As we’ve said before… sure, everyone gardens in spring and summer… but real Garden Masters are made in winter! Are you ready to earn your green thumbs up from the community? Now, more than ever your garden seeks your attention to ensure it is protected against the changing season, looks great during this time, and is prepared for Spring blooms!
Now that winter’sofficially here, Garden Master will guide you through a comprehensive winter gardening to-do list. From protecting your plants from frost and maintaining soil health, to planting new and exciting flora that will keep your garden looking great, we’re not leaving your garden out in the cold! We’ll cover all the essential tasks to ensure your plants thrive even in the chilly weather. Let’s dig in:
7 Things to Prune in June/ July
First things first, let’s spring clean in winter. Grab your trustee Garden Master pruners, loppers and shears at your local Builders, Makro or Game to prune and get rid of dead wood to make way for summer’s growth.
- Deciduous and fruit trees: Leave until July when they are at their most dormant. Remove dead or diseased branches first. Open the centre of fruit trees to let in light to ripen fruit. Take care not to cut too close to growing buds or to damage the plump fruit buds. Seal large cuts and spray with lime sulphur afterwards to stop disease from getting into the open wounds.
- Citrus: These trees don’t require much pruning. Cut out dead and diseased branches and thin out if necessary.
- Shrubs: In June, trim summer and autumn flowering shrubs such as solanum, duranta, hibiscus, abelia, barleria, ribbon bush, sagewood and tecoma. Aim for a tidy shape. Select good pieces for hardwood cuttings as you go and pot them up to give as gifts to friends.
- Hedges: Trim and shape after they have flowered.
- Climbers: Cut back long lateral branches of granadillas to 60cm to promote new growth and fruiting.
- Roses: Don’t prune early bloomers such as banksia roses and dog roses until after they have flowered in October. Burn all diseased and pest-infected prunings.
- Standards: Remove any sprouting buds and suckers from the trunk and root. Prune to keep the crown symmetrical and the branches radiating out evenly. Aim to cut the main stems back by half their length to a strong, outward pointing bud.
Plant More Annuals for Spring and Winter
Add vibrant colours to your winter garden by planting annuals like petunias. These flowers thrive in dryer weather, making them perfect for summer rainfall regions. They’ll bring a bright splash of colour to your garden. Check out our latest blog about all the flowers you can plant now to keep your plant palette colourful! Your garden parties are about to kick It up a notch…
Mulch Your Bulbs
Protect your bulbs by mulching them with compost, dry grass and leaves, or bark. You can also plant annuals or groundcovers over or in between bulbs to serve as additional mulch.
Add these to your shopping list:
When you need to mulch on over to the lawn as well, your pro’s choice of gear is none other than the Trimtech Electric Enviro Mulch Lawnmower 2600W.
Sow Winter Greens for Salads
Ensure a fresh supply of healthy winter greens for your salads and sandwiches. Sow a mix of peppery rocket, beetroot, radishes, and lettuce in trays that receive morning sun. Harvest the greens as you need them. Add these to your shopping list:
- Vegetable Seeds at Builders
- 12 Pod Universal Seed Starter Kit
- Garden Master Super Pot Set 30cmx 3 Porcelain
Care for Crotons
In warm gardens, crotons will display vibrant colours. If they haven’t, cut them back to renew their growth. Use the clippings to propagate new plants. Remember to feed them with a general fertilizer for foliage. Let natural winter adaptations be the star of the show in your cold-weather garden.
Plant Deciduous Blossom Trees
Introduce fruit trees, especially deciduous blossom trees like flowering peach, plum, cherry, quince, and crab apple. These trees will add beauty and interest to your garden during winter.