Pittwater Life April 2017 Issue

Garden Life
Jobs this Month
April
Garden Life
Make your own
masterpiece
with water lilies
After all the
rain, isn’t it
great to discover
some plants that
not only coped
with the rain,
but that loved it!
Don’t be tricked
into thinking that
water lilies are
delicate. Their
delicate appearance
is deceiving. They
are very hardy and
easy to grow. They
don’t need much
attention. Nothing can be
more elegant than a tub of
water lilies, outside on the
patio or at the front door.
You can buy water lilies
in packets when they are
dormant in winter or as
potted plants. They will
be readily available at the
Plant Collectors Fair, or
from water plant nurseries
on line or take a drive to
visit them.
Plant water lilies into
shallow containers about
250mm – 300mm wide.
A drainage hole is not
necessary but if there is a
hole, line the pot with shade
cloth or hessian to keep the
soil in place. Use garden soil
not potting mix. Add a couple
of aquatic fertiliser tablets
into to soil underneath the
roots.
After planting cover the
surface
with gravel or pebbles
to hold the plant in place and
prevent it from floating to
the top while it establishes its
new root system.
Mosquitoes can be a
problem, but this is easily
controlled by the addition of
a couple of gold fish to the
bowl.
Wait and watch as the
flowers magically appear
above the water!
Yes, we needed some rain
– but not quite so much!
The soil in our gardens
is waterlogged and as it dries
out it will leave the surface
compacted and hard. Turn the
soil to allow it to breathe again
and cover with a mulch of cow
manure, Water it in with Seasol
to repair water-damaged roots.
And make sure you clean, trim
and feed everything.
The great unblock
Stay on top of your home
maintenance – make sure you
clean your gutters and drains.
Blocked drains can cause leaks
in heavy rain. And blocked
gutters can cause structural
damage to your roof. (Your
compost bin will love the
storm-damaged leaves and
twigs that are retrieved from
the gutters and also swept up.)
Great cover-up
Stone walls look bare. Cover
them with creeping ficus (ficus
pumilla – below). It is easy
to grow and will stick to any
surface without support.
70 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years