GARDENING TIPS

CLEANING SECATEURS
After every use secateurs should be cleaned so any diseases on one plant will not be transferred to another and also to prolong the life of the secateurs.  Use a 75/25 solution of methylated spirits and water in a spray container.  Either spray the secateurs and wipe of fwith a soft cloth or spray the cloth.  After a prolonged session with the secateurs oil them and wipe excess oil off with a soft cloth.  

CHANGE THE COLOUR OF HYDRANGEAS
The blue or pink colour of hydrangeas is related to the soil's pH level.  If soil is acidic plants will bear brilliant blue flowers.  Depending on the variety this shade changes but if the pH is wrong flowers are not nearly as spectacular.  Pink varieties need alkaline soils for brilliant hues.  to lower pH and produce blue flowers add aluminium sulfate or a hydrangea blueing tonic to the soil.  To raise the pH and produce pink flowers you need to add lime.  Apply pH tonics in early spring before flower buds begin to form,

WHEN THE MERCURY SOARS
If the leaves on your plants or grass have been burnt by the sun don't do anything.  The burned leaves offer protection for the unburned leaves and cutting off dead foliage only encourages new growth which is vulnerable to even more intense damage.  The grass will grow back. 
Prevention tactics can help.  Leave the lawn at least five centimetres long.  Yates Droughtshield, which is a biodegradable polymer sprayed on leaves to reduce transpiration, can be useful for leaves that wilt easily, e.g., hydrangeas.  Delicate plants can be protected by temporarily using shadecloth or lightweight screens.

MAKE YOUR OWN WHITE OIL
Mix 2 cups Vegetable Oil with 1/2 cup Dishwashing Detergent.  This concentrate can be stored for a couple of months.  

To use - add 2 tablespoons of concentrate to 1 litre of water and spray the effected areas.

PROTECTING YOUR VEGETABLES FROM BIRDS, BATS AND POSSUMS
Use bird netting and stakes to form a support over your vegetables.  Drive stakes into the ground in a teepee style and ties them where they cross at the top.  Roll the netting around the stakes and ties at the top.  The bottom of the netting can be kept in place with pegs, bricks and piling a little soil on top.  Make sure there are a few spots you can easily life for maintenance and picking.


SOWING CORN SEEDS
Improve the pollination of sweetcorn by plantingor sowing seeds in a block rather than a row. Sow direct into moist soil, 25 millimetres deep.  Don't water again until seeds germinate. Protect seedlings from snail and slug attack.

WHITE SCALE ON ROSES
Use an old toothbrush dipped in soapy water to gently scrub it off.