Episode: #14 23/12/06
Presenter: Sue McDougall

Summer can be one of the most rewarding times of the year in the garden, the edible garden is brimming with produce, and many shrubs are in full flower and despite the heat they are thriving.

Early mornings or late evenings are the best time to get out into the garden to enjoy. Many of us have a break over Christmas and New Year and after the crazy season there is the perfect opportunity to spend some time outdoors working off the extra Christmas cheer we all tend to indulge in.

The Garden Club has kept us busy in the last few weeks with many club members wanting advice on summer gardening. Many have relatives who are coming to stay, so the garden needs to look gorgeous with little care.

A quick trip to the garden centre will reveal so much instant colour, you are spoilt for choice.

You can?t go past petunias (Petunia x hybrida) for this time of the year. The fast growing annuals will brighten up even the dullest position. Something you may not know is certain varieties are sweetly perfumed at night, making them perfect plant for around the outdoor entertaining area.

Before planting, improve the soil with a quality soil improver. A rich fertile soil holds water around the plant?s roots, so plants will not stress and can keep growing even in the hottest weather.

If you want to set up a garden during the summer but are unsure of what to plant through the hotter months, there are a few simple steps to follow to get your garden easily established.

Firstly select appropriate varieties for the situation they are being planted in. A great place to start is by accessing the Garden Gurus website and following the links to the Water Corporation Waterwise plants for Perth programme web page.

If you are looking for a hardy, fast growing climber then you can?t go past Ivy Geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) as they will be in full flower right through the summer.

Arctotis (Arctotis x hybrida) also known as African Daisy are the perfect choice for the road verge and they grow so well that no weeds will grow through the foliage

Gaillardia Fanfare (Gaillardia x Grandiflora ?Fanfare? ) or Blanket Flower is a low growing perennial of about 40cm high, is never without a flower during the summer and does brilliantly in full sun mass planted in garden beds. It also grows really well in terracotta pots in the sunny spots.

Erigeron Spindrift (Erigeron karvinskianus ?Spindrift?) only grows to about 20cm high by about 50cm wide and is the dwarf form of seaside daisy. The bright pink flowers fade to white and it is not without a flower throughout the summer.

Even if you live outside the Perth area these plants are perfect for any garden where water is limited. So next time you are planting up an area search out a hardy waterwise plant every time.

Water Corporation
www.watercorporation.com.au