Some plants love the heat!!! - Jan 13, 2023
It's time to go tropical!
Dear gardening friends
Wow it's been so hot, it's time to look at your garden, and see how much shade is on the ground? Yes if you can't see shade shadows, on your lawn or paved areas, then you need to plant more trees.
They don't need to be huge trees, but they need to be planted strategically so the shade they produce, comes into your garden. Shade cools you down and it makes you feel good. I've recently found shade in my garden. See story later.
Wow I just had a woolies moment.
I was inside, looking out, onto these amazing Crepe Myrtles. They have grown so big with this hot weather, and they are covered in new growth, and that's why they have so many buds and flowers. They will look even more spectacular next week when the buds burst.
This variety is called "Tuscarora".
It's one of the best from Flemings Indian Summer range. They were released about 20 plus years ago, and they totally replaced the varieties at the time.
Theses newbies had resistance to Powdery Mildew which was a game changer for Crepe Myrtle lovers. Because of this resistance, they get more flowers than traditional varieties. They also grow faster, and have much bigger leaves.
There's at least 9 colours in the Indian Summer Range and we have many of the best including Tuscarora.
Come for a visit.
Crepe Myrtles thrive in Macarthur's hot dry summers and they make fabulous small growing shade trees. They are heat and drought tolerant, once established.
Exciting New Hibiscus have arrived this week. Hibiscus Rio Clara have been bred for their enormous flowers and lush green leaves.
They will add much needed summer colour to your gardens. The lush green leaves are the perfect backdrop for the giant tropical coloured flowers.
These new varieties can be grown in large pots using Tim's Best Potting mix or grow them in sunny gardens.
But don't forget the compost.
These fast growing plants need lots of nutrients, and water, so if you improve your soil with Planting Compost and Tim's Cow Manure, then you're going to get great results.
They grow from one to two metres high, but they can be pruned every spring to any height. The more you prune them, the more flowers you get.
We have beautiful big plants covered in buds and flowers for $18.99.
These plants have come from one of our favourite growers in South Australia.
Zoom zoom plant lovers!!!!!
Come see our collection.
I added a new room to my house.
It's outdoors. I planned it 8 years ago, when I planted this Frangipani and the Magnolia 'Little Gem'.
This garden faces north, so it was always too hot to sit here. But the trees have grown big enough now, to shade this area. The table and chairs have just been put here.
I looked up and there was Bailey sitting in the chair talking to his girlfriend on the phone.
He'd be enjoying the shade and privacy, but he'd also be smelling the sweet fragrance from both these perfumed trees.
You need a place in your garden where you can stop and rest, and take time out. When you can hear the birds, wind and nature, it makes you feel good.
The other night I was watching the leaves dance with the wind. I could hear them moving. It was mesmerising.
Of course you could create this shady spot with metal roofing or shade sails. It would be quicker. But it wouldn't give you this feeling.
You could make shade faster by planting faster growing trees. A Crepe Myrtle could replace the Frangipani. A Native Frangipani could replace the Magnolia Little Gem.
I said to my son Dan recently, would you like Pizza tonight, or would you like me to cook you something amazing?
"Well I would love to eat Pizza, but we have been spending a lot of money recently, eating out, so maybe we should eat at home."
That made me smile.
Well I'm going to cook you something fabulous. So I got my bag and headed off to the shops. I bought Pork Ribs and fresh salad ingredients.
On my way home I noticed this amazing ground cover Rosemary plant, spilling over a brick wall. It was absolutely spectacular, and it was covered in flowers too.
I pruned a small piece off with my fingers, and continued on my way.
I cut the Pork Ribs into pieces and fried them in a dash of Olive oil. I also cut a potato into cubes, and put this in too.
Then I chopped up the beautiful fresh Rosemary, you should have smelt the fragrance, and sprinkled this over the pork and potatoes. I added salt and a dash of Soy Sauce.
While this was cooking, I made a salad with Lettuce, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Capsicum, Marinated Onion (soaked in Vinegar), Avocado, Fetta cheese and Black Olives.
I dressed this with Coles Lemon Vinaigrette. Yes....
I served up the salad with the cooked Pork and Potato. The taste was amazing, so fresh and full of nutrients. The boys loved it.
Great value too. Im not just the Slow Cooker man.
It's getting dry. If you're a gardener, you will notice that the leaves on your potted plants will be changing colour. The lush green leaves will be turning yellow and starting to curl.
If they don't get watered, the leaves turn brown and begin to fall off. Even if they do get watered now, it might not make a lot of difference.
When potting mix gets dry, it shrinks.
This then leaves a gap between the potting mix and the pot. When you do water, it runs into the gap, and out the bottom. Your plant gets none of the life saving water.
You can fix this by watering your plant non stop until the pot fills up with water. You'll notice air bubbling out as your filling the pot. Keep watering.
When all the bubbles stop you've removed the air from the pot and replaced it with water. Only now can the potting mix accept the water.
Your plants leaves will open up again, they will get colour back, they will start to turn green.
If your not a gardener, you won't notice that your plants are dying. You'll be surprised when they die.
You may even blame the nursery where you bought the plants from.
They must have sold you dud plants.
Lots of words of wisdom here.
It's so hot, you can still garden.
Get up early and make a start.
When it gets too hot, have a rest under your shady trees and recharge.
Come and see us if you need help.
Happy gardening
Tim