February
The year gets back to normal when school starts up again, and work begins in earnest. When the days are at their hottest, and storms start to brew, it makes sense to garden early in the am or late in the afternoon, and use the time to distress and unwind, or wake up with the birds.
Prepare
Apply Soil wetter, to help water get into soils
Use Drought shield, to protect your plants from sunburn
Deal with those dandelions and other weeds and use a selective weedicide like Weed ‘n’ Feed, to apply to your lawn
Sow Brassicas like cauliflowers, broccoli, cabbage and kale.
Keep on top of weeds before the seed by regular hand removal. Make sure you get them roots and all.
Fungal problems are rife in this humid weather. Clean up and remove any old and damaged leaves on roses, kangaroo paws, geraniums and other prone plants. Treat if necessary with fungicide
Snails love this time of year. Treat them to some bait, and be mindful of dogs, or instead, encourage lizards into your garden with some hollow logs; they are great at keeping snail numbers down.
Get dead branches and overhanging limbs removed as wild storms may cause them to fall.
Trim tendrils back from climbers like wisteria that have a tendency to grow wild
Enjoy
Basil, and remember to make some pesto. Omit the nuts, and you can freeze it for later and add the nuts fresh when you’re ready to use it.
Avocados are in season and can be frozen for later.
Red flowering gums, and take bunches of blooms and developing gum nuts inside.
Zucchinis, before they turn into marrows
Tomatoes, and make excess into passata for later.
Bougainvillea, the perfect climber for hot positions in pots
Clean the air and get
Have on hand
Water aids like Wettasoil and Drought Shield
Weed and Feed
Secateurs
Hand weeder
Glass jars for preserves
Seed raising mix and seeds for new seasons vegies
Lime and manure for your patch
A broad spectrum fungicide like Eco-fungicide
