IN THE GARDEN

The Age

Saturday March 6, 2010

DIANA SNAPE

BUY another grafted Qualup bell (Pimelea physodes, pictured) for a large pot close to the house. I'm feeling guilty because I noticed our last Qualup bell was not looking well but I didn't notice its dripper was missing until it was too late.PREPARE for a busy time digging a little compost into any vacant areas. I'll use a wetting agent, too, if the soil seems hydrophobic. With the drier climate, preparing soil before planting is more important than ever. I'll still wait for the first decent fall of autumn rain before I start planting.SPREAD the last of the coarse eucalypt mulch we obtained during summer, keeping clear of plant stems. Later, we'll add a light dose of fertiliser to compensate for any loss of nitrogen as the wood slowly breaks down.POT up rooted cuttings of a variety of groundcover daisies, ready for planting during autumn. Most are forms or hybrids of cut-leaf daisy (Brachyscome multifida) and common everlasting (Chrysocephalum apiculatum). I took the cuttings just over a month ago.TIDY up a stream lily (Helmholtzia glaberrima) by cutting off old, dead leaves near their base. Light brown in colour, they're very conspicuous among the long, strappy green foliage. It will make the plant look young and healthy again.

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