To improve clay soils, apply a layer of gypsum.
Many wattle trees suffer from galls, localised swelling on the stems, which can be caused by fungi, viruses, or more commonly, insects.
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The galls, although unsightly, do not harm the trees other than make the stems more susceptible to breaking at the site of the gall.
Very little can be done about them because the insect responsible has well gone by the time the galls are noticed.
Summer Planting
Plant summer annuals to create groups of brilliant splashes and drifts to brighten the garden and provide a seasonal change.
My longtime favorites are the magnificent petunias which come in a range of types and sizes including the beautiful cascading varieties that make such wonderful subjects in hanging baskets and elevated containers.
If space in the vegetable garden is limited you can grow pumpkins and sweet corn together as the pumpkins provide a ground cover that keeps the soil cool and conserves moisture in summer.
Proper pruning
Prune camellias immediately after flowering, and then feed with a complete camellia fertiliser, and again in April to maintain healthy shrubs.
Pruning should open up the bush allowing light to reach the centre of the plants. Japanese gardeners say a bird should be able to fly through a correctly pruned camellia – and they should know as they have been growing and cultivating camellias for centuries.
Top Soils
To improve heavy clay soils and make them garden friendly you need to first treat the clay with gypsum. Break up the top 5cm of topsoil with a fork then apply a dressing of gypsum over the area.
Use at least 200gms per square metre and lightly water it in.
After a couple of weeks the clay should be workable and can then have plenty of organic material dug into it. When this rots down, the soil should be in a better condition and be able to allow for air and water movement within the soil profile. Work with clay when just moist, never when wet or very dry.
Lawn Care
If you find brown or dying patches in the lawn during spring it could be caused by curl grubs, which are creamy white or grey, around 2-3cms long with a brown head and a dark grey to black bottom. When disturbed they curl into a C shape. They damage the lawn by eating the roots, just below the soil surface.
An application of Yates Complete Lawn Insect Control this month should control these pests.