Hi gardeners and welcome to Autumn!!!
I'm living in hope that the humidity will be disappearing in the near future, as it can be quite spectacular in the southern states with the leaves on the trees changing colour heralding the coming of a new season. The war on weeds in our gardens and lawns has been quite a challenge these past few months.
I thought it would be nice to look at succulents and groundcovers as a weapon against our enemy, the weed. Looking for that element of surprise in your garden or pot. Let us look at what is lovingly called the camels in the world of plants.
GROUNDCOVERS AND SUCCULENTS
Mesembryanthemum, the Livingstone daisy is a very unusual succulent. This plant can also be found under the name Dorotheanthus, named after the botanist's wife Dorothy. Classed as an annual, it has low growth and a fantastic display of different coloured daisy flowers which close up at night. They love full sunshine and need very little water once established but, do remember to fertilise and water occasionally.
Echeverias have a low growing habit with a rosette form and bell-shaped flowers on leafless stalks. There are many varieties of this plant. They love the sun and do well in a well-drained area of the garden. Fertilise in spring and water occasionally in summer.
Aptenia or creeping mesembranthemum, is a great trailing plant with bright green stems and small succulent evergreen leaves. It has lovely red daisy flowers and also comes in a variegated leaf variety. Fertilise in spring to promote growth and flowers.
Sedum contains many ornamental species. This plant will grow anywhere and produces a cluster of small yellow flowers. It is a 'no care’ plant and is not fussy about the soil it grows in, but does need good drainage.
Sempervivium has great symmetry with small rosettes. It grows very quickly in clumps and is a ground-hugging plant producing small yellow flowers. In Europe, they were planted on the roof with just a handful of soil to protect the house from lightning. This tells you it can be grown in very shallow soil. It requires very little fertiliser, but does appreciate a regular water in summer and then let dry out in winter.
Portulaca is a delightful annual with its low growing fleshy leaves and double flower colours in yellow, pink, red or orange. There are also perennial varieties, these tend to be single flowers, but still with lovely, coloured flowers. So easy to grow, they like a well-drained soil, an occasional water and fertilising when the plant comes into flower. The flowers will close up on a cloudy day.
All of these pretty succulents mentioned so far are great for the garden, but how about a mass planting in pots or hanging baskets? Bushy or clumpy in habit, these succulents will be ideal sitting on your veranda or deck.
Mondo grass (ophiopogon) comes in green leaf, black leaf or dwarf varieties. It has dense grass-like foliage. Another hardy plant that soon multiplies to form a thick weed-resisting mat. It is drought tolerant and very hardy. It makes an interesting border in the garden or on pathways.
Adenium obesum (Desert Rose) is a small shrub with thick, succulent branches and long green leaves which appear in spring and fall off in autumn. It has beautiful funnel-shaped flowers in pinkish red. Coming in other flower colours, they can be hard to find. Slow growing to about a metre and a half, this plant makes a good pot plant. Preferring a sunny position, in a soil that is lime-free and well-drained, as it does tend to get root rot. Water regularly when in leaf, but no water when it has no leaves. Fertilise in spring.
Cannas or as they were known by the Native Americans – Indian Shot – which comes from the hard seeds which were used as weapons. They are not the most attractive plant, but have big leaves in green or bronze, topped with clusters of flowers in cream, pink, orange, yellow or scarlet, which can only be described as floppy. They can grow anywhere from 80cm-2m. They flower from summer through to autumn, growing in light shade but flower better in the sun. They like a well composted soil and like to be kept moist, so poor drainage is not a problem. Plant from now on, fertilising in spring and summer with a regular watering and cut back to the ground when the flower stems are spent. Another plant that will grow well in a large pot and should be re-potted each year.
How about an exotic bird in your garden or large pot flowering in summer and autumn? Then the Strelitzia reginae is the plant for you, with the flower heads of gold-orange and royal blue wings. The leaves are a grey green colour and look good all year round. These plants will grow in shade, but prefer a sun loving well-drained and fertile soil. Fertilise in spring and water well in the summer months. They make an excellent cut flower. Their height is approximately 1.5m. The other Bird of Paradise is the Strelitzia Nicolai, which is an extremely large tree growing to approximately 5m.
Did you know that the grass family is the largest family in the plant kingdom and are pollinated by the wind? One of these is Pennisetum or fountain grass. It is a pretty perennial grass with a compact clump of narrow leaves. In summer, it has fuzzy spikes of copper red flowers which dry brown and last well into winter. They are drought tolerant and grow fuller if they are watered regularly in spring and summer. They like to live in the sun in a well-drained soil and can be cut back to the ground at the end of winter. They also lend themselves to growing in pots.
CAMELLIA MAINTENANCE
If your leaves are turning light green or yellow give the plants a feed with some iron chelate. Too many buds will stop the flowers from opening, so start disbudding leaving two buds per terminal and a couple along the stem. Coming into autumn, spray with a camellia and azalea liquid fertiliser and give them their last feed of slow-release fertiliser for camellias, azaleas and gardenias. If the plants are being attacked by loopers, give them a spray with some dipel. With all the heavy rain we have had recently, top up your mulch.
Happy Gardening,
Jill
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