Growing Gardens

with Julia Hancock

What won't wilt

Phew! How's your garden coping with the summer sizzle? Mine's hanging in there, used to the fact that the only water it gets these days is from the sky. It constantly amazes me how so many plants can go into survival mode in extreme heat, toughing out conditions that humans would soon perish in.

Trees and shrubs are the hardiest of all plants because they have the most extensive root systems, enabling them to reach down into cool earth even in severe heat. Shrubs with waxy leaves, such as camellias, gardenias and ixoras always look fresh and composed. Native plants with needle-like leaves or those with a small surface area such as many callistemons, grevilleas and hakeas are also reliable in heat.

Annual and perennial plants are the hardest hit, but again there are some surprise survivors here too. In the flower garden, annual plants generally require median temperatures to perform at their best, but I've noticed those that self-seed such as cosmos, rudbeckia and salvia power on as the thermometer rises. Gomphrena, either in purple or white, seldom wilts.

Perennial flowering plants with strap-like leaves or grey foliage can withstand high temperatures well - for example catmint, dianthus, daylilies, lavender and liriope. Astonishingly for plants that produce so much lush growth, dahlias continue to grow and flower in temperatures exceeding 35°C, although the blooms won't be as big as those produced by plants grown in a milder environment. And of course, cacti and succulents don't turn a hair in the heat.

The vegie garden looks pretty sad on a hot day, with only carrots, cherry tomatoes, beetroot, French sorrel, leeks, sweet potato and snake beans able to cope in the sun. However, if you've got a shady vegetable patch even lettuces will get by.

Herbs are pretty hardy, and in fact some, such as five-in-one (Coleus amboinicus), perennial coriander, rosemary and thyme even thrive in heatwaves.

Lismore Garden Club News

Our next meeting is on Thurs, March 4, at 1.30pm at the Lismore Workers Club. All welcome. For information phone Mary on 6621 5293.

With the warm weather around be sure to keep the birdbath in your garden topped up daily with cool clean water. Our feathered friends have come to rely on us, so don't let them down. A reliable supply of water in the garden means you will be assured of the presence of wildlife.

You may have noticed your orange and mandarin trees dropping fruit due to heat stress. Citrus need deep watering about once a week to overcome this problem. Be careful to keep them well mulched out to the width of the leaves.

Succulent plants have become very popular of late. They absolutely love the hot weather & should be watered regularly in summer. However as the weather cools off in autumn and winter they should be watered infrequently. They are genuine low care plants.

Gardening Tip: Succulents can be easily propagated from leaves or sections in a well drained potting mix.

Happy Gardening
Ron Burns.