Judy's Garden Calendar July
Cool mornings followed by crisp, clear days
provide ideal weather for gardening in July. On
these days it’s a pleasure to be outdoors.
Flowers to plant in July
This is a month for sowing two flowers –
delphinium and dianthus – that have little in
common, except that they both start with d.
Yates Delphinium Pacific Giants produces
spires of blue or white, flower-studded stems
that can reach up to 1.5m. Dianthus Blush Pink
is a low grower (to 20cm) that will last for a few
years if it’s in the right (sunny and well-drained)
conditions. This sweetly-scented Yates variety
raises funds for Breast Cancer Network
Australia.
Vegies to sow in July
In spite of the cold, there’s plenty happening in
the vegie patch this month. Those amazingly
tough broad beans can still be sown. Spinach,
silverbeet and peas, too, can go into well-limed
soil. Seed potatoes can be planted in frost-free
areas but, where it’s cooler, it’s best to wait until
after frosts have finished.
Feed in July
Bring potted bulbs inside while they’re in bloom
and continue feeding them every fortnight with
a weak, half strength solution of Thrive or
Aquasol. Some early bulbs (e.g. jonquils) may
already have finished flowering, but don’t forget
about them just yet. Continue fortnightly
feeding with a liquid plant food until the leaves
have yellowed. This builds up the bulbs for
next year’s flowering.
Prune in July
July’s probably the busiest month in the pruning
calendar. Roses can be pruned, although it’s
better to wait another month in the really cold
areas. In fact most plants that lose their leaves
(e.g. crepe myrtles) can be pruned now.
Spring-flowering plants are the exception,
however. Don’t cut them back or you’ll remove
the flowers before they have the chance to
open.
A post-pruning clean up spray of Yates Lime
Sulphur will kill off both fungal spores and
unwanted lichen on deciduous plants.
Pest watch
Preventing pest attack is much simpler than
treating the problem when it’s in full flight, so
take a tip from old-time gardeners and give
deciduous trees and shrubs a white oil
treatment in July. Spraying the oil directly on
the trunks and branches will remove scale and
bug eggs that are hiding in cracks in the bark.
Plant of the Month
The orange trumpet creeper (Pyrostegia
venusta) makes a dramatic show in
winter, especially if it can be encouraged to
climb on a vertical surface or fence. It produces
a wall of bright orange that lights up the winter
garden. Pyrostegia does best in frost-free
climates but will cope with some cold. Cut back
and feed with Dynamic Lifter pellets after
flowering.
