Lintons Seasonal Gardening Tips JANUARY

• Check your mulch is 7.5cm thick. Keep mulch 5cm away from stems and trunks
• Spray all flowering roses with Mavrik or Confidor to prevent thrip and aphid damage
• Reapply soil wetting agent such as SaturAid

FEBRUARY

• We are now on Stage 3 water restrictions
• To keep updated with any changes to these restrictions visit www.ourwater.vic.gov.au
• Watering of gardens and pots with a hose with a trigger nozzle attached or a watering can is allowed at the following times:
  6am - 8am - Tuesdays & Saturdays (even numbered houses)
  6am - 8am - Wednesdays & Sundays (odd numbered houses)
• Dripper systems can be used between midnight & 2am (on the same days as watering)
• No watering of lawns or washing of cars is allowed at any time
• Look out for autumn flowering bulbs, such as autumn crocus, nerines, and belladonna lilies which are available at the end of February through to Easter
• Liquid feed annuals with Phostrogen to lengthen flowering periods
• Buy your bulbs now and make sure you plant them by the end of April 
• Check your citrus trees for scale and spray with Pest Oil if necessary
• Feed any summer flowering bulbs with blood and bone as they die down
• Check pond pH levels and treat with an algacide such as 'Crystal Pond'
  

MARCH

• Buy your spring flowering bulbs now and make sure you plant them by the end of April
• Before planting bulbs in the garden, mix some compost and bulb fertiliser through the soil. If using pots, make sure you use a good quality bulb potting mix
• Spray any caterpillars that are harming your plants with Dipel
  

APRIL

• With the change of season and ongoing water restrictions, it's a great time to rejuvenate your lawn. Come and see our large range of lawn care products, and talk to us about fertilising, watering, aerating and top dressing to get the best out of your lawn this autumn
• Look out for the arrival of sasanqua camellias this month - beautiful tall flowering shrubs, these sun tolerant plants flower from autumn though to winter. Popular varieties include 'Setsugekka' (white) and 'Plantation Pink'
• A great time to replant your herb garden in preparation for winter cooking. Good all year performers include rosemary, parsley, sage, thyme and mint. We also have a large range of cookbooks in the shop to inspire you! 
• Arriving this month is a huge range of fresh citrus and fruiting stock, including popular varieties like Tahitian Limes, Meyer Lemons, Valencia Oranges and Olive trees
  

MAY

• Collect fallen autumn leaves for composting
• A potted plant is a great gift idea for Mothers’ Day, or consider our huge range of giftware items. Gift vouchers are also available if you can’t decide!
  

JUNE

• Prune and or transplant your roses, deciduous trees and fruit trees over the next two months
• Prune your hydrangeas (make sure to only prune back the stems that flowered last season) 
• Buy and plant rhubarb and asparagus crowns
• Come into the nursery to select the new seasons roses, fruit trees and deciduous trees
  

JULY

• Prune and or transplant your roses, deciduous trees, fruit trees and hydrangeas at the end of this month
• Plant raspberry canes
• Spray roses and surrounding soil with lime sulphur to kill fungal spores
• Ensure plants under eaves are getting adequate water
• Spray fruit trees with Pest Oil to combat scale and mealy bug
• Aerate and lime lawns using a hired aerator or use your garden fork. Liming now will balance the pH level which can drop after regular feeding. Use lime at the rate of 60-70 gm (handful) per square metre
  

AUGUST

• Trim back spent bulb flowers, allowing the foliage to die back naturally
• If roses, deciduous trees and fruit trees are still dormant, it is still possible to prune and transplant them
• Spray peaches and nectarines with a copper spray like Kocide to prevent leaf curl
• Watch new spring growth for aphid damage
• Feed fruit trees and lawns at the end of this month
• Ensure all tools are sharp and clean before spring!
  

SEPTEMBER

• Purchase your seedlings or seeds and herbs for the summer vegie patch. If you enjoy Asian cooking, look out for Asian lettuce mixes, peas and snowpeas, carrots, chilli plants, shallots and Vietnamese mint!
• Although your bulbs have finished flowering, keep feeding and watering them until the leaves die right down. This way they will be in great condition to flower again next year 
• Don't forget to buy your Dad a plant or gift for Fathers’ Day! Gift vouchers are also available if you can’t decide what to buy
• Once your azaleas have finished flowering, give them a feed with Camellia and Azalea food 
• With the smell of spring in the air, it's a great time to spruce up your pot plants, patio area and garden beds in preparation for the summers festivities. Check through the tool shed to make sure you've got all the right tools, fertilisers, sprays, hoses and fittings for a successful session in the garden this summer 
• For summer colour, plant out your impatiens and petunias this month 
• Don't forget Snail Bait for all newly planted seedlings
• Start sowing spring/summer seedlings now
  

OCTOBER

• Prime time to plant out tomatoes, corn and beans. Many peoples suggest Melbourne Cup weekend is the best time of year to plant your tomato seedlings
• The frosts have gone and the soil is beginning to heat up, so it's a fantastic time for planting all varieties of plants, ensuring maximum growth and health over the summer months
• To make sure your gardenias are looking their best through spring and summer feed periodically with a slow release fertiliser like Harry’s Gardenia Food or Osmocote and liquid fertilise fortnightly. Gardenias are heavy feeders and require a consistent feeding program, especially through the flowering season 
• Spray for pear and cherry slug with Carbaryl mid October
  

NOVEMBER

• Mulch your garden beds and apply SaturAid wetting agent and good quality potting mix in your pots to keep your plants healthy through the warmer, drier months ahead. This will also help in cutting down water usage. Ask our staff about our large range of water saving products, 'water wise' plants and gardening tips
• Lift your bulbs, let them dry out, then store in brown paper bags in a dry, dark cool place until next year
• Feed your roses to ensure a great show in over the summer period
• It's still a great time to add tomatoes, zucchinis, strawberries and heat loving herbs like coriander and chives to your vegie/herb garden
• Seedlings that don't mind dry conditions include portulaca, geraniums, marigolds and salvia
  

DECEMBER

• Purchase cut Christmas trees in early December
• For white fly and other pesty bugs, use Pyrethrum in the garden - its one of the safer sprays available, but always follow directions and read the warnings before use. Also consider using 'Sticky White Fly Traps'
• As it heats up, the best time to water your plants is the morning. This reduces the chance of fungal diseases, and lowers the risk of water evaporation
• Mulch your garden beds and utilise a wetting agent and good quality potting mix in your pots to keep your plants healthy through the warmer, drier months ahead. This will also help in cutting down water usage. Ask our staff about our large range of water saving products, 'water wise' plants and gardening tips
• We are now on Stage 3A water restrictions
• Keeping your garden well watered this summer will be easy, as long as you remember the basics: 
• Watering of gardens and pots with a hose with a trigger nozzle attached or a watering can is permitted at the following times:
  6am - 8am - Tuesdays & Saturdays (even numbered houses)
  6am - 8am - Wednesdays & Sundays (odd numbered houses)
• Dripper systems can be used between midnight & 2am (on the same days as watering)
• No watering of lawns or washing of cars is allowed at anytime
• To keep updated with any changes to these restrictions visit www.ourwater.vic.gov.au