Garden Care Advice for Northern Territory

The extreme north of Australia has some wonderful plant life which is highly adapted to the climate and this means that horticulturists often have to work with flora that is native. Having said that, many gardening traditions have been imported and adopted from Europe, too. What should gardeners in hotter Australian climates consider when taking care of their plots?

  • Grass Care

All over the country, Australian mowers are designed for demands of the country's climate. Even if you sprinkle your lawn regularly, the ground can dry out exceptionally quickly. Maintaining a neat looking lawn means allowing the grass to be able to survive even when the sun is baking the earth all day. That is why domestically made mowers are preferable to imported ones. They allow grasses a little more height when cut and, therefore, to be that bit more resilient in the face of tropical heat.

  • Use Soil Solarisation

Instead of spending large amounts of dollars on potting compost, the increased solar radiation felt close to the equator can be utilised in Northern Territory. A thin, clear plastic sheet placed over a section of stacked up soil is all that is needed to propagate seedlings successfully. Make a loam which is perfect for gardens and free from pests by allowing the sun to remove things like spores and pathogens from your garden's soil. However, you do need to keep the soil moist if you choose to use this technique.

  • Choose Planting Effectively

Each state in Australia has its own plants which are known to do well. In the south of Northern Territory, plants which can cope with much more water, like Umbrella Cheese Tree and Silver Cassia, are in abundance. In the far north, by the coast, it is better to opt for plants which are more suited to the dryer conditions, such as Broad Leaf Cumbungi, Old Man Saltbush and Wonga Wonga Vine. Other plants, like the delightful Yellow Buttons and Silver Leaf Grevillea, will work in nearly any location in the state and can cope with most soil conditions.

  • Consider Termites

Regularly watered lawns and borders are ideal habitats for termites. These can be unwanted in some places where they eat into timber structures, such as sheds and pergolas. Avoid placing woodchip close to such locations, as well as your house, since termites like this cover. Raise vegetable beds up out of the way of these creatures and treat your wooden structures with an appropriate preservative.

For more information or assistance, contact companies like Cox Mowers.

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