Peruvian lily… despite its name, it comes from the western Mediterranean region. Photo: Jackie Warburton Mulching and watering are important to keeping gardens alive through the hot summer months, says gardening columnist JACKIE WARBURTON.  NOW that most of the spring bulbs have died down, their leaves can be removed and placed into the compost.  Jackie Warburton. Don’t feed spring bulbs as they are dormant and the fertiliser will be wasted. Only ever fertilise them when they’re growing.  Placing mulch over the dormant bulbs will protect them over summer. New leaf growth will be ..read more

Drying garlic in an old basket worked well. Photo: Jackie Warburton The vegetable patch should be in full swing now as the heat has arrived; all the tomatoes, zucchini, corn and pumpkins can go into the garden, writes gardening columnist JACKIE WARBURTON. Jackie Warburton. TOMATOES will need a trestle or something to climb to keep the fruit off the ground and away from night-crawling insects.  Zucchini will grow at least one metre wide and will need room. I would think one or two plants for a family of four would be plenty and there’ll still be some left over for relish!  Planting co ..read more

Succulents… an easy go-to plant that needs very little care once established. Photo: Jackie Warburton Early summer flowers are in full bloom, says gardening columnist JACKIE WARBURTON and it’s important to consistently water garden beds to prevent the soil drying out around the roots of the plants. AS spring comes to an end, the garden changes slightly to fast-growing foliage and flowers and, of course, vegetables.  Jackie Warburton. Early summer flowers are in full bloom. It is important to consistently water garden beds to prevent the soil drying out around the roots of the plants.  ..read more

Rhododendrons… They can look a little ordinary most of the year but when flowering we know why we plant them. Photo: Jackie Warburton “While they can look a little ordinary most of the year, when rhododendrons are flowering we know why we plant them,” writes gardening columnist JACKIE WARBURTON.   RHODODENDRONS are coming into flower and, as an evergreen, tropical, large shrub, it can fill a space in a large garden. Jackie Warburton. They are extremely slow growing but long lived and, once they’re established, they really put on a flowering show.  Rhododendrons are shallow roote ..read more

Watsonia borbonica is an upright, herbaceous plant that emerges in spring ready for flowering. Photo: Jackie Warburton Watsonia is a terrific long-lived, old-fashioned, herbaceous garden plant that grows easily in our climate, says gardening columnist JACKIE WARBURTON.  THE Watsonia borbonica is a long-lived, upright, herbaceous plant that emerges in spring ready for flowering.  Jackie Warburton. It’s from the South African iris family and its reed-like foliage can be used as a background plant that puts on a magnificent display of tall, fragrant flowers that slowly open and las ..read more

Roosters… not required for egg production so keeping hens only is the best option. Photo: Jackie Warburton Keeping backyard chickens is an economical and sustainable way of having eggs, compost and, most of all, company in the garden, says gardening columnist JACKIE WARBURTON.  CHICKENS come with their own personality and are useful in turning soil over, eating weeds and foraging for insects. Jackie Warburton. Although it’s not recommended to have male chickens (roosters) due to their loud crowing at dawn.  Roosters are not required for egg production, so keeping only hens is the bes ..read more

Tomatoes… getting the soil conditions right first will go a long way to having a successful crop. Photo: Jackie Warburton Tomatoes are probably the most common vegetable to grow in summer, but they don’t come without their problems, says gardening columnist JACKIE WARBURTON.  THERE are a tremendous number of pest and disease issues that can destroy a yield of tomatoes in a short amount of time.  Jackie Warburton. Getting the soil conditions right first will go a long way to having a successful crop. Prepare the soil with lots of compost and get its pH to about 6.5. That and at least ..read more

Clivias… tricky to grow in our cold winters and don’t like frost. Photo: Jackie Warburton Gardening writer JACKIE WARBURTON looks at a tricky plant to grow and a tree with fabulous leaf colours. SLOW-growing clivias are in flower now. They’re tricky to grow in our cold winters and don’t like frost. Growing in a sheltered shady spot in the garden or in a pot away from frosts will get them through to flower.  Jackie Warburton. They are of the Amaryllidaceae family from South Africa and many of these bulbs are popular in our climate, such as naked ladies, snowdrops and spider lilies.  T ..read more

Wallflowers… come into flower late winter and flower right through to summer until the weather warms. Photo: Jackie Warburton Wallflowers are a popular short-lived perennial to have in the garden as a small evergreen shrub, says gardening columnist JACKIE WARBURTON.  WALLFLOWERS are drought tolerant when established and a great, tough plant that grows up to 60cm. It lives up to about five years or so and can be grown as a biannual and replaced in the garden every few years.  Jackie Warburton. It comes into flower in late winter and flowers through to summer, when the weather warms. T ..read more

“Brazilian jasmine”… as commonly known is fast growing and can get up to about four metres in two seasons. Photo: Jackie Warburton Spring’s sprung and gardening writer JACKIE WARBURTON is talking tropical plants this week.  MANDEVILLA or “rock trumpet” can grow in our climate in a protected spot outdoors in a pot or in a large glasshouse.  Jackie Warburton. It is a tropical vine and a great way to add a splash of colour that contrasts with the dark-green, waxy leaves in summer. It’s a great gentle climber and needs a trellis or structure. It can fill a vertical space in little time ..read more