What to do in:
December
- During summer, black beetles emerge from holes in the lawn. Treat with Baythroid Lawn Grub & Garden Insecticide.
- Hydrangeas are wonderful for indoor decoration. Crush ends of stems and scorch over a flame, then stand in deep water for 2 hours.
- Add water-storing crystals to pots before going on holidays.
- Make arrangements for your garden to survive the holiday period. Potted plants are the most vulnerable.
- Sow basil at the same time as tomatoes. As well as tasting wonderful together, basil is said to keep pests away from the tomatoes.
- Scale insects breed at this time of year. Inspect plants carefully, especially susceptible varieties such as gardenias, lillypillies and citrus.
- Prune bottlebrush as they finish blooming.
- Improve pollination of sweet corn by shaking pollen from the tassels at the top of the plant.
- Trap earwigs by filling plant pots with crumpled newspaper and laying them on their sides in garden beds. Check each morning and destroy pests.
- Two spotted mite (also known as red spider) can be kept in check by regularly mist-watering over leaves. Rose Spray also helps with their control on roses and ornamentals.
- SEEDS TO SOW: Aster, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Swan River Daisy, Squash, Beans, Cauliflowers, Beetroots