Coastal Gardening

April

Easter is no time for Bunnies

Traditionally the Easter break gives you the opportunity to either:

• head for the hills
• sit around and eat yucky chocolate
• attack the garden

In February we advised you to think about what you need to do to improve your garden visually and technically. In March we gave you the pruning and fertilising jobs to do. The good gardeners will have done both. The rest of you need a big smack - but it is not too late. Anyway, Easter is a time of reflection and to think what others have done for us.

Most gardeners have seen our individual plants and garden generally give more pleasure to us than we have shown to it. Take time to reflect, smell the roses, plant some bulbs, seedlings, new shrubs and trees and participate in the resurrection of life via your garden. If this sounds a little bit heavy simply go to your local nursery with your family and enjoy.

WARNING FOR THE SURFCOAST - Melaleuca armillaris

Fantastic screen plant, but has escaped via the birds and threatens the bush. Talk to your local nurseryman about developing alternate planting.

LAST CHANCE TO CONTROL COUCH AND KIKUYU

Both these grasses are dormant through the winter. Spray with roundup now (no residual but read safety instructions).
Hints:

1. Add food colouring dye so that you can see where the spray is going.
2. Wrap up plants in newspaper so that you can spray up to the base of the plant.

The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, one of the world's great gardening events, 4th-8th April this year. You are too late but mark it down for next year. Remember to go early to avoid the crowds.

Victoria and South Africa, because of their unique latitudes and mild climates, provide gardeners with the opportunity to grow an amazing variety of plants that are the envy of the rest of the world - we truly live in paradise.

ENJOY.

Peter McGain
McGain’s Nursery is open everyday in the Industrial Estate, Anglesea.
Tel: 5263 3841
Peter McGain has been designing and building beautiful gardens since 1971