Episode: #4 23/09/2006
Presenter: Paul Hoffman

Growing your plants from seed would have to be the cheapest and most rewarding way of gardening, and now is the time to get started. It is good fun for the kids, so grab a packet of your favourite seeds and get going.

To give your seedlings the best start, try using a Yates mini green house. The neat little box will protect your young seedling in the early stages of growth and will also stop caterpillars and grubs from turning your seedling into a free lunch. The clear lid helps to create a warm growing environment which speeds up germination. To give your seeds the best start you can, use a good quality seed raising mix.

As the weather starts to warm up, the feeling of spring is defiantly in the air and in the garden. Plants are starting to jump out of the ground. Be on the look out for those nasty insects and pests, like grubs and grasshoppers, as they will make a mess of those big leaved sub tropical plants like Cordylines, acalyphas.

Also keep a look out on your roses for aphids, spider mites and black spot they love to attack the new young shoots.

A great economical way to protect your roses is to spray with a concentrate rather than a ready use container.

Yates Rose shield is a concentrate based on the same ingredients as the popular Yates Rose Gun. To apply, grab yourself a Yates 2L Maxi Sprayer, mix with water and apply evenly to the top and bottom of the leaves. You can even re fill your old Rose Gun container.

Now is the time to divide your clumping plants, like Hippeastrums, Daylilies and Agapanthus. If you have any left over why now share or swap them with your neighbors and friends.

Hippeastrums are actually a bulb. They can be dug up and easily divided after flowering.

Agapanthus can also be split up, but wait until they have finished flowering. Daylilies love a good hair cut before you lift them and divide.

Your lawn may be looking tired and worn out due to the winter wear and tear. Now is the best time to think about fixing up those bare patches. Rolls of turf, with their instant root system are still the most economical way, of establishing a new lawn or fixing up those bare patches.

Sir Walter and SeaIsle from Jimboomba Turf are two ideal hard wearing and drought tolerant varieties. You can still water new turf under level 3 restrictions so have a chat with the friendly staff at Jimboomba Turf.

Gardening on a budget is fun and easy and you can involve the whole family. If you have any question you?d like answers by the Garden Gurus team, why not join our online Garden Club.

Members receive a monthly newsletter, discounts and specials offers, plus a subscription to our Garden Gurus News paper. So join up now.

Jimboomba Turf Company Pty Ltd
243 Bradman Street
Westridge Industrial Park
Acacia Ridge QLD 4110

Greg Lawrance
Email: greg@jimboombaturf.com.au
http://www.jimboombaturf.com.au

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