January in the Garden
Hot summer days can be challenging for any garden. The main focus is water retention and protection from the sun. Daily watering is necessary and this is best in early morning and evening when cooler to retain more water in the soil. Drip irrigation is an efficient way to water gardens, especially when mulched as well. Lucerne mulch is a very good option, although it needs to be done regularly. As it rots down, Lucerne is good for fixing nitrogen in the soil.
To maintain a green lawn through summer, keep mower level high – and avoid mowing when it is very hot. Keeping the grass longer will provide more protection and will mean your lawn is less likely to brown off.
Make sure your more vulnerable pot plants are moved to shadier spots to avoid the strong summer sun.
Remove spent flowers from flowering shrubs (eg Gardenias) to promote fresh flowers to grow.
Watch out for plant diseases which may flourish in humid conditions: such as black spot on roses and lacewing bug on Azaleas.