AUGUST & SEPTEMBER August is a busy month for fruit trees! This is a good time to plant out deciduous fruit trees and to prune existing ones. As buds begin to swell, spray with ‘LEAF CURL’ or ‘FUNGUS FIGHTER’ to combat leaf curl. Then give them a feed to help push along the spring growth. Citrus need to be sprayed for scale and aphids, they can be fed late August (note- do not feed newly planted citrus for the first 6 weeks). An excellent new product on the market is ‘Dynamic lifter for Citrus’. Don’t forget to freshen and top up your mulch.

FLOWER GARDEN As the bulbs of daffodils, hyacinths and jonquils etc. finish, pull off the old flower heads so they don’t take goodness from the bulb. Now is the time to cut back geraniums and feed, spray with ‘Baycor’ at the first sign of rust appearing. Feed your irises with a dose of super phospate.

VEGETABLE GARDEN Tomatoes can be sown in August, but you will need to keep them protected from any cold weather. Start preparing your garden beds for a great range of spring / summer vegetables. Put in plenty of blood and bone, with plenty of organic compost. Have a look in store for new seasons ‘Passion Fruit’ which will be ready to plant now.

CREPE MYRTLE
These deciduous shrubs and trees come in an array of colours, flowering through summer and autumn. They are best grown in an open situation and do best when cut back hard in winter. Once established they will tolerate hot, dry conditions. They are able to be groomed into a standard and even though dormant in the winter period, their exfoliating bark gives them ornamental value.