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THE MORE SUNLIGHT THE BETTER

It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to plants and their sunlight needs. “Plants have a range of requirements depending on species and even variety,” says Adam. “Some will grow superbly with almost no direct sunlight while others thrive in intensely sunny spots. When you’re planting something new, always look at its requirements on the label and match them as best you can. When it comes to potted plants invest in some quality wheeled supports. This way you can move them around to suit the season.”

ANY FERTILISER IS GOOD

“Some fertilisers are blended for a quick-fix, and due to this they can promote excessive leaf growth that, when soft, will easily scorch in the hot summer sun,” says Adam. “Such fertilisers often need to be regularly reapplied and can contribute to damaging nutrient run-off into bushland and waterways.” Also weigh up the cost of reapplications, advises Adam. “Quality controlled-release fertiliser will often only need to be applied once a year. It will release the right balance of nutrients when your plants need them,” he adds.

PRUNING OFF FINISHED FLOWERS AND TIRED FOLIAGE WILL KEEP PLANTS HEALTHY

“As a haircut keeps the hair healthy, pruning off spent flowers and giving sparse leaf stems a trim encourages new shoots to emerge and keeps plants looking fresh and alive,” says Adam. “For flowering plants, like roses, it often encourages new flowers and can help make scraggly shrubs nice and dense.”

WEEDING WILL KEEP OTHER PLANTS AND THE LAWN HEALTHY AND HAPPY

“Weeds grow fast and rob other plants of water, nutrients and sunlight,” says Adam. “Weeding regularly will make sure that your plants and lawn have the best conditions for perfect growth.”