In July there are still plenty of tasks you can do in your garden that prepares it for the spring. Start this preparation in your garden beds for spring by adding compost mixed with humate at the rate of between 5-10% and, if you have any, some well-rotted manure. This will enrich the soil and provide nutrients for your plants. Apply a layer of mulch around your plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. This will also provide some insulation for the roots during the colder winter months. Planting winter vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, silver beet, cabbages and spinach. These hardy crops will thrive in the cooler temperatures that winter brings. You can also plant strawberries. Prepare your soil with a good compost with some organic humate mixed in as well as Growth Booster sheep pellets. These will provide the important nutrients and get the plants off to a good start. Feed your strawberries every four weeks to replenish nutrients.
Protect your strawberries with strawberry straw to keep their roots moist and this will also keep fruit off the soil. Remember to keep your strawberries well-watered.
Harvest: Beetroot, bok choi, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, kale, lettuce, leeks, mesclun, mizuna, parsnip, peas, radish, rocket, shallots, silver beet, spinach and yams.
Protect tender plants: If you have any tender plants in your garden, such as citrus trees or frost-sensitive flowers, make sure to protect them from frost. Use frost cloth or hessian sacks to cover them overnight.
This is a good time of year to prune deciduous fruit trees, as they are dormant during winter. Remove dead or diseased branches and shape the tree to promote healthy growth. Apply organic humate around the base of outdoor trees and shrubs – this will provide sustenance for the microbes and create a much larger soil diversity base. The humate can be raked in or left for the rain to wash in. Also, larger, stronger root systems develop, the immune system is stimulated, endurance increased and resistance to disease and invasive parasites increase. Apply at the rate of 200-300 grams per square metre.
Tip: July is also an excellent time of year to clean and maintain your gardening tools. Sharpen your pruning shears, clean your pots, and organize your gardening shed.
Happy Gardening,