Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Jan 21, 2009 10:06 am Soo our landscaping mob came and planted our front garden this morning (didn't even tell us they were coming but I have gone outside to put something in the bin and noticed we have a garden! I will post some pics later) It is over 30 degrees here today in Melbourne and I have no idea how to care for these plants so they become established and don't die on me. The garden has cordylines, dietes, agaves and a japanese maple somebody please tell me what I'm meant to do? Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 2Jan 21, 2009 10:24 am Sharee Soo our landscaping mob came and planted our front garden this morning (didn't even tell us they were coming but I have gone outside to put something in the bin and noticed we have a garden! Oh Sharee, that is hilarious! It must have been a shock to go outside and see a gargen. Classic. I'm about to head out for the day so I'm going to do a drive-by..... Sorry no help on caring for it but I guess with the hot weather some midnight watering might be the go Happy at Home Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 3Jan 21, 2009 10:43 am you need to put out the Fu signal I think! After 4 years - we're in! Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 4Jan 21, 2009 11:08 am water heap good for grow things Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves. - Dale Carnegie Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 5Jan 21, 2009 12:22 pm Cabinfever water heap good for grow things I figured. But do you water at night or during the day when its hot (water restrictions aside, I can get access to water), do I need to fertilise or anything. Yep I really am that dumb, I have no idea, we did have cordylines at our old house, basically I did nothing and they grew so fingers crossed these little buggers are just as resiliant or I'm in trouble I'll work on that Fu signal, I think that would be a giant tree symbol beamed up into the night sky over the city.. (Maybe I should have some lunch) Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 6Jan 21, 2009 1:06 pm Sharee I'll work on that Fu signal, I think that would be a giant tree symbol beamed up into the night sky over the city.. (Maybe I should have some lunch) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Will this do......OK...so got bored during lunch.... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 7Jan 21, 2009 1:37 pm Sharee, our landscaping is being done next week - although I think planting will be a week or two later. Could we have picked a WORSE time of year?
I'll be aiming to water early in the day, but if evening is the only time I have to do it (very likely), then I won't stress about it. Keep in mind that if it's windy ...as usual ...the soil dries out faster too. I've watched my across-the-road neighbour's new tree curl up and die over the past 3 weeks or so. Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 8Jan 21, 2009 1:37 pm Hi Sharee,
You are not alone. I have just planted heaps of plants out the back and trying to keep them alive is actually hard work for me. I have planted Nandinas, something else and daisy's (Alba - Brachysomethings). I have just added mulch quite thick and I was watering daily, but the nursury man said not too frequent because then they don't grow a deep root system!! But in the current heat if I don't water daily i'm sure they will die. Some of my daisy's were tube stock and allready look very sick Hopefully I can use some of the advise given to you. Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 11Jan 21, 2009 7:46 pm the maple's leaves are probably quite tender, maybe a shadecloth protection thingy til it's established.
Good luck, would lend you a green thumb....if I had one! Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 12Jan 21, 2009 8:57 pm oh it's all so easy... really it is
This will be a long post I think so I may post an answer later. TDL that "Fu Signal" is gold I saved it I went past a garden I did a little while back and was gob smacked at how much it has grown in less that a year. I impressed myself the hedge is halfway up the front fence already! Part of your garden care is something I was getting some pics done for today Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 13Jan 21, 2009 11:19 pm Your garden looks great Sharee. Did they copy your plan to the plant? The new render colour looks really nice too. It's all looking great! Are you happy with the garden? Happy at Home Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 14Jan 22, 2009 12:05 am not cool to fertilise in the heat. not cool for your pocket, environment or the plants. use quality wetting agents. there are a few and the average gardener doesn't stand a chance in finding which are what. sales staff are rarely educated enough on them in nurseries let alone elsewhere. Debco saturaid is the best value by far. the big bag that says it covers 600m2 is the choice. I have never got it cover more than 200m2 but still offers better genuine coverage than any other. the wetting agent is one of the best on the retail market. Munns Wettalawn and garden is a certified organic wetting agent and a good one at that. Seasol do a fantastic wetting agent in a brown bottle. very good, needs a watering can to apply. there are many others that I haven't mentioned for a reason Sharee, the best thing you can ever do for your soil is feed it. don't feed plants or soil with fertiliser as such except occasionally throughout the year. organic material is the key here. horse poo, sheep poo, moo poo, zoo poo they are all good. Dynamic Lifter and chook poo too (*don't use the DL or chook poo on the Perth coastal plain or in Alkaline soils). when you use them, load it up thick if you spread it on like confetti the sun light destroys any goodies in it so load it up a few inches thick, let it rot into the soil. when it goes, put more on. pull it away from the stems of your plants so the stems don't rot Mulch heavily with a mulch that doesn't hold much moisture. I use and recommend green tree waste as it can be cheap, doesn't hold heaps of water meaning the water stays in the soil. It doesn't encourage roots to grow up into the mulch layer creating weak plants. Black mulches are notorious for it. the humic acids that form as green mulches break down help bind sandy soils and make clay soils more friable (meaning good;)) never use those coir mulch blocks as mulch! They are also free fertiliser. All the nutrients in the tree will end up in your soil as it breaks down . Seasol and Powerfeed. like two peas in a pod. use it every few weeks mixed together. Molasses. not just for horses! This stuff is cheap and easy to use. No it doesn't attract ants when diluted in water just gloop it in and use like seasol It builds the soils ecology like nothing else. It is great on turf too It also is a natural chelate agent which sort of means it helps your plants get nutrients from the soil. use 4-6 times a year. get from ag suppliers. Zeolite. This stuff is a one off application and is pretty cheap too. It holds nutrients and stops them leaching out of the soil as fast. Natural as well Blood and bone! pew but works wonders on the soil. use often and just after the neighbours hang out the wash is the best time to do it . Water, if you have to water in the evening then make sure you try to keep it off the leaves. watering at night encourages fungal disease water in the early morning from next doors tap you will save heaps i don't recommend water crystals. They are a gymic that is sucking in millions. They are designed to absorb water not release it. there is more and more study being done on these and the long term effects of them on plant health and soil health. horticulture is divided on this into two camps, for and against. those who make money from it and those who make their money in better ways is what it comes down to I think They encourage moisture to stay close to the roots and in one spot. this means the roots don't develop to a good strength when compared with better soil prep. i could go on and on... If you have to use anything in the soil use coco peat. just don't use it as a mulch ever! your new garden may need water up to 3 or 4 times a day in an ideal world. those poor little buggers will be struggling. Those little root systems are contained and not yet ventured out to find better water even natives are going to need loads of water at first. no matter what the roots will exhaust the water suppy quick. they get it very cushy in the nurseries, water several times a day as they begin to dry out. sometimes as much as 8 times a day in heat and with smaller 140mm pot sizes that don't hold much water. right now, use seasol and water. that is all. as they settle and the weather cools from summer follow some of my above suggestions or all for a good result Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 15Jan 22, 2009 7:55 am Fu you are the best! Thanks soo much, I have this image of you in your super hero costume, cape blowing in the wind, landing in my yard to save my plants
Thanks Toni, yep they did follow our plan exactly! I think it looks good I will have to upload some pictures soon Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 16Jan 22, 2009 9:17 am Hi Sharee
That must have been such a shock to suddenly see a garden out the front With regards to the Japanese Maple.....will it get afternoon sun? because if it does you may have to move it as they hate that I just had to move mine into a more shadier spot as it,s leaves were getting crispy and it wasn,t looking very happy at all....it,s been there for about a week now and it,s starting to green up again. I can,t wait to see some pics Cheers Mel Building on 9 acres Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 17Jan 22, 2009 10:55 pm Sharee Fu you are the best! Thanks soo much, I have this image of you in your super hero costume, cape blowing in the wind, landing in my yard to save my plants Pretty sure i posted a pic of me like that in one of Michele's threads. and Melanie I have a mate who lives in Wilunga. he is a wine maker. lives near the old church. Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 18Jan 22, 2009 10:57 pm TDL, where do you find these things! It's fantastic Happy at Home Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 19Jan 23, 2009 5:58 am melanie02 With regards to the Japanese Maple.....will it get afternoon sun? because if it does you may have to move it as they hate that I just had to move mine into a more shadier spot as it,s leaves were getting crispy and it wasn,t looking very happy at all....it,s been there for about a week now and it,s starting to green up again. I can,t wait to see some pics Cheers Mel thanks for the tip about the Japanese maple mel, we were just about to plant one in our (west facing) front yard! Sharee, hope you enjoy your instant new garden! Re: Advice on how to care for my new garden please? 20Jan 23, 2009 8:00 am We had two Japanese maples at our old house, I planted them a looong time ago and they got sun from the west. For a few years, until surrounding trees and shrubs grew, they got full sun all day. You have to baby them along a bit at first, make sure they get enough water (like all new plants). And you will get some crisp brown leaves in very hot weather, but they survive quite well in Melbourne. Might be a different story in SA though.
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