Outdoor diary March’s checklist
+ While most of us revel in the late-summer heat, some gardeners are already planting bulbs for spring. There should be plenty of bulbs in shops this month, but it’s best to wait until there is more moisture in the soil before planting. You’ll also get better results if you go for bulbs that suit your climate. In warmer areas choose anemones, babiana, freesias, irises, ixia, ranunculus and spraxia. Daffodils can be planted in most areas but tulips and hyacinth normally prefer cooler conditions. Chilling bulbs in a paper bag in the fridge for 12 weeks before planting will give you better flowers. Plant in a well-drained, sunny spot.
+ As we head towards the warm days and cooler nights of autumn, look out for an increase in powdery mildew and other fungal diseases. As the name suggests, plants with powdery mildew have their leaves covered in a grey-white powder. Google ‘powdery mildew’ for DIY natural remedies using milk, baking soda and sulphur or try products such as Yates Nature’s Way.
+ Dr Google is also a good source of homemade remedies for black spot, a fungus that affects roses. One old-fashioned method is to make a spray with baking soda and liquid soap. Another is to place onion skins, mixed with compost, around the base of plants. Pick off foliage with rust and black spot and bin it; don’t leave it on the ground as this will allow the spores to spread.
+ Keeping things tidy helps limit diseases and pests such as snails (love to breed in old leaves) and passionfruit hoppers (love still, warm air). Remove dead or diseased leaves and cut back perennials post-flowering. Improve air flow around plants by cutting back shrubs and climbers such as abutilon, hibiscus, bougainvillea, bottlebrush, hydrangea, hebe, lavender, mānuka, rosemary and vireya rhododendrons that have finished blooming.
+ Autumn is a good time to plant new shrubs and trees so they can develop new roots before winter. But if soil is very dry wait until the rainy weather arrives. Stake only if your garden is exposed to strong winds.
+ Perennials such as daylilies, dietes, heuchera, hosta and helleborus will gradually produce less flowers as clumps get bigger, normally once they’re 3-5 years old. Divide congested clumps to re-energise plants. Always take pieces from the outside and discard the centre. Give new plants a good water when replanting.
+ All the food you gave plants in spring will be used up by now so spread compost, sheep pellets and other manure around them to give them lots of nutrients for autumn and winter. For a super-nutritious lift add some worm farm vermicasts. Dig it into soil or heavily dilute with water and use as a foliar feed.