Elm leaf beetles baked by the heat
Elm leaf beetles were the biggest losers following January’s extreme heat.
Temperatures were so fierce, huge populations of beetles and their more destructive juveniles or grubs literally baked in the trees where they were feeding.
Where populations have been hard hit numbers are not likely to recover for more than a season.
Meanwhile, home gardeners can take advantage of the situation as the beetles are less likely to invade trees that are in good health, i.e. the trees receive a monthly deep soaking through spring summer and early autumn.
Serious and regular elm leaf beetle attack is a good indicator that your trees are under stress.
More on managing elm leaf beetles in my Advertiser gardening column tomorrow.
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Vacuum cleaner captures migrating ELB grubs
Vacuum cleaners could become an essential tool for gathering millions of elm leaf beetle juveniles or grubs as they migrate from their leafy canopy, down tree trunks and onto the ground before pupation.
Thanks to ABC TalkBack Gardening listener Robin for this great photo.
Premature leaf drop hits many ornamentals
Take a close look at the leaves on ornamental trees in your garden. Don’t be surprised if the oldest leaves are turning yellow and starting to fall.
After well below average rains through winter spring and summer there is now little moisture left in the subsoil.
Needless to say without adequate moisture many trees have little option but to drop their leaves. Deep soaking is needed.
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Small buddleias with Buzz
With a name like Buzz, don’t be surprised to find the latest series of dwarf buddleias are ideal plants for attracting butterflies and bees.
Buzz buddlejas have been selected for their ability to produce year round waves of colourful flowers.
They also have a natural dwarf growth habit and with very little pruning can be kept to a metre in height.
This makes them idea plants for large container growing (40 cm) or growing as a colourful border in the garden.
Buzz buddleias will happily grow in full sun or semi-shade. The flowers are perfumed and are ideal when used for indoor decoration. Pictured is Soft Pink.
Buzz buddelias are available from leading garden centres.
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Lovers of hot weather now ready for planting
Heat-loving plants such as hibiscus, bougainvillea and frangipani can all be planted out now, providing you carry out this operation at the beginning of a 3 to 4 day period of mild weather.
Be prepared to protect newly established plants with some form of shade cloth when temperatures climb above 32ºC.
Cucumbers, zucchinis ready to go
It’s not too late to establish cucumbers and zucchinis from seed, although you can gain four to five weeks of growth by buying well established seedlings.
Mini or snack pack cucumbers are very quick to mature, followed closely by Lebanese varieties.
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SHIFTING SHADE
Flexible solution in a hot spot
Tall and short lengths of flexible conduit make great frames for the shade cloth used by Christine to protect different sized vegetable beds.
Christine’s photo was one of more than 100 entries in the ABC Radio Talkback Gardening “Shifting Shade” competition.
Winners will be announced in tomorrow morning's program and range of photos will be published in next week’s Good Gardening newsletter.
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When Kikuyu invades a couch grass lawn
Is there a simple way of removing Kikuyu when it invades a couch (or other) lawn grass?
In this week’s lawn blog turf advisor Stefan Palm considers what options are available to you.
But, he also provided some great advice on how to manage Kikuyu so it becomes a good-looking practical lawn in its own right.
More information »
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Try dwarf sugar snap peas
Dwarf sugar snap peas planted now should be producing a reasonable harvest in 6 to 8 weeks time. Follow this with a further planting in 4 to 6 weeks time if you would like a regular supply of sweet tender edible pods. This is a great first crop for kids as the seeds germinate quickly, the plants make rapid growth and they usually love picking and eating the pods.
Tasty herbs suited to small spaces
No room for vegetables? Why not grow at least a few fresh herbs. Herbs adapt very readily to the confines of a small container and thrive when spaced a few centremetres apart in a large planter box.
At this time of the year those growing in small containers are best placed in semi shade or where they are shaded in the afternoon. As watering will be their main requirement, try and locate your plants adjacent to a tap or within ready access to a hose.
» Herbs for containers in late summer
Basil Parsley
Chives Rosemary
Coriander Tarragon
Lemon grass Thyme
Mint
Stone fruit – beware of small black beetles
Keep a close look out for small (5 mm) black scavenger beetles, called carpopholus.
They feed on the flesh of soft fruits - particularly windfall fruits damaged by fungal rots.
After feeding on diseased windfalls, they fly into the canopy of trees with maturing crops, spreading fungal disease spores as they go.
There is no chemical registered for control but numbers can be reduced significantly by simply picking up the windfalls on a regular basis.
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Please keep your questions for Talkback Gardening
Good Gardening is unable to answer individual reader's questions via email.
If you're looking for specific gardening advice please give me a call on ABC Radio Adelaide's Saturday morning Talkback Gardening or speak to the experts at your local garden centre.
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 Open Gardens
Saturday and Sunday, February 16, 17
Flightpath
5 Wilton Terrace, Torrensville
An eclectic mix of fruit and vegetables, natives, Mediterranean plants and hardy survivors. The front garden is filled with well-tended olive trees heavily laden with fruit.
Please note: This garden will open jointly with Semmens Interesting Garden (500m away - follow the arrows on the footpath). You can choose to see both gardens for $12, or the usual $8/$6 for one only. Please note that no further concessions will apply for the joint ticket.
More information on the garden and directions »
Semmens Interesting Garden
33 Torrens Street, Torrensville
rare and unusual cacti, succulents, orchids, cottage garden plants and natives rub shoulders in this overflowing and interesting garden.
More information on the garden and directions »
Joe's Connected Garden
6 Argent Street, Elizabeth Grove
A group of five gardens where boundary fences haven’t stopped neighbours banding together to share their land, expertise, friendship and a vast and varied selection of produce.
More information on the garden and directions »
Gardens open 10 am to 4.30 pm.
Entry $8 - OGSA members; $6 - Government concession card holders; children under 18 free.
More information on the 2019 season »
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Talkback Gardening tomorrow
ABC Radio Adelaide Talkback Gardening this Saturday – phone me and Deb Tribe on 1300 222 891 and have your own gardening question answered.
Guest – Home garden irrigation consultant, Richard Wilson.
Topic – Beating summer's heat with better watering.
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Coming soon
Saturday, Sunday, April 6, 7
Enfield Horticultural Society’s Autumn Show
Saturday 12 noon - 5 pm, and Sunday 10 am - 4pm, Klemzig Community Hall, 242 North East Road, Klemzig. Admission $2. Enquiries 8251 2299.
National Rose Trial Garden, People’s choice weekend
National Rose trial Garden, Adelaide Botanic Gardens.
Saturday, Sunday, April 13, 14
Rose Society of South Australia autumn rose show
Burnside community Centre.
Native Plant Sale, Australian Plants Society
Adelaide Showgrounds, Wayville. Sat 10 am-4 pm Sun 10 am to 3 pm. Gold coin donation. Large range of SA grown plants from $5, including rare, grafted and local provenance and featuring small plants & groundcovers. Free pH soil testing, expert advice, workshops, rare books, artists, children’s activities and more. A list of plants available will be on the website a week before the sale. www.australianplantssa.asn.au
Saturday, April 13
ABC Gardeners' Market
ABC carpark, 85 North East Road, Collinswood.
Saturday, Sunday, April 27, 28
Festival of Flowers 2019
St Paul’s College, 792 Grand Junction Road, Gilles Plains.
Saturday, April 27
SA Fern Society – fern sale
Adelaide High School.
Saturday, Sunday, June 15, 16
SAROC Orchid Fair
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Regular garden attractions
Adelaide Botanic Gardens – free guided walks
Friends of the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide guided walks for the public at Adelaide, Mount Lofty and Wittunga Botanic Gardens, and Botanic Park.
More information »
The Waite Arboretum, Fullarton Road, Urrbrae
Open free to the public every day of the year from dawn to dusk, except on fire ban days. Free guided walks on the first Sunday of every month, 11 am to 12.30 pm.
Meet at the West lawn (Croquet Lawn) of Urrbrae House. Bookings not necessary.
More information »
Urrbrae House historic precinct gardens
At the end of Walter Young Avenue, off Fullarton Road, Urrbrae, or from the Urrbrae House gate, Claremont Avenue, Netherby.
Open from dawn until dusk every day. Free entry.
More information »
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Disclaimer: Although all reasonable care is taken in preparing information contained in this email, neither Jon Lamb Communications (JLC) nor its officers, staff or suppliers involved in the editing and production of this email accept any liability resulting from the interpretation or use of the information set out in this document. Information contained in this document is subject to change without notice and is of a general nature and should not take the place of professional personal advice. No responsibility is accepted by Jon Lamb Communications for the accuracy of information contained in web sites linked from this email. Publication of an advertisement does not constitute endorsement by JLC of any product or service, or warrant its suitability.
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