It is time to prune!
Plant of the month is Oxylobium robustum, a shrub to 3 metres, occurring in wet and dry eucalypt forest. The bright yellow flowers, sometimes with red markings, appear winter to spring. Image Mary Boyce
Cooloola City Farm, opposite the Community Centre, on Tin Can Bay Road, is open to the public for plant sales on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8am-3pm, 07 54862304, ccfni09@gmail.com, www.cooloolacityfarm.org
Last month we discussed mulching to help plants through the summer. This month, the topic is another important spring task – pruning.
Pruning has many benefits – controlling pests and disease, promoting new growth and increased flowering, and limiting the tendency of many natives to become leggy and straggling – an important issue in a small garden and perhaps aesthetically.
Many natives flower from late winter to early spring and it is generally recommended that pruning be done soon after flowering is finished.
Tip pruning is removing the tips of the new growth. This promotes a bushier habit and increased flowering on the new wood. Tip pruning can begin very early in a plant’s life and regular tip pruning is the best way to manage the growth, allowing you to shape the plant from the very beginning and reducing the need for hard pruning later on. The more you prune, the more dense the plant will become.
Remember that free local plants are available on your latest rates notice, so come in to see our range. We are here for help and advice and welcome any requests for assistance with native plant choices and issues.
