Welcome to our notes for June, it’s hard to believe that we’re hallway through the year already!
The nights have certainly gotten much colder, so winter is definitely here. Hopefully, by the end of this week, we will have seen a bit of rain after one of the driest starts to a year in a very long time. Even if we get the forecasted 10 to 15mm, it won’t be enough to put any moisture down into the subsoil yet, so we will still need to continue watering our gardens until we have a significant rain event.
The cold nights and weather in general mean that the soil temperature has also decreased. This means that planting some plants, citrus in particular, should now be put on hold until spring when the ground has warmed up again. You can certainly still purchase plants now; in fact, it will mean that you don’t miss out as popular varieties become harder to find later on. However, keep them in their pots in a warm spot until planting time.
Caring for Roses, Fruit Trees, and Preventing Leaf Curl
June is the month when thoughts turn to roses. Traditionally, these have been bought as “bare root,” meaning the rose is in a plastic bag with its roots in sawdust; however, there is a move nowadays towards purchasing roses already potted. When you buy bare root roses, the success or failure of your plant is dictated by whether the roots have remained moist or dried out, and sometimes they are very slow to establish. Potted roses, on the other hand, generally have a decent root system in place and will take off when spring comes. The difference in cost between the two options is now much smaller than it used to be.
Fruit and ornamental trees are in the same situation as roses, still available as bare root but now increasingly more often sold potted and ready to go. Don’t be afraid to plant your fruit trees in pots if you are short of garden space. I have a small yard and have the following all growing and fruiting well in pots: lemon, cumquat, apricot, fig, numerous blueberries, and a truffle tree! Make sure you use a pot that’s large enough, a good premium potting mix, and place them in a spot that will get at least half a day’s sunshine.
If you have peach and nectarine trees, you will need to give them a spray with a copper-based fungicide when they have lost their leaves to help protect against leaf curl. They will need to be sprayed again in early spring at the “pink bud” stage, but a spray now is certainly going to be beneficial.
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Vibrant Plants to Brighten the Cooler Months
Please don’t think that winter is a “dull” time of year in the garden. There are plenty of plants that are at their best through the cooler weather. Camellias provide a glorious display at this time of the year and are available in a range of pot sizes to suit all needs. In good flower at the moment are the Sasanqua camellias. These mostly single-flowered plants are more sun-hardy than their showier large-flowered Japonica cousins. They are best grown in a position that gets morning sun and some shade in the afternoon, and they require acidic soil. If these conditions are hard to meet, they are also easy to grow in pots; just make sure to use “camellia and azalea” potting mix.
A lot of native plants, particularly the grevilleas, come into their own in winter too, plus a host of other species. Nandina turns vibrant shades of red as the weather gets colder and are wonderful additions to any garden. Pop into your local garden center and have a look—you’ll be amazed at just how colorful they are at the moment.
Final Notes
As you can see there are plenty of reasons to rug up and get out in your garden.
Ask one of our knowledgeable garden staff members for advice if you have any questions regarding anything having to do with your garden, indoors or out. We would be pleased to lead you on the correct path. Call us on 1300 165 165 or visit your local store.