Edible garden ornamental grasses
Harvest peas (above) and broad beans regularly while at their best
Prevent leaf curl on peaches and nectarines by spraying with a copper fungicide as soon as the new buds show signs of swelling
Cut back tatty lemongrass then feed and water it to encourage fresh growth
Plant seeds or punnets of rainbow chard to add leafy colour to the vegie patch and flower beds
Prune passionfruit vines in warm, frost-free areas, but wait until next month in cool areas
Pick brussels sprouts when heads are no more than 4cm in diameter
Plant grape and kiwifruit vines in a position that gets full sun
Give perennial herbs, such as thyme, mint and rosemary, an all-over haircut to promote new growth
Plant a sprouted choko next to a sturdy fence or pergola and watch it go
Sow seed of lettuce and carrot (below) directly where they are to grow, and thin crowded seedlings after germination
As the grass will take off again in spring, this is a good time to fill holes and dips in your lawn’s surface. PHIL DUDMAN demonstrates how it’s done.
1 CUT the grass in the area to be levelled quite short, then use a garden fork to spike any compacted areas to aerate the soil.
2 DUMP small piles of compost or sandy soil mix over the surface.
3 USE a lawn levelling tool (left), which is available from hire companies, or a broad plastic rake to spread the material over the uneven surface. If you discover some unwanted bumps, you can remove these by scraping with a steel rake or chipping away with a sharp spade. Sprinkle over grass seed or transplant some runners to repair these spots in the lawn.
Planted singularly or in small clumps, ornamental grasses create punctuation marks in the garden, and they offer a lovely softness when grown en masse. Fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) and miscanthus are favourites. Native tussock grass (Poa labillardierei) loves hot, dry climates. Golden oats grass (Stipa gigantea) grows up to 1.8m tall and makes a dramatic garden statement. Then there are the dozens of lomandras, which, while not strictly grasses, create a similar effect.
LEFT TO RIGHT, FROM MAIN
Zebra grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’); purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’); and Lomandra ‘Tanika’.
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