Gardening jobs for July

Winter has well and truly settled in here in Perth, with chilly temperatures and rain keeping most of us indoors. However, it’s important not to neglect your garden during the cooler months, as tempting as the thought may be.

Here’s our list of jobs you should aim to complete in the garden during July:

• Vegetables that are ideal for planting now include asparagus, broad beans, cabbage, onions, spinach, artichoke, spring onions, potatoes and broccoli.
• Plant pansies for an injection of colour.
• If your ornamental grasses have browned, cut them back to the ground and remove dead foliage.
• Winter is the ideal time to plant cherry trees.
• Prune any deciduous fruit trees.
• If any of your plants get damaged by frost, leave the damaged sections in place until the last frost has passed. This will offer protection to the undamaged parts.
• To reduce the damage caused by frost, gently hose of your plants first thing in the morning.
• If you are growing asparagus, make sure you do not cut them until they have been planted for at least three years.
• If your reticulation is still set to automatic, TURN IT OFF. The winter sprinkler ban is in place in Perth and you risk getting a fine.
• If you have space, install a rainwater tank to capture as much rain as possible to use over summer.
• Kangaroo paws will benefit from liquid fertilizer during winter.
• If you haven’t pruned your roses yet, do this early this month.
• If the rain is keeping you out of the garden but you still want to be doing something useful, use this time to clean and sharpen your gardening tools, or to service your lawnmower ready for spring.
• Don’t waste time or energy fertilizing lawns during winter, as their roots do not take up nutrients at this time. Wait until the weather starts to get warmer as spring approaches.