Welcome to Summer - it has definitely arrived this week, after a loooong and mild Spring. The first heat always comes as a shock to our plants - and to us!  But we know we're in for a warmer few months so it's time to acclimatise to the best of our ability - and to get our gardens set up for success too.  More on that below!  It's about now we enter Birak - the Noongyar first summer season; with warmer days and cooling afternoon sea breezes.  This regular weather pattern made it the time to do cool burns through the landscape; enabling rejuvenation of the vegetation, and making areas easier to traverse.  This time of year sees many fledglings and younger animals abound.

December means that Christmas is just around the corner - keep in mind we've got some great items for Chrissy Pressies for your green thumb friends - we've got 2023 Moon Planting Calendars in stock, fabulous long gardening gloves, growing guides and books, shampoo bars, and NEW all-natural Vanilla Mozi insect repellent.  Also imminent are Greensmart wicking pots - so you can give someone an instant garden kit!  Or if you're wanting to give yourself a BIG Chrissy pressie - consider a Foodcube!  Plus we have Gift Vouchers ('real' and electronic) available if you'd rather leave it up to the recipient to choose.  Want to give something unique and handmade? - we've got you covered for that too - read on for some clever DIY gift ideas.

We're taking a short break over the Christmas/New Year Period - our dates are:

Trading to 4.00pm Friday 23rd December 
Closed Saturday 24th December - Monday 2nd January
Re-opening 8.30am Tuesday 3rd January

So if you're planning to knock off some gardening projects over your Christmas break, plan ahead to avoid disappointment!  Cut off dates for orders - online run (bags, etc) will need to be lunchtime Monday 19th December.  Orders can be placed for bulk deliveries right up until the 23rd - but it will be on a first come/first served basis so my advice is to book ahead!

We'd like to THANK YOU so much for your continued support in 2022 - it's been a whirlwind year.  We lost a couple of long term team members, and have welcomed onboard a couple more.  Our newest faces in the store are Brodie (who works with us Saturday - When Thrive Sustainability closed its nursery, we snapped her up!) and Lesley - pictured right (who works with us Monday - Friday.  Lesley holds a PDC and is a passionate home gardener.  She's made the move to us from a more corporate background - so is getting used to working with poo.) In production we welcomed Kobe K & Emmet who join Brant and the two Toms "out the back" keeping the shop stocked and the deliveries rolling.

As a community, it's been a bumpy ride these last couple of years through Covid - gardening has helped us all to feel more grounded (pun intended) and cope.  We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and abundant 2023.  We look forward to being part of your gardening journey in the new year!

Linda & the Team @ The Green Life Soil Co 

In this Newsletter:

Jobs for the December garden
What to Plant Now
Microgreen Magic
Drought proof your garden
DIY Santa's Stocking Stuffers (and how to eat a Rose!)
Photo competition winner
VIP special
Retailer update

Jobs to do in the garden NOW

Christmas is ON OUR DOORSTEP!  So it's time to get busy...

• Mulch! If you haven't already mulched your garden, don't delay. Use a good quality soil wetter (Like Eco-wet) on hydrophobic soils, and get your mulch down. If you've laid mulch earlier in Spring, check to see how much has broken down & whether there's areas that need topping up. (Vegie gardens in particular that have been mulched with straw or pea straw may need a top up as the straw breaks down fairly quickly.)
• Dead head and feed your roses and other spring flowering plants like lavender that have finished to tidy them up and encourage another flush of flowers.
• Get your garden & outdoor area ready for Christmas! Tidy up pot plants in patio areas (indoor ones too!) repotting them (just one size up if need be) with fresh soil for an instant pick-me-up. Treat hanging baskets and pots with a soil wetter if they're drying out too quickly, or move them if possible to a more protected spot. Grab some potted colour of summer loving flowers like petunias, portulaca, salvia and vincas to brighten up your entertaining area.
• Get your seeds started for succession plantings of lettuce, beans, and another crop of corn. It's not too late to plant cucumber, pumpkins (pictured right), melons, zucchini etc. from seed if you get cracking.
• Fruit trees should be netted and protected against fruit fly by now ~ or as fruit is beginning to form.  Thin fruit crops - it seems counter-intuitive, but it will result in larger and better tasting fruit.  It will mean that you'll likely get a good crop the following year, too.  Thinning fruit takes stress off the plant and encourages even fruiting patterns.  Bagging grapes will need to happen once they start to flesh out & before the birds find them.  Tip prune grapevines to encourage vines to put energy into forming fruit, rather than spreading foliage.
• Put out water for birds & animals!  Now temperatures are climbing, a permanent water source (simply a bowl you top up) will be appreciated by creatures.  A saucer with pebbles or a stick that bees and wasps can use to climb out (so they don't drown) is a great idea.  Check them daily but especially in heatwave conditions as your locals will come to depend on them.  Good news - they'll be doing pest control duty when they visit!
• Remember to wear gloves and a mask when opening bags of soil, potting mixes, mulch etc.  Sad news recently about a Sydney lady contracting Legionella and passing - but there's always a small risk, so take care.  Especially if you have any pre-existing health concerns.

What to Plant NOW

Check out our FREE when to plant guides on our website - but here's a quick reminder list:

Basil, Beans (snake beans - pictured right - highly recommended for summer, as they can handle the hot weather), Beetroot, Capsicum, Chilli, Carrots, Chokos, Cucumber, Eggplant, Ginger, Leeks, Lettuce, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Parsnips, Pumpkin, Radish, Rockmelon, Rosella, Silverbeet, Spring Onions, Squash, Strawberries, Sweet corn, Sweet potato, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Zucchini.

Seed orders from Eden, The Seed Station & Thrive Sustainability are coming through regularly; so our range is continually changing.  We've got fresh seedlings and herbs coming in weekly - so pop in and grab what you need to fill gaps in your Summer crops.

Microgreen Magic

Hotter temperatures can make it harder to keep a steady supply of salad greens to hand.  If you'd like a reliable supply of fresh greens, why not try your hand at growing microgreens? Microgreens are grown in soil so I've found them easier than sprouts (which I seem to have more fungal problems with.  Sprouts are grown without soil - in special trays or jars, and must be rinsed regularly.)  Microgreens are the young early leaves of many herbs and vegetables - just harvested at a very early stage when plants are around 10cms high.  They are packed with nutrients and provide a quick crop - they're harvestable within 1-2 weeks.  Ideally, have a few trays in circulation so you can rotate crops continually.

Our Certified Organic Seed Raising Mix is ideal - although you can use your own concoctions of potting mix, coir, worm castings - whatever you may have.  Use shallow trays or any shallow container (recycling meat trays is great - just add drainage holes).  You can grow microgreens indoors or outside - in a sheltered spot that receives good indirect light.  Sow seeds thickly - you want the microgreens to grow 'like hairs on a cat's back' - rather than how you'd normally think of planting to allow room for growth.  Lightly cover seed, gently tamp down, and keep moist - a gentle water with a sprayer is ideal.  Once they're large enough to use, snip the stems with scissors just above ground level to harvest.  Only take what you need and the remainder will continue to grow and keep fresh until next time.

Suitable choices for growing as microgreens include:  Cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, watercress, radish, rocket, lettuce, endive, chicory, radicchio, dill, carrot, fennel, celery, onions, leeks, amaranth, quinoa, chard, silverbeet, spinach, cucumber - so you can see there are lots of choices to try!

We have microgreen seed packs and growing guides & kits available at GLSC - so why not give it a try?  We have a free fact sheet on microgreens here for further reading.

Drought proofing your garden for summer

With the potential of a long hot summer in front of us, and with new restrictions for home bore use in place - now more than ever, we need to re-think our gardens and gardening practises.  Here are some thinking points and tips:

Do you really need a large lawn, or lawn on your verge? 
Lawns have their place for sure.  Well kept lawns add value and kerb appeal to our homes, as well as providing cool and functional space for kids, pets and entertaining.  But if it's an area that doesn't get used - is it worth the effort and water that goes into it?  Many Councils now encourage and support verge gardens, providing they meet certain criteria.  Contact your Council for guidance before you start.  (From time to time, some even offer incentive packages and free plants.)  Low growing native plants (or hardy exotics) once established can be very low water use and provide habitat and food for insects and wildlife.  Providing shelter for small birds will help with pests in your vegie garden too - so it's win:win!

Manage heat in your garden
Trees have huge value!  Keep existing trees if you can; and/or plant appropriate tree species for the site to help cool the space.  Hard landscaping surfaces like paving reflect heat and produce 'heat islands'.  Artificial turf heats the soil so much you can't walk on it at certain times of day. Trees help mitigate this as well as providing shelter and habitat for birds. Consider 'green screens' - like climbers and espaliered plantings along fence lines.  Consult an expert as plant choices are critical if you have a tough spot to deal with.  If you simply can't grow anything in the spot - consider shadecloth or a shadesail to lower surrounding temperatures.

Improve the soil to aid water retention

By now I'm sure you've heard us say it many, many times...  If you have sandy soil, adding clay and/or biochar will drastically help with water and nutrient retention.  Keeping soil healthy keeps plants healthy.  It really is that simple.  If you have hydrophobic soil - use a good quality soil wetter; not just detergent which does nothing to help your soil health.  We recommend Eco-Wet or Eco-Hydrate.  'Gutless' Bassendean sand pictured right.

Check your retic, and water wisely
Is it time to update your sprinklers to drippers, or to get expert advice in upgrading/repairing a retic system?  Watering efficiently will lower your water bill.  It's worth visiting a Waterwise endorsed reticulation specialist for advice if you're planning DIY before you start.  Water at the right time of day - usually early morning - so plants can take up water into their cells in preparation for the day's heat and transpiration.

Plant choices matter
Some plants require more TLC than others.  While it's fine to grow what you love, it makes sense to 'hydrozone' your garden to have the plants arranged with others that share water/shade requirements.  Either do your own research or consult with a qualified landscape designer.  They're usually happy to do a walk and talk and give you ideas for a one-off visit (which will save you plenty of money in the long run) - or you can ask them for planting lists and garden layout/designs if you're still wanting to DIY but have a plan to work from.

Grow your own - appropriately!
Vegie gardens can be more difficult to maintain in hot weather. If you have spots that are simply too hard in summer - don't bother. Either plant a hardy perennial or mulch the bed heavily and revisit it come Autumn. But if you're wanting to grow over summer, consider a wicking bed. They work by having an inbuilt water reservoir underneath the growing area - so plants can access water by capillary action through the soil when they need it. There are plenty of DIY options, or DIFY options off the shelf - like the Foodcubes we stock @ GLSC. (Come on in and have a look!) Also grow in season vegies. Some things will thrive in hotter conditions - others will struggle. Refer to a guide (we have a free downloadable one here) for ideas or do some research into your choices and plant them in the best spots to suit.  Some of the toughest/most drought tolerant vegies include asparagus, corn, eggplant, mustard greens, okra, capsicums, snake beans, pumkin, sunflowers, tomato and zucchini.  They're tough - but will still need improved soil and regular water.  (Top tip - try to stick to a schedule & water at regular intervals.  Like we get used to our normal meal times, plants adapt to the watering regime you impose on them.  Changing it up will confuse plants and lead to issues like blossom end rot.)

Mulch and more mulch!
We talk about mulch ALL.THE.TIME. But it really is so important.  It keeps the soil alive over summer - adding a protective blanket to keep moisture in the soil which in turn means that microbial activity in the soil can continue.  Once soil dries out, microbes aren't active.  And they're the support network for your plants - so plants will tend to stress and be more susceptible to pests and diseases.  There are many options when it comes to mulch - we've got heaps of info on our website for further reading (and videos too).  Top up mulch throughout summer if it breaks down quickly.  Providing you keep it away from plant stems (to avoid the potential of rot) - you almost can't over do mulch - providing water is able to penetrate to the soil surface.

Provide shelter
In heatwave conditions, providing shade is a must for tender plants.  Shadecloth is a good choice for seasonal protection (white or light coloured shadecloth is best for plants - dark colours best for humans!)  but on a stinking hot day use umbrellas, old curtains or sheets, cardboard boxes - anything is better than nothing!  Windbreaks are important as well - depending on where you live - and will slow evaporation.  

Savvy Santa Stocking Stuffers! 

What do you give someone who has everything? Trying to come up with great gift ideas can be very stressful - not to mention expensive.  So if you have a window of opportunity between now and Christmas, you may like to consider some homemade gifts for those in your circle. Even better if you have home grown produce to use!  Here are some ideas - and I'm sure that there are plenty more to be found once you start looking!

• Simple herb and/or flower vinegar - see recipe here
• Preserved lemons - see recipe here
• Lemon cordial - see recipe here
• Shortbreads, yummy slices, handmade chocolates - ideally something that has a shelf life for at least a week or two so they don't get overlooked with the excesses of Christmas.
• Jams, Jellies, Chutneys are a great way to use home grown produce.  
• Do you sew? (or you can cheat and use small organza bags from craft shops!) Make sachets with herbs or lavender flowers to repel moths and insects in the linen cupboard or wardrobe.  Some good combinations are lavender, thyme, rosemary, wormwood, tansy, dried lemon peel.  Add cloves which are an excellent insect repellent. 

Eglantine Sauce
Eglantine is another name for briar roses - but this sauce can be made from ANY rose hips (the fat 'pod' left after a rose has dropped its petals).  Just make sure the roses haven't been sprayed with pesticides or herbicides - but otherwise all rose hips are edible.  This sauce was reputed to be a favourite of Queen Victoria to eat with lamb - but it's also perfect to use as a dessert topping!  With roses in bloom everywhere at the moment, you should be able to track down enough to make a batch!

Gather your rosehips and give them a light clean to remove any loose bits & dirt.  Cover with water, and simmer until the hips are soft (time this will take can vary hugely on rose variety - from 10 mins to over an hour - just keep checking), then press through a sieve leaving the seeds and other coarse material behind.  (Compost this or give it to your chooks!)

With the remaining pulp, use an equal amount of caster sugar (eg. 1 cup of pulp to 1 cup of caster sugar) and add a small quantity of lemon juice - [half a lemon to the 1 cup of pulp & 1 cup of sugar as a ratio].  Put back onto heat, stirring all the time until the sugar is dissolved and the sauce is an even consistency.  Place into sterilised jars, label, and refrigerate once cooled.

Fetta and Rose Petals in Oil
While you're dealing with roses, here's an option to use the petals.  Deep red work really well as they make such a colour contrast.

You'll need:
1 cup of rose petals, with the white (bitter) end snipped off.
2 cups fetta cheese in chunks
1 teaspoon rose water (optional.  This can be purchased from a chemist or you can make your own- see below)
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
Olives (optional)
Olive oil

Place ingredients in a jar, trying to make sure that the petals are evenly distributed.  Fill the jar to the brim with olive oil, and store in a cool place - a cool pantry works best (if refrigerated the olive oil may harden.  Sunflower oil is another option but flavour is not the same).  Flavour improves with a week or two but obviously check cheese before consumption.  

Rose Water

While 'proper' rose water is made through distillation, you can make a cheats version at home.  You'll need at least 2-3 lovely roses (which haven't been sprayed with nasties) to give you 1/2 - 1 cup of petals.  Choose blooms with a strong perfume if possible. Wash to remove dust & any insects.

Cover with distilled or filtered water - not too much; just enough to cover the petals.  Allow it to just simmer, then cover and reduce to the lowest possible heat to simmer and leave the lid on.  'Cook' for 30 mins, then turn off the heat and allow to cool completely.  Once cool, strain and bottle (remember to label).  It will keep up to a month in the fridge. Rose water is great to use in home made skin care recipes too - if you're still looking for more ideas!

Photo competition winner

Thank you to everyone who sent in photos for the newsletter competition!  There were a few to choose from and some lovely photos!  Remember - there's a winner selected each month so keep those photos coming in - someone's gotta win - why not you??

This month I selected Silvia from Darlington, who had this to say about her garden:

Hi to the Team at Green Life Soil Co

I thought that I would share some photos of our garden in Darlington. All three photos show the profusion of colour in the garden at this time of the year – the yellow flowers of the St Johns shrub and from the cabbage plants going to seed. Offsetting the red of the stalks of the silverbeet brimming with health. Every part of our garden has bees buzzing and other beneficial insects working hard. A feast for the senses. 

Take care, Silvia 

I hope your gardens are brimming with life, too!  Send in the pics via our Facebook page or email - with the subject line 'photo competition' to enter the draw for a $50 store credit to spend with us.

VIP Special offer

Some of you may have heard the sad news that WA Rose expert Bob Melville passed away suddenly last week.  His knowledge of roses and experience with rose breeding is legendary.  Just over a week ago, I was a guest on Curtin FM's "Let's Talk Gardening" show and he was one of the phone in expert guests for the day, giving tips on summer rose care. As part of that discussion, he talked about fertilising roses, and bemoaned the fact that blood & bone fertilisers these days were no good - not like the olden days!  I couldn't help but interrupt him - because at GLSC we blend our own Blood & Bone and it's definitely the good stuff like grandad used to use! Anyway - he didn't mind the interruption and told me I was a "good girl"- I giggled; and that was the last memory I'll have of Bob - who I've known for a few years now through industry groups.  It's a sad loss for his family and rose growers in WA, and our thoughts are with them at this time. - he will be missed.

But back to the VIP offer... (and hopefully not a disrespectful segueway!)

So what makes our Blood & Bone different?  It contains blood meal, feather meal, and rock dust for added trace elements.  That's it. No nasty fillers or artificial fertilisers.  It's certified organic.  And this month, VIP's get to grab some for HALF PRICE.

Spend $100 in store and VIP's get to buy any B+B for half price.  Did you know we also refill your own tubs?  Bring in a container and save packaging and you'll save money too; especially this month!!!  Prepackaged blood & bone - 3kg is now $11 (save $11), 8kg is now $21 (save $21), 15kg is now $34.50 (save $34.50) and refills $1.75/kg (save $1.75/kg). While stocks last and valid until close of business, Friday 23rd December 2022. 

If shopping in store or over the phone, please mention the offer to our team. If ordering online, to receive the discounted price you'll need to log in as a member to see the discounted pricing.

Retailer Update

Please support your local independent retailer who supports us! The specialist retailers listed here will be happy to give you gardening advice and help you with our products - please call to check what lines they carry as they can't stock all of our products (but may be willing to get stock in for a custom order - if you ask nicely!).  Some of these fabulous retailers also offer a home delivery service - so why not go local?  We're pleased to welcome a couple of brand new stockists this month - check out the list and see who's closest!
And congratulations to a BRAND NEW nursery - Utopia Nursery - Cnr Gt Northern Hwy & Morrisey Rd, Bullsbrook - opening their doors December 23rd.  Why not go for a drive and check them out?  

Daisy Field Organics - Fremantle 
Garden Elegance - Subiaco 9381 2197
Guildford Town Garden Centre - Guildford 9279 8645
Harbour Plants - South Fremantle 0439 967 034
Hydroponics Guru (Living Soil only) - Wangara 0430527575
Kambarang Garden Centre (formerly Waldecks Bentley) - Bentley 9458 5944
Lighthouse Fruit Tree Nursery - Parkwood 0411 166 034
Miaflora - Inglewood 9343 6334
Newstead Outdoors - Greenwood 9334 6334
Nibali Stockfeed - Hamilton Hill 9433 2211
Richo's 4 Hydro - Joondalup 9301 4462
Stackwood - Fremantle 9335 9835 (Square Foot Mix only)
Stanbee Stockfeeds - Barragup 9581 2390
Swan Valley Station - Swan Valley 0427 371 001
Tass1 Trees - Middle Swan 0419 988 344
Urban Revolution - Victoria Park 6102 1068
Utopia Nursery - Bullsbrook 0455 659 622
Waldecks Kingsley - 9309 5088
Waldecks Melville - 6317 0939
Waldecks Stirling - 9254 6730
Zanthorrea Nursery - Maida Vale 9454 6260

Ardess Nursery (Albany) 9842 9952
Australind Landscaping Supplies 9796 1720
Blossoms Nursery (Denmark) 9848 2014
Boyup Brook Co-op (Boyup Brook) 9765 1001
Great Northern Rural Services (Geraldton) 9964 1274
Hillview Garden Centre (Bridgetown) 9761 1672
Margaret River - Nutrient Ag Solutions 9758 7677
Soils Ain't Soils (Busselton) 97515 322

THANK YOU for being part of our Green Life family!  We hope to see you in store soon.  Check out our newsletter next month & stay up to date with our Facebook and Instagram pages for announcements, stock arrivals and general good gardening vibes!