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Smart Gardening in August
• It’s time to get your Summer seeds in! The soil is still too cool for most warm season vegies but start planting in punnets in a warm, sheltered microclimate (greenhouse or sunny window sill) while the nights are still cool, and hold off on capsicums, eggplants, chilli and basil a bit longer as these plants need very warm conditions to germinate. Check out our website for help getting started growing vegies and learn how to grow plants from seed.
• Why not save money and have fun sharing seeds and plants with your local gardening group this Spring?
• It’s better to reduce pest levels in your garden is before planting fragile seedlings so now is also the time to set oil or newspaper traps for earwigs, set beer traps for slugs and snails, and make cloches to protect your seedlings (and warm them up!).
• Are possums your garden nemeses? Some tried and tested solutions include a wire cage, building a floppy fence, or installing a low voltage electric wire. Remember that it’s illegal to trap possums unless they are in your building, and any trapped possum must be released no further than 50m from the trapping site.
• Your soil will appreciate some food in preparation for the rapid growth ahead. Compost contains beneficial microorganisms that support plant health, and holds more than it’s own weight in water to help drought-proof your soil. Spread a 2-3cm layer of compost across the entire surface of your vegie bed, and follow up with about a handful per square metre of blood and bone, dynamic lifter or other pelletised organic fertiliser. Aerating your soil gently with a garden fork will incorporate these goodies into the top layer of your soil and loosen the soil to allow roots to get down deep.
• Give your fruit trees a helping hand and increase your yields by planting a multilayered food forest. Deep rooted plants like comfrey will accumulate nutrients and shelter beneficial insects, groundcovers like warrigal greens can suppress weeds and form a living mulch, and umbrella or daisy-shaped and small flowers like alyssum can attract predatory insects and pollinators.
• Avocados are a valuable fruit and actually grow well in Melbourne. They need shelter from extreme heat and cold when young, good drainage, enough water and a pollinating partner. Check out these avocado growing tips from a local guru.
• Are you considering installing a water tank? Check out the Tankulator for advice on sizing, materials, pumps and siting. If you have a tank already here’s some tips on maintaining your tank for best performance.
• Planning a new garden? Thoughtful design will make the most of your time, effort and space. We have some notes on the permaculture design process, plus ideas for very small spaces like a balcony, courtyard or a few pots.
For a list of what to plant in August, select the Temperate zone in Gardening Australia’s Vegie Guide.
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Self watering garden beds workshop
Sunday August 25, 12.30 - 2.30pm
Crown St Stables, 40 Crown St, Flemington
Would you like to learn all there is to know about wicking beds and use up to 50 per cent less water than normal gardens? As well as see productive wicking beds already in use on site and learn how to build your own? Through a practical demonstration, this workshop will introduce the principles involved and give you the know how to build a wicking garden system at home.
Register for this free workshop at eventbrite.
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Seed library launch, swap and talk
Monday September 2, 4 - 6pm,
Sam Merrifield Library, 762 Mount Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds
Spring into growing veggies as we launch our new seed libraries at Moonee Valley Libraries with a seed swap meet and a raising seedlings talk. Bring seeds to swap and join urban farmer Kat Lavers as she takes you through the life of a seed, from planting to saving.
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Create your own edible oasis
Sunday, September 15, 10am - 12pm
Farnham St Neighbourhood Learning Centre, Farnham St, Flemington
Using an active learning approach, this workshop will give an introduction to permaculture design principles and outline how they can be applied to your own life and work. This two-hour workshop is for anyone curious to find out more about Permaculture and trying to decide whether to take a more extensive course.
Register for this free workshop at eventbrite.
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Local Sustainability News and Events
Please note these are not My Smart Garden events/programs. Refer to events for organiser details.
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Basic principals of Permaculture talk
Saturday August 24, 11am – 12pm
Yarraville Community Centre 59 Francis Street, Yarraville
Permaculture means to consciously design gardening landscapes which mimic patterns found in nature, while creating edible ecosystems. Lean how to design and create a garden for your home or workplace that will yield a variety of food.
Co-founder of Vegetawall, Ariel de Ramos will focus on gardening in small urban spaces. He'll offer some great tips on making gardening possible for renters and people without a lot of space plus those with mobility or physical restrictions who want to avoid bending while gardening.
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A new community garden in Altona
Altona Community Gardens has finally found a site at Den Dulk reserve after four years in the making! If you would like to be involved there will be communal planting spaces as well as individual plots, and many education sessions and workshops to be more sustainable. Join us via www.altonacg.org and we will have the first meeting after the site is allocated.
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Gardens for Wildlife Moonee Valley
Gardens for Wildlife Victoria is a state-wide network of community groups and local government partnerships active in more than 25 municipalities across Victoria. Participants support each other to involve local residents, schools and businesses to join them in caring for the native plants and animals of our communities.
In Moonee Valley the aim is to establish a local Gardens for Wildlife group of local volunteers. The volunteers will support residents and businesses in providing suitable habitat for encouraging & nurturing locally indigenous or native wildlife in private gardens.
Garden size is not important. Whether it is a suburban backyard, a school or community garden, a rooftop, or a balcony, everyone can help promote urban biodiversity.
You can join the Facebook group or email if you would like to be involved.
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Five Mile Creek forest school
Take a walk on the wild side with your kids for a day of adventure with animals, bushland and so much more with Five Mile Creek Forest School. Your little Forest Leader will have a lesson on how to survive and adore the wilderness. Spaces are limited and you won’t want to miss out!
More information and enrolment details here.
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Creating a Forest Garden: Working with Nature to Grow Edible Crops – Martin Crawford
Forest gardens grow edible and useful crops in a way that mimics natural ecosystems, so that they require minimal maintenance. This book is a very readable introduction with chapters on design, suitable species and how to design a self-fertilising ecosystem. The book is written for UK gardeners however most content is applicable to Australia.
Edible Forest Gardens Volumes 1 and 2 – Dave Jacke
In-depth coverage of forest ecosystems and forest garden design, implementation and maintenance.
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If you would like to submit a relevant gardening event to the My Smart Garden eNewsletter, please send a 50 word summary to contactus@mysmartgarden.org.au
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