Pittwater Life July 2019 Issue

Garden Life
Jobs this Month
July
Garden Life
We may be in drought,
but no-one would
have thought it
last month! Heavy rains
compacted the soil. Turn the
topsoil for better drainage
and cover with a new layer of
mulch. Also, this is the last
month to move any trees or
shrubs that are deciduous.
The days will start getting
longer now, and the sap will
begin to rise. Last chance this
month for summer-flowering
lilium and hippeastrum bulbs
and other summer-flowering
perennials that are sold on
the bulb stands. Make sure
that the bulbs are still firm
and that perennial plants
in peat packaging have not
dried out. Last, plant tomato
seeds this month so that you
will have them ready for next
month and planting.
Prune roses
Cut back any weak or twiggy
growth so that the centre
of the bush is open. Always
prune to an outward-growing
shoot. Spray your roses with
lime sulphur to eliminate any
spores of black spot. Spray
the surrounding soil at the
same time.
Glorious
gardenias
Gardenias are always a
favourite in the garden. The
smaller-growing Super Star is
a compact, low-growing neat
shrub with fragrant, single
pinwheel flowers. If you have a
space this is great plant to fill
a corner in a sunny spot. Once
established it is tough, hardy
and undemanding. Feed it with
Kahoona for a mass of flowers
at Christmas.
Fruits of labour
If you want to grow fruit trees,
this is the time to plant them.
Make sure if you are buying
fruit trees that you check the
varieties carefully. Most apples
and stone fruit need winter
frost although there are a few
newer varieties that will grow
in frost-free climates. Fruits
that are good for this area
include paw paws, passionfruit,
avocadoes, guavas,
pomegranates, grapes, kiwi
fruit, strawberries, mangoes,
bananas and figs.
Divide & conquer
Lift and divide gingers, iris,
mondo grass gazanias, liriope,
ornamental grasses, dichondra,
strawberries and Shasta
daisies. Also trim and train
passionfruit vines. The fruit is
only produced on new growth.
You should cut the vine back
by 50%.
On your guard
Guard the flower spikes on
orchids. Snails, caterpillars and
grasshoppers can decimate
the buds in a single night.
Multiguard will keep the snails
under control – but why not
bring the pots inside until they
finish flowering?
The good oil
Protect the new growth on
citrus trees from leaf miners
with Eco Oil mixed together
with Eco Neem. As the days
warm up a regular weekly spray
is worth the effort.
‘Lei’ off pruning
Wait until next month to prune
Hawaiian hibiscus. It is always
tempting to tidy them up, but
the nights are still too cold.
Basket beauty
Cheer yourself up on a cold
day by buying a new hanging
basket plant. Ipomea Blackie
is a tough and hardy trailing
plant. It is a cousin of the sweet
potato. The stunning dark
purple leaves look amazing as
a backdrop for the pretty pink
flowers. It loves good light and
the sun. It looks great in mixed
baskets, multi-planted tubs,
or as a ground cover in the
garden.
Crossword solution from page 69
Mystery location: BROKEN BAY
72 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991