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Did you get to visit the 2018 Perth Garden Festival? The official number through the gate this year was 35,000 people. With lots of plants available for sale, lovely display gardens, a wide variety of expert talks and good weather - I think it made a great day out for greenthumbs! Our theme this year was
Keep your eyes on our 'Events' page - we hope to schedule another one later in the year if you couldn't make it to the recent session. On a completely different note, some customers have been asking recently what happened to Missy - the shop cat. Around Christmas, we decided it was time to retire Missy (who was at least 14 years old, and mostly deaf). She now lives at our In case you're not an avid social media user, you might not be aware of a couple of things coming up: May 5th is deemed World Naked Gardening Day. The first Saturday in May is when things (in the northern hemisphere) are warming up - so obviously the opposite can be true here; but over the last couple of years the "tradition" has been embraced by some even in autumnal Australia as a way to celebrate being part of nature & nature all around us. Thankfully, on Facebook (at least on the sites I visit!) it's all done very tastefully and with a huge amount of humour (no explicit photos are shared!) - so if you'd like a good laugh go (cautiously) and see what you can find. If you're likely to be offended - perhaps stay off Facebook this Saturday. It's safe to visit Green Life Soil Co though - I can promise you we'll be fully clothed. May 6th is International Permaculture Day. This Sunday, keep your clothes ON and get on down to the Growers' Green Farmers' Market (Lefroy Rd, Beaconsfield) 8.30 - 12.00pm. There will be plants for sale and demonstrations & talks on Urban Permaculture throughout the morning. We hope to see you this month @ Green Life. Remember we're open 7 days (early close Sundays @ 2pm) and this is the PERFECT time to get all your garden products and soil sorted before the rains come. Shop online 24/7 or organise bulk deliveries over the phone. Too easy!
In this newsletter:Useful Reminder - May Jobs in the Garden
What to Plant Now May Jobs in the Garden
What to Plant NowThere are lots of yummy winter vegies (and greens!) you can grow at this time of year. See our 'When to Plant' guide here for our month by month growing info. It's a great time of year to put these babies in your garden:-
Seed potatoes have just arrived. They are Certified Organic (sourced from a Manjimup grower) and we have the following types available: Dutch Cream, Eureka, Delaware & Ruby Lou. Not sure how best to grow potatoes? Check out our fact sheet right here! There's still time to plant most of your winter vegies from seed - considering the season's 'late' this year... but be aware some slower growing brassicas (cauliflower and in particular brussels sprouts) might not fare so well. Perhaps look for seedlings to give yourself a head start. Pest & Disease Tip - Scale
Scales are sap-sucking insects that insert their tiny, straw-like mouth parts into bark, fruit, or leaves. Some scales can seriously damage their host, while other species are more of an unsightly annoyance - particularly if the sooty mould fungus is present too (more on that in a minute). The presence of scales can be easily overlooked, mostly because they do not resemble most other insects. They are non-mobile as adults, and appear as small lumps - often found along the stem and trunk, and underside of leaves along the central veins in particular. They can be tiny or up to a few millimetres across. Some are brown, some are white and waxy looking, and others are black or red. Scale spreads from plant to plant as newly hatched crawlers, which are very tiny, have legs and can move around. Once the crawlers have settled down to feed, they create their protective 'scale' covering and are immobile. (Photo above right is White Wax Scale - Photo by Faye Arcaro)
Organic control of Scale is achieved by thorough spraying of horticultural oil over the insects; effectively smothering them. Eco oil and Neem oil are considered appropriate treatments. The oil coats the scale insects and clogs their breathing pores. The insects are suffocated rather than being killed by a toxic material. For proper control, it is critical to apply the oil spray over every surface of the plant where scale are present. If the insects are on the underside of the leaves and the oil is only applied to the upper surface, it will have no effect on them. Often, the female will have eggs protected under her body. Although the oil may be effective on her, the eggs may still hatch out underneath - so a second, and even a third, application should be made 10-14 days apart (do follow label directions) to deal with successive generations as they hatch. Be careful when using any oil-based spray in warm weather (anything over about 30 degrees) to avoid 'cooking' the leaves. For a simple home-made version of an oil spray treatment - see our fact sheet here. Certain scale problems on large plants or those especially sensitive to scale damage may warrant the application of a systemic insecticide (not considered an organic approach).
Scale insects are farmed by ants, who feed on the secreted 'honey dew' put out by scale. Ants play a role in the spread of scale insects, so keep your eyes open for increased ant activity. This sticky 'honey dew' secretion often grows a fine black mould (hence the name 'Sooty Mould'). While this isn't a disease as such, and won't actually harm your plants - it is unsightly, and does reduce the plant's ability to photosynthesise. By treating the scale, you can eliminate the sooty mould. (Thank you to Faye Arcaro for the fantastic photos. Tune into 'Let's Talk Gardening' on Curtin 100.1 fm Saturday mornings 8 - 10am to hear Faye & her guests discuss issues of importance to Perth gardeners.)
Indoor Plants - bring your garden inside this winter!!
With many people having smaller gardens (or no garden at all in apartment living); for people to have something green and living is still a way they can nurture something and interact with nature. There are proven benefits of indoor plants for air quality, stress reduction and mental health. A recent study (click here to read more) claims that one indoor plant in a medium sized room (4m x 5m) can improve air quality by 25%! While this statistic can vary hugely on so many factors - there is also some evidence that shows soil micro-organisms play a part in removing VOC's (volatile organic compounds - airborne pollutants) from our homes and offices. While plant species behave differently in this regard, the usual belief is that the larger a leaf's surface, the more effective at air cleaning the plant will be. Several years ago now, NASA were looking at plants' abilities to purify air (looking at their potential in confined environments like the International Space Station, etc). Their comparison of a number of indoor plants can be found here. (And it's a good checklist of suitable plants to take plant shopping, too!) While there isn't technically a true "indoor plant" (given that all plants originated outdoors somewhere) - there are some plants that will survive and thrive if you look after them well in "artificial conditions" inside buildings.
Other understory plants like some ferns (those originating from tropical areas) do well in a humid environment like a bathroom. Windows often are frosted glass so the light is diffused but adequate for plants to thrive assuming their basic needs are met. The trick to many indoor plants is getting the watering right. Many times indoor plants are killed through OVER watering (rather than under watering). Indoor plants aren't exposed to sunlight or temperature extremes like their outdoor relatives; so transpiration/evaporation can be much less. Contrary to what you'd expect - often indoor plants need MORE water in winter than summer - our artificial heating tends to dry out the air faster. Keeping up air humidity around our plants can be simple. You can spray them every couple of days with a misting bottle, or another tip is to get a small-ish jar or decorative glass, fill it with shells or fairy stones (or something pretty!) and then top it up with water. Tuck this somewhere around your plants and top up the water from time to time. Depending on where the plant originated (as usual - do a bit of research!) - you'll get a clue as to how much moisture it requires. Some plants like Dracaena and Sansevieria definitely don't like wet feet and prefer to dry out a little between waterings.
If you notice small little flies around your indoor plants - these are fungus gnats; and they're usually another sign that soil is being kept too damp. They won't harm your plant, but are attracted to rotting organic matter in your potting soil. Allowing the surface of the pots to dry out between watering will stop them - as they breed in the top layer of damp soil. (Again - self watering pots are good for preventing this!) If you have an infestation, one of the best ways to deal with them is place a small dish of balsamic vinegar or wine near the pot plant. They will be attracted to the fermented scent and kamikaze into it. A dusting of diatomaceous earth could also be useful on the soil surface. Avoid the temptation to slop your tea leaves or coffee grinds onto your indoor pot plants as this promotes the fungus gnats too. Make sure your indoor plants are kept out of temperature extremes like beneath aircon vents, away from heaters, direct heat through windows, etc. A hot OR cold draft is not going to do them much good.
Many plants not considered usual for indoor plants can be given a short spell indoors (from a few days to months - depending on hardiness). You can bring in things when in flower, or your favourite succulent bowl - for a short while at least, so you get to enjoy them. Another trick is when buying certain plants - buy TWO! You can swap them over and spell them outdoors for a while; keeping them on rotation. (Pictured above is Devil's Ivy - a popular and hardy trailing indoor plant that is easy to grow from cuttings.)
The biggest pest issue with indoor plants is usually mealy bug or scale insects. Both are best treated with eco oil (read the article on treating scale above!) - but if infestations are small you can scrape them off plants gently with your fingernail or lightly using a plastic dish scourer (not so hard that you damage the plant!). Dabbing methylated spirits onto mealy bug with a cotton bud is also highly effective (and somewhat satisfying!). Like any plant in your garden - some indoor plants can be toxic to children and pets if eaten. If this is a concern, do some research to make sure your plant selection is suitable for your needs.
With regard to pots - there are so many different kinds available you're bound to find something that suits your individual taste and your home. Many decorative pots for indoors don't have drainage holes, While the benefit of this is you won't get leakage onto your furniture, the downside is you have the potential for waterlogging too. Either make sure you carefully monitor watering, use large chunks of something (rocks, large charcoal pieces - even polystyrene chunks) in a decent layer at the bottom to be something of a drainage well, or just use the decorative pot as a 'sleeve' - standing a regular pot (with drainage holes) inside it. Use an upturned pot or something similar if you need to raise the height of your plant. If you need to disguise this, some riverstones, shells, coarse coconut fibre, etc. can be used on top as a mulch to hide the plastic pot. This method makes it easy to swap over your plants too. If you use a regular pot with drainage holes, make sure your saucer is sealed (unsealed terracotta can still transfer moisture to surfaces below) and check to see that it doesn't remain full of water hours after you've watered your plants (a sign you're over watering). So this winter - why not get hip, get potty and bring some of your garden INDOORS to enjoy? For great selections on indoor plants, a number of our retail stockists listed below have an awesome range (check out Beaufort Garden World, Guildford Town Garden Centre & Garden Elegance for example. I have visited each of these retailers recently and they have gorgeous things to choose from). April Photo Contest
So remember to keep those photos coming in, people! A winner is picked at random each month for a $50 voucher - so why not share the joy of your garden and maybe get some free garden goodies as a bonus! People really do love getting inspiration and ideas from what others are doing & growing; and it helps us as a business as people can see results of our products being used. Photos can be shared to our Facebook page (Green Life Soil Company) or sent in via email. VIP Special Offer - May 2018
So if you haven't already had the opportunity - here's your chance. VIP members for the month of May 2018 can buy Lucerne Pellets at the discounted rate of $25 per 15kg bag (normally $29). Offer is available via the VIP members' sign in area for online shopping - and in store (but please remember to ASK for the VIP discount). These are locally made and an ideal way to feed and mulch your pots, hanging baskets, roses, vegie gardens - pretty much anything! Simply sprinkle a thin layer of pellets over the soil surface. The pellets will expand and break down once watered, and form a layer of lucerne on top of the soil. This doesn't blow away, but also allows water to penetrate, and acts as a great insulator/protector for the soil life below. Lucerne seems to stimulate protozoa in the soil; which is a food source for worms - so in a month or two you'll probably find a lot more worms below the lucerne pellet mulch. (In some conditions, you may also see fungal activity. Be aware this is not a disease that will harm your plants and is a sign of healthy soil!) So hop in quick and grab a sack (or two). One bag will cover 4-5m2 - depending on how thickly you apply it. (FYI - Lucerne straw is also available; if you prefer the traditional approach!)
Retail StockistsRemember to check with individual stockists what products they currently have in stock - as it will vary between retailers:
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