic warm red, prolific flowering floribunda. Ideal for landscaping (locals see between Coonawarra and Penola SA beside the Vineyards). Pierre de Ronsard- Classic, well-known designer climbing rose. Feminine, soft pink, tightly packed full fragrant blooms. A favourite. Bonica-Smaller shrub variety, soft pink, floribunda. Masses of blooms, disease resistant. Apricot Nectar-Soft Apricot fragrant floribunda. Popular well known. Choosing roses can be exciting and rewarding, it's just knowing where to start. Hopefully I've broken it down a little for you and taken away some of the guess work. Always up for a chat if you want to know more. As always, have a wonderful week and enjoy your gardens! 😘🌹