DREAMERA® Armeria ‘Vivid Dreams’ is from the new Armeria Dreameria® Collection backed by a 20 year breeding program. Boasting masses of bright purple, globe-shaped blooms neatly held atop sturdy upright stems. ‘Vivid Dreams’ is a tightly mounded, dry, wind and frost tolerant plant suited to rockeries and coastal conditions for low borders, garden beds, pots and mass planted for high impact. The standout purple blooms, appearing in spring, make for stunning, long lasting cut flower displays. The low maintenance, tough nature of this collection makes it an ideal range for use in contemporary architectural settings to complement the modern home garden, and high traffic public spaces.
For effective pot displays, plant in Searles Platinum Potting Mix. Remove spent flower heads to encourage further displays. Fertilise in late winter with Searles Recharge High Performance Fertiliser - Flowers & Fruit for optimum results.
There are many types of azaleas suited to a range of lighting conditions from full sun positions to shaded areas. This gives an excellent range of azaleas to choose from to suit almost any area of your garden. Ask your local garden centre for the most suitable varieties. When planting azaleas, remember that they love an acidic soil, rich in organic matter. Improve the soil by planting into Searles Azalea & Camellia Specialty Mix. This will give your azaleas the right mix of nutrients and pH for a great start and strong, healthy growth.
The Rudbeckia Sunbeckia has a large, vigorous and floriferous habit, giving you long lasting blooms for pot and garden settings. They love a sunny warm location and will continue to flourish all season long. Long lived perennial. Available in wide range of colour forms.
The Double Dreamy dahlias have been selected for their gorgeous double blooms and tight growth habit. Two colours have been introduced, double lilac and double rose. A gorgeous plant for any garden, easy to grow and produces an abundant number of flowers.
‘Luna’
‘Carolina’
Calibrachoa Superbells®
‘Double White’ & ‘Lemon Slice’
New to garden centres this season is the abundant, small double white petunia-like flowers of Calibrachoa Superbells® ‘Double White’. With full double flowers, massed on the plant for many months of the year they take their place as some of the proven stars of the garden. Flowers are held clear of the plant for striking effect.
Back by popular demand, is the Calibrachoa Superbells® ‘Lemon Slice’ featuring bright white and lemon patterns.
Calibrachoa Superbells® series look superb in containers or hanging baskets on a patio, deck or in a courtyard or planted in the garden. Superbells® are the ideal plant for adding long lasting potted colour highlights to the low maintenance ‘outdoor room’.
Petunia Supertunia® Mini Vista Ultramarine
Masses of smaller royal purple flowers covering a mounding habit from spring through autumn adorn this new colour variety from the Mini Vista range.
Supertunia® Mini Vista petunias are vigorous with slightly mounding habits that are self-cleaning, therefore you do not need to deadhead to keep them looking beautiful all spring and summer.
NEW COLOUR
Cosmos ‘Choca Mocha’ Cosmos atrosanguineus
This perennial features dancing rich, dark, flowers floating above soft, green foliage. Walk past this cosmos and behold a strong scent of chocolate in summer. Its colour and flower habit lends itself very well as a filler by providing contrasting colours, texture, and movement. Ideal for containers and mass planting. Long-flowering through spring, summer, and autumn with a brief dormancy in cooler zones during Winter. Easy to grow and maintain in full sun. Heat tolerant when established. Remove spent flowers close to the foliage to promote further flowering and maintain plant habit.
The Supertunia® Mini Vista series has a smaller flower and more compact spread when compared to Supertunia® Vista and Supertunia® series. In warmer regions and in good conditions, Supertunia® Mini Vista may provide additional seasons of colour beyond its typically annual life.
‘Double White’
‘Lemon Slice’
‘Ultramarine’
2 NEW COLOURS
Mandevilla Sunparasol - The original and still the best – the Sunparasol Mandevillas have a bushy vigorous habit with wide range of colours. This season, two varieties are introduced to the market - ‘Stars & Stripes’ and ‘Gold’ They can be grown as a bush or trained as a climbing vine. The brightly coloured flowers bring a sense of the tropics to any garden. Sunparasol Mandevillas provide a bright blossom, with striking shiny foliage with no dead heading. Create your own tropical paradise with SunParasol Mandevillas.
‘Stars and Stripes’ - unique flowers red with white stripes with vigorous upright habit. ‘Gold’ – yellow with dark throat with upright vigorous habit. Makes for a great bushy pot plant with vibrant yellow colour.
This outstanding Grevillea honours Dorothy Gordon, a renowned water colour artist and wife of Dave Gordon. For most of the year, it bears long-lasting pink, nectar laden blooms. Great for floral arrangements. This large compact shrub has fern-like foliage, showy green coloured with bronze new tips as the plant grows.
It makes an outstanding feature plant in gardens around the coastal and inland areas of the country. This plant is an Australian native so fertilise with Searles Native Plant Food for better plant growth and more blooms.
Plant in sunny gardens with well-draining soils. Light shade is tolerable but flowering is not as heavy.
This slow-growing, deciduous tree features unique, fan shaped leaves with a lemon-lime hue during the growing season, adding both texture and colour to the landscape. Its narrow, columnar form makes it ideal for small gardens or urban spaces. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, flourishing in a range of climates once established. Hardy and low maintenance.
Lime light Plectranthus
Interesting green and lime yellow foliage with a purple underside. Produces little white flowers as the plant matures. Best in semi shade but will also grow in full sun. Grows approx. 30cm high. It is excellent in hanging baskets or as a ground cover. Hardy plant, but don’t over water.
calathea insignis
Swiss cheese monstera and zanibars are unique foliage plants.
Distinctive foliage plant with upright narrow, wavy edged glossy leaves with a tiger pattern. Requires a warm humid position in warm climates, grow in a partly shaded position outside or pots for patios, inside or outside. Tolerates low light conditions. Do not allow to dry out. Liquid fertilise monthly.
Syngonium are easy-care plants to fill indoors with loads of foliage.
In climates too warm to grow wisteria, grow purple wreath (Petrea volubilis ) instead. This woody, evergreen climber is a tropical to subtropical climber bearing long-lasting, wisteria-like flowers from late winter to late summer. Best grown over a pergola, fence or trellis, it prefers full sun or part shade and a rich, well-drained soil. Prune hard after flowering.
For cooler climates, Wisteria sinensis is prized for its cascading, fragrant flower clusters in spring, creating a classic, romantic garden look. Though it requires more pruning and structural support than Petrea volubilis, it’s well-suited to cooler climates and can be trained beautifully over pergolas and trellises. Both offer stunning floral displays, shade, and wildlife value, making them excellent choices depending on your regional climate and aesthetic preference.
Malus or Crab apples must surely be among the most useful of all the ornamental trees, as they are one of the most hardy and easily grown trees available. They are a source of bright spring blossom, many feature edible fruits that are excellent for making jelly and still others feature wonderful autumn tones and highly-coloured ornamental fruits. All are easy-togrow small trees that tolerate a wide variety of growing conditions.
Heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens ), also called ‘cherry pie’ is a small, evergreen shrub. In spring and summer, it bears purple flowers with a strong, vanilla fragrance. Give it full sun and keep it moist.
Verticordia, a genus of flowering plants native to Western Australia, thrives in the country’s unique climate and soil conditions. These plants, often called featherflowers due to their delicate, fringed blooms, are well-suited to sunny, well-drained locations and are highly tolerant of drought once established. To successfully grow verticordia, provide sandy or gravelly soil and ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases. While some species can be challenging to cultivate, grafted varieties and improved propagation techniques have made them more accessible to home gardeners.
Their vibrant flowers, which attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, make verticordia a striking and ecologically beneficial addition to native plant gardens.
Petrea volubilis
Wisteria
Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) – Australia’s national floral emblem, known for its bright yellow flowers.
It is easy to identify wattle trees when they are in flower, the fluffy yellow balls on mass and covering the tree. When they fall a carpet of yellow follows, but wattles are not always easy to identify when they are not in flower. The 1st of September is wattle day but many were out early due to changes in weather patterns. Even trickier is when the flowers are not yellow such as Acacia auratiflora called the Orange Flowering Wattle or Acacia leprosa Red Blaze, which as the name suggests has a brilliant red flower.
Wattles serve a huge purpose in the Australian bush; they are often the first plants to establish and are called pioneer or colonizer plants. Their job is to establish in an area and more sensitive plants can establish under their canopy and when the wattles die, they are mature enough to take over. Wattles are wonderful quick growing screening plants. Wattles are also known for fixing nitrogen in the soil, thus improving the soil for future plants. They also give shelter to native wildlife and are extremely fast growers, but some varieties are short lived. Other varieties are known to live for up to thirty years but it is a matter of research when deciding on how you are going to use the wattles. They can adapt to harsh conditions and a broad range of soil, but regular fertilising and watering will make them an amazing addition to your garden.
Some people are allergic to the wattles when they flower, and so this should be taken into consideration.
Wattle species also include some lovely low shrub/ groundcovers such as Acacia ‘Limelight’ which only gets to a metre or Acacia ‘Fettucini’ which reaches
75cm. These gorgeous varieties are also used as a standard by being grafted onto a taller understock. There are a few different varieties available including Acacia cognata ‘Waterfall’ which falls straight down, without the umbrella appearance. The delicate foliage and exquisite form are unbelievably eye catching but pruning can interfere with the flowering.
Acacia ‘Limelight’
Wattle day 1st Sept
Acacia ‘Fettuccini’ a decorative rippled foliage
There are a few pests to be wary of and borers are at the top of the list. The soft wood makes them inviting, but keeping an eye on them will help to resolve this. Mealybugs are also another. Often you see ants where there are mealybug or scale but the ants are already on the wattles as they collect and use the seed and help scatter the seeds for future plants. The mealybug sometimes is in the thick canopy of the groundcovers or standards. Treat them with Searles Conguard, a systemic spray and re-apply to roust out these villains.
When planting Acacia do not be tempted to tease their gentle roots. Aside from their beauty in the garden, wattles can be used as cut flowers and have been used in medicines, woodwork, tools, food, dyes and firewood.
It is one of life’s simple pleasures to walk about in your garden in the warmer months and notice rich juicy berries ready for picking. For most the temptation is too great and they are consumed right there and then.
Strawberries will crop throughout spring and summer with many varieties continuing through autumn. Strawberries are ideal for growing in pots, planters, or hanging baskets on a sunny balcony or courtyard. Maintain a good layer of mulch over the soil. This will conserve moisture but keep fruit in good condition by preventing it from touching the ground.
Raspberries are generally available throughout garden retailers in cooler climates and ready to plant in winter and depending on the variety, flower and fruit at different times from late spring to late Autumn. Support shrub with a trellis. Raspberries take 4 to 6 weeks to fruit. Harvest when they turn their iconic red colour. Prune back heavily tired and old canes after fruiting for a bumper crop the following year and keep stems away from the ground.
Blueberries love warm days and cool nights. Depending on where you live in Australia white belled shaped flowers start appearing on the bush in spring. Then a month or two later the flowers wither and the fruit appears. As a general rule, blueberry bushes flower earlier in Queensland and Northern NSW compared to their southern states. Due to the height, blueberry bushes grow, approx. 2m high, they are ideal for sunny spots in small gardens and container planting.
Give berries a sunny position with good drainage and plenty of rich well composted soil. For berries in pots, plant in Fruit, Citrus & Rose Specialty Mix
Birds love berries as much as we do, so protect them with netting or place wire cages over your plants to protect your crop.
Mulberries are hardy in most parts of Australia. They generally grow as tall as a tree, but you can prune them to remain in a shrub. Dwarf varieties suitable for pots and small gardens are available in garden centres. The red fruit develop to their distinctive purple colour quickly in early spring in tropical and subtropics regions and more gradually in cooler regions giving these regions an extended harvest period.
Cucamelons, also known as mouse melons or Mexican sour gherkins, grow well in many parts of Australia, particularly in warm to hot climates. Cucamelons prefer full sun and well-drained soil enriched with compost or organic matter. They are vigorous climbers, so provide a trellis or support structure to allow the vines to grow vertically, which also helps with airflow and reduces the risk of fungal issues.
Once established, cucamelons are surprisingly hardy and drought-tolerant, making them a good choice for many Australian gardeners, including those in arid and Mediterranean regions. Regular watering during dry spells and occasional feeding with a balanced liquid fertiliser will support fruit production. These vines are prolific bearers, producing small, cucumber-like fruits with a tangy flavour throughout summer. Frequent harvesting encourages more fruiting. In frost-free areas, cucamelons can act as perennials, resprouting from underground tubers each year. In cooler climates, dig up the tubers before winter and store them in a cool, dry place to replant the following season.
Pickling cucamelons and sliced and tossed into salads is a great way to enjoy the rewards of growing these cuties.
Even if you have limited garden space, a passionfruit vine can provide not only two delicious fruit crops a year but also beautiful, shiny green foliage and breathtakingly ornamental, purple and white flowers. All this in a vertical growing space!
The best time of year to plant out your vines is between October and April. Passionfruit have a climbing habit and can become very heavy when laden with fruit. They require ample room and a strong structure for support. Fences, pergolas and trellises all make great support structures.
In preparing the soil for planting, be aware that passionfruit must have excellent drainage as they are susceptible to phytophthora root rot. If drainage is a problem, add Searles Gypsum and plenty of organic matter such as Searles Premium Compost to the soil. Once planted, water in well with SeaMax Organic Liquid Fertiliser and mulch well. Make sure your chosen position is in full sun and is protected from strong winds and frost.
Adequate water is essential throughout the growing season. It is critical to keep the water up to your vine once fruit set has occurred and until it has ripened. Inconsistent watering will cause water stress and can result in fruit drop.
scan for more growing info >>
2
2 tablespoons olive oil
spring citrus & pea risotto
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 shallots, finely chopped
1 cup Arborio rice
Dash of white wine
80g frozen peas
60g finely chopped tomatoes
3 cups of chicken stock or vegetable stock
2 tablespoons of butter
1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
½ cup of orange and lemon juice
Prepare
In a shallow frying pan, heat olive oil on low heat. Cook garlic, shallots and tomatoes, stirring constantly, so not to burn. Add in rice and toast for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add in white wine and peas and stir until liquid is absorbed.
Ingredients
Slowly add stock to pan one ladle at a time and stir constantly until rice has absorbed all of the liquid. Once the rice is slightly firm but ‘to the tooth’ stir in butter, parmesan cheese and citrus juices. Stir constantly until the cheese melts. The risotto should move freely if the pan is tipped to the side and appear creamy.
Note: This dish pairs beautifully with prawns added to the dish before the rice has fully absorbed the liquid.
Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon zest.
50g butter
250g sliced mushrooms
500g chicken, diced
3 stems shallots, sliced finely
1 chicken stock cube
½ cup white wine
1 big dollop of Greek yoghurt
Pepper to taste
Plain flour to thicken, if necessary
Prepare
Crepe mixture
1 cup of plain flour
2 cups of milk
2 eggs
Pinch of salt
Add butter into a hot pan, cook chicken, remove from pan, set aside. Add mushrooms and shallots to pan and cook until softened and reduced. Add chicken back into pan. Dissolve chicken stock into a ¼ cup of hot water. Add chicken stock solution, white wine and Greek yoghurt into pan and mix through and cook until the sauce has reduced down. Season with salt and pepper. Thicken sauce with a tablespoon of plain flour if sauce is too runny. Set aside filling.
Crepe mixture: Mix all ingredients together and whisk until mixture is smooth. In a flat pan on medium heat, pour mixture into pan and cook until bubbles start appearing then flip with a large spatula to cook the second side.
Place crepes on a plate and add a small ladle spoon full of filling in the centre of the crepe and fold crepe edges into centre. Serve hot.
15
Optional: top crepe with parmesan and grill until cheese is melted and browned.
Serves 3
Chicken & mushroom crepes
Waking up deciduous plants
A dormant plant is one where its metabolism slows down or can stop completely, this is usually brought on with harsh winter conditions, e.g. conifers. A deciduous plant is one that loses its leaves, sometimes their green leaves turn to a different colour before falling off and is one sign of a dormant plant. Liquidambars display yellow and red autumnal leaves before their leaves drop for winter dormancy. Deciduous plants come back to life as the weather changes and becomes warmer. During the spring when they are coming out of dormancy, it is important to encourage their reawakening, hence new growth. Sunlight, appropriate watering, nutrients and general maintenance are key to a successful transition.
Sunlight is important as it warms the soil signalling the growth period. If the plant is in a shaded position, the ground will not warm up as quickly as one in the full sun, hence they are later to wake up. If a plant is in the ground, prune the surrounding plants to encourage growth of your feature plant. For pot plants, move the pot into the sunniest or warmest position.
A fine line is drawn when it comes to watering, too much before it has come out of dormancy will cause root rot and too little, it will stress and lay dormant till more optimum conditions prevail. If the plants are in pots make sure that if saucers are used they are empty and not making the potting mix boggy. They will still need watering at least once a week. For those in the ground, consider a weekly soaking of water, but in both cases use your finger or hydrometer to check how moist the soil truly is.
With the weather warming it is time to start your spring fertiliser regime. If in doubt they are awakening, try using a nutrient boost seaweed tonic, with a fish fertiliser such as Seamax Organic Fertiliser added to water applied every two weeks. You can keep this up all the way through spring and summer but once they are out of dormancy use a slow release granular fertiliser for slow nutrient release.
General maintenance will involve pruning out any dead or damaged limbs and shaping the plants for the coming season. Check the mulch is fresh as well as not being too thick or thin and that a gap is left for 3cm around the trunks, so they don’t get fungal infections from being constantly moist.
By spring, you should have planted and established your deciduous plants. These activities are generally done during winter or before spring. In winter traditionally the dormant plants are not fertilised, and watering is cut way back, your region and soil type will dictate this.
For the plants to come out of dormancy healthy, do not try to wake them early when there is still harsh weather or winds. Dormant plants are like a sleeping toddler best to let them wake when they are ready. Having a plan for when they wake makes life easier.
You planted seedlings one day and their gone the next? A very common problem is seedlings freshly planted disappearing, let’s look at the possible culprits.
• A cutworm or armyworm
• Wallabies, kangaroos, rabbits, rats, mice or bandicoots
• Snails or slugs
• A neighbour who envies your garden
No to the neighbours, but the other three are highly likely. Top of the list is cutworms, they are a caterpillar that lives in the soil and is active mostly at night. Turn the soil well before planting, looking for caterpillars. If found, hand remove them and if still concerned, spray the seedling with an insecticide suitable to kill caterpillars.
The next most likely culprits are animals. When planting cover the new seedlings with cloche or cage, or netting or even a cut off plastic bottle top. Simply to keep these physically away from the seedlings is enough to stop the loss.
Snails and slugs are more easily kept away with snail pellets, manually removing on sight or alternatively use exclusion methods mentioned above to keep them out.
If you are growing from seed and you are failing to get germination rates recommended, then consider,
• Birds or mice activity
• Heavy rain, seeds will rot or are transported away
• Not enough gentle regular watering, but letting it dry out in between watering
• Soil temperature still too cold
• Temperatures too hot
• Old seeds, always check use-by-date before planting
• Seeds planted too deep
• Planted in soil too rich in fertiliser. This burns their developing roots as they sprout. Use a seed raising mix for best results
For many of these it is sometimes easier to germinate seedlings in a protected area or seedlings tray and transplant them after they have four leaves.
Marigolds attract bees and beneficial insects for pollination and pest management to protect young seedlings
Boost root establishment and transplanting success with a half strength dilution of SeaMax Liquid Fertiliser.
Pop up fine mesh netting
Milk bottle cloche
How to encourage your cacti or succulent to flower in the warmer months.
With the right care, sunlight, and fertilising, you can encourage vibrant flowers. Don’t miss the chance to turn them into showstoppers.
Cacti and succulents will generally flower better with access to a fair amount of sunshine per day. Plus they do require regular watering for good growth.
If planting new plants, use a potting and soil mix, such as Searles Cacti & Succulent Mix, ideally designed for their open drainage and nutrient needs.
An application of Searles Flourish Cacti & Succulent Soluble Plant Food will give them an instant reason to sparkle!
ladybug larvae eat aphids
Beneficial Bug appetites
When you see a beneficial insect in the garden did you know just how many pests they consume in a day? For example, a dragonfly can eat up to 100 mosquitoes a day or lacewing larvae can eat 100-200 aphids in its lifetime. Lacewings are also fond of mites, caterpillars, moth eggs and thrips as well. Even hungrier than lacewing larvae, the larvae of ladybugs (often mistaken for mealybug) can eat a thousand aphids in its lifetime. Damsel fly fancy a meal of aphids, small caterpillars and moth eggs.
Not all these little garden helpers consume the pest, some are parasites that can lay their eggs inside the pest and the offspring consume the pest from the inside out. These parasitoids are often a bit more selective on choosing their victims.
The assassin beetle is not a fussy eater eating armyworm, aphids, mealybugs, tomato worms (caterpillars), mosquitoes, bees and even bugs larger than themselves. They feed on these from when they hatch as larvae and into adult life. Predatory mites are used in the nursery industry instead of insecticides to feast on mites that can damage the plants.
Top dressing lawn tips
In your garden, stick insects and praying mantis are on the patrol for insects and pests, using their camouflage and stealth to get close to their prey and devour them. Even specific types of weevils have made a name for themselves in the war on some invasive weeds. They are such fussy eaters they don’t harm crops, just the specific weed species.
Keep this in mind before you spray and make sure you are killing a pest and not a garden warrior.
Whether you are filling in holes, evening out lawns or adding nutrients to the soil for better growth, applying a 1-2cm layer of Searles Lawn Top Dressing will set your lawn up for strong spring growth.
Top dressing with Searles Lawn Top Dressing will add rich composted nutrients and minerals to encourage the production of new grass shoots and strengthen roots resulting in a thicker greener lawn. A thicker and regularly mown lawn will smother out weeds, reducing the use of chemical spraying. A top dress of organic matter will also encourage microbial activity to break down grass clippings and provide extra nutrients into the soil. Extra organic matter also improves water retention and drainage in the soil. Especially helpful during drier times of the year, but also equally when the ‘big wet’ comes.
SCAN FOR MORE INFO ON SPRING LAWN TIPS
Lacewing
allzones
spring planting & care guide
> Before planting spring veggies, mix into existing soil a good dose of 5 IN 1 Organic Fertiliser. Plant warm season vegetables such as, tomato, capsicum, beetroot, beans & carrot. In warmer areas, sweet corn, zucchini, pumpkin, cucumber and beans can also be planted from early spring. For cooler areas, hold off planting these until mid to late spring.
> Continue planting succession crops of leafy greens. Monitor watering regime, as with the warmer weather you may need to increase watering slightly for faster and tastier growth.
> Deciduous fruit trees like apples, pears and stone fruit do more than bear delicious crops. Each spring, they put on a magnificent display of blossoms. There’s no need for warm-climate gardeners to miss out, with low-chill and ‘tropical’ apple and peach trees now available.
> Plant watermelon and melon varieties now in warmer climates for a summer harvest. For cooler climates, wait until summer to plant. To avoid a watery tasting crop, minimise watering as fruit approaches maturity.
> Plant sweet corn in rows in warmer climates in spring. Wait until summer for cooler areas. Maintain a regular watering regime for good growth and watch out for corn earworm.
Zucchini and cucumber enjoy the warmer weather to fruit. Cucumbers can be planted all year in the tropics, in spring and summer in the subtropics and from late spring to summer in the cool temperate climates after the last frosts.
Only one type of zucchini should be grown at any one time as cross-pollination between different varieties can affect fruit quality. To keep a continual supply, plant an extra plant every month over the warm season. In spring and autumn, give zucchini and cucumbers full sun; in summer, semi-shade.
Ensure they have well-composted, deep soil that has been heavily manured the season before. Ensure good drainage. Dig the soil over, adding plenty of 5 IN 1 Organic Fertiliser.
spider mites .
Two-spotted mite, spider mites, aphids, thrips and whitefly all affect vegetables during warmer weather and can have a deforming affect on the plant and vegetable performance. Spray at first sight with Searles EcofendVegetable & Garden
Anthracnose
Spray avocadoes with Searles Copper Oxychloride fungicide after flowering to protect them from the fungal disease anthracnose - a common cause of fruit drop that appears as irregular shaped black spots and can spread quickly during wet weather
It’s tomato growing season. Tomatoes like an open, sunny site with deep soil, excellent drainage and protection from wind. The smaller varieties can grow well in large pots or tubs. Taller varieties will need staking, preferably at planting stage to avoid damaging existing roots. Tomatoes will grow well in the garden with plenty of 5 IN 1 Organic Fertiliser mixed into the soil at least 2 weeks before planting. When planting from seed, be sure to thin them out once they start growing as overcrowding can encourage disease. Mulch well around plants to suppress weeds and water the roots rather than the foliage. Feed tomatoes with SeaMax Organic Fertiliser fortnightly to feed their developing fruit. Soil-borne viruses like wilt can usually be avoided with crop rotation or by growing in pots.
As the soil warms up, fruit trees such as, mangoes, citrus, olives, apricots, coconuts, almonds, mulberries, blueberries, peaches, passionfruit, pineapple and figs can be planted.
Prune citrus
After fruiting has finished and before flowering occurs, reduce fruit trees by a fifth by pruning back over-reaching or unwanted branches, gall wasp affected branches, dead, diseased, crossed over or low branches touching the soil. This will create better airflow underneath the canopy and concentrate growth into younger more productive branches.
Once the fruit tree is harvested for its fruit, it is busy producing the next season buds, flowers and growth. Feed them with Searles Fruit & Citrus Plant Food in early spring and again at the start of summer for strong growth.
Stop the sting
If you grow apples, pears, citrus, figs, stone fruit, tomatoes, capsicum and even chillies, then you will be cursing fruit fly very soon. If no control is attempted, devastation will surely follow! Try Searles Fruit Fly Trap, available from your local garden centre. Otherwise try exclusion bags if you are happy to fiddle a bit tying them around individual fruit, clusters or trusses.
In spring, this tiny villain lays its eggs inside the soft new shoots of citrus trees, causing swellings or ‘galls’, which become visible during the summer. To stop the gall wasp infestation from getting this far, at first sight, cut off the affected stems and bin or burn them promptly.
Citrus leafminer tunnels through the young leaves of citrus trees which creates silvery lines. Finally, it curls the leaf into a shelter and pupates within. This can severely distort the leaves, but mature trees are not likely to be seriously damaged. To protect young trees, spray new growth every 5-14 days during flush periods thoroughly with a fully organic spray, Ecofend Fruit & Garden Insect and Scale Spray
Gall wasp
Citrus leafminer
allzones
spring planting & care guide
> For spring garden colour, plant lavender, buddlejas, gauras, heliotrope, leptospermum, osteospermums, ptilotus, gazanias, New South Wales Christmas bush, scaevola, pandorea and pentas.
> Beautiful small tubular, violet blue flowers appear from thick stems throughout spring on the Mist Flower (Eupatorium megalophyllum) shrub. This evergreen shrub grows to about 2m high with large velvety leaves adorning the plant during the year. This shrub grows best planted in light shade, protected from summer heat and grows well in frost areas.
springing into bloom, daylilies & hippeastrums
hardy salvias for fillers
Aphids, two-spotted mite, spider mites, thrips and whitefly and fungal disease, rust and powdery mildew can deform bloom and leaf growth performance. Spray at first sight with Searles Trifend
Spring is a perfect time to re-pot cymbidiums. Use Searles Cymbidium & Bromeliad Mix for the right soil media for healthy growth. This mix contains 9 months fertiliser and water penetration granules.
> There is a plethora of natives blooming in spring. Now is the time to visit a local garden centre to see what is flowering. Wattles, waratahs, banksias, grevilleas, callistemons and leptospermums will keep up their spring bloom with a granular feed of Searles Native Food.
lace bug
kangaroo paws, great for pots
Azalea Lace Bug are sap suckers, responsible for the silvering of the leaves. Spray all over the tops and underneath the leaves with Searles Conguard, early.
aphids
azalea
Warmer Climates
• Canna
• Bangkok rose
• Hibiscus
• Heliconia
• Poinciana
• Ginger
• Azalea
• Metrosideros
• Leptospermum
• NSW Christmas Bush
• Hydrangea
• Bauhinia
• Buddleja
• Prostanthera
• Tabebuia
• Illawarra Frame
• Lavender
• Salvia
• Native Frangipani
Cooler Climates
• Azalea/Rhododendron
• Camellia
• Waratah
• Ornamental Peach
• Lavender
• Pittosporum
• Photinia
• Malus
• Prunus
• Daphne
• Michelia
• Flowering quince
• Smoke bush
• Mock orange
NOTE: This may vary in different climatic zones
Seedling success
After purchasing seedlings, transplant seedlings into their final location within a day or two after purchasing. Always water your seedlings in after planting and keep the soil slightly moist until the plant is established in its new position. Protect seedlings from birds, snails and slugs, which love tender shoots, with cloches, cloth covers or snail pellets until they are established and have started to grow bigger. Shade covers will also protect seedlings from extremes of temperatures.
Boost spring growth
Improve soil nutrient load and structure to promote strong spring growth and blooms by spreading 5 IN 1 Organic Fertiliser Pellets onto gardens and pot plants.
For prolonged and more prolific flowering, fertilise your flowering plants with Recharge High Performance Fertiliser - Flower & Fruit. This fertiliser contains controlled release fertiliser for up to 12 months continual feeding and re-wetting granules to improve water efficiency and reduce soil dryout.
If you live in warmer climates, beware of hibiscus beetle on flower buds. If evident, spray them with Searles Conguard Erinose hibiscus mite, appears as wart-like galls on the leaves in warmer weather. Prune effected branches, bag and bin.
Watch out for blackspot, spider mite & budworm on roses. Treat with Searles Rose Pro RTU Blackspot & Insect Killer. Spray thoroughly including undersides of foliage. Commence spraying when new shoots emerge in spring or at first sign of insects or disease. Repeat at 14 day intervals if required. Two-spotted mites may require more frequent applications.
by climatic zone
dirt doctor how long does potting mix last?
Potting mix, whether sitting in a pot or still in the bag waiting to be used has a lifespan. Rule of thumb is to use fresh potting mix as soon as possible after purchase or repot plants regularly to reap all its designed benefits.
When is it time to replace aged potting mix: As potting mix ages, the organic matter breaks down and compacts the soil, so the soil level in the pot drops. Compacted soil reduces its ability to retain or absorb water, creating water runoff and the plant drys out even when you are watering regularly.
Plants need aeration around the roots or the plant suffers. A lack of nutrients causes the plant to not flourish and look tired. Old potting mix can have a dank smell and attract insects.
Good potting mixes have controlled release fertiliser added to the mix that will break down over time to provide nutrients for plant health and growth. If the potting bag states it contains an 8 month fertiliser, then you will surely need to fertiliser your plants before this time period ends, even when the potting mix is still in its bag. Aside from the controlled release fertiliser the organic material in the soil also releases nutrients to the plants.
Unopened potting mix left over time loses its nutrient and structural efficiency. If it is passed its prime, tip the soil onto the garden bed and rake in.
All bags of potting mix have breather holes, preventing the mix from sweating, but will also allow moisture in. If you leave an open or unopened bag in an exposed area this can increase the risk of water logging and pests gaining entry. Even if stored under a tree, roots from the surrounding area can enter the bags.
The old adage applies, fresh is always best. Use promptly after purchasing. Store it in a dry cool place and when opened, store it in a sealed container.
As a rule of thumb, try to repot plants every two years with premium potting mix. This does not mean you must strip all the old soil off the roots, but either go to a larger pot or just replace the mix that falls away from roots. Being repotted every two years there is little chance of being root bound.
If re-potting large pots is challenging, revitalize the soil with a fertiliser and re wetting agent such as Searles Recharge but eventually repotting will be necessary.
FLOWERS
> Strappy leafed plants of dietes, cliveas, daylilies, agapanthus and hippeastrums are in flower now.
> Pink Trumpet Tree Tabebuia palmeri (pictured). and the yellow Tabebuia - golden trumpet tree are show stoppers that signal spring is here.
> Most flowering annuals can be planted now. Check your local gardening outlet for inspiration.
> Boost flower production of flowering plants, annuals, shrubs by liquid feeding fortnightly with Searles Flourish Flowers & Foliage Soluble Plant Food
> As azaleas put on their flowering grandeur, look out for Azalea lace bug and control with Searles Conguard. Wet, damp conditions can encourage the fungal disease, petal blight. Spray promptly with Mancozeb Plus
EDIBLES
> Great time to plant spring salad vegetables, leafy greens, cucurbits, corn, melons, potatoes, capsicum and tomatoes. Use Searles Herb & Vegetable Specialty Mix to provide an abundant of nutrients for these hungry edibles.
> Mulberry trees are developing their distinctive red fruits in early spring. Pick regularly. Other berries are available in gardening outlet now. Custard apples, jaboticabas, figs and passionfruit are fruiting.
LAWNS
> Spring is the ideal time to top dress lawns with Searles Lawn Top Dressing. Keep on top of weed control, especially if Bindii are appearing.
MORE ON YOUR CLIMATE ZONE FOLLOW US
FLOWERS
> Plant acalyphas, cannas in full sun for brilliant colour. Plant bromeliads, begonias, caladiums, cordylines, coleus and crotons for tropical garden colour. Position in semi-shaded areas.
> Flowers of mussaenda, lilly pillys, hibiscus, native frangipani, medinilla, giant granadilla, Ruellia colourata, Clerodendrum quadriloculare (pictured) and Silk handkerchief tree, Cynometra lenticellata will show their spring displays.
> Heliconias. costus and gingers start their growth period. Allamandas develop trumpet-like yellow flowers now.
EDIBLES
> Hang Fruit Fly traps around the perimeter of your vegetable garden to monitor and control fruit fly activity.
> Banana, papaya, mango, passionfruit, soursop. jackfruit and gooseberry start fruiting during spring.
> Tropical vegetables such as okra, eggplant, snake beans, kangkong and taro produce great spring crops. Most vegetables can be planted now, including root crops, vines, melons and sweet corn. Look out for powdery mildew and rust on cucurbit vines and treat with Mancozeb Plus promptly. Before preparing spring garden beds, dig into existing soil plenty of 5 IN 1 Organic Fertiliser before planting to feed their hungry growth.
Grow roses that will rival Melbourne Cup race day roses.
When new foliage appears, feed roses with Searles Flourish Soluble Plant Food, reapplying it every two weeks. Roses are greedy feeders and Searles Flourish will give them the surge of nutrients they need for strong growth and flowering.
Control spring time pests and diseases like blackspot, mildew and aphids early with a protective spray of Searles Rose Pro.
Water regularly & remember pick oses often for pleasure.
SCAN TO READ SPRING ROSE CARE
plant & grow by climatic zone
FLOWERS
> The growing vines of jasmine, hardenbergia, Golden trumpet vine (Allamanda cathartica) and wisteria are a blaze of floral displays. Don’t be afraid to prune during the season if the vines become unruly.
> Roses (pictured), lilac, spirea, hibiscus, azaleas, Indian hawthorn, Pride of Madeira, wax flower, may bush, viburnums and many callistemons and grevilleas are creating a spring floral display.
> Azalea petal blight is a common fungal problem effecting azalea flowers. Remove petals promptly, destroy and treat plant with Mancozeb Plus and avoid watering over plant foliage and flowers. Azalea lace bug can destroy the leaves, treat with Searles Conguard
EDIBLES
> Plant most vegetables and herbs now - carrot, choko, cucumber, eggplant, French beans, lettuce, radish, spring onion, squash, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage and silver beet. Plant asparagus, rhubarb, capsicum, chilli, zucchini, pumpkins, eggplant, tomatoes and sweet corn once the soil has received its spring warmth.
> Plant berry bushes, including strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. Figs, passionfruit, grapes are fruiting. Citrus trees can be planted now.
> Fruit fly activity is here. Use Searles Fruit Fly Trap to monitor fruit fly activity around vegetables, particularly tomatoes and citrus trees. It contains a wick that attracts male fruit flies, traps and kills them, stopping the breeding cycle.
FLOWERS
> Now is the time to nurture deciduous trees, such as fruiting trees, cherry, apricot, almond, pear, apples (blossoms pictured), peach and foliage and flowering trees, prunus, viburnum, may, wintersweet, daphne, liquid amber, maples and crepe myrtles into their foliage and flowering period. Liquid feed with an organic fertiliser, SeaMax Organic Fertiliser Liquid, fortnightly. Azalea & rhododendrons are back in flowering now.
> Sprinkle 5 IN 1 Organic Fertiliser Pellets on gardens to make the most of spring growth.
> Protect seedlings from snail and slugs by sprinkling Searles Snail & Slug Pellets
EDIBLES
> Figs, grapes, passionfruit, and many varieties of berries are appearing on bushes now. Liquid feed with Searles Flourish Soluble Plant Food for more yummy fruit. Harvest asparagus and rhubarb. Plant Globe artichokes. Oranges and lemons are still fruiting.
> Most vegetables and herbs can be planted once the soil warms. Tomato, basil, corn, zucchini, capsicum, pumpkin and watermelon can be planted late spring. Carrots, spinach, lettuce, beetroot, peas and silverbeet can be planted at the start for spring. Dig into the existing soil 5 IN 1 Organic Fertiliser to enrich the soil with heaps of well composted manures and nutrients for excellent growth.
FLOWERS
> Invest in some more hardy Australian natives. Many are flowering now such as callistemons, grevilleas, flowering gums, hakeas and correas. Plant in spring for garden colour and establish their roots before summer. Plant them in a native low phosphorus mix such as Searles Native Plants Specialty Mix
FLOWERS
EDIBLES
> Keep spring flowering annuals, perennials and shrubs aflush with continual colour by liquid feeding with Searles Flourish Soluble Plant FoodFlowers & Foliage every fortnight. This will give them a constant supply of nutrients for flowering and foliage growth.
> Roses are aflush with blooms. Keep their healthy appearance by treating blackspot, thrips, mites and aphids with Searles Trifend
> Tomatoes, zucchini, leafy greens and most other warm season vegetables can be planted during spring. For strong growth to support veggie production, enrich the soil with 5 IN 1 Organic Fertiliser and leave for a week to settle before planting. After planting seedlings mulch to insulate soil from warming temperatures.
> Strawberries, passionfruit and melon vines can be planted during spring. Mulch after planting to protect the soil from competing weeds and keep the soil insulated. New citrus and fruit trees will establish in the ground well in spring. Enrich the soil with compost and raise the garden bed height if needed for free draining benefits.
> Watch out for fruit fly on developing vegetables, tomatoes, citrus, mango and passionfruit. Hang Searles Fruit Fly traps around the perimeter of your garden and orchard to monitor and control male fruit fly activity.
> Time to repot root-bound pot plants and pot plants where the potting mix looks compacted, hard and not draining properly. Re-pot with a premium potting mix such as Searles Premium Potting Mix or Searles Platinum Potting Mix to rejuvenate growth and plant health.
> Visit your local gardening outlets for the latest Australian native breeds and perennials for your garden climate and style.
EDIBLES
> Most warm season vegetables and herbs will give you a spring crop before the summer period. Plant seedlings early spring to maximise growing time and prolong harvest yield. Liquid feed every fortnight with SeaMax Organic fertiliser and treat pests with Ecofend Vegetable & Garden Spray to safeguard your harvest. Monitor and protect vegetable patches, tomatoes, citrus and passionfruit vines from fruit fly sting by hanging fruit fly traps.
PLANT CARE
> Many garden insect pests come into their active period in spring. Be vigilant for aphids, leaf miners, and leaf chewing bugs. Spray roses for aphids, mites, thrips and blackspot with Searles Trifend
