Lemons are probably the most commonly grown fruit trees in Tasmanian home gardens as our climate is ideal for them.
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Orange and other citrus fruits do well here too, given a warm and sheltered spot.
They are not supposed to like salt spray but I have seen a thriving lemon tree only a few metres from the sea. I guess it’s a case of getting acclimatised.
Unfortunately, citrus trees can be attacked by a variety of pests most of which can be controlled by non-poisonous spray or natural predators.
Sooty mould is a black sooty substance on the leaves and twigs and sometimes on the fruit.
It is actually only a symptom of the problem.
Don’t spray with malathion, as this will kill ladybirds and other beneficial predators.
Spray thoroughly with white oil.
Red scale is a similarly armoured insect.
The tiny insects have circular, waxy coverings, reddish brown in colour, and can cover leaves and fruit so heavily that little of the surface is visible. Red scale at this density can stunt or even kill a tree.
Drench the tree thoroughly with white oil, preferably in December or January.
Mealybugs can become established on trees that are sprayed regularly with insecticides because these kill their natural predators.
Mealybugs also secrete honeydew on which sooty mould grows.
Insecticides are often ineffective against mealybugs so it is best to minimise spraying and encourage their natural enemies.
Black citrus aphids often heavily infest young green citrus shoots in spring.
Blast them off with the hose rather than using insecticide. Natural predators should control them by early summer.
Ants feed on honeydew secreted by all sap-sucking insects and protect these pests from their predators.
Control them by cutting off any branches touching the ground and sprinkle ant-rid powder around the base of the tree.
Autumn blooms
We can enhance the variety of autumn colour in our gardens by using many Australian natives.
Did you know that there are more than 500 varieties of wattle? You can easily have them blooming the whole year round.
Acacia retinodes, or everblooming wattle, has a flowering peak in summer and autumn.
It grows quickly to between four and six metres and has lemon yellow, globular flower heads.
Acacia iteaphylla (Flinders Range wattle) has beautiful, weeping greyish-green foliage, and flowers from April to August.
Acacia terminalis (sunshine wattle) has deep green, fern-like foliage and flowers from March to May.
The popular cootamundra wattle (Acacia baileyana) can produce its brilliant golden display as early as mid-winter.
Banksia integrifolia has yellow bottle brushes from April to September and honey-eating birds love it. It’s a big tree, growing as tall as 20 metres.
Crowea exalata has lovely, starry pink flowers from December to June. There is a dwarf variety suitable for small gardens.
Boronia filifolia, which has pink, starry flowers all the year round, is a small bush ideal for containers. It thrives with regular pruning.
Beaufortia squarrosa will give you bright red, orange or yellow flowers in late summer and autumn.
For blues and mauves try the climbing West Australian bluebell (Sollya heterophylla) and Scaevola pallida.
Pepper puzzle
Black and white pepper comes from Piper nigram, a climbing plant.
Black pepper comes from the dried, unripe fruit while white pepper comes from outer covering of the ripened fruit.
Don’t confuse it with the peppercorn tree, Schinus molle, common in Tasmania.