Bloomin' Beautiful
FEBRUARY is one of the most difficult months of the year for gardening.
Nothing much is in flower; it’s as hot as Hades, which makes it difficult to get out in the garden; the plants often get sunburnt; there is usually very little rain so you need to water more frequently (sometimes daily) and there is a danger of bushfires.
What can we do about these things?
- Grow some plants that will be in flower – dahlias, roses, sunflowers, cosmos.
- To help beat the heat, do your gardening in the early morning or on cooler days.
- Cover any plants that may get sunburnt by an umbrella or old lace curtains. Any in pots can be moved under the shelter of trees or shadecloth.
- Be diligent about watering. Remember that plants have diverse water requirements – some are moisture lovers and others prefer dry conditions. In your planting scheme, try to group “like-minded” individuals together to make your life easier.
- Keep an eye on your pots and hanging baskets because they will dry out more quickly than the rest of the garden. You can fill a wheelbarrow with water and soak them if you like.
- Make sure you have good-quality hoses/sprinkler system, etc. If you don’t have a rainwater tank, consider having one installed.This also means that if there are water restrictions, you may not need to worry too much because you have your own supply. Of course, if it doesn’t rain at all, then everyone is “shot”.
- Mulch garden beds to help keep moisture in the soil.
- If you live a bushfire-prone area, don’t use your normal mulch at this time of year – rather, use small stone or gravel cover because it doesn’t burn.
I must say that my February garden often looks good because one of my favourite plants are dahlias.
You plant the tubers in early November in a sunny well-drained spot and then you get a proliferation of flowers, mostly in “warm” colours at this time of year.
A word or warning, however: they do need regular watering to perform well.