July '09 - July brings the return of absentee gardener's for their
summer visit with the challenge of maintaining their gardens and properties. So unless you are able to pay a gardener for the months you are not in Spain, special care needs to be taken that the design is simple and easy to maintain.
When visiting the garden centre ensure you choose plants and trees which are drought tolerant and also look for trees which can be planted to create shade for the planting area around and below.
As an alternative to lawns maybe consider areas of coloured chippings which are attractive and inexpensive, plus adding a variety of pots and ornaments achieving a relaxing area with easy maintenance. Having cleared the area, lay plastic underlay to the required shape and cover with the chippings.
Formal bush and standard roses can be used in planting areas and climbing / rambling roses to cover walls, fences and gazebos.
The Mediterranean climate ensures a long growing and flowering season from Easter to Christmas so it is essential that roses are planted in a rich soil, mulched each year with goat manure if possible and pruned hard in January after enjoying roses at Christmas. Unfortunately the humid conditions in Spain can result in aphid and fungal attacks, therefore a regular spray with fungicide and insecticide is advised to remedy this problem.
Finally continue to check the irrigation system regular in the weeks to come, hot blue skies look here to stay.

More tips next month from Rosie or email: rosie@thesentinellamalaga.com

June '09 - The month of June and the important task being to dead head the flowers, roses and geraniums.  The removal of dead flower heads has many benefits, a continuity of flower buds and flowers as the plant attempts to produce seed only to be thwarted by your efforts. This is particularly important with roses, daisy flowering plants, annuals and perennials, Gazonas, carnations and geraniums. Gardens look so much tidier when plants having been dead headed.

In the case of bulbs leave the stem to die back before cutting off, although it will look a little untidy. Plants will be stimulated to put all its energy into developing a good bulb for the next year, daffodils, tulips, gladioli, iris and lilies.

Also take the opportunity during June to lightly prune any plants which have grown a little wild during the flowering weeks and increase watering as the temperature increases, checking the watering system regular for leaks and to ensure that all drip heads work.

MARGARITA, (Paris daisy) is a perennial spreading 1x1 metres which likes full sun and requires little irrigation. A pretty flowering evergreen shrub with white, yellow and pink daisy flowers in winter, spring and autumn. A much liked plant, ideal in borders and rockeries, but do not plant in the shade as this will produce a poor weak plant susceptible to disease.  Propagation cuttings can be taken spring or summer. Dead head regular to promote continuous flowering and lightly prune but be careful not to cut back into the old wood. When pruning snip out tips frequently to maintain the neat rounded shape.

MARGARITA AFRICANA (African daisy) an extremely colourful and tough daisy plant which can be planted into any corner of the garden. Excellent for sloping bank, rockeries or just ground cover. This perennial can spread some 1metre x 0.5 and again prefers full sun and is drought tolerant making it an ideal evergreen plant. The silvery grey to grey/green leaves have a little furry appearance whilst the beautiful flowers in yellow, orange, pink, russet and cream have contrasting black or golden eye producing masses of flowers during spring and summer. Propagate from small offshoots or by seed during autumn and spring. Again dead head regular to promote healthy continuous flowers.

Finally the rose bushes, a few minutes each day snipping the old roses off makes way for another making perfect yield of perfect roses. However watch out for pests and diseases that can appear as the heat and humidity rise, so ensure weekly spraying and health checks.

Happy dead heading.

May '09 - Many of us struggle with gardens scattered with rocks on sloping banks making gardening very difficult, therefore a colourful rockery can be an attractive feature flowering year round. There are many flowering and foliage plants growing well in the rocky conditions, the rocks providing shade for plants and also maintaining moisture.

It could be you have an area of builders rubbish, in this case cover the bricks and rubble with approximately 30cm of good quality soil, watering well so all the spaces are filled with soil, and then randomly place good sized rocks making an attractive feature to plant into. If you want to be more adventurous consider adding a water feature, a cascade or waterfall or maybe a pond if you have a large area. The sound of water can be extremely relaxing on those hot summer days.

Choosing your plants can be fun and not necessarily expensive, remember small cuttings will soon multiply. Consider succulents with interesting shapes, most are drought resistant, Lampranthus gives spectacular colour in red, orange, pink and yellow and spreads quickly. Aeonium, evergreen and grows taller to 0.5metres but can provide good shade and looks attractive all year round, easily propagated from branches that break off.

Bulbous plants are ideal for rockeries, Hyacinthus in groups of many colours and what a wonderful scent in the early evening. Cyclamen's in bright pinks, reds and white with mottled and marbled shiny leaves, flowering during the winter months.

Ground cover plants, Gazania and Verbena both ideal for summer colour and like full sun. Spider plants and Tradescantia tumbling over larger rocks, blending in perfectly with brighter plants but their contrasting foliage. Perennials, Felicia, with its small blue daisy flower and Dianthus ideal in cracks in walls and rockeries with its many pretty flowers which will spread into all those nooks and crannies. 

And how about planting your favourite herbs between rocks, Chives with its pretty pink flower or Basil with its deep green leaves. Rockeries are a rewarding feature changing with the seasons, hope you enjoy yours as I do.

April '09 - As the early flushes of flowers finish on daisy like plants such as margaritas, deadhead to stimulate continuous flowering and providing wonderful borders and flower beds. Prepare and feed soil and plant new flowering plants, shrubs and trees, ensuring young plantlets grown from seed are kept damp and protected from slugs and snails. Plant sensibly, especially in these hard economic times reducing the risk profile of your flower garden by only planting native plants suitable for your micro climate and avoid the expensive risky imports. Losses and replacements are increasingly expensive. Before planting anything improve soils. Not only will this enable roots to quickly spread them selves but you will reduce the costs of summer irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides and dead or stunted plants.

Fruit trees are now in blossom, to ensure the fruit continue to swell spring feed and give a weekly soaking down to the level of the main roots. It is advisable to spray against various flying insects and air born fungi.

If not already done so start to spray at least fortnightly against the geranium moths. Unfortunately the importation of plants have brought new previously unknown pest problems. Notably the geranium moth (Mosca Africana) that arrived with shipments of hothouse bred plants in the mid 1990’s and soon wiped out the wonderful banks of geraniums that we saw and had in our early years in Spain and more recently since the late 1990’s the red rhinoceros palm weevil (Curculionido Ferruginosa) that arrived in shipments of inexpensive imported palms destined for golf courses and mega urbanisation's which are now killing off many young and mature Phoenix and Washingtonia palm trees.

March '09 – Spring clean pots, window boxes and any other plant containers internally and externally. A thorough clean is necessary to prevent pests or disease to plants and also to improve and maintain the quality and fertility of the compost. Plus the appearance in your garden, pots look much more attractive when clean and maybe hand painted for added color.

So thoroughly wash pots and drip trays in soapy water and then rinse in a vinegar solution for reuse. Pots which are being used should be washed outside to remove dirt. Any algae can be removed from terracotta pots using a diluted bleach solution or vinegar and water, leave to dry and then wipe with a cloth using a little olive oil. Be careful to protect the plants whilst cleaning. Plants which have been in the same pot and compost for several years and probably root bound should be replanted in a clean pot with new compost. Shrubs can be pruned to tidy the shape and plants with dead flowers and leaves removed, also tidying any mulch. Finally when the spring cleaning task has been completed feed with a solution of flower plant fertilizer.  A job well done!

During the month of March, start to spray geraniums against the geranium moth, take cuttings and pot up using good compost. Continue to take cuttings of perennial plants like the margaritas and remove dead heads as they flower. Remove frost protection from any delicate plants in the garden, hopefully spring is here, after all the daffodils are flowering again.

Summer corns such as the lily and gladioli can now be planted but do remember to plant the gladioli corns in a sheltered spot from winds.

February '09, such a busy but delightful time to be in the garden (subject to the weather).  I have just worked for 3 days in my garden, enjoying the sun on my back whilst working, a welcome return after this cold winter.

Many of us have experienced exceptional cold weather during the last few weeks, even a covering of frost which thankfully only happens from time to time.  When planting delicate types of tropical plants, be sure to plant them against a protected south-facing wall, and possible protection like a plastic sheet wigwam is advisable. Alternatively keep them in pots and take them inside especially if you have a conservatory or greenhouse. If you plant out annuals or perennial cuttings early, protect them for a few weeks. Unfortunately I have noticed the Hibiscus has suffered with this frost, but from previous frost experience, leave until the end of February in case of further attack, and then prune back hard.

During the month to come weed the flower beds thoroughly, and cut back the overgrown perennials to promote healthy growth for the coming year, if plants are too close faster growing plants smother smaller plants. However take care when planting too far apart or you may find the hot sun bakes the soil between and the shallow roots of plants.  Transplant and divide healthy perennials like the Gazania to those sparse areas of the garden possibly creating new flower beds and bank covering. The Gazania can be planted in full sun providing glorious colours throughout much of the year with  attractive silver grey foliage.

January '09 - Looking at my flowering rose bushes, it is unbelievable that in another 2 weeks I will be pruning the bushes to only 6 inches again, these beautiful scented flowers have been displayed in my rose bowl for many months, greatly admired by all. If you have climbing roses, shorten back the long shoots to control the summer growth.  If you are lucky enough to have a wood burning stove, always ensure all the ash is scattered around the bushes. 

Any tall shrubs and trees can be pruned in January, also checking the wood supports; strong winds can blow in the months to come.  Bougainvilleas should be cut back; long shoots are best cut back to about 0.5m as it is on this part that they will bloom best.

The Lantana can be tip pruned for bushiness throughout the winter but should be given a hardy prune in January. The Lavender is in full flower at the moment, a drought tolerant shrub which can grow up to 1 meter high and can be planted in full sun. The lavender is evergreen and flowers with its lovely smelling blue flowers almost all of the year. The Lavender plant is easily proper gated from cuttings making a delightful hedge, or even planted in large pots giving pool and terrace area's all year round color. Prune lightly in early spring to control the shape and bushiness.

 

More tips next month from Rosie or email: rosie@thesentinellamalaga.com