May is upon us, the time for gardening. The weather is cooling down and soon we will receive rain. If you have not put your plants in the ground or in pots it is best to work on it now.
Maintaining your garden on a regular basis helps reduce pest and disease problems. This time of the year work on improving the soil by adding compost as it will improve the structure and fertility of the soil and allow plants to grow stronger, making them more resistant to infection and damage. Mulch, mulch, mulch as it acts as a soil protective blanket.
Clean up under pots and perennials where the snails can gather together as they are looking for places to hibernate. Keep garden beds free of weeds, plant rubble and prune autumn-flowering shrubs such as Plectranthus, Tecoma, Leonotis, Barlerias and Plumbago. Deadhead some of the shrubs, cutting back old flowering stems.
Plants will need less water as the days are cooling down. Before watering, indoor plants stick your finger in the soil and feel if the soil is dry or moist. If the soil is dry, you can proceed and water, if it seems moist wait a little longer before watering. Do not forget to lift some pots to avoid them becoming waterlogged. Remove dust from indoor plants by gentle wiping them with a damp cloth. Some plants respond best with a proper wash down.
