The first month of winter; gardeners should take time to appreciate the structure and shape of their garden and plan to make corrections or improvements where necessary; pruning and planting of deciduous trees and shrubs starts in earnest.
Frost cloth is easy to use when the night temperatures fall. Have lengths ready cut to cover sensitive plants. Expect frost if the overnight temperature will be below 4 degrees and there is no wind.
Here's some top tips to help you protect your tender plants. The mild weather has seen lots of fresh growth which can be damaged with frost. Protection is cheap and effective but needs to be planned for:
Feed winter brassica crops (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts) which are heavy feeders, with a general garden fertiliser.
Protect winter brassica crops from caterpillars, aphids and fungal disease with Success Ultra + Enspray 99 + Free Flo Copper.
Protect vege and flower seedlings from slugs and snails with slug and snail bait.
Plant garlic and shallots now through to July. Only grow the cloves of garlic corms from a certified supply, not from shop-purchased garlic which has been treated to prevent sprouting.
Plant seedlings of cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, silverbeet, onions and winter lettuce.
Potatoes will always be one of the best value vege crops. From a 1kg bag of seed, expect to harvest up to 20kg of delicious potatoes. Early seed potatoes can be sprouted in trays (chitting) in a light (not direct sun) cool place, allowing the sprouts to form. Remove all but 3 or 4 of the strongest sprouts when planting. Egg cartons make great chitting trays.
In warmer regions, crowns of asparagus are available to plant. Plant into free draining garden beds prepared with compost and blood & bone; water and feed with a liquid plant food. Watering with Root Gro after planting will stimulate the plant’s root development and help it to establish quickly.
Dig lime into vacant garden beds to build up soil structure. Use gypsum if the soil is heavy clay. Add organic matter by way of leaf mould or compost.
In warmer regions, strawberry plants are available to plant. Plant into free draining garden beds prepared with compost and blood & bone; water and feed with a liquid plant food. Watering with Root Gro after planting will stimulate the plant’s root development and help it to establish quickly.
Plant new fruit trees such as apples, pears, plums and peaches. Also berry fruits such as blueberries, raspberries and boysenberries. Plant in soil well-prepared with a premium planting mix and add slow release fertiliser. Watering with Root Gro after planting will stimulate the plant’s root development and help it to establish quickly.
Prune deciduous fruit trees, berries and grapes on a dry day to reduce the spread of fungal and bacterial spores. Protect large cuts with pruning paste. Follow up with a clean-up spray of FreeFlo Copper + Enspray 99 for control of fungal diseases and insects.
Plant seedlings of alyssum, calendula, lobelia, stock, pansies, violas, wallflowers, primulas, and polyanthus. Liquid feed with a plant food for flowers for quick results and plenty of blooms.
Pansies, primulas and polyanthus seedlings thrive when planted with a teaspoon of dried blood sprinkled into the planting hole.
Plant lilies from now to September in free draining soil enriched with compost and blood & bone or bulb fertiliser.
Lift and divide large clumps of summer flowering perennials such as cannas, asters, phlox. Plant smaller fresh new pieces - these will quickly grow into large plants in spring and summer.
If you haven't done so already, cut off the old leaves of hellebores to ground level. Apply a sprinkling of lime and a handful of sheep pellets around the crown to feed the new leaves and flower buds.
Plant new roses and deciduous trees and shrubs using a premium planting mix, sheep pellets and a slow release fertiliser. Watering with Root Gro after planting will stimulate the plant’s root development and help it to establish quickly.
Plant daphne for fragrance, azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons for winter and spring colour. When planting, use compost or planting mix and slow release fertiliser for the best start.
Selectively prune back and thin out branches on trees and shrubs to allow more light and air to reach through. Pay particular attention to trees that overshadow the lawn where the winter shade may enhance the growth of moss. Where moss occurs, treat with sulphate of iron.
Trim back the untidy growth of lavender, canna lilies, fuchsias and geraniums.
Agapanthus and Arthropodiums (Reinga Lilies) develop a skirt of old leaves around the base of the plant. Pull these off to tidy the look of the plant and remove sites for snails, slugs and earwigs to hide.
Trim sasanqua camellias after flowering to keep tidy and bushy.
Prune mophead and lacecap hydrangeas. Cut out any thin and spindly growth. Cut back shoots that have flowered to the fattest, biggest buds that are next to each other. These buds hold next seasons flowers. If they are too high, prune down to the next two fat buds. Strong shoots that haven’t flowered can be retained or pruned back to strong buds at the desired height.
Mature rose bushes may be covered with lichen or scale. Spray with lime sulphur to defoliate the bush and kill off both lichen and the scale insects.
From now and through August, prune your roses. Remove all diseased wood, excessive growth and any shoots thinner than a pencil. On old bushes, prune away very old stems and scrub the crown with a wire brush. This removes any flaky bark where insect eggs and fungal spores can hide, and will stimulate fresh new shoots. On the same day as pruning, spray with a mixture of FreeFlo Copper + Enspray 99 mineral oil for control of fungal disease and insects.
Move your indoor plants to warmer, lighter areas of the house and hold back on the water. Let the soil dry out (the pot will be light to lift) before giving a light watering. Drain away any excess water in the tray.
