Even in July, the middle of winter, it’s amazing how much is happening in the garden.
Dormant, packaged water lilies are available at this time of year. They all need a sunny spot and most (except for the very smallest varieties) must have at least 45cm depth of water. Water lilies are best planted into a pot filled with potting mix to which some cow manure and Dynamic Lifter pellets have been added. Water well after potting, top with a layer of gravel or stones and lower gently into the pond.
Peas are some of the easiest vegies for beginning gardeners, and kids will love picking them straight off the plant and eating them raw. Yates wilt-resistant Greenfeast and Earlicrop Massey are both good quality dwarf peas but, if space is tight, find a sunny wall or trellis and grow Telephone climbing peas. They’ll take a bit longer to reach cropping stage but, once they start, they’ll continue producing pods over many weeks.
Cultivate an empty garden bed or a good-sized bare patch between shrubs. After digging, blend in some compost or manure and some Yates Garden Lime. Next, mix in a few handfuls of Dynamic Lifter pellets to every square metre. Then leave it be. By the time spring arrives the soil will be in wonderful condition and your spring-planted flowers and vegies will have the best possible start.
Towards the end of the month feed citrus with Dynamic Lifter for Fruit & Citrus. Its combination of organic and inorganic nutrients will keep fruiting plants healthy and, most importantly, productive.
July’s the peak month for rose pruning. Cut back or remove the oldest shoots and prune off anything that’s weak and spindly. Cut above an outward-facing bud so that the centre of the plant stays free of clutter. After pruning, before any leaves sprout, spray the rose with winter-strength Yates Lime Sulphur.
Prune grape vines and other deciduous plants – except those that flower in spring. This latter group should be pruned after blooming.
Check the lawn for bindii and other weedy lawn invaders. Treat with Yates Weed ‘n’ Feed or, in buffalo lawns, with Yates Lush Bindii & Broadleaf. Flowering soursob should be painted with Zero Glyphosate using a Zero Weeding Brush but, because of the underground bulbs, you’ll probably also need to follow up next year.
There’s still plenty of time to plant bare-rooted roses and all the fruit and shade trees that are available at this time of year. Why not plant a tree for Tree Day (27 July)?
Here’s a winter checklist for deciduous trees and shrubs
Liliums are surprisingly easy to cultivate
Yates olive Tuscan pot is the ideal colour and shape to suit a wide range of architectural styles
Planting and growing asparagus is a long-term commitment.
Cress Salad Curled can germinate, grow and be ready for harvest in as little as four weeks.
