27 Jun Winter Worries
With cold temperatures and short days, growth in the garden is particularly slow this month and there isn’t a lot to do as far as seed sowing and pruning is concerned. Take advantage of this down time to get those repair jobs, maintenance and hard landscaping projects done. While there’s plenty of cold weather ahead, the winter solstice means that by the end of the month, days are already starting to get longer. This is a reminder that spring isn’t that far away!
Physical labour is also a lot more pleasant in this weather than the summer months. Think about:
- preparation of new garden beds or soil improvement
- repot patio plants, if necessary (Container gardening)
- transplant established shrubs (also a good time because the plants are relatively dormant at this time) For more about transplanting see Advanced Plants
- consult an arborist about questionable trees, have dangerous ones removed or pruned
- maintenance of lawnmower and other Garden Tools. Keeping mower blades sharp will avoid the tearing and shredding of grass leaf blades that can increase the chances of disease entry and increase water loss. For more information, see Lawn Mowing and Lawn Care.
- compare features and make an informed choice for new purchases like lawnmowers, shredders, compost bins etc.
- installation, repair or cleaning of paving, retaining walls, water features, gazebos etc, or hire a landscaper to do it
On the other hand, if it really is too cold and dark to get out there, cosy up indoors and work on some new garden/tree layouts, research any new plants you may be interested in, browse garden catalogues and do some shopping for springtime supplies. The internet means there’s a whole world of gardening information and inspiration available in an instant.
One group of plants that are quite active now are, unfortunately, the cool season weeds. As with all weeds, prompt removal (whether by hand weeding or spraying) will prevent multiplication and bigger problems in subsequent years.
Don’t forget that weeds are also discouraged by good gardening practices – minimise exposed soil with mulches or cover crops and encourage strong growth of garden plants or lawn grass to outcompete weeds. Pay attention to drainage and soil pH. Selective cutting back or thinning out of trees and shrubs to encourage stronger growth of sun-starved lawn or groundcovers could be part of your strategy.
Dead or dying foliage of flowering perennials can be cut back (unless you expect frost), but for the sake of aesthetics you may prefer to delay pruning summer-flowering shrubs and tropical foliage plants until closer to spring when they’ll take off again quickly. Just trim dead flowers and stray branches to keep them looking tidy.
Frangipani are losing their leaves, which will almost certainly be carrying the rust fungus. Picking up these leaves and putting them in the rubbish will not prevent the disease entirely but will reduce the potential for re-infection next season.
Spring-flowering shrubs should definitely not be pruned now – you’ll be cutting off those developing flower buds!
It’s the season for planting bare-rooted rose bushes. Hopefully you’ll be getting yours from a quality grower who has not dug them too early. If you haven’t ordered them in advance and are relying on supplies in garden centres now, you’ll have to take your chances and make your purchases asap to get the best pick. See also Roses.
While bougainvillea can flower throughout the year in SE Qld, depending on the variety (genetic background), weather variations and the treatment they have received by gardeners. However, they are generally at their most floriferous in winter. As you drive around the suburbs, appreciate the jewel-like colours, which look especially brilliant under the clear blue skies we get at this time of year. Take note of the various ways in which they are grown. Larger types may be growing rather wildly up trees, but may also be trained onto fences, verandas, or arches. Others may be trimmed into hedges or trained as tree-like specimens. Large gardens might accommodate stand-alone shrubs. Dwarf forms can be grown in containers. The success of any such application will depend on selection of a suitability of a suitable variety, but it may give you come ideas for how you might incorporate bougainvillea into your garden.