A Mother's Day gift that keeps on giving Presenting a living plant on Mother's Day is a great idea – it will still be on display long after the blooms on a traditional "bunch of flowers" have faded.
Right now, most garden centres have great supplies of cyclamen (mini and standard), geraniums (Big Red and Big Pink), and exquisite moth orchids and of course, brilliant coloured potted chrysanthemums.
These will flower inside longer if they are placed in a well-lit room.
Keep the soil moist, but don't overdo it.
Above all, move the plants to a cool spot if the heaters are on.
Cyclamen – for continuous colour  For continuous colour and unparalleled flower power, give Mother a cyclamen.
These flamboyant favourites are capable of producing masses of blooms throughout winter and well into spring.
The blooms are held on thick fleshy stems that mysteriously appear from the centre of small, flat, reddish-brown bulbs or corms.
However, their compact shape makes them ideal plants for displaying in small to medium sized containers.
Three or five of the latest blooming hybrids will positively radiate colour when placed in a prominent position in a courtyard or patio.
Moth orchids For something exquisite, long lasting and very easy to grow, consider giving Mum a moth orchid. (Phalaenopsis)
These are those magnificent flowering plants you often se e on the reception desk at your local doctors.
Moth orchids are happy to grow in conditions where Mum is comfortable to sit – not too hot and certainly not too cold.
Each set of flowers will last for many weeks and, given bright light, regular watering and a little fertiliser, a healthy plant should remain flowering for many months.
Encouraging the plant to grow and flower again the following season is not so easy.
Meanwhile, Mum will have enjoyed many weeks of easy-care colour. | | Bees Paradise Red- a new style for roses Bees Paradise Red belongs to a new style of very hardy, low maintenance roses developed for landscapes and large gardens. But, they also look magnificent in home gardens.
The bushes are compact (40 to 60 cm) and flower almost continuously – repeat blooming throughout the growing season.
Bees Paradise roses need very little maintenance, as deadheading is not essential. They also have excellent resistance to fungal diseases.
The foliage is glossy and dark green while the flowers are bright red.
The bushes adapt well to group planting as well as being used in borders, rockeries and informal designs.
Bees Paradise Red is part of a collection comprising four different colours. These are particularly attractive to bees and other pollinators.
Bees Paradise Roses can be ordered now from Knights Roses for delivery as bare root bushes ready to plant in winter.
More information and online order »
Knights' Roses, one of the largest rose growers and suppliers in Australia, offer a comprehensive collection of rose bushes to both wholesalers and the public. 44 Jack Cooper Drive, Gawler, SA. Phone (08) 8523 1311. | | Polyanthus – cool and shady performers Find the right location and polyanthus will perform perfectly.
This late winter and early spring performer is happiest growing in shade where the light is quite bright. Gentle filtered sunlight is also ideal, providing the plants are not too hot in summer. They also like moist soil which is rich and fertile.
While the plants can tolerate less than ideal conditions, if you spoil them you'll end up with a wonderful display.
Polyanthus grown by Easy Colour are available in a wide range of colours. They look fabulous when grown on their own and create an impressive display when mass planted.
Don't let the plants dry out – twice weekly watering may be required.
Keep the plants flowering by adding liquid fertiliser to the water once a fortnight and remove spent flowers and leaves regularly to keep them blooming through winter.
These cheerful perennials are incredibly diverse in size and come in almost every colour imaginable.
Polyanthus grown by Easy Colour are easy to find in their distinctive purple cell packs
Polyanthus are in stock at Heyne's Garden Centre, Beulah Park, Semaphore Pets & Gardens and Barrow & Bench, Malvern and should be available at other good gardening centres. | | Accent plants for outdoor living Sunsatias are superb accent plants, selected for their ability to provide stunning winter colour in modern patio gardens and outdoor living areas.
In essence, Sunsatias are a new style of perennial nemesia that provide more flowers and larger blooms over a longer period, on plants that are more vigorous than traditional nemesias.
In courtyard containers, including hanging baskets they are quite eye-catching, as the flower colours are quite intense and come in a range of previously unavailable colours.
Some are quite vivid while others feature soft pastel shades.
Sunsatias perform best in full sun during winter but will benefit from light shading through the warmer months.
The plants are easy to grow, although they don't like wet feet and will produce a compact canopy (25 x 30 cm).
The flowers are self-cleaning and will continue to bloom over an extended period.
 Suntasias are in stock at Heyne's Garden Centre, Beulah Park, Semaphore Pets & Gardens and Barrow & Bench, Malvern and should be available at other good gardening centres. | | Autumn sprays for deciduous fruit trees The leaves on deciduous fruit trees are now turning yellow and soon they will be on the ground.
If leaf curl on peaches and nectarines, along with other fungal diseases, caused significant problems in your garden last spring, it is worthwhile spraying the trees thoroughly before winter with a fungicide containing copper.
Liquid copper, although expensive, is more effective than other forms of copper fungicides, as it remains active on the branches longer.
This spray is best applied soon after the leaves have coloured and are starting to fall.
In many gardens that's right now.
Be aware of "mummies" One of the major overwintering shelters for both fungal diseases and insect pests is one of the easiest locations to deal with.
It involves fruits left on the tree after harvest that have become dried or mummified.
All you have to do is remove all "mummies" still hanging in your trees, along with any windfall fruits on the ground and you have made a significant contribution to controlling both fungal diseases and insect pests in your garden.
Early pruning for courtyard vines Over the next few weeks leaves from both ornamental and fruiting vines growing over a courtyard pergola will fall in a constant stream.
For some this can be a source of annoyance.
Providing the vines have stopped growing and most of the leaves have turned yellow or coloured, there is no reason why they can't be pruned prematurely. | | Please keep your questions
for Talkback Gardening Good Gardening is unable to answer individual reader's questions via email. If you're looking for specific advice please give me a call on ABC Radio Adelaide's Saturday morning Talkback Gardening or ask at your local garden centre. | | | Choose onion varieties carefully Onions are a trouble-free crop well worth growing in the home garden.
By close planting (7 cm x 7 cm), it is possible to produce quite large numbers in a relatively small area.
However, they are slow growing.
Make sure the right varieties are planted at the right time.
You can start planting early varieties of white onions now, followed in June by Mild Red and White Spanish. Plant main season whites from June through to September.
Hold most brown varieties until June or July, with the best storing types – Brown Spanish and Cream Gold – planted out in August and September.
Onions are sun lovers but prefer cool, moist conditions as they become established, followed by warm drier conditions as they grow and mature. | | Be ready for winter weeds Showery weather is forecast over the next few weeks and, after such a long, dry autumn, gardeners can expect very high populations of cool season weeds will quickly start to germinate.
The secret to preventing these weeds from producing unwanted problems during winter is to control them early – well before they have time to develop a healthy root system.
The quickest and safest method of control is to spray these weeds soon after germination with Slasher.
Slasher is a relatively new organic weedicide and is approved for use in organic gardens.
It is made from natural plant materials and doesn't contain glyphosate.
However, it controls a very wide range of weeds and its action is very quick – often within hours of spraying.
Slasher can be used in gardens, over paths and driveways, around buildings and as a spot sprayed in lawns.
 While Slasher is safe to use it is important to always read the label before using.
More information » | | Insect galls on native bushes Many Australian native bushes have had their leaves or growing tips distorted by strange growths.
Certain varieties of wattles have been seriously affected.
The problem is usually caused by insects sucking sap, resulting in the formation of galls.
By the time you can see the damage, it is too late to control the insects.
Where possible, prune off the distorted growths. | | Trees For Life annual garden plant sale This hugely popular native plant sale is on again this year – Thursday, Friday & Saturday, June 3, 4 & 5.
The sale is the perfect opportunity to talk to friendly staff about the best plants for your patch.
Find species to encourage native birds, bees and butterflies to visit and pollinate.
Choose from a wide range of quality native garden plants that will provide colour, shade, screening, and points of interest to your garden.
Westwood Nursery, cnr of Sir Donald Bradman Drive and May Terrace, Brooklyn Park. 9 am-1 pm
Bookings essential. Book online here so you don't miss out »
Trees For Life members receive a discount on all plants. Join online to access great savings.
More information on the sale here » | | Perennials may need a trim Once summer-flowering perennials have lost their blooms they should be cut back, leaving a stub of 15 cm, so the plant is not lost or trodden on.
Mulch the area if possible with organic material or compost.
Large clumps may be divided now but with most species it is best to wait until late winter or early spring.
Don't prune asparagus fern yet That ferny looking top growth on asparagus plants should not be removed until it has turned from green to brown.
When this occurs, cut the fronds back to ground level and mulch the area with aged cow manure. | | Lawns need quick action before winter South Australia's mild dry autumn has been great for gardening.
But, not so for the garden – particularly the lawn.
During late autumn lawns should be gathering nutrients to get them through winter.
But, as turf consultant Stefan Palm points out, while the ground is so dry this is not happening.
In this week's lawn blog Stefan explains why quick action is needed before winter sets in. He also runs through the most important elements that will need attention; including watering, weed control, mower height, fertilising and removing the constant stream of autumn leaves.
More information >> | | Water-repellent soils a growing problem Because it's been so dry for so long, the biggest problem in many gardens right now is "water repellent soil".
This is where rain (or irrigation water) runs over the top of the soil and ends up wetting small patches of ground rather than soaking evenly into the topsoil.
Garden soils become water repellent when individual topsoil particles become dry and naturally-occurring soil fungi coat their surface with a waxy water repellent film.
With the likelihood of dry seasons occurring more often, water repellent soils looms as a major problem for SA gardeners.
The problem is real When the problem of water repellent soil is ignored you can expect: - The leaves on small, surface-rooted shrubs will droop and continually look water stressed.
- Water applied to container-grown plants will run down the side of the container rather than diffusing evenly through the plant's root system.
- Lawns will quickly develop unsightly brown patches.
Fortunately water repellence is a problem that is very easily remedied through the application of a soil wetting agent.
Soil wetters are available either as a liquid that is mixed with water and applied with a watering can, or as granules that are spread over the surface of the soil.
Their role is to break through the waxy film and allow moisture to adhere to the soil particles. | | Thursday to Saturday, May 6 to 8
South Coast Orchid Club of SA autumn show
Seaford Central Shopping Centre, Commercial Rd, Seaford.
Display and trading table with a range of plants for sale, including Speciality Cymbidiums, Cattleya, Oncidium and Denrobium. Members will be on hand to give advice.
Saturday & Sunday, May 8 & 9
Enfield Horticultural Society Autumn Show
Klemzig Community Hall, 242 North East Road, Klemzig. Sat 12 noon - 4 pm. Sun 10 am - 4 pm, Admission $2. Competitions in cut flowers, bonsai, fruit, home produce, junior sections and floral design. Plants for sale and a trading table. | |  Open Gardens SA
Saturday & Sunday, May 8 & 9
Mandalay
271 Back Callington Road, Petwood,
via Mount Barker Springs
The first sight of the stone home and its garden, inspired by the classical style of the Mediterranean, is delightful. Among deciduous trees, rosemary is tightly clipped into sinuous shapes to contrast with large round domes of buxus and viburnum and the tall upright spires of pencil pines.
More information on the garden and directions »
Gardens open 10 am to 4.30 pm.
Entry $8 - OGSA members; $6 - Government concession card holders; children under 18 free.
More information on the 2021 season » | | Talkback Gardening tomorrow  ABC Radio Adelaide Talkback Gardening this Saturday, 8.30 am to 10 am – phone Deb Tribe and me on 1300 222 891 and have your own gardening question answered.
The focus will be on Mother's Day with horticulturalist and Mitre 10 manager, Brett Draper providing a range of Mothers Day plant suggestions.
Ashley Burn from Living Colour Nursery reviews the latest Wow chrysanthemums, while Nick Seccombe provides an update on Adelaide's Fruit fly campaign | | Garden centre directory Leading Adelaide garden centres recommended by Good Gardening newsletter.
Heyne's Garden Centre
283-289 The Parade, Beulah Park. (08) 8332 2933
With Mother's Day just around the corner why not delight your Mum with a beautiful living bouquet. Like this SUNDAY!!!! From pretty cyclamens or chrysanthemums in autumn colours, all flowering just for MUM'S SPECIAL DAY. Lovingly wrapped in your choice of colours, perfect to show your Mum just how much you care. So run in and get your gift now!
South Australia's oldest established garden centre. Huge range. Expert staff on hand for personal advice. Visit online »
Semaphore Pets and Garden
119 Semaphore Rd, Semaphore. (08) 8242 7302
We Mums deserve a little extra T.L.C with Mother's Day on its way. Our store is full of beautiful, unique gifts – we have something to please everyone. We offer free gift wrapping as well. See you soon.
Always a great selection of plants, pets and giftware – all under the one roof.
Facebook »
Barrow & Bench Mitre 10
321 Unley Rd, Malvern. (08) 8272 8566
Celebrating Mother's Day with a stunning range of indoor plants and pots; a great selection of citrus trees, cyclamen, bromeliad and more. Gift wrapping always available at B&B for a gold coin donation with all proceeds to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Specialising in providing quality plants and expert garden advice. Follow the Instagram feed » | | Coming soon Saturday, May 22
World Bee Day
Celebrating World Bee Week with all things BEE at the Mt. Pleasant Farmers Market. 8 am - 12 noon, Mount Pleasant Showgrounds.
More information » | | Regular garden attractions Check with each venue's web site for any Covid-19 restrictions on opening hours.
Adelaide Botanic Gardens – free guided walks
Friends of the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide guided walks for the public at Adelaide, Mount Lofty and Wittunga Botanic Gardens, and Botanic Park.
More information »
Carrick Hill
Heritage house museum and garden, the former home of Sir Edward and Lady Ursula Hayward. Open weekends & public holidays. Free admission into garden and grounds. 46 Carrick Hill Drive, Springfield.
More information »
Cummins Historic House and gardens
23 Sheoak Ave, Novar Gardens. Gardens open and plant sales on 1st & 3rd Sundays of each month (except Dec & Jan) 2 pm - 4.30 pm. Plant sales also available every Friday morning 9 am to noon. More information » | Facebook »
Heysen - The Cedars
The historic home of two of Australia's most noted artists, Sir Hans Heysen and his daughter Nora. This unique 60-hectare heritage estate features the original family home, two artists' studios and the celebrated cottage-style garden, planted chiefly with exotics, including the massive Himalayan cedar trees.
Heysen Road, Hahndorf. Open 10 am - 4.30 pm, Tuesday to Sunday, and also open on public holiday Mondays. Ticketed entry, including guided tours at 11am and 2 pm.
More information »
Old Government House, Belair National Park
The former vice-regal summer residence of some of the early governors of South Australia. An excellent example of Victorian architecture, set amongst one acre of magnificent gardens. Features cottage plants and flowers cultivated in Victorian times, heritage roses and mature trees.
Tours and afternoon tea on the first and third Sundays each month and public holidays, 1 pm – 4.30 pm. Free entry into Belair National Park if you are visiting OGH - tell the info office staff as you drive in.
More information »
Urrbrae House historic precinct gardens
At the end of Walter Young Avenue, off Fullarton Road, Urrbrae, or from the Urrbrae House gate, Claremont Avenue, Netherby.
Open from dawn until dusk every day. Free entry.
More information »
Waite Arboretum, Fullarton Road, Urrbrae
Open free to the public every day of the year from dawn to dusk, except on fire ban days. Free guided walks on the first Sunday of every month, 11 am to 12.30 pm.
Meet at the West lawn (Croquet Lawn) of Urrbrae House. Bookings not necessary.
More information » | | Disclaimer: Although all reasonable care is taken in preparing information contained in this email, neither Jon Lamb Communications (JLC) nor its officers, staff or suppliers involved in the editing and production of this email accept any liability resulting from the interpretation or use of the information set out in this document. Information contained in this document is subject to change without notice and is of a general nature and should not take the place of professional personal advice. No responsibility is accepted by Jon Lamb Communications for the accuracy of information contained in web sites linked from this email. Publication of an advertisement does not constitute endorsement by JLC of any product or service, or warrant its suitability. | | | | |
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