Establishment is crucial
Establishment is crucial to make plants tough and hardy.
Here are 6 tips to get your plants to thrive.
1.Soil conditioner - the backbone of the garden
Add Pure Magic Compost soil improver to garden beds prior to planting, this will loosened soil for growing roots and provide a quality medium to assist plants in absorbing nutrients and moisture.
2.Wetting agent - the water saver
Dig Rapid Soak through new garden beds and sprinkle it over the tops of all garden beds.
– This is a re-wetting agent that helps soil to absorb water, and delivers it deeper to the root zone of plants. It also assists the soil to retain nutrients, making it easier for the plants to take them up.
– Rapid Soak should always be added to new plantings. Rapid Soak should be added to the garden at least twice per year, to maintain overall water retention capability and ensure the soil does not dry out or repel water. If the soil has been let to dry out completely at any stage, reapply Rapid Soak to ensure water does not sit on the surface or run off.
3.Feeding - the balanced diet
Apply Growbetter Organic Pelletised Fertiliser, a minimum of twice a year, in Spring and Autumn. Specific Rose, Citrus, Azalea and Camellia fertilizers do offer better flowering and fruiting for specific varieties of plants, particularly in our poor local soils and can be applied in Spring, Summer, Autumn and late Winter.
Your garden will flourish with lush growth and basically be healthier and stronger. Regular feeding not only provides the essential nutrients to make plants look their best but it helps to develop stronger plants. Healthy plants in turn will fight off pests and disease better and withstand tougher growing conditions such as reduced watering and extended periods of heat.
4.Maxicrop - the vitamin ‘pill’ and root starter
With new plantings we recommend that you water with Maxicrop every 2 weeks for 12 weeks after planting. This hastens the settling in of new plants, and encourages maximum root growth into the garden.
A monthly dose of Maxicrop around the garden will help to re-invigorate tired roots and rejuvenate existing plants.
5.Flourish
The best fertilizer to promote flowers. Apply when the weather is fine every 14 days to maximize flower production.
Mulch can consist on various types of bark, pea straw, lucerne or sugar cane mulch. Selection depends on the look you want to achieve. The depth depends on the type of mulch. Always apply Growbetter Organic Pelletised Fertiliser and Rapid Soak prior to any new layer of mulch, as mulch can draw nutrients away from plants as it is breaking down. Mulch helps to retain water. Sometimes as a beginner gardener it is easier to leave the soil bare to allow you to visually see when the soil is dry. You should aim in the long term to apply mulch, as it helps to reduce weeds and means you need to water the garden less overall. Additionally it provides a newly planted garden with a finished and established feel.
7. Watering - without wasting
Water is essential to establishing a new garden and during dry spells. How often depends on your soil, sun, air temperature, wind and rain. The best thing to do is disturb the surface of the soil and feel for moisture before you water. During hot weather conditions (over 25 degrees) you need to check for watering twice a day.
Hand watering is efficient when water is directed to the roots for 3-5 seconds for each shrub (longer for large trees). If you have a drip system we recommend that it run for no longer then 40 minutes. Systems do vary so check the directions or ask your installer.
New gardens with drip systems also require hand watering while they are establishing, as roots may not have established to the dripper zone.
Ongoing summer survival will continue to be impacted by the health and strength of the plants and quality of the soil prior to the weather hitting. Everything we have outlined will maximise your plants potential to grow.