Rug up and head outside this Winter!
Now is the time to enjoy all of Winter’s beauty!
With the winter solstice behind us and only a few weeks to go until Spring, it’s time to get busy in the garden again.
Beat the Winter blues by rugging up and getting outside. Even though it’s still a bit chilly there is a lot to do in terms of planning, soil improvement, pruning and yes, even planting – citrus, roses, summer bulbs, camellias, daphnes and hellebores are all in season and good for planting now.
Take the opportunity to assess your garden and identify any areas for improvement. Late Winter can be a good time to move plants that are in the wrong spot, and to prepare the ground for any new plantings needed to fill in gaps or freshen up a tired garden bed. Poor soils can be revitalised by digging through or top dressing with Surecrop soil conditioning compost.
Prune roses and cut back Summer flowering perennials such as salvias to make way for new Spring growth. Continue to deadhead and feed Winter flowering annuals such as pansies and cyclamen to extend their flowering season right through until Spring.
Keep an eye out for pests on both edible and ornamental crops. Hellebores are particularly susceptible to aphids, so check the underside of the leaves regularly.
July garden guide
What to plant in July:
Annuals: alyssum, aquilegia, begonia, cineraria, cornflower, delphinium, dianthus, erigeron, foxglove, hollyhock, larkspur, lobelia, pansy, polyanthus, primula, primrose, snapdragon, stock, viola
Bulbs: arum lily, lilium, lily of the valley, tuberous begonia
Shrubs: bare rooted roses and trees, camellia, citrus, cyclamen, deciduous trees, shrubs and climbers, hellebores, daphne
Edibles: berries (boysenberry, currants, raspberry, strawberry), broad beans (plant where you are planning to plant your tomatoes and dig them into the soil once they are done), cabbage, coriander, lettuce, onion, pak choy, peas, radish, rhubarb, spinach
July jobs:
Delicate and young plants may need protection from frosts and overwatering.
Try covering frost sensitive plants with some pea straw. If plants get frosty, water them before the sun hits them to reduce the burn.
It’s time for pruning roses.
Transplant trees and shrubs while they’re dormant and less likely to suffer from ‘transplant shock’.
Cut back or lift and divide canna, ginger lilies and herbaceous perennials.
Fertilise annuals and Winter vegetables with liquid fertilizer, to encourage Winter growth.
Many indoor plants can be divided and repotted during Winter. Make sure they are not overwatered while the weather is cool.
Sharpen your tools!
August garden guide
What to plant in August:
Annuals: alyssum, asters, aquilegia, calendula, carnations, cornflowers, cosmos, dahlia, dianthus, erigeron, lobelia, geranium, pansies, poppies, snapdragon, stock, violas
Shrubs: bare rooted roses and trees, camellia, citrus, deciduous trees, shrubs and climbers, hellebores, daphne
Edibles: beets, berries (blackberry, blueberry, loganberry, raspberry), lettuce, radish, spring onions.
August jobs:
Feed bulbs once the flower buds have started to form.
Fortnightly liquid feed for Winter vegetables.
Prepare soil for Spring growth by applying organic matter (compost and fertiliser).
Stone fruit need spraying for Peach Leaf Curl.
Remove weeds in lawns before Spring so that lawns are lush and green with their new growth.
Roses can still be pruned in August. Spray with Lime Sulphur to prevent fungal disease. Remove old rose leaves from bush and ground and dispose in the rubbish bin.
Winter is beautiful in it’s own way, enjoy the quiet pace of your garden while nature is resting.
