Hello and welcome to the October newsletter!

Spring is definitely upon us - with some warmer days and a bit of rain - it's the usual mixture for this time of year.  Gardens are responding with lots of flowers, growth - and a bit of confusion with plants a bit unsure at times...  but that's the joy of gardening! We've certainly had a busy month @ GLSC.  Thank you to our lovely customers who keep on coming back; supporting us and sharing their love of gardening.  Did you get along to the Kalamunda Garden Festival on the 3rd of September?  Speaking of rainy weather - the day & night before the festival we had HEAPS of rain; so much so that it turned Stirk Park (the venue) into a bit of a mud pit.  We got an urgent call from Andrew & Amanda the night before looking for help to provide something on the ground to help.  So Paul was up early, and took up two truckloads of woodchip mulch to the site.  Which was a great idea until he got bogged...  But thanks to many hands helping, and handy 4WD tows available - it all worked out in the end.  The day itself had a mix of rain and sunshine - but it didn't dampen the spirits of those that attended.  If you missed out, the next Festival is scheduled for Sunday, 3rd December.  Keep an eye on our Facebook page as we will have a competition running a little closer to the time to win FREE passes!

Over the long weekend just passed, Paul & I were down in Margaret River for a dance festival.  It gave us the opportunity to call into our local retail outlets in Margaret River and Busselton, and do some product training with Mitre 10 Margaret River (who carry our Square Foot Mix, Charlie Charcoal & Vegetable Concentrate).  Nutrien Ag Margaret River carry our Premium Potting Mix, Vegetable Mix and Certified Organic compost.  We have a growing number of retail outlets around the State - with new outlets coming onboard all the time (Karratha - I'm looking at YOU!)  See the bottom of this newsletter for our list of outlets where you can track down GLSC goodies closer to home.  Whilst in Margs, we had the opportunity to look around Fair Harvest Permaculture - which is a fabulous farm & permaculture education centre, offering seasonal accommodation and a range of course.  Keep an eye out for various workshops there in the future.  We also visited a friend who's moved into the Witchcliffe Ecovillage; so got to see first hand the development of that site and how it's coming along.  Some amazing gardens, that's for sure!

October is GLSC's birthday month, 22 years since Paul & I took over The (then) Gaia Centre on Farrall Road.  A few things have changed since those days; but at the core we're still about helping people have a great garden!

See you soon @ GLSC!
Linda and the team

Photo right is our team member Kobe - who's worked with us for a good few years & is going on to work in his field of study (physiotherapy)  Thanks & good luck, Kobe!

Jobs to do in the October garden

• Weeds- Many are going to seed at this time. Time to rip these babies out or even slash them, whatever action you choose will help to minimise spread.  See our fact sheet on organic weed control here.
• Seed Raising- It's time to start your summer vegie seeds.  Keep an eye on your seedlings at this time of year when temperatures are fluctuating; keep seedling trays/pots warm & watered.  If planting out directly in garden beds, patience is important.  Things can take a while until conditions are ideal for germination.  See our fact sheet here for tips & tricks for sowing from seed.
• Fertilising- If you haven’t already fed your fruit trees, this is a great time to do so! Adding some organic matter like compost or manures or our General Concentrate will help improve the soil and give it new life.  See our fact sheet on soil improvement here. 
• Mulching- Mulching the entire the garden can be a big job, start now while the weather isn’t steaming hot and while the ground still has moisture. Two of our popular mulches are our Recycled Tree Prunings or our Econo mulch (darker, partially composted).  Also consider our 3-way mulch if you're looking for mulch to feed and protect perennial plants in one fell swoop!  For vegie gardens, we have lupin straw, wheat straw, and bagged mulches like lupin mulch, sugar cane mulch and Whoflungdung (certified organic). We're expecting more bagged pea straw in store very soon too. Need advice?  Call us!  Or check out our range of mulches here.
• Fruit Trees- At this time of year it is important to keep an eye on flowering and fruiting trees. If you have fruit fly in your area, start netting those trees now - as soon as fruit has set! (We sell insect netting packs @ GLSC).  See our fact sheet here. It's almost your last chance to deal with citrus gall wasp - adults will be emerging & breeding and laying eggs again.  Sticky traps in your trees may help with control.  Make sure you use a protective sleeve around the traps to stop small birds getting stuck on the traps, and remember to remove them in a few weeks once the CGW season moves on.  Traps will also catch pollinators and beneficial insects, so don't leave them in your trees longer than necessary.  Another thing to try is our Clay Spray - superfine kaolin clay you mix with water to spray a coating on your citrus tree branches and stems.  This makes it much less attractive/easy for insects to penetrate the outer bark layer - acting like a protective barrier.
• Improve your soil.  Now's the time to be adding clay & biochar (Charlie Charcoal) to help with water retention over the coming hot months.  Talk to us and we can assist you in making long term improvements to your soil's health.  Bring in a soil sample and we can check the pH, and make some recommendations on soil improvement to help your plants flourish. With summer just around the corner - and water usage restrictions coming into play - it's never been so critical to build your soil health and have a waterwise garden.

What to Plant NOW

Check out our free 'When to Plant' guide on our website; but as a quick reference, it's time to plant:

Asian greens (Bok Choi/Tatsoi etc.) Artichoke (globe), Basil, Beans, Beetroot, Broccoli, Capsicum, Chilli, Carrot, Celery, Celeriac, Choko, Cucumber, Eggplant, Ginger, Kale*, Kohl rabi*, Leek, Lettuce, Melons, Okra, Parsnip, Pumpkin, Radish, Rocket, Rosella, Silverbeet, Spring onion, Squash, Strawberries, Sweet corn, Sweet potato, Tomato, Turnip, Zucchini. 

* these vegies are often better grown in cooler weather; if planting now, make sure you have a protected spot (they'll bolt to seed if too hot), and watch Kale/Kohl rabi in particular for caterpillars which are more active in the warmer months - insect netting is highly recommended.

There's also HEAPS of herbs that will flourish at this time of year - Basil, Chives, Oregano, Mint, Parsley, Thyme, Sage, Comfrey, Borage - just to name a few! Within each of these, there's multiple varieties available - so get creative and get a herb garden growing for your summer entertaining garnishes and tasty treats. You don't need a lot of space (a pot on your verandah will do!) to reap the rewards.

If you have room around your garden, add in some flowering annuals.  They'll help bring in pollinating and other beneficial/predatory insects, as well as providing colour and decoration.  At this time of year consider Alyssum, Calendula, Cosmos, Lobelia, Petunias (and as an added benefit - if you plant the white variety, their fluttering petals help confuse the cabbage butterfly!), Portulaca, Sunflowers - there's heaps more; just ask us (or your local independent nursery).

We've got heaps of fact sheets on specific vegies & growing information for Perth and WA freely available - check out our 'Learn' tab above! (in our website banner).

Gardening in a Changing Climate

A number of locals we spoke to whilst 'down south' commented on it being a dryer winter, and that the declining rainfall in the region was a concern - as it is everywhere.  Given our growing population, it seems its more important than ever to address the water we all use in our homes and gardens and aim for maximum efficiency. 

One school of thought is to have less gardens - after all, our lawns and gardens make up a big percentage of our overall household water use.  However - as an option, that leaves us with a dead, inhospitable and artificial environment, and reduced opportunities to provide for wildlife habitat, and our own need as human animals to have connection with nature.  So if we want to garden, we need to do so cleverly and responsibly.  The term 'climate resilient landscaping' is being used a lot these days.  It's defined: "A climate-resilient landscape is one that is designed and managed to withstand and adapt to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, droughts, and shifting temperature patterns, while maintaining its functionality and ecological balance. It often involves sustainable practices and plant choices that enhance the landscape's ability to thrive in changing environmental conditions."

Plant choice:
What you grow and where you grow it is pivotal in the harsh climate(s) of Western Australia - with lots of arid terrain. Savvy gardeners carefully curate their landscapes with species known for their adaptability to water scarcity and intense sunlight. Iconic native flora, like Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos) and hardy Grevillea can flourish - along with many other lesser known but equally worthy species.  It's worth going to a specialist native nursery if you're looking for endemic species; and/or get advice from a qualified landscaper or garden centre team member.  Gardens can be both beautiful AND tough - but we may need to rethink some traditional plants and gardening methods that are less suited to our conditions.  Research bodies like those at Kings Park Botanical Gardens are paying attention to the 'plants of the future' - providing robust cultivars to the Nursery Industry for propagation.

Water-Efficient Landscapes:
Water conservation is paramount. Precision irrigation, (particularly drip systems) efficiently deliver moisture to plant roots. Even ornamental water features can prioritise water recycling, or serve dual purpose - providing water for wildlife, etc.  Incorporating water permeable areas or building swales to allow water to soak into the ground (rather than going into stormwater, or causing erosion) is sensible design done once, but done well.  Mulch blankets garden beds to preserve soil moisture and is vital (more on mulch shortly).

Creating Protective Microclimates:
Microclimates offer protection from extreme conditions. Shaded alcoves, windbreaks, and utilising site position (eg. sheltered south facing areas, fences or other vegetation, or areas under eaves) to cater to plants' specific needs.  Hydrozoning relates to planting species with similar water and soil requirements together for efficient water and fertiliser use.

Building resilient gardens - the Importance of Healthy Soil

(Sure - we're a tad biased on building healthy soil.  But really - it's where a healthy garden starts and ends) Here are some reasons why it's vital:

Enhanced Water Retention:
Healthy soil acts like a sponge, retaining moisture and reducing the frequency and volume of irrigation needed. This is especially crucial in Western Australia's arid conditions where water is a precious resource.  Build the soil structure as the first step in gardening - it is a one-off expense if done right.

Improved Nutrient Availability:
Nutrient-rich soil provides essential minerals and elements to plants, helping them withstand stressors like drought and extreme temperatures. Gardeners can enrich their soil with organic matter through composting and mulching - ideally you can 'close the loop' and become almost self sufficient in your soil inputs. It may take a bit of effort, but you can reduce your reliance on external inputs in time, if you have a limited budget.

Carbon Sequestration: 
Carbon sequestration in small domestic gardens may not be significant compared to large forests, but it can still help reduce your carbon footprint. Planting trees, proper composting, and sustainable practices like no-till gardening and mulching can contribute to carbon storage. While the impact is limited individually, collectively, these efforts can benefit the environment and reduce carbon emissions in communities.

Practical Tips for Soil Health:
Soil Testing - Know what you've got: Work with what you have - but get to know what that is!  A laboratory can do a nutrient test that can help work out what your soil may be lacking.  However, at GLSC we've got a pretty good understanding of what your soil type may be and what you can do to build it's health.  Bring in a small soil sample and we can do a pH test in house, and look at the structure.  This is where we recommend you start.

Mulching:
We really can't stress it enough - mulching your soil is vital, no matter what type of garden you have!  As well as keeping moisture in the soil for plants - this acts to preserve beneficial microbes in the soil who need moisture too!  And they're the critters that feed your plants and help keep them resilient.  So protect the soil life with mulch!  

Crop Rotation:
While we may be familiar with crop rotation ideas in the vegie garden; there's lots of evidence to suggest that a variety of plant types growing around your garden can lead to healthier soil.  Different plants act to create a biodiverse plant society - with different microbe buddies and interconnected survival strategies.  Monocultures really don't work the same way - diversity is healthy!

Reduced Chemical Use:  
Besides the environmental considerations of using sprays, chemicals and treatments in our gardens (impacts on beneficial insects, animals and our own health), increasing your gardens resilience & health and decreasing intervention & pest control needs will save you time, money, and the packaging and transport associated with all the products.  

Composting:
Composting systems, worm farms, etc. mean you can recycle waste and save money on inputs.  But the wider environmental impact of reducing landfill and transportation of waste is also something that collectively makes a huge difference to our carbon footprint.

Year-Round Gardening:
A healthy garden provides habitat for insects, birds, animals - and a place for us to retreat from the world and rejuvenate our senses.  Add a few vegies and you're also reducing your reliance on food production systems and distribution networks - something that we learnt (through Covid and occasional weather extremes) can be fragile. 

As climate change poses new challenges to Western Australian gardeners, nurturing the soil becomes a fundamental step in creating resilient, sustainable landscapes. By prioritizing soil health through practices like composting, mulching, and plant diversity & crop rotation, gardeners can play a pivotal role in adapting to and mitigating the effects of a changing climate. A healthy soil ecosystem not only benefits plants but also contributes to a healthier planet.  Combined with efficient water use and appropriate plant selection, we CAN have a healthy and happy garden.

Chickens - a great addition to your garden!

As spring arrives, the bounty from our chickens at home certainly comes on strong.  The girls are back on the lay, and I'm reminded of the benefits of keeping a few chooks; so if you're thinking about getting a few, here's some considerations...

Permaculture Benefits:
Keeping chickens as part of a permaculture system offers numerous advantages. They provide eggs, help dispose of food scraps, and produce valuable manure for garden use.  If you have young kids, and a bit of food waste, they're ideal recyclers.  Being omnivorous, they will be grateful to assist.  [Chickens in the wild are also cannibalistic - so if you have left over chicken, the only thing stopping them eating it is your ethical stance!]  They will eat bread, dairy - just about anything!  Avoid giving them anything rancid or excessively mouldy.

Avoid feeding chickens avocado, leaves/stems of solanum family (ie. tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, capsicum) - as the leaves contain compounds that can be toxic in large amounts. Also avoid feeding them rhubarb leaves - although I do know of people who tell me their chooks love to peck at them from time to time - so perhaps they self medicate?  They seem to have the ability to stay away from harmful foods.  Don't feed them raw rice, potatoes or beans - although these are fine if cooked.  Anything that pantry moth have been into?  Boil up and feed them the whole shebang! 

Consider your availability:
Chickens need regular feeding & watering, so if you go away, do you have a neighbour or friend who can help out?  Keeping chicken feed secure, regularly cleaning your pen, putting out fly traps in summer are all things that help keep rodents and smells to a minimum - which makes for good neighbourly relations!

Check Local Regulations:
Before keeping chickens, check with your local council for regulations regarding the number of birds allowed and proximity to neighbors.

Basic Needs:
Ensure your chickens have a warm, dry, and secure shelter at night with somewhere to roost up high, access to fresh water, and an area with soil for scratching.  Some councils require the pen to have a cement floor - you can cover this with a heavy layer of mulch (woodchip works well) so that chickens can still scratch, and you can easily remove the mulch every now and again to refresh the material.

Garden Access:
Allow chickens access to your garden periodically, using temporary fencing to protect areas you want to keep undisturbed. They help control insects, weed, and improve soil.  (Google 'chicken tractor' for a range of ideas that can be made for mobile & temporary chicken housing.)

Plant Herbs and Greens:
Plant herbs and greens that are tasty and beneficial to chickens. These can supplement their diet by picking and tossing into their pen. Examples include garlic (the bulbs mashed into their feed are very beneficial), onion, chickweed, dandelion, and more.

Preferred Vegetables: Chickens enjoy green, leafy vegetables like Silverbeet, lettuce, beetroot, turnip, and radish tops, as well as warrigal greens, spring onion tops, broccoli leaves, kale, cabbage, and fresh winter grass weeds.  Any left over cooked vegies from dinner can be fed to chooks too.

Insect-Repelling Herbs:
Grow insect-repelling herbs near the chicken pen, and regularly trim branches to release scent. Examples include Artemisia's (wormwood, mugwort), tansy, rosemary, and lavender.

Natural Worming:
Use herbs to help prevent intestinal worms in chickens. Nasturtium, nettle (cooked and added to mash), and garlic (in mash or drinking water) are effective options.

Home Made Monthly Treatment:
Once a month, create a mixture of horseradish, wormwood, tansy, elder, santolina, rue, hyssop, onions, garlic, grated carrots, mustard, and pumpkin seeds. Add this mixture to their feed at a rate of about 20% to help maintain chicken health.

Enjoy Your Chickens:
Chickens are highly entertaining and enjoyable to have around. Just watching chickens do their thing is relaxing! Keep them healthy, and you'll reap the benefits of fresh eggs and willing waste & garden helpers for a long time.

Photo Competition Winner

Congrats to Lynne M. from Stratton, who we've picked as this month's winner!  Remember to keep sending in your photos with a little note about your garden and YOU could be the winner next time!

Each month we pick someone at random for a $50 store credit to spend with us.  Send in your pics by email with the subject 'photo competition' or send them via Facebook.  You gotta be in it to win it!

Lynne has done a garden makeover front & back yard, putting in lots of native plants and mulching the soil.  It will look amazing in a year or two once the garden establishes; I'm sure it will be a haven for birds and wildlife.  (Lynne - make sure you send us updated photos in 2025, OK?)

VIP Special

This month's VIP special offer is Growsafe Fertiliser.  Made in WA, this is a complete mineral fertiliser with a microbial coating - supplying macro and micro nutrients (including trace elements) to your plants over a long period.  Safe for all plants (including natives) and good to use on anything from roses, to lawns to vegetables (just read the application rate on the packaging!) and perfect to apply now to your fruit trees.  It's a great way to build your soil and feed your plants.

Growsafe retails normally at $34.95 for a 10kg bag.  Our usual Members price is $29.95, and this month YOU SAVE EVEN MORE! 

Our VIP special for October is Growsafe for $27.00 per bag.

Limit to 2 per customer while stocks last & until close of business Tuesday 31st October 2023.

Don't forget to ask in store for the discounted price, and if you're shopping online you'll need to be logged into the Members Section to access the special rate.
(If you're having problems logging into the members section, please shoot us a 'contact us' form & we should be able to help out.)

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 (marked with *)  - so why not go local?  (Please contact the store directly for details.)

Bar Botanik - North Perth 9227 6758 (Indoor Potting Mix & Aroid Mix only)
Daisy Field Organics - FremantleGarden 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 (Potting Mix only)
Stanbee Stockfeeds* - Barragup 9581 2390
Supreme Plants - West Swan 0499 887 275 (Blueberry Mix only)
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 (Premium Potting Mix & Compost)
Mitre 10 Margaret River 9757 2455  (Square Foot Mix & Veg Concentrate)
Naturaliste Landscape Supplies (Busselton) 9754 8081
Soils Ain't Soils (Busselton) 97515 322 - GLSC stock pictured above!

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!