Hero plant this month: Australian natives
January is a great time to be planting Australian natives. Using these plants, it’s easy to create a low maintenance garden. Blend shrubs such as callistemons and grevillieas with grasses, and strappy foliage to create a garden that will attract birds and beneficial insects. In store this month, there is a huge variety of these hardy classics.
Choose from the Bilby Native tubestock range or select from larger potted species in the Great Australians or Nature’s Nectar ranges. Check out callistemons and grevilleas as both species put on a fantastic display with their foliage and flowers.
Callistemons grow in most areas of Australia and are at their best in spring. Prune after flowering to keep the shrub in good, compact shape and encourage more blooms.
With more than 360 species, including ground covers, shrubs, and trees, there’s sure to be a grevillea that suits your landscape.
What else to plant
There’s nothing like eating what you grow, so try some bush tucker. Sea celery or sea parsley, old man saltbush and yam daisies are good, hardy choices. Use as a garnish or as a herb in your cooking. For example, fry up some saltbush leaves in some oil for a tasty gourmet snack. You can also eat the root of the yam daisy, treat it like a parsnip or a sweet potato, and it tastes great.
If the weather is hot, keep an eye on young plants, or leave them in pots in a sheltered spot until the scorching days have passed.
Maintenance
It’s a great time to prune any plants that need it. Remove spent flowers and dead wood. This not only improves the look of the plant, but also promotes new, healthy growth.
Leave some length on the lawn, so that it copes better with the blazing, summer sun.
It’s also a good idea to water the garden with a seaweed tonic. This helps ensure strong plant roots and also strengthens plant cell walls.
Keep an eye on weeds and remove smoothly.
Add mulch to the soil. This not only helps to protect the soil and plant roots it will also help stop weeds growing. Using pea straw or sugar cane mulch will help improve the soil as it breaks down.
Harvest
January is a great time to be harvesting fresh produce from the garden. Stone fruit is in season. Pick peaches, nectarines and cherries. Delicious blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries are also ripening on the bushes. Keep picking herbs such as rosemary, mint, parsley, thyme and coriander.
Start planting today
Check out the wide range of plants online or visit your local Bunnings Warehouse to find out how you can bring your garden to life.
Our Perfect Plant Promise
Remember the Perfect Plant Promise. All our plants (except seedlings) are guaranteed for 12 months. If you're not 100 percent happy, return your plant (with the receipt or tax invoice) and we'll refund it.
