A Healthy Garden Is A Waterwise Garden - South Australia

1. A healthy garden is
a waterwise garden.
We all love our gardens. In fact, gardens and Have a great garden and claim up to $100
gardening contribute to the wellbeing of on eligible garden goods as part of the
H2OME Rebate Scheme! Goods include:
South Australians and are an important part • Organic mulch or compost
of our life and landscape. • Soil wetting agents
• Tap timers
This year- round guide provides simple, • Outdoor compost bins
• Rainwater diverters
smart gardening tips. • Soil moisture sensors or rain sensors
• Irrigation system controllers and more!
Visit www.sawater.com.au to find out more
Remember to check water restrictions or permanent water and apply.
conservation measures in your area at www.sawater.com.au
JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL
Gardening to do Gardening to do Gardening to do Gardening to do
Make a New Year’s resolution to enjoy a sustainable garden – Prepare veggie beds for autumn/winter crops – start by digging Prepare a sunny bed (that faces north) for sweet peas. Cut down watering of indoor plants as their growth slows.
visit www.environment.sa.gov.au and check out the Sustainable in old compost or manure. Start a compost heap. Cooler days are great for re-potting container plants.
Landscapes Projects for details. Buy spring flowering bulbs while stocks are fresh. Store the bulbs Visit autumn rose shows, select from catalogues and prepare new Pot some bulbs into containers for indoor colour in spring.
A good layer of mulch will help garden beds retain moisture. in a cool, dry, dark spot and plant out when soil temperatures rose beds for winter planting.
Spray roses for black spot, powdery mildew and aphids and look are cooler. Handy tips
for environmentally friendly, chemical free alternatives. Cut dead heads off roses, agaphanthus and other summer Handy tips Purchase new autumn fruit and foliage trees
flowering plants. Remove excess buds from chrysanthemums to encourage while they’re in full colour.
Handy tips larger flowers. Pull out weeds before they have
Research plants native to your area – plants from around Australia
Use environmentally friendly slow release or liquid fertilisers to may suit our conditions but check their watering requirements Curled and distorted leaves on new citrus growth are usually a chance to set seed.
feed pot plants. and weed potential. caused by citrus leaf miner. A weak spraying solution of white Organic material will help improve any
Hand pollinate (transfer pollen from male to female flowers) oil will protect citrus from further attack. soil whether it’s clay or sandy.
to help increase crops on pumpkins, cucumbers and melons. Handy tips Patch holes in lawns by sowing with a fast germinating,
Water early in the day to help discourage fungal diseases. Divide clumps of bearded iris drought tolerant grass blend. Ask your lawn expert for advice. Sow
and plant in other parts of Seeds: Stocks, Primula.
Sow the garden. Sow Vegetables: Broad Beans, Broccoli,
Seeds: Calendula, Snapdragons. Seeds: Pansies, Poppies, Lobelia,
Sow English Daisies.
Spinach, Sweet Peas.
Vegetables: Brussel Sprouts. Seeds: Cineraria, Cornflower.
Vegetables: Spinach, Radish.
Vegetables: Broccoli, Lettuce,
Chinese Cabbages.
MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST
Gardening to do Gardening to do Gardening to do Gardening to do
Move cold sensitive potted plants into areas under cover. A good month for buying and planting perennials. Moist weather encourages snails. Try chemical free alternatives Cut and remove branches affected by the citrus galls wasp before
Pick pumpkins when the stalk withers, store somewhere dry and sunny. Prepare soil for planting deciduous trees. to keep them at bay. Beer traps work well. the end of the month.
Strawberry runners can be planted. Select virus free stock from Prune hydrangeas and take cuttings. Only prune stems that have Prune roses. Use an environmentally friendly spot spray to control soursob while
garden suppliers. flowered in the previous season. Plant potatoes in a sunny position. it’s in flower.
Last chance to plant spring flowering bulbs. Prune deciduous trees. Pruning of spring blossom trees should Aerate lawn by stabbing with a garden fork or hiring a Mulch the root systems of azaleas and camellias.
be left until after flowering. mechanical aerator. Handy tips
Handy tips
Don’t waste fallen autumn leaves – use as a mulch or add to Handy tips Handy tips Nuts are attractive plants that give a bonus harvest. Almonds,
your compost. Cold and wet days give you a good chance to catch up with Winter is a good time to carry out major landscaping tasks. pecans, hazelnuts and macadamias can all be grown in
the latest gardening books and website information. suitable climates.
Only stake trees if absolutely necessary – if in a windy or exposed Plan carefully – speak to your nursery and landscaping expert.
position, support with a figure of eight tie made from soft material Add organic matter to your garden. Strawberries grow easily in hanging baskets.
Pots of polyanthus give cheerful short-term colour indoors.
such as nylon stockings. Well placed lighting can transform your garden into a night time Cumquats and Meyer Lemons are excellent tub plants for a
Don’t prune frost damaged parts of plants until frosts are over sunny spot.
Native plants are great for attracting birds and butterflies. wonderland. Look for easy to install lights with solar panels. to help protect other areas of the plant.
Have your soil analysed so you know the right balance for
Sow Sow Let nature do the watering for you. your garden.
Local natives can thrive if planted in May – Seeds: Dianthus, Alyssum, Gypsophila.
try Banksias, Grevilleas, native grasses
Sow Sow
Vegetables: Broad Beans, Spinach, Cabbages. Seeds: Hippeastrum, Violets, Red Hot Pokers.
and groundcovers. Seeds: Ageratum, Cosmos.
Vegetables: Onions, Peas, Snow Peas. Vegetables: Asparagus, Rhubarb. Vegetables: Lettuce, Carrots, Silver Beet.
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
Gardening to do Gardening to do Gardening to do Gardening to do
Check lemon trees for lemon scab and treat if necessary. Buy and plant natives suitable for your area. Allow lawn grasses to grow longer, this will shade the root system Pot up some plants to use as Christmas gifts.
Prune hibiscus and other summer flowering plants such as Add gypsum or claybreaker to new garden beds in clay areas. and the lawn will stand up better to summer heat. Trim bottlebrush and other Australian natives after flowering.
plumbago and fuchsias. Plant tropical fruit and ornamentals as soon as they Cut back long tendrils on wisteria and other climbers. Mulch your garden well.
Citrus with yellowing leaves in the centre or end become available. Thin out crops on fruit trees to increase size of fruit. Prepare some portable shelters to protect sun-sensitive
may need magnesium or complete fertiliser. Pinch back geraniums to encourage bushy growth. plants on very hot days.
Handy tips
Handy tips Handy tips Pick vegetables while still young and tender for the best flavour Handy tips
Visit open gardens for inspiration. Clean up before the bushfire season. and to encourage further production. Make sure hanging baskets don’t dry out in summer – special
Government systems to make watering easy and efficient
Install micro-irrigation Companion planting will grow a better garden. Plant tomatoes with Remember to protect yourself from the sun with Slip, Slop, Slap, hanging basket potting mixes contain water holding crystals.
of South Australia systems.
or check for leaks in existing asparagus, carrots with onions, potatoes with peas and thyme with Seek, Slide! Remove weeds while they’re still small – they compete for water
Sow cabbage. Sow and harbour plant diseases.
Seeds: Salvia, Marigold, Zinnias. Yellowing of the older leaves of gardenias in spring is a sign Seeds: Aster, Verbena, Portulaca. In hot, dry areas choose drought tolerant natives
of magnesium deficiency. or visit the SA Water Mediterranean Garden at the
Vegetables: Warm season veggies such Vegetables: Cucumber, Pumpkins, Capsicum. Adelaide Botanic Gardens for inspiration.
as Beans, Pumpkin, Eggplant, Look out for thrips (insects that can be a pest to plants) in
Cucumber and Tomato. dry spring weather. Sow
Sow Seeds: Dahlias, Snapdragons.
Seeds: Petunias, Dahlias. Vegetables: Beans, Chillies, Spring Onions.
Vegetables: Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Zucchini.
Government
of South Australia