•Cut back spent flower stems of kangaroo paws ensuring that the old leaves associated with it are also removed at the same time. This old foliage is usually starting to blacken by this time anyway and its removal will hasten the development of lateral buds from the base of the shoot. These buds will grow out to produce the next flush of flowers the following season
•Lilly pillies will benefit from a light trim with hedge shears this month. A handful of slow release native plant fertiliser watered in around the base of the plant will stimulate the next flush of vegetative growth which is particularly useful if you are trying to establish a lilly pilly hedge. If your variety of lilly pilly is prone to psyllid damage (which cause leaf pimpling), pruning will also help to remove damaged foliage.
•Trimming NSW Christmas bush (Ceratopetalum gummiferum) for cut flowers this month will also serve to prune the plant and initiate the growth which will mature into next year’s flower display. Do not cut the plant back too hard (ie do not cut into wood that is greater than the diameter of your thumb). A generous layer of well rotted chook manure spread around the base of the plant will ensure some good long stems that are ideal for cut flower use.
•Feed bottlebrush with a handful of general purpose complete fertiliser to encourage an autumn flush of new growth that usually terminates in a nice flush of flowers before the winter. Bottlebrushes do best when planted in soils that receive plenty of moisture and in such situations they will often repeat flower through the warmer months. Why not plant one today.
•If you have not already done so prune off the spent flowers on bottlebrushes (Callistemon species) to just behind the old flower heads. This will prevent the seed capsules from forming and give you a good compact shrub.
•This is a good time to tip prune any new plantings of trees and shrubs. Pinch out soft, sappy new shoots to encourage a bushier habit with more flowers.
•The red flowering gum (Corymbia ficifolia) is starting to flower now in many parts of southern Australia. Ensure that it does not dry out if at all possible during its flowering season in order to prolong it. A handy way to prune your plant is to cut either buds or flowers to use as indoor decoration. Perfect for Christmas!
•Dead head everlasting daisies of all sorts to stop them seeding and prolong this season’s display.
•Go for a bushwalk in a shady forest nearby to relax and learn more about the Australian plants in the understorey and consider which of these local indigenous plants are suitable for your own garden.
•Low to medium sized bottlebrushes (Callistemon) make excellent hedge plants if you need a plant that will adapt well to heavy soils. This is the time to be clipping them into the shape you want, whether that be formal or informal. Cultivars such as ‘Little John’ and ‘Matthew Flinders’ are perfect choices for smaller hedges.
