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Spring Planting Guide What to Plant in Your Vegetable Garden

Spring Planting Guide: What to Plant in Your Vegetable Garden

For many of us, the change of weather and smell in the air that is Spring means it’s time to get out in the garden. Soaking up the welcome change from winter in your outdoor area is one of the best parts about Spring!

Gardening rejuvenates the mind and body, and if you are looking for a new gardening project, why not grow your own vegetables? This not only adds colour to your garden and gives you something to propagate, but it also means you’ll be able to enjoy your own organic produce!

The gardening experts at Amico have compiled some of the best springtime vegetable options for your garden. Pick your favourites from the list and get to work trimming down that grocery bill! As always, our team is just a phone call away if you need a little help.

Carrots

Carrots are an easy way to start and if you would like to try something a little different, try growing heirloom carrots which are available in a range of colours. There are reds, oranges, yellows, whites and purples so your salads will be bright!

carrots

Carrots are available in reds, oranges, yellows, whites and purples so your salads will be bright!

If you need to conserve your space, you can grow baby carrots in a container as well!

Beetroot

Once again stick with the heirloom variety is you would like to plant a little beetroot. There is a mix of varieties under this umbrella so you can see which performs best in your garden. Beetroot plants are perfect for either the garden or containers and you can also eat the leaves!

beetroot

There is a mix of varieties under this umbrella so you can see which performs best in your garden.

Ginger

Ginger thrives in September or October, especially in Sydney and is another perfect choice for container propagation. If you have a smaller area, this is a perfect choice.

ginger

Ginger thrives in September or October, especially in Sydney and is a great choice for container propagation.

Zucchini

While we don’t always realise it, Zucchinis come in a range of colours beyond the dark green look we know best. Also available in yellow or light green, as well as a variety of shapes, you simply cannot beat the taste of freshly grown zucchini. They also supply edible flowers!

zucchini

Along with green, Zucchini is also available in yellow or light green, as well as a variety of shapes.

Radishes

If you are looking for something to add to the vegetable garden that is quick and easy, consider some radishes. Planting these little guys means you will have a crop supplied in as little as just four weeks!

radish

If you are looking for something to add to the vegetable garden that is quick and easy, consider some radishes.

Turmeric

Along with its functional uses in cooking and tea, Turmeric grows a decorative green leaf that will add some serious colour to your garden. It is also suitable for container growing so you can have some greenery just about anywhere!

turmeric

Turmeric grows a decorative green leaf that will add some serious colour to your garden.

Tomatoes

The most essential spring crop; tomatoes are a great addition to any vegetable garden. Start with some cherry tomatoes as they are much easier to grow, plus they come in a range of colours including yellow, red, and even black!

tomatoes

If you are thinking of tomatoes, start with some cherry tomatoes as they are much easier to grow.

You can grow them in the ground, a large container, hanging baskets and small pots for a bit of garden variety.

Chillies

The last recommendation for your springtime garden addition – chillies. These little guys are perfect for container growing while also adding a beautiful splash of colour, plus there are obvious cooking benefits for those who like a bit of heat!

chillies

Chillies are perfect for container growing while also adding a beautiful splash of colour.

Want to Get Your Vegetable Garden Off to A Strong Start?

The expert gardening team at Amico is here to help with all of your outdoor needs. Whether you are starting from scratch or need to bring a forgotten patch back to life, we can help.

Give us a call; we’ll assess your space and make the best recommendations for you. Our team can then plant, maintain, repair, or any other number of gardening actions you need to ensure that you absolutely love spending time outside. Give us a call today!

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6 Perennial Flowers That Bloom All Season

6 Perennial Flowers That Bloom All Season

Perennial flowers are a fantastic choice for every garden as they return year after year without the need for replanting. While their bloom is often for a shorter period, there are some long-blooming perennials that will have your garden looking beautiful and colourful all year round.

Read on for the experts at Amico’s garden maintenance guide to the six longest blooming perennials and add them to your garden for a low-maintenance way to ensure colour all of the time.

Garden Phlox (Phlox Paniculata)

This flower thrives in mild summer temperatures and prefers a location with good air circulation.

Hitting its peak in July, the Garden Phlox is a long-blooming perennial that flowers from mid-summer onwards offering foliage that stays healthy-looking all summer.

Garden Phlox

Garden Phlox is a long-blooming perennial that stays healthy-looking all summer.

This flower thrives in mild summer temperatures and prefers a location with good air circulation with full sun to part shade. You can find it in varieties of pink-purple and white.

Becky Shasta Daisy

Keep a sunny outlook in your garden when considering your landscape design with this classic little flower; the Becky Shasta Daisies are robust plants despite their delicate appearance. Perfect for from July through September they are white with yellow centres and love the full sun.

Becky Shasta Daisy

Becky Shasta Daisies are robust plants despite their delicate appearance, perfect for from July through September.

We recommend ensuring their soil has dry to medium-moisture for the best growth, and it’s handy to know that these little beauties have a good drought tolerance.

Perennial Salvia

The Salvia includes both an annual and perennial species which mean a long-lasting bloom, especially if you deadhead them regularly. The only maintenance that is really required is the cutting back of their stems after flowering, and you’ll be all set for several months.

Perennial Salvia

The bloom period will vary depending on the species, but you’ll enjoy hues of blue and violet with these in the garden.

Russian Sage (Perovskia Atriplicifolia)

If you are looking for a beautiful tall plant, Russian sage grows to a nice height while offering cute, small blossoms in significant numbers.

Russian Sage

With a long-blooming perennial you’ll have a fair bit of colourful cover throughout your garden for many months of the year.

This long-blooming perennial will sprawl its lavender and blue flowers far and wide, giving you a fair bit of colourful cover throughout your garden for many months of the year.

Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium) 

Change things up a bit with a herb plant that blooms all summer long offering flowers in a range of colour options. The Yarrow plant is low maintenance, and you can divide the plants every three or so years. You should be able to find options in white, yellow, red, pink, and rust-brown.

Yarrow

The Yarrow plant is low maintenance, and you can divide the plants every three or so years.

English Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia)

To finish up, add a little scent to the garden with these lavender plants, which will provide a very classy touch to your landscape. The English lavender perennials bloom from June through August and offer purple, and blue with cultivars in pink also sometimes available.

English Lavender

The English lavender perennials bloom from June through August and offer purple, and blue with cultivars in pink also sometimes available.

Need A Little Help Getting Your Garden Off To The Right Start?

The gardening experts at Amico know which plants will suit your garden considering size and exposure to the elements. Give us a call for a garden redesign or ongoing maintenance to ensure you get the most beauty possible from your outdoor spaces all year round.

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What to Grow in Your Greenhouse This Winter

Winter Gardening Guide: What to Grow in Your Greenhouse This Winter

For those obsessed with their gardens, the planting and growing doesn’t need to stop over winter, especially if you own a greenhouse! The inclusion of a greenhouse doesn’t only mean that gardening can be a year-round activity; it’s also a good backyard investment that allows you to grow your own fresh produce!

Let’s have a look at which plants you can grow in your greenhouse over winter, which will also give you the added bonus of some delicious treats.

Things to Remember for Winter Planting

Timing and temperature are the most important aspects to keep in mind when winter planting. If you get it right, you will ensure not only quality growth but also the best flavour for any fruits or vegetables that you grow! here is a rough guide for how long you should be waiting to see some results:

  • Slow maturing crops: 100 days
  • Paced maturing crops: 55-70 days
  • Fast maturing crops: 40 days

Winter is a great time to grow cool-season plants, specifically cold-weather vegetables. Let’s dive into the best options.

Onions

A great flavour addition to your cooking, onions are great for when your greenhouse is both heated or unheated. Opt for the Shakespeare variety for a white choice and the Electric for a red variety.

onions

A great flavour addition to your cooking, onions are great for when your greenhouse is both heated or unheated.

Peas

In the milder winter months, you can plant peas directly into the ground and the closer you place them to each other, the larger quantities you’ll receive.

peas

Peas are a nutritious option to plant during the winter which offers very easy growth!

Herbs

We love planting herbs for two reasons, the first, they look great as a plant on their own, and the second being how easily they enhance every meal! Most herbs can grow in colder climates, the easiest of which being chives. Simply plant the seeds in a pot and keep them in a dark place.

Rosemary is a perennial herb that is great for any time of the year, and Mint is also a fantastic flexible herb that will grow during winter and let off a pleasant scent.

herbs

We love planting herbs for two reasons, the first, they look great as a plant on their own, and the second being how easily they enhance every meal!

Broad beans

A plant that you may not have considered – broad beans! Planting broad beans during winter is the ideal time to secure a high-quality spring harvest. When it comes to planting broad beans, put them in beds inside the greenhouse and try to keep them near the door so the bees can easily pollinate them when the time comes.

broad beans

Planting broad beans during winter is the ideal time to secure a high-quality spring harvest.

Garlic

Much like onions, Garlic is very easy to grow in winter and extremely useful while cooking. Just ensure that everyone eats it, so all breath levels are on the same level! Chesnok red is the fullest garlic flavour; however, the most common that is used in cooking is Wight Cristo.

garlic

Chesnok red is the fullest garlic flavour; however, the most common that is used in cooking is Wight Cristo.

Let Your Winter Garden Flourish

As the temperature drops, your greenhouse does the hard work of keeping your plants protected and within an environment that will help foster their growth. A flourishing and successful garden in winter is easy if you choose the right plants.

Simply pick the ones that you know will have the best chances of survival in extreme cold. Leafy greens and root vegetables are the best options as they only require a small amount of light and watering.

Let Us Know If You Need a Hand

As always, the expert team here at Amico can give you a little help, be it getting your winter garden started or resurrecting it from a less-than-ideal state. Simply give us a call, we love to chat all things gardening!

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How To Protect Your Outdoor Plants During the Winter Season

When it comes to gardening, winter preparation is a vital consideration as the seasons begin to change. A little bit of foresight will help you keep your plants protected and lessen the extra pruning and spring garden clean-up required.

Read on for Amico’s helpful winter preparation tips making sure that your garden thrives all year round. As always, if you need some help, call the experts at Amico!

Protecting Your Potted Plants

Plants can withstand some pretty harsh temperatures, but the roots are very vulnerable, and really feel the winter temperatures via the soil and sides of their pots.

The larger the pot, the more insulation required. Ideally, you’ll move your containers to a spot that receives filtered light, grouping your pots together with the most sensitive plants towards the middle. You can also sink the pots in the ground for some natural insulation, but if neither of these are an option, wrapping your pots is your best choice.

potted plants

The larger the pot, the more insulation required. Ideally, you’ll move your containers to a spot that receives filtered light.

Grab a roll of bubble wrap and place a layer or two around your plant. You can then cover with burlap to keep the soil from freezing.

Insulating Palm Trees

Cold-sensitive palms need to be protected as extended periods of cold can damage stem tissues foliage quickly. Just like us humans, you can wrap sheets or blankets around your plant! Just keep in mind that a palm should not be left covered for more than four days in a row.

palm trees

Just like us humans, you can wrap sheets or blankets around your plant! Just keep in mind that a palm should not be left covered for more than four days in a row.

If you decide to do this, do not use any sort of plastic as it will retain moisture which may refreeze and cause further damage. Keep your palms well watered and mulched to avoid added stress.

Protecting Tropical Plants

Tropical plants are the worst in cold weather for obvious reasons. You need to keep a close eye on them and if they are portable, move them into a greenhouse or indoors for the winter months.

Tropicals won’t do very well inside, but they can be kept in a state of dormancy in a darkened area until spring.

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas do better in colder climates than people realise, but it’s the rise of temperatures back to warm that can cause issues. The best way to protect your hydrangea is by wrapping a wire cage around the plant and filling it with mulch.

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas do better in colder climates than people realise, but it’s the rise of temperatures back to warm that can cause issues.

You can also cover it with burlap cloth to ease it back into the warmth.

Roses

No matter which type of roses you have, they all love the sun and require at least five hours of sunlight or more each day. They also need good drainage and regular fertilisation. If you keep all of this in mind when prepping for the winter, you will keep the plant from becoming stressed, positioning it best for the coldest of the winter months.

roses

No matter which type of roses you have, they all love the sun and require at least five hours of sunlight or more each day.

Keep your roses well-watered and refrain from trimming as to avoid signalling regrowth. Try not to prune until spring!

What About the Indoor Plants?

Indoor plants still require winter care as they will experience reduced daylight, cooler temperatures, and drier air conditions. Water more sparingly and avoid fertilisation unless necessary.

You will also want to keep the indoor plants away from any cold drafts and consider using a humidifier.

Getting Your Garden Through the Winter with Amico

For the best winter preparation and extra care for your garden, speak to the experts at Amico. We are gardening experts who help your plants to flourish all year round. Give us a call and ensure the healthiest outdoor areas possible, no matter the temperature!

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how to get kids into gardening

Kids Garden Ideas: What To Do To Get Your Kids Into Gardening

Gardening is a great way to make your mark on your bit of space in the world, and whether you’re looking for gardening services in Sydney or looking to go it alone, it can be a rather time consuming exercise, and sometimes it might kill two birds with one stone to involve your kids. Especially in today’s climate. 

Although, this can sometimes prove to be more trouble than it’s worth. It’s worth persisting through though as gardening has many good benefits for children.

So here are some amazing ideas on what you need to do to get your kids into gardening and make them more productive whilst maintaining the fun: 

Give Them Their Own Space

Depending on their age of course, some kids might just want to sit in the dirt. This is OK, give them such a task that if they get distracted partway through, it’s not so vital. It may be giving them a large pot for plants and asking them to add in some soil.

Don’t be surprised if your kid gets distracted!

Give Them Some Control Over What To Plant

Sometimes, giving them something more involved and interactive encourages their sense of ownership and responsibility over the plant or flower. For example, if you are planting your veggie patch, give them a vegetable of their own choice to plant, and cultivate.

Kids love having something to take ownership over – and it teaches them great life lessons.

This also doubles up as a bonus way to help encourage kids to eat more greens too – as kids always love eating the fruit of their labours. 

Let Them Use Kid Sized Tools

Kids love playing with toys that are their size, but can mimic what mum and dad do at home. Think about it, how many kids have you seen that have little mini vacuum cleaners, or mini ovens, or mini lawn mowers?

Kids love mimicking the adults around them. They also work well when they have their own “special” tools.

Kids will work around the garden with a trowel or fork that fits in their hand and they can copy mum and dad at the flower bed. 

Give Them Small Jobs To Do

OK, so your kid might be too small to prune, or cut down branches of a thick tree (which we recommend using a tree surgeon in Sydney for), or push a wheelbarrow full of soil.

Kids respond well with being given a small task that’s theirs to do – especially watering the garden.

But they love things like watering the garden or patting down the soil/turf  at the end of being laid. Weeding is a job that usually works well too. 

Use Lots of Colour

Kids respond well to colours when it comes to learning and understanding the world around them. Don’t be scared to have a very colourful garden, that your kids can really explore and feel at home in.

how to get kids into gardening

Kids love colours and learn about the world when colours are involved.

You should have your kids around if you are in the process of using a landscape designer, kids love being involved from the start and it furthers their sense of ownership and responsibility over the flowers. 

Raise the Flower Bed

This not only looks nice, but it also ensures that tiny feet are kept from trampling on the flowers! This can also help with your garden irrigation as it makes it easier to give the flowerbeds a good drink.

Protect your flower bed from being trampled by raising it.

Kids also get a sense of specialness or importance to areas that are generally off limits without your supervision, so this also encourages them to appreciate when they are allowed to help work on it!

Practise Patience!

Ultimately, patience will be required. Kids are generally known for getting distracted by a nearby butterfly or just generally having fun! It will take time and don’t get disheartened when your kid might prefer to do something else. 

Remember, kids will be kids. Don’t force it – just encourage them gently.

So there you have it. Following these tips is a sure fire way to get your kids more involved in your garden. If you need any more advice, or want to start a project, give us a call at Amico today!

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How To Achieve A Perfect Lawn This Autumn

Summer’s officially over, and everyone has a lot more time at home this Autumn. With so much time on our hands, lots of people are looking to put it into lawn and garden maintenance, with having their lawn be perfect this Autumn season. 

Autumn in Australia means a break from the extreme heat and time to enjoy the lawn with cooler days and evenings, and get in your garden maintenance in Eastern Suburbs

Fertilise Your Lawn Twice in Autumn

Established lawns need fertilisation twice in the Autumn season. Complete once at the start of Autumn and then repeat around 6-8 weeks later, depending on needs.

There are many different fertilisation methods, but the main factor is to do it twice during Autumn.

Top Dressing

Gardeners in Eastern Suburbs of Sydney know that top dressing your lawn is simple but effective in stimulating new growth. Apply a mixture (usually made up of peat) over your lawn. Top dressing stimulates new shoots, promotes runners and encourages a thicker grass.

An often overlooked step of having a greener grass in Autumn is to give it a top dressing.

Spiking

Aerate or spike your lawn in Autumn with a fork. It’s simple and easy to do and will improve soil drainage and stimulate the growth of new roots. Push the fork down to create holes along your lawn, allowing for approximately 30cm of spacing allowing water and nutrients to enter the roots.

Aerating provides the roots of your lawn with better access to oxygen and improves the ability of your soil to hold water.

Overseeding

Autumn is the perfect time to overseed your lawn to repair any worn patches. Sowing new lawn seed into your existing lawn rejuvenates it and improves its colour. It’s a great way to renew your lawn when kids, pets and seasonal conditions give it a hard time!

By over sowing lawn seed into your existing lawn you’ll fill in patches, thicken and strengthen your lawn and protect it from invasion of weeds and diseases.

Giving your grass more seeds will help fill in patches and make it harder for weeds to rule the roost.

Overseeding also helps new grass retain its green colour longer in the drier months. A newly seeded lawn develops stronger roots than older grasses and a lawn that’s been oversown will also be less prone to weeds as denser lawns have less area for weeds to take hold.  

Mowing

Autumn is the best time of year for mowing. Warm enough that you don’t need your skiing outfit on, cool enough that you don’t sweat up a stink to mow your lawns! For warm season grasses that grow with runners, it’s best not to cut too close during cooler months.

Mowing is like cutting your hair – it’s not just to shorten it, but to help it grow in the way you want it to.

This higher mowing level will protect the plant to some degree from frost and will help the turf bounce back in spring.

Weeding

According to Neal Tweedie, turf expert from Turf Australia: “One year’s seed is seven year’s weed”. Weeds can out compete grass over the cooler months, so it is always best to hand remove any weeds when they appear and use a catcher on the mower to catch any weed seeds.

Not weeding is the quickest way to let your lawn deteriorate.

Watering and fertilising lawns well throughout the year can reduce the numbers of weeds in lawn areas.

Watering

Giving your grass a good, deep watering once or twice a week during Autumn will help it stay green as it heads into winter.

Grass needs water. Give your lawn plenty to drink throughout Autumn.

Check the moisture of the soil using the “screwdriver” test – push a screwdriver into the soil, and if it won’t go easily past three or four inches, you need to up the irrigation levels.

Pest Control

Living in Australia means living in close proximity to bugs – but some are bad for your lawns.

Lawn pests are often prevalent after a long hot summer due to humid and dry conditions that have stressed out your lawn and made it more susceptible to invasion. First, try to identify what pest you have on your lawn and then you can work out if there’s a natural method or an insecticide method to use. 

The most common lawn insect pests tend Curl Grub (the larvae of beetles like the African Black Beetle) and Lawn Army Worms.

Follow these steps, and enjoy your perfect lawn throughout Autumn!

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What to Plant in your Veggie Patch this Autumn?

Well, summer is almost done for another year. But, that doesn’t mean your gardening has to be over yet! Autumn is a great time to plant your seeds, and watch them grow into tasty additions to your salads and meals in Spring and Summer! If you haven’t dug your vegetable bed yet, you can always get your gardening services in Sydney such as Amico to help!

So what can you plant on your veggie patch this Autumn Season? There are heaps to choose from, here are some of them:

Root Vegetables

Carrots

You can grow baby carrots if you have a balcony garden, or regular carrots for your full sized veggie patch. These beautiful orange (or purple, if organic) vegetables grow with little fuss, so long as you thin them out every so often.

Carrots contain Vitamin A, meaning they can help improve your eyesight.

Beetroot

Healthy, tasty, staining and as every Aussie knows, excellent on a burger, beetroot grow very well in your veggie patch!

Beetroots need to be boiled first before eating.

Garlic

Used in a massive variety of dishes, garlic grows great when planted in March.

Garlic is good for the blood. And for keeping away vampires.

Radishes

This is one of the simplest and the fastest veggies to grow. They only take about 6 weeks and you’ll just love pulling them out one by one!

Radishes are very satisfying when harvesting one by one.

Spring Onions

Incredibly flavoursome, incredibly easy to grow, incredibly satisfying to pull from the ground. Just keep them watered well.

Get a little spring in your step with spring onions.

Greens and Leafy Vegetables

Spinach / Baby Spinach

Tasty, healthy and iron rich. Popeye’s secret muscle formula! You can grow this one even if your space is limited. 

When you need the strength to fight off bad guys, do what Popeye does and neck some spinach!

Pak Choi / Bok Choy

Chinese veggies, go great in soups or steamed as a side portion. You’ll love these!

Amazing Asian greens go with a wide variety of dishes.

Kale

One of the most famous superfoods, it goes very well in your smoothies, or soups etc. It’s pretty easy to grow, and is a great repeat harvest option.

Kale is the most well known superfood of recent years for a reason.

Lettuce

Tell me the last time you went a whole week without eating lettuce. I bet you can’t. Well, let me tell you that lettuce is super easy to grow, as long as you give it water every day.

Grow this and lettuce be friends…

Thai Basil

Easy to grow, great taste, can be done in a balcony garden, go well with thai soup and many other dishes, and smell great. What else do you want?

Thai basil is a hugely underrated leaf that goes with many soups and curries.

Coriander

I accept that not everyone is a fan. But it’s very healthy, very easy to grow, and goes with a lot. It’s a no-brainer for me.

I truly can’t understand why some people don’t like coriander!

Other Vegetables/ Fruit

Snow Peas

Easy to grow and thrive, tasty and easy to harvest, can be grown on balcony gardens too and like to vine and tangle up poles.

Grow these and we can be like peas in a pod…

Broccoli and Cauliflower

Exceptionally healthy, one harvest will yield a lot of food. Remember to cover them up though, as there’s plenty of other critters out there who find them healthy and tasty too!

Some people don’t like these tree-like veggies. However, they can help you lose weight, and rich in iron.

Onions

Onions, like garlic, go in almost every meal. There are lots of varieties too, from shallots to brown onions and red onions (my personal favourite).

Red onions go with all types of meals.

Lemons

I can’t overstate how amazing lemons and lemon trees are for a variety of reasons. Lemon trees brighten up your yard, plus, lemons are so healthy for you. They are pretty expensive in the markets, so why not grow your own?

Lemon trees love sunshine.

Berries

Some of the greatest superfoods of all time. Including : 

  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Blackberries
  • Raspberries

These strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries are sure to improve your life!

These strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries are sure to improve your life!Needless to say, these are tasty, juicy, and go great in a wide range of things, such as smoothies, on muesli, or to snack on. You will want to protect them from the gaze of birds, insects and other creatures! 

Remember, everything needs care and attention, but now is the time to get planting all of the above. If you have the space, why not plant it all! You will not regret it. And if you have any questions, you can always ask Amico for help.

 

 

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10 Flowers That Grow Exclusively In Summer Season

We’ve had a crazy summer of weather so far; from bushfires and smoke to torrential rain and possible flooding; which has made it much trickier for your garden maintenance in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney

However, let’s hope for a bigger and brighter summer still ahead! 

Because, there are some lovely and beautiful flowers that bloom in the summertime. These can come in all different shapes, sizes, and can smell beautiful, whilst also attracting a rich vein of different wildlife. Here is a list of some of the best flowers that grow exclusively in the summer season:

1. Dahlia

Dahlia’s are rich in colour and sure to surprise and delight anyone who sees them!

Dahlias are a cheat entry, as they are a family subset including sunflowers, chrysanthemums, daisies, and zinnias. All of which are beautiful. They are a flower requiring full sun, and also come with a miniature version which is very suitable for outdoor pots in Sydney.

2. Frangipani

Frangipani are extremely fragrant flowers that will lift your spirits every time you’re around them

Frangipani flowers from December to April, in other words, throughout Summer to Autumn in Australia. They thrive in well drained soil and hate the frost! They also flourish in sandy- soil near beaches, great for your landscaping in the Eastern Suburbs.

3. Gardenia

Like the Frangipani, Garendia are wonderfully fragrant flowers, and perfect for that fragrant garden feel!

These flowers can be smelt long before they can be seen. They love their food though, so keep the fertiliser all year and make sure to soak them in water. You need good garden irrigation for this one.

4. Kangaroo Paw

Kangaroo paw comes in a few different colours and is a wonderful flower for a range of purposes.

My mother swears by adding kangaroo paw in her garden. They love well drained soil and being pruned well at the end of their flowering season. My mother has 2 on either side of her front door, in large ceramic plant pots.

5. Banksia

Banksia is a flower that comes in a range of colours. Birds and insects love this flower!

Banksias flower for months, and produce beautiful colours along with a good supply of nectar for wildlife.

6. Bottle Brush

Easy to maintain and attractive to many forms of wildlife, this will perk up your garden!

Once they’ve grown, they require very little attention. Give it some fertiliser in spring once, and you will see great results! They attract birds too, so great for animal lovers.

7. Lavender

Beautiful colour, work well as a bush, good fragrance, and incredibly low maintenance.

Not only is Lavender a beautiful shade of violet, not only is it lovely smelling and bumblebee attractive, but it also grows well in a variety of conditions. It likes hot summers and dry winters; just don’t over water it.

8. Bougainvillea

Rich colours. You will be the envy of your street with a Bougainvillea in your front garden!

They can do well in outdoor planter pots on a balcony or a patio, or if you have the room, give it a full flower bed and let them spread out.

9. Hydrangea

Grow in a range of colours, and bloom within weeks. Your garden will love you if you grow Hydrangeas.

If you had planted these in the springtime, you will have awesome results by summer. They like rich, moist soil like Gardenias. Let them have the full sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon. If you choose to have more acidic soil, the hydrangeas will go blue, whereas neutral and alkaline soil will create mauve (shade of purple) and pink blooms.

10. Petunias

Hanging baskets, ready for all conditions and a rich palette of colours, Petunias are perfect for all situations!

These beautiful flowers are also real troopers. They can withstand a barrage of stormy weather, but also the full heat of a dry, hot summer too. They usually flower within around 3 months of planting. They grow outside typically, but they can grow indoors if needed. 

Whether you end up going for just one of these flowers, or a combination of the above, you are sure to brighten up your balcony or garden in Australia during this summer.  Plant some today, on your own, or if you need more helpful advice and tips for your garden, give us a call today to see how we can help you.

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7 Ideal Plants That Bloom All Summer

7 Ideal Plants That Bloom All Summer

A well-designed and maintained garden should include striking foliage, and plenty of colour via beautiful flowers. Summer is the perfect time for some stunning flowering plants to come in.

As the gardening experts, Amico has compiled seven of our favourite blooms that run for weeks on end in summer. You’ll be able to harvest them to fill vases or give to that special someone, while also enjoying a wide variety of colours in your garden bed. If you need a little help, feel free to chat to our team about the best options for you.

  1. Perennial Hibiscus

In some cases, this may be known as a rose-mallow or swamp hibiscus. This garden standout offers huge red, pink, or white flowers across its stems that and will range in size depending on the variety.

Perennial Hibiscus

The flowers will bloom around late spring until winter with the stems going back to the ground when it gets cold. Keep in mind that these beauties will require full sun and regular water.

  1. Purple Wave Petunia

Purple Wave petunias are also available in pinks and lilac and differ slightly from the upright petunia variety to provide a vine-like plant that is perfect for growing in hanging pots.

Purple Wave Petunia

You can also train these little guys to grow along retaining walls or as a ground cover, just ensure they have plenty of sun and water.

  1. Portulaca

With very succulent leaves, these ground-covering plants can really handle the heat and will happily live in dry, hot, and coastal conditions. Their flowers come out during the warm months offering vibrant yellows, tangerines, pinks, and crimsons.

Portulaca

They are great for underplanting shrubs in tubs or over the rim of wall pots. Some of our favourites are the Sun Jewels and Hot Spots, which thrive in a hot and sunny spot. Make note that too much shade will diminish their flowering performance, and if you have a mix of liquid fertiliser and Seasol added to them every fortnight, you’ll see their greatest performance.

  1. Calibrachoa

These petunia relatives offer a vast range of colours that bloom with little effort for up to nine months of the year. They hit a height of 20cm and spread far and wide while also being great for hanging baskets or in large pots.

Portulaca

They provide cream, yellow, pinks, mauves, purples, and red colours and can even sprout in various multicoloured mixes. We recommend the Million Bells and Superbells varieties.

  1. Summerina

This variety is a mix between the perennial Echinacea and annual Rudbeckia, which offers a long-flowering plant that can hit around 60cm in both height and spread.

Summerina

It has large flowers that will pop up from late spring through autumn, perfect for pots. The flowers are gold with an orange centre, or burnt orange with shades of coppery red and burnt bronze, all of which are great for cutting.

  1. New Guinea Impatiens

This is a twist on the common impatiens, which require a lot of shade, as the New Guinea varieties are perfect for the sun and heat. Make sure you give them plenty of water, and in return, they will sprout colourful options and pointed leaves of green, bronze, or yellow.

New Guinea Impatiens

Their fleshy stems can hit 60cm high with flowers that range from white through pink, magenta, mauve, coral, orange, and red. The flowers will run rapidly from spring through autumn, and they are great for beds, pots or window boxes.

  1. Coreopsis

The Coreopsis offers daisy-like flowers via hybrids such as ‘Mango Punch,’ ‘Salsa,’ and ‘Mambo,’ which are neat, compact, and will regrow each spring.

Coreopsis

The large flowers arrive on slender stems in yellow, pink, copper, burgundy, and white, and they will even attract butterflies to your garden for an extra touch of beauty. These little guys are best for pots or as drifts in garden beds.

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spring vegetable garden

What to Plant This Spring: Vegetable Planting Guide

Everybody loves spring! The weather gets a little warmer, the colour returns to plants and trees, and that spring smell is undeniable! It’s also a great time of year to revitalise your garden so you can get out there and enjoy it.

The Amico team are lucky, we’re out in the garden all the time during this special time of year, and we revel in it. And we’ve also are noticing far more people enquiring about planting vegetables this season, and why shouldn’t they! Not only do you get some cool and unique looking plants for the garden but you can trim some items from the grocery list and can enjoy some delicious food that you have grown yourself!

To help you increase your salad game this spring, the following vegetables are perfect for springtime planting directly into the ground.

Lettuce 

Every salad needs some lettuce, and there are plenty of flavours to choose from. There are also plenty of colours if you want to move away from all the greens in your garden. Lettuce is easy to grow and maintain, and the spring season is a perfect time to plant it.

lettuce

You can expect it to take around two months for lettuce to be salad bowl ready, at which point you simply pick, wash, and enjoy!

Carrots

Once again available in a range of colour options, carrots are full of vitamins and can be a sweet addition to your salad composition.

carrots

As they are root vegetables they require a decent amount of sun and water, but the great thing about carrots is that you can pick them early when they are just baby carrots if you want them to be a little softer, or wait them out until they are fully matured to get the classic carrot crunch!

Arugula

If you are a fan of peppery flavours, then you’ll want to look at planting some Arugula this spring. This green plant grows very quickly, often ready in just a few weeks but keep in mind; it does require a sufficient amount of water.

arugula in spring

 

Pro tip: With all of your spring plants, and especially Arugula, try using a cover which will help warm the ground and speed up the growing process.

Beets

Naturally, we had to put one of the best superfoods on this list, as it is hard to go past the health benefits of beets. It also helps that they are very easy to grow!

beets

Cool air actually improves the flavour of a beet while also assisting in their growth. If things get too warm, however, they can be ruined. So it’s essential to keep an eye on them, judging them by their size, and when they look pretty delicious… just pick and prepare them to eat!

Radishes

Radishes are another fast grower, only taking a few weeks to be ready to go. Of all the options on this list, radishes are the easiest vegetable for beginners, and you can eat them raw or use them as a garnish.

radish

Kale

Kale is another vegetable with significant health benefits, but you’ll want to start this one off indoors.

Give your kale a few weeks inside while it germinates and when it turns into a small plant, move it to the garden. Keep in mind that Kale does require a fair bit of light and well-drained soil.

kale

Did you fill you up with too many vegetables? Try adding some fruit options to your patch as well!

Your Own Vegetable Patch

There are few things more satisfying than enjoying the food you have grown from scratch! If you need a little help getting your vegetable patch off to a great start,let the Amico’s expert gardeners in Balmain know!

We can assess the area you have to work with and see what vegetables will work best. We can also help plant them, and set you off down the path towards freshly grown vegetables from your backyard to your table this spring.

 

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