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G'day!

Welcome to the About the Garden Winter 2010 Email Newsletter.

In this issue:
• Plant japonica camellias,
• Grow magnolias,
• Ask Ashley how to prevent bindii before this summer
• Read about NEW Searles Conguard
• Make our delicious warming pumpkin curry

Until next season - Happy Gardening!

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NOW IS THE TIME TO...

Plant magnolias — Plant magnolias in a sunny or lightly shaded position, depending on the variety. They like a slightly acidic soil that is free draining and enriched in organic matter, as well as protection from severe frosts and strong winds. Water well for the first three seasons. Once established they should only need watering through the summer or during extended dry periods.

Grow japonica camellias — The extravagantly beautiful Camellia japonica is available in garden centres, now. Plant them in a rich, well-drained soil, ideally in dappled shade. Don't apply fertiliser at planting time, but water every day for the first month. Apply Searles Flourish Azalea, Camellia & Gardenia every two weeks through spring and summer.

To read more, view the Winter issue of About the Garden CLICK HERE.

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WHAT'S ON?

Grow-your-own produce: Brisbane Workshops
Date: Workshops conducted throughout the year. Workshops calendar available on website.
Venue: The Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Roma Street Parklands and other locations on Brisbane's southside.
Further details: Gardening identity Linda Brennan gives a comprehensive range of workshops designed especially for urban gardeners who want to grow their own produce. Includes growing vegetables, herbs, fruit trees, composting techniques and gourmet cooking classes. Bookings essential.
Contact: Linda Brennan: 07 3349 2962 or visit: www.ecobotanica.com.au

Home Garden Expo
Date: Friday 9, Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 July 2010
Time: Gates open daily at 8am
Venue: Nambour Showgrounds, Nambour
Entry: Adults: $12, Aged concession: $12, children 15 and under: FREE
Further details: Free shuttle buses roam Nambour half hourly, meeting every train. For more details and bookings, Call 3403 2535
Contact: Ph: 07 5441 4655 or visit: www.homegardenexpo.com.au

Blackall Range Arts & Gardens Festival
Date: Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 June 2010
Time: 9am – 4pm each day
Includes: 6 Country Gardens, Garden market, Maleny & Montville Art Awards and Exhibitions, Concert in Lucas Parklands.
Tickets: $5 single garden, $10 three gardens, $15 all gardens, children under 18 free.
Further details: Specialist plant & produce stalls, camellia flower display, homemade refreshments, daily raffle prizes. Map & brochure included with entry fee.
Contact: Jill Rowland: 07 5494 4700 or visit: www.malenygardenclub.org

Garden Lovers Tour of Gardens in Victoria
Date: Thursday 7 — Thursday 14 October 2010
Includes: Visits of Dame Elizabeth Murdoch's Cruden Farm, historial Edna Walling designed Bickley Vale and the magical garden of Gardening Australia TV show host Steven Ryan, Tigurium.
Further details: Join gardening identity Noel Burdette on an 8 day garden lover's tour of gardens in Victoria. Contact Trade Travel for full itinerary.
Contact: Lyn Kelly (Trade Travel): 07 3036 5242

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REGIONAL GARDEN DIARY

North Queensland — Soak the vegie garden with Searles Fish & Kelp Plus every fortnight. Melon and pumpkin vines can be pruned to keep them within a 2m radius. This will give denser growth without decreasing the yield.

South-East Queensland & Northern NSW — Cut back roses to about one-third. Start planting native plants to attract native fauna. Cut back dead perennials and remove summer annuals.

Outback — Plant fruit trees and vines. Divide clumping plants such as agapanthus, canna lilies, liriope, iris and clivea. Remove spent flowers to induce new blooms.

Sydney — Prune natives that have finished flowering. Don't return fruit fly infected fruit to the compost. Divide agapanthus and other strappy-leafed perennials.

Melbourne — As the new buds start to swell on fruit trees such as plum, nectarine, cherry and peach, spray with a copper-based fungicide to control pest and disease.


About the Garden WINTER magazine OUT NOW

Visit your local ATG About the Garden member to pick up your copy.
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ASK ASHLEY

Ashley gives advice on eradicating bindii

A timely spray with Searles Lawn Perfect® during the winter can impede troublesome bindii prickles for years to come. This is because the prickles are actually seed heads and if you can destroy the plants in winter before the seed heads form, not only will there be less prickles to contend with by Christmas, but less bindii will appear in your lawn the following year. We often forget to spray for bindii until spring when the painful prickles make their presence felt. By this time, however, destroying the bindii will not destroy the seeds for next year's bindii.

To break the cycle, spray bindii in winter as soon as it appears and repeat spray every 3 weeks until it is all gone. Repeat spraying is important as this will destroy bindii that have germinated since the prior spraying.

Weed sprays will be more effective when used in conjunction with Searles Spredmax®. This is a wetting agent which helps the weedkiller stick to the leaves of the weed, given faster weed knockdown and reducing the need for repeat spraying.

(Note: Always follow directions carefully whenever using a weed spray.)
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WHAT'S NEW?

Searles Conguard™

• Low toxicity systemic and contact spray.
• Broad range of insects — aphids, azalea lace bug, greenhouse thrips, hibiscus flower beetle, mealybugs, psyllids, sap sucking insects (including bronze orange bug), green peach aphid and scale.
• Convenient RTU (Ready to use) spray bottle or economical concentrate.
• Fast and effective insect control

Size: 1 Litre (RTU spray pack), 200ml or 500ml (concentrate).

ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS: 0.125 g/L IMIDACLOPRID

Searles Conguard™ RTU is a low toxicity spray for use in a broad range of outdoor situations. This product can be used on shrubs, pot plants, ornamentals, roses, stone fruit and vegetables.

Searles Conguard™ RTU is a systemic and contact spray that is designed to kill pests both on contact and systemically via plant saps. When spraying affected plants, spray pests on the top and under sides of leaves for greater control.

It is important to follow directions on bottle for effective control.

SELECT THE RIGHT INSECTICIDE FOR YOUR GARDEN PEST.
CLICK HERE FOR CHART

You can find Searles Conguard™ at your nearest About the Garden outlet.

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RECIPE OF THE SEASON

Pumpkin curry

Ingredients:
1 cup red lentils
700g pumpkin, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 medium onion, sliced
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 cup mild curry paste
1 tablespoon black mustard seeds
1 2/3 cups coconut cream
350g baby spinach leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh coriander leaves

Method:
Cook lentils in large pan of boiling water, uncovered, about 10 min or until tender; drain.
Boil, steam or microwave pumpkin until tender; drain.
Heat oil in wok; stir-fry onion, ginger and garlic until onion is browned lightly.
Add paste and seeds; stir-fry until fragrant and hot.
Add lentils, pumpkin and cream; stir-fry until sauce boils.
Add spinach and coriander; stir-fry, tossing until spinach is just wilted.
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