January in the Garden
Ah, January – that sizzling month when the sun really turns up the heat in our gardens! As we enjoy the long, warm days, our plants are in full swing, soaking up that sunshine and growing like crazy. But with the intense heat comes the need for some extra care to ensure our garden thrives. Whether you’re tending to seedlings or keeping an eye on your established plants, there’s plenty to do this month to keep everything happy and healthy.
Feed Your Plants
This time of year, your plants are really craving some decent food. A nice seaweed tea or a gentle liquid fertiliser with a low environmental impact is just the ticket, especially for those seedlings you popped in back in November. They could do with a bit of a boost! Make sure to apply it to the soil in the early morning, and stick to the concentrations on the packet for best results.
Top Up That Mulch
If you’re heading off for the holidays, now’s the time to give your veggie patches, herb gardens, and flower beds a fresh layer of mulch. Mulching after watering is a hot tip for the summer heat; aim for about 7cm deep, but be careful to keep it clear of the stems, especially those delicate young seedlings. Look for a sustainable mulch that’ll enrich your soil as it breaks down.
Shade is Your Friend
On your days off from gardening, why not whip up a couple of shade cloth tents? They don’t need to be fancy – just some simple, movable covers to protect those sun-sensitive veggies and plants from the heat. Think of it like sunscreen for your garden! Perfect for those scorching hot days when the sun turns into a blow torch.
Get Weeding
Weeding is a job that can feel a bit tedious, but it’s actually a fantastic way to tidy up your patch. By cutting out the competition for nutrients, your produce plants will thrive! Weeds are crafty little things, stealing all the good stuff you’ve laid out for your veggies, so don’t let them take over!
Planning to be Away?
Before you head off, consider fitting your garden with a drip irrigation system. These beauties deliver water right to the roots, and when covered with mulch, they’ll be working quietly behind the scenes. Set it up with a tap timer, and you’re good to go! Just make sure to choose a system suited to your plants’ needs – they have different rates of ‘drips per minute’.
Before you dash off, check that your irrigation’s all in working order. Nothing turns a lush garden into a sad sight faster than a lack of water in the summer heat. And it’s a good idea to shade any connections; the intense heat can soften the tubing causing them to pop off.
Don’t forget about your pot plants! Give them a little mulch on top, place them in a saucer of water (or even in the bathtub if it gets enough light), and they should be just fine. You might even consider running dripper lines from your main irrigation system to keep them happy while you’re away!