Growing Gardens

with Julia Hancock

Are you a nervous Nelly?

Tackling anything for the first time can be daunting and gardening is no exception.

First-time gardeners can gain confidence by planting up a few pots and placing them in strategic positions outside the house where they are easy to keep an eye on. Superb instant effects can be achieved by using semi-advanced seedlings of annual flowers such as lobelia, marigolds, pansies and primulas, which are all low-growing and suitable for containers. Good quality potting mix and seedlings are the keys to success here.

If you're worried about how to start a vegie garden consult one of the excellent beginner guidebooks or videos, which give instructions on every step of the process. Many gardening magazines also have 'how-to' sections on a regular basis.

Nervous about pruning? If in doubt about a particular plant apply the one third principle, ie. clip off a third of the plant's growth all round. If that is too confrontational, experiment with tip pruning (which means removing just the first few leaves of each branch) until you're comfortable with using secateurs.

What about weeding? Don't know your weeds from your plants? Why not take some samples into your local garden centre for identification? They will be very happy to assist if they can. You'll soon get to recognise the most prolific weeds in your garden and discover ways to keep them under control.

Are fertilisers a mystery to you? Make life simple for yourself and stick to just a couple of types – liquid fertiliser for your vegetables and slow-release fertiliser for your trees and shrubs. Again, your local garden centre will be able to recommend the best brands for your needs.

Don't forget, it's not the end of the world if you don't get it right the first time – even the most experienced gardeners sometimes make mistakes – that's how we learn.

Lismore Garden Club News

The Lismore Garden Club meets at the Lismore Workers Club on the first Thursday of each month at 1:30pm. All keen gardeners are welcome. The next meeting is Thursday, May 1. For further information phone Mary on 6621 5293.

What to plant now

Flowers: Alyssum, Calendula, Candytuft, Carnation, Clarkia, Cornflower, Delphinium.

Vegies: Cabbage, Asian Greens, Herbs, Lettuce, Onion, Peas, Radish, Silver Beet, Turnip, Bean, Carrot, Parsnip, Potato, Rhubarb, Tomato (in frost free areas).

Jobs to do now

Weeding, snail baiting, plant trees, shrubs and bulbs (spring bulbs should be planted this month), and fertilise (if in doubt use blood and bone).

Gardening tip

An old ironing board (without the cover) makes a wonderful potting bench & folds away after use. You can usually pick one up at an op shop for a few dollars.

Happy Gardening,
Ron Burns