Transform Your Garden - Organically

Do you think your backyard has more potential? Local organic gardening expert, Nick Oates, has all the answers.

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Gardening can be a fickle business, one day you think you’re on top of everything, only to be met by wilted foliage and snail trails the very next morning. We caught up with local Organic Gardening expert, Nick Oates, to learn how you can keep your garden in tip-top share this Spring/Summer season.

Thanks for chatting to us and helping the greenthumbs of St Ives! First of all, what should people be planning for and planting over the coming months?

The very best time to plant your garden is the end of October, very early Spring. But don’t worry - there is no time like the present! With the weather warming up, Leafy greens, cucumber, tomatoes, capsicum and herbs can be planted now and will quickly thrive in the right conditions. Transplanting and planting should be done during October/November and well before the summer heat hits to ensure minimal stress.

My hot tips are:

• Be gentle with the root ball; whilst it’s helpful to gently tease roots out to encourage downward growth, the root ball should stay intact and undisturbed. 

• Trees are best transplanted in late Autumn. Pruning the tree back by ⅓ can also help reduce stress; giving a damaged root ball less branches + foliage to look after!

• Once planted, give the plants a big water - it’s best to do this in the early evening, or early morning when minimal evaporation will occur.

Sydney faces some pretty extreme temperatures during the warmer months, what issues does this create?

The biggest problem I see in gardens around St Ives and the North Shore are gardens with inadequate water and symptoms of heat stress. Stressed-out and unhealthy plants can encounter a variety of pest and disease issues depending on the species.

What can be done to combat heat stress and improve water retention?

To encourage water retention, always incorporate compost, bentonite clay, rock dust, and finally a good layer of mulch. Focusing on biological activity and soil health not only significantly improves water retention, it improves the garden's appearance, reduces compaction, prevents weeds, and protects the biological activity within the soil.

How can you improve soil health? 

Try to avoid as much soil disruption and compaction as possible. Adding green waste to your gardens, then allow it to break down in the garden and feed the soil.

Go organic!

Chemical fertilisers, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides should be avoided at all costs. They will affect the soil's health, plant health and biological activity as well as being toxic for your family, pets and environment/waterways.

Warmer months mean growth season, how can you stay on top of weeds?

Weeds can be a big issue during the growing season! A good thick layer of mulch and making sure weeding is done properly and the rootball is extracted too will be a big help. Also plant densely, avoiding too much open space, the more plants in your garden, the less room for weeds.

What are your top tips for a healthy summer garden?

1. Use a regular organic fertiliser, along with soil conditioner such as compost, rock dust and mulch to maintain the overall health and fertility of your soil

2. Maintain regularly, making sure nothing gets out of control and is looking good year-round. The more regularly you maintain, the quicker issues can be identified and addressed.

3. Always water in the early morning or evening when minimal evaporation will occur, this will also reduce the risk of foliage burn. 

4. Go organic and opt for organic eco-friendly options such as eco oil and neem oil. Baking soda and diatomaceous earth have also been proven to be safe and effective pesticides.

The most important thing for a healthy garden is ensuring good soil health along with adequate water, nutrients, oxygen and light.

If you’d like Nick to help with your garden - call him on 0451 372 345