These last six weeks, with help and guidance from Russ Grayson and Helen Bradley of Sydney City Council, we’ve been fertilizing, getting rid of cockroaches, and mulching the gardens here.

Russ managed the purchase by Council of the lucerne mulch and the organic fertilizer.  I haven’t seen the fertilizer before and here are the details:

• Paton Fertilizers Gold Citrus Food, 126 Andrews Road, Penrith NSW 2750  tel 1800 644 753   www.paton.com….au

Helen managed the purchase by Council of the cockroach solution and it’s impact has been dramatic.  The big ones disappeared in the first week, and now mostly it’s only the little ones left.  On current trends it looks as tho’ they’ll be gone in about six weeks.  It’s a beaut product:

• Roach Prufe, Distributed by Newill Industries, 177 Woodland Street, Balgowlah, NSW 2093, made in the USA.

Costa, the gardener, recommended we use crusher dust in the Aerobins to restore balance; the fine surface area of the dust releases lots of minerals and speeds up the decomposition.  He’s right.  Helen obtained that from the Council’s works depot and we put a couple of litres each time when we auger the bins, about twice a week.  The compost smells better now, and has a richer, dirt-like texture to it.

The rain this last week has soaked the fertilizer into the growing roots around the drip lines of the citrus trees and they’re bursting with new shoots and young fruit.

Thanks to Russ and Helen; invaluable and good to be able to work in partnership with Council – we all appreciate it,

Michael