December is the season of celebrations, it can be a busy time! Now is the time to get into the garden to make sure it’s looking stunning for your Christmas entertaining!

Summer weather in Brisbane can be challenging in the garden. It may be extremely dry one year or the garden may be lush and green with abundant growth from the result of summer storms. With the Summer storms we’ve already experienced here in Brisbane this year, we’re hoping for a year where your garden is lush and full of life.

No matter the weather, join the team here at Capalaba Produce for the best tips on getting your garden look amazing for Christmas!

Plants are great gifts for the ‘End of Year’ and Christmas breakups and a wonderful way to show appreciation to teachers, friends, and colleagues. Our nursery is filled with beautiful plants that are perfect and affordable gift ideas for these occasions. Gardens are also filled with flowers and foliage. It takes no time to put together a stunning bunch or arrangement that will delight the receiver.

There is still time to plant out some annuals or potted colour to have the garden looking like a picture for Christmas – try alyssum, lobelia, petunia, zinnia, salvia, verbena, and marigolds.

Now is a good time to plant up pots and hanging baskets – there are so many choices available and we can help you to make the ideal selection. Shady spots are where much of summer days are enjoyed. Plant out now with shade-loving plants to have these areas full of colour and life for the months ahead. Keep deadheading roses and water deeply to ensure a second flush of blooms.

• Trim back any flowering shrubs that have now finished – this will encourage new growth over summer for next year’s flowers.
• Give your garden a good fertilise with an organic fertiliser.
• Top up your gardens with mulch to have these look great and help with water retention.
• Test and make any repairs to your garden irrigation.
• Pull those weeds.

With the wet weekends and heavy rain, our lawns are soaking up the moisture. Too much rain can leave your lawns stressed and rife for pests and diseases to take over, so now is the perfect time to give your lawn some TLC to keep it looking great for Christmas.

After heavy rain it’s important to resist the urge to go walking on your lawn and jumping in the puddles, maybe for the kids. Give your lawn a couple days to dry out and then be prepared to aerate to improve the airflow and drainage.

Watch out for signs of lawn grubs that can quickly cause major problems to your grassy carpet. Visit Capalaba Produce for the very best lawn care advice.

Lots of rain and heat is the perfect weather for an explosion of weed growth. Now is the time to pull out the garden gloves or use a weed spray to get them under control. Come down to Capalaba Produce and we’ll help you find the best herbicide for your situation.

It’s time to lift the mower blades! Lifting your mower blades and having a longer lawn provides protection from the sun which can reduce water loss and promote healthier lawn growth. To give your lawn that extra oomph, we recommend treating your lawn with Earthlife Lawn Blend. Earth Life Lawn Blend is specifically designed to improve the root structure of the lawn, allowing it to absorb more nutrients from your soil and making your lawn able to withstand the harsh conditions a Queensland summer can bring.

Lawn grubs are easily treated and at Capalaba Produce we have a large range of fast-acting sprays & granular available to combat infestations and protect your lawn against future infestations by killing any hatchlings before the damage can occur.

December is the month when things really get going in the vegetable garden and you will begin to enjoy the rewards of your abundant harvest. Planting can continue in most areas. Ensure a supply of plenty of water and fertiliser as growth will be rapid. Watch out for pests or problems and treat as necessary.

Citrus trees are Australia’s most popular fruiting tree grown in home gardens. Lemons, limes, oranges and mandarins are among some of the citrus varieties available now. There is a wonderful range of fruiting trees now available including many varieties of citrus trees. They produce abundant crops of full-sized tasty fruit and are ideal for smaller gardens and for growing in pots on patios and balconies.