Gardening in Australia will require you to prepare for the worst climate possible. You wouldn’t want to compromise your months of hard work just to lose it all with one storm or steaming heat. It is ideal to equip and design your garden resilient to all four seasons of the country.
Gardening itself is a technical task that demands a lot of your time, effort, and money. Investing in your outdoor plants will require you to arm yourself with adequate knowledge about gardening in Australia. Each place has different soil quality, landscape, and climate conditions. Thus, being able to identify and take into account these factors, you will get to achieve a flourishing garden full of poignant healthy plants.
To help you design a robust garden landscape, here are some tips:
Gardening Tips on How To Combat Drought and Floods in Australia
Soil Enhancement
Your plants can tolerate extreme weather conditions with soil enriched with compost nutrients. A free-draining and open structured landscape can also help your plants withstand intense flooding. Improving your soil during the start of summer using organic fertilisers and matters will help condition your plants to any climate mishaps. It will significantly increase the soil’s water-holding capacity while allowing a free drainage system.
It is ideal to elevate the composition of your soil before planting. Also, applying layers of fertiliser under the mulch will upgrade the sustenance of your plants to floods and droughts. While floods are the most common predicaments every gardener in Australia have to face during the rainy season, droughts in summer can kill your plants if your soil doesn’t have the ability to let water penetration. Such a condition is called dry-out.
If you want to test the capabilities of your soil to absorb water, give your plants with enough water to penetrate all the way to its roots. After watering, dig about four to five inches and see whether or not your soil is repelling water. If you discover that your soil repels water and the depth your dug wasn’t reached by the water, it is ideal to elements that will aid your soil in engulfing water while being able to hold as much liquid as it can to combat drought.
Adding the appropriate granules into your soil will help you reduce runoff and water wastage. Rather, it will enhance its capacity in deeply penetrating the water in the soil for storage. Thus, it will promote a growth that requires less water without compromising the plant’s health.
Importance of Mulching
The process of mulching is crucial in combatting hot climates. The spring and autumn seasons bring the harshest sunlight that leads to poor plant quality. Mulching will significantly improve water storage and prevent it from evaporation. Thus, it will be able to hold as much water during the days of drought.
Mulching also helps in insulating the soil while keeping it cool in the root areas. It promotes better plant growth, reduces stress, and better thriving even during the harshest weather. Hence, layer your plants with a thin fresh coat of mulch and keep your plants healthy during droughts.
The Golden Rules of Watering
Dry weather can deprive your plant of water due to evaporation. The scorching sun can take up all the moisture in the soil. Thus, on the day when the climate is too dry, keep these watering golden rules to help your plant thrive.
- Occasionally perform thorough soaking to deeply penetrate the soil.
- Water your plants early in the morning or at night for the best chance of deep soaking.
- Avoid watering during the day when the sun is striking.
- Avoid using a sprinkler since it can’t penetrate deep into the plants’ roots.
- Use micro-irrigation and dripper systems to save on water.
Combatting Rainy Days
Before the stormy days come, check your plant’s soil draining abilities. While hot summer days cause moist deprivation to your plant, rainy days do quite the opposite. Pouring rains can dorn your plants if the soil is not capable of draining the excess water.
Another challenge during stormy days is the wind. Gusty winds cab damage tall and vulnerable plants in your garden. Provide robust support for light-structured plants. You can tie them in a post or stake to avoid falling or breaking.
Lastly, hail is another predicament gardeners have to deal with. It can cause some serious damage to your plants. It may bruise your plant’s branches and stems while losing a lot of leaves. These can cause your plant to fail to do its daily duties to thrive.
During hail, you can move all your potted plants indoors to prevent them from withstanding such weather. As for plants situated directly into the soil, provide them with fertilisers rich in nutrients and add a plant tonic. It will greatly aid in the recovery of your damaged plants.
Recovery After a Flood
Every gardener knows that every after a flood, the plant’s quick recovery is a foremost priority. Some plants may naturally bounce back to their good condition, however, some may need a little assistance to gain its strength. Wait until the water drains completely and layer manure or compost to help balance back the lost nutrients from the flood. Compost with a balanced nutrient ratio is effective in replenishing the soil while helping the plants thrive.
Gardening is a fun way to enjoy leisure. Looking at healthy thriving plants can significantly reduce stress and promote a better mood. Gardening in Australia may be a little bit challenging but having beautiful lively plants in your lawn makes it all worth the effort. Hence, take into account some of our tips to save your plants from the harshest climates in Australia.