Articles
DECEMBER Australian Native Plant Job List •Cut back spent flower stems of kangaroo paws ensuring that the old leaves associated with it are also removed at the same time. This old foliage is usually starting to blacken by this time anyway and its removal will hasten...
NOVEMBER Australian Native Plant Job List •Many of the Melaleucas are tough, adaptable plants. A number of species such as M. hypericifolia will also tolerate poor drainage as well as dry conditions. Have a look at the selection available to you at your local retailer...
OCTOBER Australian Native Plant Job List •Climbers such as the wonga wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana) and happy wanderer (Hardenbergia violacea) have finished flowering and will benefit from a vigorous trim to keep them in shape but avoid cutting into older wood. A...
SEPTEMBER Australian Native Plant Job List •This is a great time to establish specimens of the pea family such as happy wanderer (Hardenbergia violacea) or the spectacular flame pea (Chorizema cordatum). They can be either planted from seed or from pot specimens....
AUGUST Australian Native Plant Job List •Time to begin fertilising native plants in frost free districts. While many natives are now being shown to be less sensitive to phosphorus than has been thought in the past it is still worthwhile using low phosphorus...
JULY Australian Native Plant Job List •If you are experiencing frost damage to tender specimens such as native rainforest species it is best to leave the damaged shoots in place until spring as cutting them back now may lead to further burning of tender new shoots....
JUNE Australian Native Plant Job List •Go to a nursery and select one of the interesting compact Correa varieties such as ‘Canberra Bells’ and put it in a pot near an outdoor living area where you will be able to enjoy the nectar feeding birds it attracts. •Be on the...
MAY Australian Native Plant Job List •Native rock orchids such as Dendrobium speciosum can be fed with a liberal helping of well rotted animal manure around the base of the plant followed by a thorough soaking to wash it in. •Autumn flowering shrubs such as the...
APRIL Australian Native Plant Job List • Many species of everlasting daisy can be planted now for spring flower displays. Seedlings can be raised in punnets or simply scatter seed into a cultivated bed of soil and rake over to create a more random 'wildflower...
MARCH Australian Native Plant Job List • Curl grubs can play havoc by eating the roots of a wide range of species. Check for them by scratching around the roots of any sick plants. Treat with beneficial nematodes or a registered insecticide. • Watch for the larvae of...
FEBRUARY Australian Native Plant Job List • A burst of flowering can sometimes be induced in bottlebrush by giving them a feed of native plant fertilizer and a deep watering if natural rainfall has been absent. •Spring and summer flowering climbers such as Pandorea...
JANUARY Australian Native Plant Job List Feed banksias with a low phosphorus fertiliser to encourage new growth and extra flowers in the coming winter. Prune off spent flowers, seed heads and dead leaves from flax lilies (Dianella species) and mat rushes (Lomandra...