The Orange and District Horticultural Society is a group of green thumb experts,

Secretary Janet Johnstone said the group was keen to share its knowledge with other gardeners in Orange – and gain new members.

Mrs Johnstone said spring was a vibrant time for gardens in Orange.

“At this time of year everything moves and starts to go quickly,” she said.

Mrs Johnstone said it was not too late to perform some tasks that should have been done in winter – as well as undertaking regular spring activities.

“Generally weeding and feeding. Catch the weeds before they flower and go to seed,” she said.

Roses are popular in Orange and now is the time to feed them with a spray to promote the blooms.

“It’s a bit late for pruning roses, [but] a light prune is better than nothing. Take out any dead wood,” she said.

Mrs Johnstone said it was also an ideal time to mulch your flower beds.

“Lucerne is probably the best but this year it would be in short supply,” she said.

“Third cut lucerne is the best, lucerne puts nitrates back into the soil.

“Try sugar cane mulch, it doesn’t feed it, but nothing grows from it.”

The society also recommended using pea straw, but whatever you choose, aim to lay it fairly deep, about 7-10 centimetres so it can provide plenty of cover.

And they said, don’t mulch around irises as they need to see the sun.

After a big winter frost season they warned you should not plant dahlias until the end of October or early November.

“Usually you shouldn’t get many more frosts, but you can get a late frost up to the first week of November,” she said.

And they suggest giving your garden a deep soaking of water rather than light sprinklings, feed your lawn, plant vegetables from the end of October and get ready to plant seeds.

The society has had to cancel its November rose show but has invited the public to its next meeting on Wednesday November 7 at 1.30pm at the Community Services Centre, Giyalang Ganya, in Lords Place.

Call 6345 0376 or 6362 7807 for information.