Your Garden Questions Answered: Citrus, Viburnum and Planting under Wattles
Presenter: Kim Syrus
Episode: 22 (22nd September 2007)
A common issue raised by our Garden Gurus Club members is about potted citrus trees. There is always plenty of questions about why Citrus trees are dropping leaves, not fruiting, or generally looking unhealthy. Citrus are notorious for showing up symptoms many months after the real problem has passed. Kim looked at a couple of excellent examples.
Both the cumquat (Citrus fortunella sp.) and lime (Citrus latifolia) were showing signs of stress. The cumquat had dropped its leaves, most probably as a result of the pot drying out way back in autumn. There were new buds developing, which is a good sign the plant will be fine. The lime was producing plenty of blossoms but the plant was weak. It hadn’t been fertilised for quite a while and was lacking vigour. Giving each plant a light trim now will encourage fresh growth and develop a better shape.
When it comes to fertilising citrus in pots, use a slow release type, this produces an even flow of nutrients to the plant. Regular watering keeps the potting mix moist and this will stop your potted citrus from stressing out.
The Gurus are often asked to suggest a fast growing, easy to look after hedging plant for Adelaide gardens. Kim suggested the fabulous Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus).
Laurustinus is one of the toughest, drought tolerant plants you can put in your garden. They are in peak bloom now, putting on a stunning display with their pinkish white flowers. If you are looking for a thick hedge, make sure your plants are close together. It won’t take long before they begin to grow into each other and form a solid barrier.
Growing plants under wattle trees can be difficult as Peter of Colonel Light Gardens has found. He wants to know if there is anything he should be doing to improve their growth. Well the problem is the tree roots.
Because wattles are shallow rooted, their feeder roots quickly rob soil moisture and unfairly compete with other plants in the area, leaving them to struggle. The only real way to handle this is to provide the other plants with extra water.
The extra water will help them but these plants will tend to be a lot slower than similar one growing without any tree competition.
To get your garden questions answered you’ll need to become a member of our Garden Gurus Club. It’s so easy join. Simply get onto the web and type in www.thegardengurus.tv
The Plants:
Cumquat (Citrus fortunella sp.)
Lime (Citrus latifolia)
Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus)
Episode: 22 (22nd September 2007)
A common issue raised by our Garden Gurus Club members is about potted citrus trees. There is always plenty of questions about why Citrus trees are dropping leaves, not fruiting, or generally looking unhealthy. Citrus are notorious for showing up symptoms many months after the real problem has passed. Kim looked at a couple of excellent examples.
Both the cumquat (Citrus fortunella sp.) and lime (Citrus latifolia) were showing signs of stress. The cumquat had dropped its leaves, most probably as a result of the pot drying out way back in autumn. There were new buds developing, which is a good sign the plant will be fine. The lime was producing plenty of blossoms but the plant was weak. It hadn’t been fertilised for quite a while and was lacking vigour. Giving each plant a light trim now will encourage fresh growth and develop a better shape.
When it comes to fertilising citrus in pots, use a slow release type, this produces an even flow of nutrients to the plant. Regular watering keeps the potting mix moist and this will stop your potted citrus from stressing out.
The Gurus are often asked to suggest a fast growing, easy to look after hedging plant for Adelaide gardens. Kim suggested the fabulous Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus).
Laurustinus is one of the toughest, drought tolerant plants you can put in your garden. They are in peak bloom now, putting on a stunning display with their pinkish white flowers. If you are looking for a thick hedge, make sure your plants are close together. It won’t take long before they begin to grow into each other and form a solid barrier.
Growing plants under wattle trees can be difficult as Peter of Colonel Light Gardens has found. He wants to know if there is anything he should be doing to improve their growth. Well the problem is the tree roots.
Because wattles are shallow rooted, their feeder roots quickly rob soil moisture and unfairly compete with other plants in the area, leaving them to struggle. The only real way to handle this is to provide the other plants with extra water.
The extra water will help them but these plants will tend to be a lot slower than similar one growing without any tree competition.
To get your garden questions answered you’ll need to become a member of our Garden Gurus Club. It’s so easy join. Simply get onto the web and type in www.thegardengurus.tv
The Plants:
Cumquat (Citrus fortunella sp.)
Lime (Citrus latifolia)
Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus)
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