Get into the garden this weekend to relocate shrubs, plant some spinach and revel in the retro beauty of daylilies.

Words Michael Keelan

Plant some English spinach

Spinach is a cool-season leafy vegetable that is jam-packed with iron and minerals and very easy to grow.

How to grow:
Grown either from seed or seedlings, planting is best as the weather cools in autumn. Dig in organic mulch and raise small mounds to ensure excellent winter drainage. Water regularly adding Powerfeed.

When to harvest:
As a reasonably fast-growing plant, you can harvest as baby spinach or allow leaves to mature and remove the entire plant. Ongoing plantings will allow you to harvest over a long period.

Transplanting trees and shrubs

Just as autumn is a perfect time to plant new stock, it’s also a prime opportunity to move some other varieties. With warm weather and rains, now is ideal to transplant evergreen trees or shrubs, and fertilising will establish roots in their new home before the coldest months arrive. Products such as Drought Shield will help to restrict transpiration and water loss, and be sure to keep the plant well-watered and stable during winter. No tree or shrub is too big to be moved, but some may need more preparation or help from a professional depending on size.

Day beauty

As with most retro fashion, daylilies are back and flowering this season. The annual singular Hemerocallis is so named for its beautiful flower that only lasts a single day, so keep a close eye out. Though short-lived, the flowers are produced in succession from late spring through to autumn with a blaze of colour. The singular daylilies die back immediately after flowering, making them easy to move if needed, and will self-multiply. They are available in a raft of bright colours, are hardy and are easily grown in a sunny or partly shaded position.