September gardening jobs

Plant evergreens

Once the soil has warmed, it’s the perfect time to plant evergreen shrubs and trees so they can settle in before the heat of summer. Before starting, pre-water your plant in its pot. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and mix some aged compost or manure into the soil from the planting hole. Pour some water into the hole to test drainage (if poor, put a layer of pebbles in the bottom). Create a mound in the hole using some of the excavated soil then plant your shrub or tree, spreading the roots over the mound. Backfill with the rest of the excavated soil, water well and mulch. Water your plant regularly in the early months to keep the soil moist (but not overwet). Fertilise in mid-spring.

Make mulch

Mulching in spring is one of the best things you can do to help your garden survive the coming heat of summer. A blanket of mulch keeps plant roots cool, retains moisture and prevents soil from washing away in heavy summer rain.

Mulching tips:

• Always water well before applying mulch.
• Follow the Goldilocks principle: not too much, not too little. Organic mulches should be 2–5cm thick and made up of particles of various sizes. This allows water to penetrate.
• Always leave a 3–5cm gap between mulch and the plant base or trunk.
• Use a hard mulch such as gravel, scoria, crushed rock or pebbles in bushfire-prone areas.
• Check and renew mulch after heavy downpours.

De-thatch the lawn

Thatch is the layer of dead material that builds up at the base of grass plants in the lawn. It particularly affects running grasses such as buffalo, kikuyu, zoysia and couch. Thatch holds moisture and reduces air movement at soil level, which can encourage fungal disease. Start by mowing the lawn lower than usual before using a sturdy rake to remove the dead material. Mow again with a catcher, or rake to pick up the dead material, then water and fertilise the lawn. If you have a very large lawn, consider employing a professional or hire a mechanical aerator to do the job.

Find more spring gardening jobs in the September issue of ABC Gardening Australia magazine – on sale now!

Words by Judy Horton