January is a great month for relaxing and enjoying the good things of life. The garden is filled with splashes of bright summer colours and cool shady spots to enjoy a cool drink and soak up the beauty of nature.
January is also a time for planning and setting some goals for the year ahead. New Year’s resolutions are set at this time of year. We have ambitious plans of more exercise, eating healthier, spending more time outdoors and to achieve goals that make the world a better place. These grand plans describe life in the garden beautifully. Why not make 2020 a fabulous year in the garden?
Our homes are sanctuaries. A place to feel safe, to relax, to share special times with others and make great memories. The warmer weather of summer brings with it the season of entertaining with warm balmy evenings enjoying the company of friends and family. Entertainment areas have become an important part of our homes. There are many wonderful plants to brighten and bring life and freshness to these areas where we spend so much of our Summer.
Summer Colours
There are fantastic climbing plants such as Mandevillas, Dipladenias, Allamandas, Climbing Roses and Pandoreas that love the summer warmth. These are so good for transforming unattractive fences and structures into colourful landscape features.
Bougainvilleas love the warmth and fill the summer landscape with brilliant colour. Many Bougainvillea are strong climbing plants that require larger areas but there are wonderful ranges of small growing Bougainvilleas that are perfect for pots and hanging baskets. Bougainvillea Bambino are one of these ranges that are tough, easy to grow and available in a huge selection of colours.
Alyssum, celosia, cosmos, gerbera, impatiens, lobelia, nasturtium, marigold, petunia, phlox, portulaca, vinca and zinnia are just some of the flowering annuals that are available to add brilliant splashes of colour to pots, baskets and garden beds for the warmer months.
Growing in Pots.
Creating potted gardens are great summer gardening projects that can be achieved without needing to be out in the harsh summer sun. There is a huge selection of pots available for outdoor and indoor use with styles and colours to suit every décor.
The veggie patch is in full production with an abundant harvest of fresh and healthy food for our summer feasting. This is a great time to plant up food bowls as part of your summer décor. There are excellent herbs such as basil, thyme, oregano, mint, lemon balm and parsley that not only look fantastic but are fresh and tasty additions to summer meals. This is also Chilli season. They love the heat, grow quickly to produce a spicy summer harvest. There are lots of varieties from mild through to mega hot and these are also excellent to grow in pots.
Plants grown in containers will only grow as well as the potting mix that they are planted in enables them to. Always use a premium quality potting mix for the best results. Rocky Point Coco Pro is the professional nursery grade potting mix suitable for most types of plants. Coco Pro not only contains all the quality slow release fertilisers to feed and nourish plants for up to 14 months, but also contains water retention granules. These water retention granules hold onto the water and the plants draw the moisture from the granules as they need to. This means less watering is required, and plants remain healthy and happy with less attention.
The Sweet Scent of Summer.
Growing Shade
Spending a lazy afternoon in the soothing shelter of a shady tree is one of life’s pleasures. While those in southern states can enjoy the luxury of the shade of beautiful elms, plane trees, ashes and maples, there are some wonderful shade trees that can be grown in most parts of the country. Lagerstroemias or Crepe Myrtles are beautiful summer flowering small trees that will create a favourite summer spot in the garden. These are incredibly hardy once established and available in different heights and flower colours. The Diamonds in the Dark range are particularly stunning with ‘almost black’ foliage that contrasts beautifully with the abundance of bright flowers that are produced.
Bug Watch
Plants are working so hard producing bright summer flowers and sweet summer scents because of the abundance of insects to attract for pollination to happen. This is the time to watch out for aphids, thrips and caterpillars that can cause problems in the garden. Treat the problem pests and bugs and leave the good guys to do their work. Ask your local garden centre experts for the best advice for the health of your garden.
Summer is a great time to enjoy life but can be a hard season for your plants and gardens. There are a few summer gardening tasks that will keep your garden looking lush and healthy during these warmer months.
Watering
Water deep and water regularly – Early morning and evening watering of the garden can be a relaxing pleasure. A chance to enjoy the everchanging beauty of new blooms, new growth and new life. Applying water retention granules to your garden beds can reduce water use by up to 50% and will make the most of every drop of any summer rains.
Mulching
Mulching garden beds does not only have these looking great for your summer entertaining events but is crucial for the health of your garden plants over these hot months. A nice thick layer of mulch helps to keep plant root systems cool, is vital in reducing water usage and helps to control weed growth.
Rocky Point are the leading producer of quality garden mulches. We have a range to suit every garden style and these are available at leading garden retailers.
Trimming
Summer is a time of abundant growth. Be ready to get out the pruners and clippers. De-head summer flowering plants as blooms begin to finish. This will help to keep everything looking tidy, assist in controlling bugs and encourage lots more flowers to appear. As summer shrubs finish flowering a light tidy up will keep garden beds looking neat. To prune back hard at this time of year will encourage new growth to happen which will put the plant under further stress. Wait until autumn arrives for major pruning projects.
Have a relaxing summer and enjoy the fruits of your labour as you recharge for the seasons ahead.