Man Bun Mowing Perth W.A.

04/10/2026

Spring and early summer are the key times to protect your citrus from citrus gall wasp.
I apply kaolin clay to create a physical barrier over the fresh growth, helping deter female gall wasps from laying their eggs in new shoots.
For best protection, aim for good coverage of the new growth and reapply when the coating wears off or after significant rain. I continue monitoring and applying through the main gall wasp activity period into summer.
It’s not a guaranteed fix, but combined with removing existing galls and regular monitoring, it can be a valuable part of your gall wasp prevention strategy.

01/10/2026

Sometimes good garden maintenance means knowing when a plant has outgrown its space.

This rosemary bush had become too large for a tight area, crowding the nearby stone fruit and mandarin tree.

Removing it opened the space up, allowing more sunlight into the canopies and improving airflow around both trees. 🌿☀️

Sometimes removing one plant can give everything around it a better chance to thrive.

29/09/2026

You can throw all the fertiliser you want at a citrus tree, but if the soil pH is out, nutrient uptake can suffer.

In this reel I run through a quick soil pH test using a Manutec Soil pH Test Kit. This soil came back around pH 8, which is quite alkaline, so the goal is to gradually bring it closer to around 6.5.

Sulphur can be used to help lower alkaline soil pH, while adding organic matter such as compost and well-aged sheep manure can help improve the soil and support healthier growing conditions.

Test first, amend second. 🌱🍋

20/09/2026

This orange tree had a few surprises hiding in the canopy… starting with one HUGE grasshopper. 🦗🍊

But the grasshopper wasn’t the real problem.
Once I got into the tree, I found three issues that needed attention:

🌿 Congested foliage - selectively thinned to improve airflow, light pe*******on and structure.

🪰 Heavy citrus whitefly infestation - monitor the undersides of the leaves and treat with horticultural/white oil where required.

🔴 Early red scale - catching it early is important. Horticultural oil can be effective, particularly against the young crawler stage.

And one important reminder while citrus is flowering… 🐝

Avoid spraying open flowers or spraying while bees are actively foraging. Protect the pollinators helping produce your next crop of oranges.

A little TLC now can make a huge difference heading into the growing season. 🍊🌿

17/09/2026

A drive out to the Perth Hills for some preventative maintenance on this beautiful mature lime tree. 🌳🍋

The tree was already looking healthy, so this wasn’t about fixing a problem, it was about keeping it that way.

I reduced the height to keep the fruit within reach, thinned sections of the lower canopy to improve light and airflow, then finished with a feed to support healthy spring growth.

Good citrus care isn’t always about reacting to pests, disease or deficiencies.

A little preventative maintenance at the right time can help keep a mature tree healthy, productive and manageable for years to come.

15/09/2026

One lemon tree. FOUR different pests. 😳🍋

Citrus whitefly, a heavy aphid infestation, snails AND citrus gall wasp, all on the same tree.

As Perth warms up and citrus pushes fresh spring growth, pest activity ramps up too.
That tender new flush is exactly where you want to be looking.

Check your citrus regularly through spring, catching these problems early makes them much easier to manage. 🌱🍋

12/09/2026

Spring has arrived, and that means it’s time to start keeping a closer eye on your citrus trees. 🍋🌱

A few of the main pests I’m watching for right now are citrus gall wasp, aphids, citrus leaf miner and fruit fly.

Gall wasps are getting closer to emergence, fresh spring growth can quickly attract aphids and leaf miner, and as fruit develops, fruit fly becomes another pest worth staying ahead of.

The earlier you spot a problem, the easier it generally is to manage.

Get out there and check your citrus! 👀🍊

10/09/2026