Get ready Spring is on its way !

 

SUMMER FLOWERING BULBS

Summer flowering bulbs such as Lilliums, Dahlias, Gladiolus are just 3 of the many varieties that can be planted now for spectacular display, and many can be grown in pots too. We recommend liquid feeding the spring flowering bulbs as they will be well and truly budding up now ready for their spring display.

 

 

HEALTHY SOIL

Enrich your soil with Jeffries Organic Compost which will help with soil structure and moisture retention. Likewise, before the real warm weather sets in, spread mulch around to conserve the moisture that is in the ground. Don’t plant the seeds or seedlings into cold soil, wait for the sun to warm up the ground a bit first.

 

 

 

 

CONTROL WEEDS

August is the key time for destroying weeds before they get a chance to flower and multiply your problem for next year. Soursobs are best sprayed at flowering time. Lawn weeds should be controlled now so when your lawn shoots away in spring, there won’t be the competition from the weeds.

 

 

COPPER FUNGICIDE SPRAY

Get ready with a copper fungicide spray to use on your peaches and nectarines as the buds begin to swell and show a hint of colour. This is the critical time for spraying them to control leaf curl.

 

 

VEGGIE GARDEN

If you have protected warm space in the garden then later in the month you can sow some seeds of your summer ripening vegetables like Tomatoes, Sweet Corn, Pumpkin, Chilli and Capsicum just to name a few.  Don’t rush it though wait till later in the month when we’re just that bit closer to spring.

 

 

LAST CHANCE TO PLANT

Hurry up and grab yourself bare rooted roses and fruit trees while they’re still available. August is the last you’ll see them in bare root style before they’re potted up ready for spring, summer and autumn sales.

 

 

CONTROL CITRUS GALL WASP

If you noticed any signs of Citrus Gall Wasp try one of the following tips before the wasps start hatching from the galls.

1 Cut out any galls you can see. This can leave you with a very deformed tree and in some cases, very little tree left.

2 Place Citrus Gall Wasp traps in the tree before they hatch. This will catch many wasps but not all and may also catch beneficial insects, birds or other animals.

3 Horticultural Glue. Smearing horticultural glue over the gall means when the wasp crawls out upon hatching it will get stuck in the glue posing no chance of breeding and then laying eggs back into your tree.

 

 

TIP: Too much Nitrogen at this time of year is not recommended as you will produce lots of lovely soft fresh growth that the Citrus Gall Wasps will have a field day laying eggs in.