December gardening jobs

Here are some top gardening jobs and tips to beat the heat this summer.

PREPARE FOR BUSHFIRES
Bushfire season has arrived in most parts of Australia. Here are some steps you can take to reduce the risk to your property:

Keep lawns short and cut back trees that overhang the house or other buildings.
Tidy fallen leaves, sticks and flammable rubbish continually, and make sure gutters are free of obstruction.
Ensure garden hoses are in good condition and can reach all the way around the house.
For garden beds that are close to buildings, choose a non-flammable mulch such as pebbles or crushed tiles.
In fire-prone areas, it’s wise to grow fire-resistant plants. Fire authorities and the Australian Native Plants Society have lists of plants that are less likely to burn but, remember, any plant will burn if the fire is hot enough.

December gardening jobs — Image credit: iStock

PROTECT YOUR PLANTS FROM SUNBURN
Heat-sensitive plants need extra care during hot spells. Tender new growth is particularly vulnerable, as are shade lovers such as ferns. If heatwaves are predicted, give at-risk plants some added protection. Temporary shade structures – even old umbrellas – can be put over plants, pots can be moved into more sheltered spots and new growth can be sprayed with an anti-transpirant (available from nurseries and hardware stores). Resist the temptation to prune off sunburnt foliage. Leaving it in place until conditions ease will protect lower growth.

HIGH TIME FOR A CLIMBER

Climbers are a great way to create shade in the summer garden but it’s important to choose the right one. Deciduous grapevines – edible or ornamental – can quickly cover a pergola. Like the grapevine, wisteria will provide shade in summer and allow the sun through in winter, while passionfruit and kiwifruit offer the bonus of delicious crops (remember you’ll need male and female kiwifruit vines). Check local weed lists before deciding, as many climbers have become environmental weeds, especially in warmer climates.

Be prepared to prune to keep your climber under control. And don’t forget that if a climber is going to produce shade, it will need enough soil to develop a strong root system. It’s unlikely to do this if its roots are confined in a pot.

WEED WATCH
Everyone is so busy and distracted at this time of year, it’s easy to overlook routine jobs such as weeding, but a weed walk in the morning or evening can help you stay on top of these unwanted plants. Take a hoe or a long-bladed knife with you to remove clumping weeds at ground level.

Most smaller weeds that aren’t in flower can go into the compost, but avoid composting weeds with fleshy leaves or tubers, which can shoot back into life in the moisture of a compost heap. Collect these in a plastic bag and leave them to ‘cook’ in the sun before binning them.

In the edible garden

PLANT A TROPICAL FRUIT TREE
Increase your backyard bounty by planting a tropical fruit tree such as a mango (left), lychee, pawpaw, guava or avocado. These trees establish readily in warm weather, making spring and summer ideal planting times. Choose a well-drained spot in full sun. To prepare the soil, dig a wide hole and blend compost and organic fertiliser into the excavated soil. Plant your tree at the same depth it was in the pot, backfill with the excavated soil, water deeply, and mulch generously to lock in moisture. Keep the soil moist and your tropical fruit tree will settle quickly and grow strongly.

WATER, FEED AND SHADE LEAFY GREENS
As summer heats up, it’s vital to keep leafy greens such as silverbeet, lettuce and kale happy. Give them a regular deep watering to prevent wilting and bitterness and feed them every 10–14 days with a blend of diluted fish emulsion and seaweed extract to provide the ready supply of nutrients needed for rapid growth. Shading is a must, too. Build a simple poly pipe frame over the plants, then cover with shade cloth with a 30 per cent shade rating, which offers coolness without blocking out all the sunlight and making plants leggy and weak.