Week 1: July gardening

Even in July, the middle of winter, it's amazing
how much is happening in the garden.

Flowers to plant in July - Water lilies

Dormant, packaged water lilies are available at
this time of year. They all need a sunny spot
and most (except for the very smallest varieties)
must have at least 45cm depth of water. Water
lilies are best planted into a pot filled with
potting mix to which some cow manure and has
been added. Water well after potting, top with a
layer of gravel or stones and lower gently into
the pond.

Vegies to sow in July - Peas
Peas are some of the easiest vegies for
beginning gardeners, and kids will love picking
them straight off the plant and eating them raw.
Yates wilt-resistant Greenfeast and Earlicrop
Massey are both good quality dwarf peas but, if
space is tight, find a sunny wall or trellis and
grow Sugarsnap climbing peas. These are like
snow peas in that they can be eaten pod and all
('mange-tout' the French call them). There's
also a dwarf sugarsnap pea in the Yates range.

Feed in July
Cultivate an empty garden bed or a good-sized
bare patch between shrubs. After digging,
blend in some compost or manure and some
Yates Garden Lime. Next, mix in a few
handfuls of Yates Blood & Bone to every
square metre. Then leave it be. By the time
spring arrives the soil will be in wonderful
condition and your spring-planted flowers and
vegies will have the best possible start.

Towards the end of the month feed citrus with
Thrive Citrus Food. Its combination of nutrients
will keep fruiting plants healthy and, most
importantly, productive.

Prune in July
July's the peak month for rose pruning. Cut
back or remove the oldest shoots and prune off
anything that's weak and spindly. Cut above an
outward-facing bud so that the centre of the
plant stays free of clutter. After pruning, before
any leaves sprout, spray the rose with winter-
strength Yates Lime Sulphur.

Prune grape vines and other deciduous plants -
except those that flower in spring. This latter
group should be pruned after blooming. Cut
down the raspberry canes that carried fruit last
season. This will leave room for the new canes
to grow.

Pest watch
Check the lawn for clover, dandelions and other
weedy lawn invaders. Treat with Yates Weed
'n' Feed or Turfix, which is available in a
concentrate or ready-to-use pack. Invasive
oxalis should be painted with Zero Glyphosate
using a Zero Weeding Brush but, because of
the underground bulbs, you'll probably also
need to follow up next year.

July job file
There's still plenty of time to plant bare-rooted
roses and all the fruit and shade trees that are
available at this time of year.

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