NOW is the perfect time to start preparing your garden for autumnal plantings as we transition out of summer, according to retail horticulturalist Grant Allen from Park Lane Nursery.
Crepe myrtles, bougainvillea, late-summer flowering hydrangeas, petunias, echinacea and calibrachoas (million bells) are just some of the plant species that flourish at this time of year.
“The crepe myrtles have been really stunning this year around town,” Mr Allen said.
“Crepe myrtles are one of our biggest sellers at the moment, by far at this time of year.”
Mediterranean type plants, like olives, and Australian native plants also come into bloom in the summer time.
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Mr Allen encourages the community to consider planting Australian native species, as these are adapted to our soil types and tend to germinate better.
He said shade trees are a popular choice for people’s gardens, not only for the refuge they provide from the hot sun, but also when they bloom and show off their spectacular autumnal hues.
“The maples are a great plant, beautiful shade tree,” he said.
With such high temperatures, indoor plants like devils ivy have also been selling.
"People are indoors, so indoor plants are always a nice way to brighten up the inside of your home."
To maintain optimal plant health, Mr Allen said deep watering your plants early in the morning is essential, and to avoid light sprinkling throughout the day.
However, a common mistake he sees people make is over-watering their plants, which can actually drown the plant.
He said scorching temperatures in recent weeks have slowed things down at the nursery.
Mr Allen said plant owners should take caution during extreme temperatures, particularly in high fire danger areas where garden mulch tends to burn.
“Most plants tend to shut down in this extreme hot weather, you’re not getting a lot of growth,” he said.
“It’s that time of year that you need to protect the soil and mulch heavily, up to 50ml thick."
Mr Allen advised against using gravel mulches in high temperatures, as they can get very hot and radiate heat back at the plants.
Aside from mulching, wetting agents can be effective in providing plants with enough water, particularly with hydrophobic soils.
“Quite often you’ll water and you think you’ve watered the plant and you’ll scratch under the surface of the soil and it’ll be bone dry still," he said.
“Wetting agents tend to put a coating on the soil particles which allow water droplets to actually bind to them.”
Mr Allen also suggested grouping plants together of similar water usage, as this can help reduce total water usage.
As the end of summer nears, he said cyclamens are coming into season much earlier than expected.
The tube plants they grow at the nursery are also currently in production as we transition into autumn.
“It’s a really good time to start planning what you want to do in the cooler months of the year,” he said.
“Your summer vegetables will be starting to wane a little bit now, so it’d be a time to start thinking about your brussels sprouts, cabbages, broccoli and all your winter veg(etables)."
