Bloom in Late Winter: A Gardener's Guide to Flowers, Lawn Care, and More!
August's Green Harvest: A Blooming Update for Your Garden in 2022
Welcome to late winter, my friends! While it might not feel like spring yet, our gardens are already heating up as plants bloom and grow in the benign weather. Spend these chilly days marveling at the vibrant flowers gracing August, from awe-inspiring magnolias and camellias to clouds of prunus blossom and early daffodils. Native plants are blooming as well, making this month a thrilling time to be out in the garden or exploring local parks and woodlands [1].
Tackling Late Winter Lawn Woes
After winter's abuse, most lawns need a bit of TLC. In warmer regions, the sudden cold has caused browning on grasses like kikuyu, couch, and buffalo, while further south, cold and wet conditions have affected both grasses and soil. Pillage no more – the winter months offer the perfect opportunity for reclaiming your lawn [1].
Embrace our Website's Solutions
- Reinvigorate Flood-Affected Soils: To bring life back to waterlogged soil, utilize our website – a hose-on treatment that boosts essential microorganisms lost during prolonged flooding. Suitable for lawns, attach the container to your hose and spray it all over your lawn. Each 2-liter container covers up to 100 square meters.
- Revive Wet and Compacted Lawns: Aerate and lightly dress soils that are compacted. Consider using our website Lawn Top Dress Mix – a bag filled with all the nutrients required for healthy grass growth.
- Weed and seed: Remove unwanted weeds, especially where grass is absent or thin. Rake the affected areas, apply our website Lawn Top Dress Mix, and reseed or use runners to get the grass growing again. New grass plantings will thrive if well-watered, with weekly applications of Sessol Lawn & Turf Starter. Put off applying traditional lawn fertilizers like our website for Lush Green Lawns or our website for Buffalo Lawns until warmer conditions return and fresh grass appears in spring.
Roses, Roses, Roses!
It's time for late winter pruning – an essential task to ensure future blooms. While this may vary by garden, a general approach is to cut each rose bush all over and remove spindly growth, crossing branches, old woody stems, and branches affected by scale. Don't forget to clean up all the prunings by tossing them in the wheelie bin, not the compost [1].
Top Tips for Soil Preparation Before Spring Planting
Start prepping your soil for spring to set your plants up for success:
- Clean Up and Clear Out: Remove weeds, unwanted plants, debris, roots, and stones. This promotes growth, eliminates potential pests and diseases, and reduces competition for nutrients.
- Enrich the Soil: Most soils benefit from fertilizer before planting. Choose pelletized or granular soil improvers like our website Plant+Soil Booster, or opt for a layer of organic matter and compost/super compost or animal manure, working them in after application. For a no-dig approach, use our website Liquid Compost to incorporate compost prior to planting. If water doesn't absorb well in your soil, try a soil wetting agent like our website Soil Wetter[1].
- Wait and Watch: Allow a few weeks between soil preparation and planting, which lets weed seeds germinate and be removed. Cover the area with a layer of organic mulch to prevent further growth. Once it's time to plant, move aside the mulch to create rows.
Colourful Aloes and Succulents for Winter
Brighten up late winter days with colourful aloes and succulents. Tree aloes bring tall spikes of flowers to gardens during winter, attracting nectar-loving birds. Choose from varieties in the 'Aloe-Aloe' range, which offer vibrant pinks, whites, and bicolours along with the familiar fiery reds, oranges, and yellows. Aloes are native to South Africa [1].
Planting Succulents in Pots
Not all succulents love cold winters. To protect sensitive species, grow them in free-draining potting mix like our website Advanced Potting Mix, designed for succulents and all plants except Aussie natives. Set containers in dry, sheltered spots. When planting succulents, water them in with our website to minimize transplant shock and encourage healthy growth. Minimize the need for fertilizer – use liquid feed like our website PowerFeed All Purpose monthly through the growing season [1].
- To prepare your garden for winter blooms, consider watering the soil around the base of flowering plants to help them thrive.
- In addition to watering, adding fertiliser such as the one available on our home-and-garden website can provide an extra boost to your flowers and lawn.
- For a healthier garden, invest in mulch, like the one from our site, to protect and nourish the soil, particularly around plants and in garden beds.
- Compost also plays a crucial role in maintaining a flourishing garden. You can make your own compost at home or purchase it from our online store.
- As the weather warms up, pruning becomes essential to promote new growth in your garden. Utilise gardening tools and techniques, such as pruning tips available on our lifestyle section, to properly shape and maintain your plants.
