 Tips
for Melbourne the month of May
Tips...
Winter draws on - I've got mine on...
What to sow or plant...
Flowers:
Ageratum, alyssum, aquilegia, bellis perennis, calendula,
candytuft, canterbury bells, cineraria, cornflower, delphinium,
dianthus, forget-me-not, gypsophila, larkspur, linaria,
lobelia, pansy, primula, statice, stock, snapdragon, sweet
pea, tagetes (marigold), wallflower.
Vegetables:
Asparagus, broad beans(seed), cabbage, celery(seedlings),
endive(seed), kohlrabi, leek, lettuce(seedlings), onions,
parsnips(seed), radish(seed), rhubarb crowns, spinach.
Jobs to do...
Prune
*late summer flowers, eg.buddleia, crepe myrtle, hydrangea
(see below), & penstemon, gaura, aster.
*berry canes, by removing last summers heavily fruiting
canes completely and limiting yourself to 6 canes per clump
or per running metre of row. These need to be tied up ready
for spring growth.
Plant
*any spring bulbs, as soon as possible.
*citrus, conifers, camellias and any deciduous trees.
Divide
*agapanthus, cannas, clivea, lilliums, and flag and bearded
iris.
Feed
*hydrangeas with blueing solution, monthly until flowering.
*late summer bulbs like nerines and amaryllis.
Spray
*fruit trees at leaf drop with Bordeaux to help inhibit
the spread of fungus.
*sour sob with glyposphate, usually several times to kill
it.
*check gardenias, citrus and daphne for scale and sooty
mould.Douse with soapy water or spraywith white oil.
*remove aphids with soapy water or pyrethrum or sprays like
confidor.
Other jobs
*rake leaves off lawns to discourage diseases on wet lawns,
and to encourage healthy growth.
*select plants for autumnal colours.
*clean up indoor plants by removing yellow leaves and reduce
the watering.
*prepare the ground where new roses are to be planted next
month. The site should be in the sun and well drained or
in a raised bed. Dig in well rotted manure or compost now.
To Prune Hydrangeas.
With any stems that flowered this year, cut them down as
low as possible. With a very full shrub cut them down to
the ground, but with a shrub you want fuller then cut down
to the lowest set of green buds.
Stems that did not flower this year should be left if not
too long, or pruned lightly. These will have next years’
flowers on them.
Remember to apply blueing, (or pinking) solution to them
monthly until flowering.
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