June gardening jobs

Plant deciduous trees

Winter is the time to plant deciduous trees so they can settle in before the warmer weather. The bare-rooted trees available at this time of year are usually sold with their roots in bags or wrapped in paper. Remove the packaging, including any moisture-holding material around the roots (this can go into the compost), and sit the roots in a bucket of water with seaweed solution added, for half an hour. In the meantime, choose a suitable planting position (remembering to factor in the tree’s ultimate size) and dig a hole that’s at least twice the size of the root ball. Mix some compost into the excavated soil and use it to create a mound in the base of the hole. Spread the roots over the mound, backfill and water well. Check to make sure all the roots are covered, water well and add more soil if required. Mulch lightly with an organic material, leaving a small space around the trunk for air movement. If staking is required, space three stakes around the tree, tie loosely and remove the stakes as soon as the tree is self-supporting.

Cover the ground with natives

Slowing weed growth in winter provides an opportunity to plant native groundcovers that will get established before the weeds take off again in the warmer months. Prepare the area for planting by removing as many weeds as possible. Water well, cover with sheets of damp newspaper, mulch and plant into holes cut through the newspaper. Here are some top choices:

• Grevillea x gaudichaudii has deeply lobed leaves and red toothbrush flowers for much of the year.
• Westringia fruticosa ‘Flat ‘n’ Fruity’ and ‘Mundi’ are prostrate forms of the popular coastal rosemary.
• Eremophila glabra ‘Blue Horizon’ has silver-grey foliage and beautifully contrasting bright-yellow blooms.
• Climbers such as snake vine (Hibbertia scandens) and false sarsaparilla (Hardenbergia violacea), as well as various species of pandorea, will scramble over the ground and can be clipped back if they start trying to climb over their neighbours.
• Running postman (Kennedia prostrata), true to its name, spreads quickly and has bright blooms in postbox red.

Winter care for house plants

House plants can take on extra significance in winter when we’re inside spending more time with them. Be aware, though, that indoor plants need special care during the cooler months.

Watch out for heated rooms, as most indoor plants are jungle dwellers in nature and hate too much dry air. Mist-spray plants regularly, or place a container of water near them to release humidity. Or move the plants to unheated, well-lit rooms.

Plant growth slows down in winter, so reduce fertilising and watering. Water temperature is a factor, too, because house plants hate cold water around their roots. Before watering, add a little hot water to the cold water to bring it closer to room temperature.

Give each indoor plant an overall health check. If a plant is badly infested by pests such as mealy bugs, it’s easiest to discard it and buy a replacement. If a plant does need spraying, take it outside to a shaded spot on a warm day, then bring it back in after the spray has dried.

Trim off any dead or damaged leaves and wipe remaining leaves with a damp cloth to clean them.

Plant bare-rooted roses

Rose plants that are available in winter are usually sold bare-rooted. This means they have been grown in the ground and dug up in their winter dormant period. After the soil is removed from their roots, they can be shipped all over the country. Their roots are usually wrapped in packaging or parked in nursery beds to keep them moist. When you take a bare-rooted rose home, try to plant it as soon as possible. Choose a sunny spot with well-prepared and well-draining soil. Remove any packaging and soak the roots in a bucket of water while digging a planting hole at least 40cm across. Create a mound at the base of the hole and spread the roots over the mound. Fill the hole with soil, making sure the bud union (where the rose was grafted) is well above the soil level. Firm gently around the roots, water well and cover the soil with a layer of mulch, keeping the mulch well clear of the stem. Wait until spring to fertilise.

Words by Judy Horton