July

With wetter weather around it is harder to get out in the garden, a good time to do some planning with a cup of tea in hand! Frosts and snow will be about in some areas, when in doubt cover and protect all your hard work.

Key Points

  • Continue to plant garlic and shallots, it’s not too late.
  • Strawberries can be planted from July through to October.
  • July is the perfect time to plant deciduous trees, including new seasons deciduous fruit trees and citrus.
  • It is rose pruning time and time to plant new season roses.
  • Prune hydrangeas.
  • Protect frost tender plants from frosts.

The Edible Garden

  • Although we are in the middle of winter, it’s time to be thinking about spring! The first thing to consider is getting the ground ready. Except in very wet or boggy soils, you can now start to turn over any patches of garden that have left un-planted. This is a good time to dig any green manure crops such as lupins and mustard. Add some lime to the soil at the same time. If you don’t have green manure crops, dig in a good quantity of organic compost.
  • In warmer areas start preparing potato tubers for planting. Spread seed potatoes in trays or boxes in a light, sunny position and leave to sprout – 4-6 weeks. Once spouted rub off any small or weak sprouts before planting
  • Sow seeds in seed trays in a warm light location – seeds that are sown now will develop into seedlings ready to plant into the ground in early spring. These include beetroot, lettuce, Chinese cabbage and silverbeet.
  • Some of the berry fruit plants will start appearing in stores now, and these can be planted out into the garden.
  • You can still plant garlic and shallots this month.
  • A spray of Bravo or Champ DP Copper spray on winter crops such as cabbage, cauliflower and broad beans will help control any winter fungus diseases that may appear.
  • Prune grapes.

The Flower Garden

  • Prune roses this month. Spray with Champ DP copper spray and conqueror oil to keep any scale, mites and fungus diseases under control.
  • Fragrant Daphne and Boronia are a welcome addition to any garden and can be planted now.
  • Feed spring flowering bulbs with Bulb food or Thrive Flower and Fruit as the leaves appear through the ground.
  • Tuberous begonias, Dahlias, Gladioli and Canna Lilies will all appear in the garden centre this month. Prepare the soil well with compost and general garden fertiliser and plant out the tubers and corms towards the end of the month.
  • Sow seedlings of sweet pea, lobelia, pansies.
  • This is a good month to choose and plant Camellias – they will be in flower, and you can pick the colours you like best.
  • Spring flowering trees can be planted now – flowering cherries, crab apples, and Maples for their gorgeous spring foliage.

The Lawn

  • Growth will now slow down.
  • Mark areas of poor drainage ready to fix when the ground is drier.