 Tips
for Melbourne the month of July
Tips...
This month you will get faster and more satisfactory results if
you plant seedlings not seeds
What to sow or plant...
Flowers:
Alyssum, calendula, chrysanthemum, delphinium, English
daisy, foxglove, gaillardia, gazania, helichrysum, hollyhock,
Iceland poppy, kale (ornamental), larkspur, lupin, pentstemon,
polyanthus, primrose
Vegetables:
Asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cress, garlic,
globe artichokes, leek, lettuce, onion, peas, spinach, spring
onion, silver beet, fennel, parsley, rosemary.
Pests & Diseases
*azaleas. Check for petal blight (see last month). Also
check for silvery foliage. This indicates the presence of
lace bug. They suck the sap out of the leaves. You need
to spray the emerging foliage to protect it, with a spray
like confidor. There is nothing to be done for already infected
foliage.
Jobs to do...
Propagate:
When you prune your tree dahlias, you can cut the stems
into 3 to 5 node lengths. Lay them horizontal, 10 cms below
the soil surface in “Your Choice Premium Potting Mix”.
A Styrofoam broccoli box is ideal for this. Place this somewhere
cool and wait until spring for it to grow.
Other Jobs:
*If your compost heap is at all dry, then uncover it so
it benefits from the rain that is falling.
*check that your mulch isn’t stopping any precious
rain from reaching the soil. When the mulch is lawn clippings
it can form an impervious layer. Use a pitch fork or a shovel
to break it up. You could also spread some “Your Choice
Soak and Feed”.
*prune the ivy and other creepers, ready for spring.
Enjoy the delights of winter.
Silhouettes of trees can be striking, either with the tracery
of branches reaching for the sky, or the shape of a weeping
tree.
The colour and texture of bark is more evident at this time
of year. Think of trees such as cherry trees, crepe myrtles,
plane trees or many eucalypts.
If you are lucky enough to get frost, venture outside early
and enjoy the frost on old seed heads.
Pruning:
Make sure your tools are sharp before you start.
If there is a chance of diseases spreading then have methylated
spirits to wipe the blades clean with. When you have finished
pruning for the day then oil the steel blades before you
put the tools away.
If you are in a frost area and the plants are sensitive
to frost, then wait until the danger of frost is past.
To prune:
Always remove
• any dead wood and any damaged or diseased branches
• any suckers. These are shoots from the rootstock,
from below the graft.
• any branches that cross over or rub others
Prune to a branch or a bud.
With larger shrubs and trees try to leave some leaves on
the plant.
Remember that some of the best pruning jobs are when other
people do not know you have just pruned the plant (especially
with trees and shrubs) and they just look neat and tidy.
How to prune a standard rose.
Standard roses are more formal than bush roses, therefore
they need more attention to their symmetrical shape than
with bush roses. You are aiming for a good distribution
of short sound stems, with a flattish top to the total shape.
Thin out the plant, removing thin growth unless it is needed
to complete the formal shape.
Cut down the stems to a quarter to one third of their original
size. Cut to a bud which points in the right direction.
Check the stakes and ties that will support the weight of
the rose for the coming season.
In spring you should be rewarded with a beautifully shaped
plant.
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