Gardening

[bob_kennedy]

Hello to all, and Happy New Year.

 

Just looking for some general advice from the PIO people. I am living in Felixstow (just signed rental contract for 12 months so far). The house is nice and across the road is the Linear park. The house comes with a great back garden for the kids, lovely green grass and a couple of orange trees, pear trees, apple and tomatoes and chilli bushes. I would like to maintain the garden. There is already a sprinkler system and hose setup in place. My question really is how much and how long do I water/use the sprinklers for especially coming in to the hot season. I am guessing I water in the morning or the evening. Any other general gardening advice appreciated. Thanks

 

PS. Since when did Cockatoos get so bl00dy loud!?

[Blossom]

Water in the morning ideally. It really depends on the irrigation as to how long as there are different flow rates. At this time of year, for trees I'd run for 5-10 minutes every morning. Even not too hot ones. On the 40+ days I'd do the same in the evening. By winter is be down to once a week or two.

[Guest Guest14361]

Is the sprinkler system set up on a timer system? If so let it run its time, re the fruit trees once a week but a good soaking will be enough,

[bob_kennedy]

Thanks guys. Nobby what time should I set or are they all standard. As far as I can tell ( I could be wrong) one had a 20 min setting.

[Guest Guest14361]

If it's a rental and the garden is well tended perhaps theirs a maintenance gardener that has the contract to tender the garden, check with the real estate or landlord. I would note the on off times over a week or two week period and see how you go, 20 mins a day will be ample, are you paying for the water??

[bob_kennedy]

It is a rental. We are paying for the water, but we are getting an allowance to look after the garden.

[NicF]

Invest in a watering can. Use the sprinkler system for an hour once a week. Twice if the weather is really hot and dry. This should be plenty of water for the trees. The tomatoes will need watering everyday and twice a day on hot and/or sunny days (hence the watering can) Same amount each time. Watering tomatoes sporadically can cause problems with the actual tomatoes growing. With the chillies you can get away with watering them less often. Mine get watered when I have time and I make more time if it's been, or is going to be, particularly hot. If they look like they are wilting and haven't been watered for a while then give them a drink. You get hotter chillies from plants that have been stressed so if you like hot chillies don't pander to the plants too much.

 

It would also be worth investing in some fertiliser and applying it as per the instructions on the box. The tomatoes will be better with a fertiliser for tomatoes rather than just a general one and everything else will need one for fruiting plants. The tomato fertiliser you get may be suitable for the other things as well. Check the back of the packet or ask the staff at the garden centre.

[Diane]

Hello to all, and Happy New Year.

 

Just looking for some general advice from the PIO people. I am living in Felixstow (just signed rental contract for 12 months so far). The house is nice and across the road is the Linear park. The house comes with a great back garden for the kids, lovely green grass and a couple of orange trees, pear trees, apple and tomatoes and chilli bushes. I would like to maintain the garden. There is already a sprinkler system and hose setup in place. My question really is how much and how long do I water/use the sprinklers for especially coming in to the hot season. I am guessing I water in the morning or the evening. Any other general gardening advice appreciated. Thanks

 

PS. Since when did Cockatoos get so bl00dy loud!?

 

Just want to say, welcome to the area. Linear Park is beautiful, and yes the cockies - or corellas - are incredibly noisy - all night long sometimes! They don't seem to realise birds should sleep at night <sigh>.... Few black cockies around at the moment: they have an amazing very distinctive and haunting call.

 

If your kids have bikes, or roller blades, make the most of the cycle paths in the park. They run all the way to Henley Beach which makes a good family outing. Keep your eyes out for koala poo on the path - usually a sign its owner is around nearby somewhere.

[bob_kennedy]

Thanks Nic, really good info to get started. Diane I actually thought monkeys were screaming outside the house they were that loud!! Anyway off to google what Koala poop looks like now