Episode: #14 23/12/06
Presenter: Kim Syrus

Saving water in the garden is extremely important and our Garden Guru Club members are always asking about ways they can help. While it may sound obvious but checking your irrigation system for leaks can save you plenty, and it all starts with the hose.

Begin with turning on the hose. Many plastic click on fittings begin to leak particularly if they have become brittle or been damaged. Sometimes the fitting may simply need undoing and then reattaching. If this doesn?t work then replace with a new one.

Taps are also places where leaks occur. Again, these can be cheaply and easily replaced.

Irrigation lines can sometimes unexpectedly come apart and cause problems. Often the first thing you notice is that the plants look stressed. If this happens check your lines immediately to locate and fix the problem.

Jeff of Hilbank has ants invading his garden. He wants to know how he can stop them from taking over. All you need is to arm yourself with a good insect deterrent like Yates Blitz Em Ant Flea and Tick Killer, and begin by tracking them down.

Ants can be a real nuisance in the garden, particularly if they choose to build their nests under a plant or in a container. Their continuous tunnelling loosens soil exposing the roots to the air and making the plant wilt or die. They can also foul up drippers stopping water flow and causing your plants to suffer.

Follow the ants back to their nest then sprinkle a dose of repellent around the opening. The ants will take the poison down and kill off the colony. You may need to repeat this many times around the garden to seriously reduce your ant problem.

Kelly of Aldinga has scorched leaves on her spathaphyllum she wants to move the plant but has heard that if she shifts it the plant may not like this either. It is true that plants can become accustomed to growing in a certain spot, under these circumstances, this plant definitely needs shifting.

The changing angle of the sun over the year can cause real problems for sensitive plants. Always keep a close eye on these and move them, to stop any sun damage when necessary.

Take a look down the back of any nursery and you will find the plant hospital. This is the place where sick and sorry plants are sent to be revived.

Kim uses the example of a fuchsia that is in special need.

While it may look pretty sad, the fuchsia can easily be fixed. Cut back hard and then apply a good amount of organic fertilizer like Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food and a dose of high nitrogen feed Yates Thrive Soluble All Purpose Plant Food. Now water and wait for it to grow.

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Yates Blitz Em Ant Flea and Tick Killer

• handy shaker pack of sand-like granules impregnated with the effective synthetic pyrethroid, Bifenthrin
• simple-to-use shaker pack means no measuring or mixing
• stands up well to sunlight and heat and, most importantly, isn't affected by rain.
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• safe to plants so can be spread over lawn grasses or other low-growing ornamental plants without causing any problems

Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food:

• This is a versatile feed for all garden, potted and Australian native plants.
• Slow release nutrients improving structure and retention of the soil.
• It also encourages earthworms and is beneficial to soil micro-organisms

Yates Thrive Soluble All Purpose

• A fast acting, complete soluble fertiliser ideal for feeding a wide range or ornamental flowers, shrubs and trees as well as vegetables, herbs and lawns
• Feeds through the foliage and roots.
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