The Garden Clinic

The skies are darkening and it's cooled off a little, we're crossing our fingers and hoping for rain!

There's lots happening in the garden this week. It's time to get out there and admire the spring display at its peak

Come on, Huey! Give us some rain!

What's wrong with my rose?

Have you noticed stunted, poorly developed foliage on your new rose shoots? We have, and its likely that these roses have accidental glyphosate poisoning. There is little you can do at this stage to fix the problem. Roses are particularly susceptible to herbicides like glyphosate and so prevention is the best control.

Glyphosate affected rose foliage. A sign the herbicide has either over-sprayed onto, or seeped into this rose.

Avoid spraying herbicide when the breeze is blowing, avoid watering for several hours after and don't spry if rain is forecast in the next 48 hours.

Aphids are all over new rose growth at the moment too. Check succulent new growth on roses, and also maples, veges, stone fruit trees and citrus for aphid attack.

Use Yates Naturasoap, Natures Way Herb & Vege Spray, pyrethrum sprays. Hiding merely relocated them to the ground to return to your plants.

Richgro Bug Killa granules is useful for ornamentals where bees are not present, but certainly not on edibles.

My lawn is brown and dry in patches. What do I do now?

Unless we get decent rain soon our lawns are going to suffer. We'll need to deep water with sprinkler to keep lawns lush through this dry spell. Add a handful of dolomite per square metre, and spread some lawn fertiliser after a good soak.

What's happening to my languishing lemon?

We love adding zing to the kitchen with a lemon or lime fresh from your own tree. But for many of us citrus growing isn't as simple as it should be. There are a few golden rules when it comes to citrus that if followed should deliver happy, healthy citrus trees full for juicy fruit.

Start with a good citrus tree. Grafted trees are the best, and trees grafted on 'Flying Dragon' root stock are best. Trees from quality producers like Engall's Nursery at Dural are going to give the best results long-term.

Newly planted citrus should have new fruit removed as soon as they form for the first two or three years. This will encourage the plant to put all its energy into growing thick, strong branches that will carry more fruit in the future.

Other citrus musts are sunshine, well-drained soil, regular watering and feeding every three months with a good quality citrus-specific fertiliser like Gyganic from neutrog.

Thinking of planting citrus? Why not plant an edible hedge of lemons, limes and oranges? Citrus can be pruned into a lush, thick hedge with benefits! check out the article, How to: grow an edible hedge here.

You get privacy and lemons! Photo - Robin Powell

What's on:

Fantastic open gardens and garden activities are happening everywhere this Spring. Here's some of our favourites in New South Wales and Queensland this week.

Mount Wilson at it's peak this weekend!

Take a trip up to Mt Wilson in the Blue Mountains this weekend and you'll be rewarded with an incredible spring display.

Wildwood is the garden of former nursery owners, and passionate plant-people, Wayne and Sue Tapping. Their five-hectare garden is part wild, with mature grey gum, messmate and blueberry ash, and part formal, cool-climate garden, with avenues of dogwood, cherries and maples.

Nooroo is probably the best known garden on the mountain, and for good reason - it's an incredible spring display of wisteria is a majestic setting.

But it's not just about the wisteria. Nooroo was built and planted in 1880 by William Hay and original plantings include English oaks, chestnuts, ash and cedars which are underplanted with thousands of bulbs including, bluebells, daffodils and crocus. The display of bulbs are at their best right now, so treat yourself to a visit this weekend.

Mayfield Spring Festival

Head down the western slopes of the mountains from Mt Wilson and you'll find the largest private garden in the country, Mayfield.

In Spring the whole 160 acres of Mayfield Garden is open to wander and discover the features and follies throughout the garden. These features include; A traditional English inspired Maze, Croquet Court, The Chapel, and an 80 metre Cascade with Temple. They also have the boats on Mayfield lake that you can row around (free), as well as interactive games to play with family and friends.

Mayfield Garden Spring Festival runs October 14 - October 29. Tickets from the Mayfield Garden website.

The temple atop Mayfield's 80-meter cascade

Sydney Retirement and Lifestyle Expo

Graham will be speaking at this year's Sydney Retirement, Lifestyle and Travel expo this weekend at the Rose Hill Racecouse. Best way to get there will be on the train - The station is at the venue. The Garden Clinic will be there to answer all your gardening questions too, so drop in and say hi to Graham, Annette and Narelle while your there.

Teddy bear's picnic at Mt Coo-tha Library

Want to see where the bears live in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens? take the kiddies out to Mt Coo-tha Botanic Gardens this weekend and you're in for a big surprise! Enjoy searching for the bears throughout the gardens, listen to a ‘beary’ storytelling and bring along your most loved bear for our ‘Favourite Teddy’ competition. Then throw down a blanket and enjoy a picnic lunch on the Bandstand Lawn.

Bookings are essential, so call Mt Coo-tha library on (07) 3403 2550.

On the Road

Feliz viaje, Mexico group

Linda and the Gardens and Ancient Sites of Mexico and Cuba group have arrived in Puerto Vallarta on Mexico's stunning west coast. They've visited the Makaws and the Vallarta Botanic Gardens and will be heading to the Mega-metropolis of Mexico City early next week.

We can't wait to see what Linda and the group get up to on the Ross Garden Tours facebook page.

To find out more about this or any of our tours go to the Ross Tours website and have a look at our 2018 programme., Call Royce or Roslyn at Ross Tours on 1300 233 200.

In the Garden This Week