 Growing Gardens
with Julia Hancock
The right tools
So often we tackle a job with the wrong equipment and wonder why it quickly becomes a hassle. With the right tools difficult jobs become easy and easy jobs are a breeze.
Digging
My least favourite job, digging, is far less bothersome with a proper spade. Spades come in all different shapes and sizes so choose one that is comfortable for you to use, and appropriate for the job in hand. All digging is much easier when the spade has a nice sharp blade, and when the handle is free of cracks and splinters.
Pruning
If you only have one pruning implement make sure it's a really good pair of secateurs. Keep them sharp - blunt blades tear rather than sever, and tighten up all screws and nuts before use as wobbly secateurs are a menace. For bigger jobs, a bush saw is invaluable - inexpensive to buy and light to use. If you're tackling a huge pruning job without a chainsaw, treat yourself to a new blade and the saw will cut through the branches like butter.
Planting
I like to tailor the size of the planting hole to exactly accommodate the rootball, using the correctly sized trowel or spade. Whether you're planting seedlings, tubestock, or container-grown specimens, save time and energy by excavating to suit. (However, this method only works in soils that are reasonably well-structured - don't create a sump or well by using this method in severely compacted or heavy soils. Improve the surrounding soil by digging in gypsum and compost before planting.)
Raking
There's a rake for every situation, so pick the right one each time. Hard materials like nuts, pebbles and bark nuggets need a heavy duty metal rake to cope with the weight and volume, while dry grass clippings need only a light plastic rake to do the job successfully.
Lismore Garden Club
 The few mls of rain that fell last week was nice, but not too much assistance to the plants. Follow up rain would be greatly appreciated.
Once again the cost of keeping a garden alive becomes very expensive. And remember that even though the days are warm, the nights are still cold, so water your garden in the morning, because plants with wet feet don't respond well when it's cool at night.
For best results from your garden in spring, you should be feeding it regularly with a fertiliser like Thrive - not only to encourage growth and blooms, but also to keep them in top condition.
Entry forms for the spring garden competition next month are available from nurseries, Club president Mary Beteridge (ph: 6621 5293) or me at 9 DA Olley Drive, Goonellabah.
Happy gardening,
Don 6624 3855.
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