Part 2: Over60 community gardeners’ top tips
Any green thumb will tell you that gardening is a rewarding and pleasurable hobby… sometimes. Often it’s deeply frustrating and unpredictable. It’s why any advice is welcomed and who better to ask for tips then our Over60 gardeners with their years of experience. They were more than happy to share their secrets to making the gardener’s life easier, plants thrive and gardens blooming.
Related link: Part 1: Over60 community gardeners top tips
1. “Compost, compost, compost, this is the best for your garden. Dig your green grass clipping into your vegie garden. Use only open pollinated seeds (not hybrid, or save your own). Try to buy organic or garden by organic principles. Start small with simple things like lettuce, rocket and herbs.” – Jennifer Ann Otto
2. “Soil preparation is vital as great soil equals great plants, once established feed. They are your babies so treat them like one.” – Freer Venables
3. “If growing hibiscus heavily prune in September then feed with blood and bone water and you will have wonderful blooms for Christmas.” – Jen Kraft
4. “Plant cuttings in see-through plastic disposable cups with holes cut for drainage. That way you can see how much the roots have grown and the cups are cheap.” – Jennifer Shaw
5. “If you plant natives make sure you trim them regularly so they thicken up and never look ratty.” – Sue Brown
6. “Grow the type of plants you enjoy and the size of the garden you can manage. I can't imagine my home without a vase of fresh flowers inside.” – Jenny Kirkwood
7. “If you're paying exorbitant prices for treatment of bug infested and sick plants, rip them up, wait a few months, treat soil with goodies and put something else in.” – Sally Roberts
8. “To keep the white cabbage moth at bay, I place smallish pieces of white polystyrene, either hung, or spiked on a stake, above plants that the moth likes (for example, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli). They see it and think that a moth is already visiting and pass by.” – Desma Amos
9. “Mulching your garden is really important! It keeps roots cool in summer and warm in winter. It also helps with water retention and keeps weeds at bay, and as it breaks down over time it adds nutrients to the soil and the garden worms love it! I use sugar cane mulch but there are many to choose from.” – Sandra Parker
10. “Compost all of your soft pruning, vegetable scraps and lawn clippings. The result will enhance the fertility of your gardens. I use mine in the vegetable garden and it works very well.” – Steve Green
11. “Plant something that you always need in your cooking, like tomatoes, herbs and veggies.” –Laurinda Valbuena-Cruz Venal
12. “If you're like me and don't wear gloves, at the end of the gardening session your hands are a mess. Wash off excess dirt. Depending on the amount of dirt, put a good tablespoon of coarse salt into the palm of your hand then pour cooking oil over. The salt acts as an abrasive and will disinfect any little cuts you may have and the oil makes your skin lovely and smooth. After you finish scrubbing your hands together, rinse under as hot a water as you can stand. Now this is important – just dry off with a paper towel! Do not wash with soap. You'll be amazed at how good your hands will come up.” – Ann A Belle Herring
13. “Use disposable rubber gloves from supermarkets for most gardening jobs such as pulling weeds and repotting. It keeps your hands cleaner than material gloves.” – Helen Smith
14. “Wicking beds saves having to water all the time and saves water.” – Cheryl Slapp
15. “Try growing blueberries in a pot. We have had two seasons of beautiful plump fruit and it is a beautiful shrub.” – Judy Schwarzstein
16. “Raised beds make life easier and are great for sitting and having a glass of wine!” – Karen Lawrie
17. “I live in a low rainfall region and although I mulch all my own garden clippings it isn't enough, so I plant old pieces (30cm lengths) of PVC pipe and old pots and fill those with water for deep watering of trees.” – Virginia Kinsella
18. “Did you know that you can grow roses from cuttings? Simply cut healthy stems, place them in large potatoes, and them bury them three to four inches deep in a healthy soil mixture of peat moss and top soil. The potatoes keep the stems moist and help develop the root systems. It's a perfectly simple way to multiply your rose garden without spending lots of dollars.” – Wayne Martin