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All Regions

July is traditionally the time to prune and to plant new roses and deciduous fruit trees. It is also a good month to transplant roses that are growing in the wrong position. Pruning in late winter is best because the sap flow is low and therefore the risk of infection is at its lowest. Pruning of existing fruit trees, grapevines, roses and hydrangeas can be done from the middle of July in temperate regions, and from mid August in very cold regions. In the winter rainfall areas pruning starts from the end of July to August; and in warm subtropical regions you can prune from the middle of June. Correct pruning will rejuvenate old plants; producing fruit laden trees and well-shaped shrubs and roses that flower well.  Do not prune shrubs, trees or roses that flower in late winter, spring and early summer, these can be pruned when they have finished blooming.

Ensure that all your pruners are sharp and always make clean cuts as ragged cuts are subject to infection. You will need secateurs to prune small branches and loppers for bigger branches; a garden saw will also come in handy for large branches. Wipe your secateurs clean often with a cloth dipped into a disinfectant to prevent the spread of fungal diseases from plant to plant. It is especially good to do this after pruning each rose bush before moving on to the next. A good pair of gloves will save your hands. If you are doing a winter spray, ensure that your sprayer has good pressure.

Knowing the basics of pruning make it easy and I will be publishing articles on pruning soon, so keep posted.

Prune your hydrangeas
in late July. They need to be pruned down to a good, fat bud and all the old, dead wood needs to be cut right down to the ground.

Citrus trees are evergreen but do need some attention at this time of the year. When you have finished harvesting, mulch the trees with compost, but keep it away from the trunk of the tree. Ripe lemons last long on the tree and can be harvested as required but limes start to deteriorate on the tree and are better if they are harvested right away. Spray thoroughly with Oleum if red scale insects are noticed on the stems. Almonds that are starting to bloom should be fed with 6:1:5 or similar organic fertiliser. Use about 100 grams for young trees and about 200 grams for mature trees, watering it in well afterwards. Mangoes must also be fed once the flower trusses emerge. The long side branches of Granadillas can be cut back now if they were not pruned in February; this will promote new side shoots. In the winter rainfall regions strawberries are planted out now.

Do not prune frost bitten evergreen shrubs now, rather wait until the weather warms and all danger of frost is over. When you do prune, remove all green branches from variegated shrubs right at their base, or the stronger growing green shoots will quickly overtake the variegated ones. Do not prune your spring and early summer flowering evergreen shrubs and climbers until they have finished blooming.

Brunfelsia

July is also a great month to transplant shrubs or trees that are growing in the wrong place. Dig the new holes first and make sure that you plant them at the same depth that they were growing before transplanting. Never plant too deep and sprinkle bone meal into the planting holes to encourage new root growth; watering thoroughly afterwards.

July is a good time to transplant cycads and cycas revoluta. Remove any cones from your plant before transplanting and ensure that the new site has good, well-drained soil, adding some river sand to the new planting hole if the drainage is not good. Do not over water until the rainy season starts.

Water your winter and spring flowering seedlings and bulbs regularly and feed with organic 3:1:5. Nip out the dead flowers often to encourage them to flower for longer.

Start preparing beds for spring plantings of vegetables and herbs. Join as a subscriber today and read all about growing your favourite summer vegetables and herbs
Divide and replant large clumps of rhubarb at the end of July. Pick your peas while they are still young and tender and nip out the growing tips of broad beans to promote pod set and to prevent aphid infestations. Globe artichokes can be propagated from suckers cut from the base of the plant with a sharp knife, leaving part of the root attached. In cold regions suckers are planted out in late winter. Plant only strong healthy suckers about 25cm long, spacing them about 60cm apart. Jerusalem artichoke tubers can be lifted and divided in late winter or early spring. Select only good quality tubers at least 4cm in diameter with at least 2 eyes or buds. Large tubers can be cut into pieces as long as they have two eyes. Plant the tubers about 50cm apart. Seeds can also be sown into trays in late winter for planting out in summer.

Jerusalem Artichoke

Globe Artichoke

In the summer rainfall regions it is an excellent time to make structural changes to your garden like levelling or laying new pathways, repairing walls and varnishing woodwork.

Rainwater tanks will pay for themselves within a few years and are essential in regions with brak water and those prone to drought. Lawns are water guzzlers and should be kept to a minimum to conserve water.

Weeds will in show up well on frosted lawns, so remove them by hand immediately. Continue to mow and water as explained in last months article.

Place bowls filled with water near to your indoor pot plants to increase humidity in heated rooms. Floating a few flowers on the water looks so pretty. Always water your plants with warm, not freezing cold water in winter and protect them from cold draughts. 

Attract birds to your garden in winter by feeding them and providing water, and hopefully they will remain through spring and summer; consuming vast quantities of insects and thus reducing the need to spray. 

Subtropical regions

Check your entire garden regularly for white ants, especially your tree ferns. Re-pot any indoor pot plants that have outgrown their pots, ensuring that you use a good indoor potting soil. Never allow your azaleas and camellias to dry out totally or the flower buds will fall off.

At the end of July, prepare your lawn for summer, by firstly mowing it very short, then raking out the dead mat with a steel rake. Apply agricultural lime at +-200g per square meter and water it in well. Weeds thrive on acid soils and lime sweetens the soil and therefore discourages weed growth.

July is a good time to prune late summer flowering shrubs and climbers and to cut away dead wood from ornamental trees and shrubs. Prune bougainvilleas that are growing in pots when they have finished flowering, then feed with superphosphate or bone meal and a high nitrogen feeder. When your plant is growing vigorously again, reduce watering and feed with a fertiliser like 3:1:5 to promote flowering.

If your Hibiscus is not performing well, try cutting it back ruthlessly (about 60cm from the ground). Prune out all the dead wood, mulch generously with compost and feed with organic 3:1:5, watering it in well.  Feeding in summer with high nitrogen feeders may cause the buds to drop.

It is time to prepare trenches for sweet peas, they require very rich, well-drained soil. Soak the seeds overnight before sowing. You can also sow and plant salvia, scadoxus, eucomis, asters, phlox, dianthus, calendula, lobelia, snapdragon, alyssum, delphinium and pansies.

Make your first plantings of sweet corn and continue to plant out eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, squashes, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce and Swiss chard. Make a final sowing of beetroot.

Summer rainfall region

Green weeds show up well against frost bitten lawns so spend time digging them out now.

Bend the brown leaves on your tree ferns upwards and tie a few together with string, this will protect the tender crown of new leaves in the centre of your plant.

Ensure that your standard roses, trees etc are securely staked, before the August winds arrive.

Get out your stepladder and clear out the gutters and prune away any rampant creepers from your roof.

Continue to water in the morning, to allow the soil to drain and the plants to dry off before nightfall. Never allow your azaleas and camellias to dry out totally or the flower buds will fall off.

Virginian stocks can still be sown directly into garden beds; and phlox, candytuft alyssum, columbine and larkspur have cold germination tolerance and can also be sown. It is too cold to sow summer annuals unless you have heated germination trays, but the nurseries are usually brimming with ‘instant colour’ seedlings just starting to bloom, which can be planted out now. Most of them will be winter flowering annuals that will go off when the weather gets too hot in summer.

In very cold regions peas are sown this month, this ensures that they bloom when the weather has warmed up considerably, but is not yet too hot. You can still sow onions and Swiss chard. Early sowings of broccoli and cabbage can be harvested this month. Thin out your carrots if necessary, this will allow the remaining ones to reach a good size.

Winter rainfall region

Check that beds under the eaves of the house and in the shadow of hedges or trees, as well as plants growing on the south side of walls, are receiving sufficient water.

Dust gypsum onto heavy clay soils and allow the rain to wash it into the soil. Move your potted succulents and cacti out of the rain and ensure that the drainage holes in your outdoor pots are not blocked.

Buffalo lawns are dormant but Kikuyu lawns still need to be mowed about every two weeks.

Make a final planting of peas and plant out strawberry plants this month. Leave most of your seed sowing until next month unless you are sowing them into trays and have a protected spot to keep them. If you have a warm, well-drained spot you can sow vegetables like beetroot, broad beans, Brussels’ sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, endive, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley, parsnip, radish, spinach and turnips.

Snails dislike parsley and the hairy leaves of comfrey will help to deter them. Place wet paper or cabbage leaves, face down around endangered plants in the morning and collect the snails in the evening that are sheltering there. Collect eggshells to place around vulnerable plants as snails and slugs hate rough surfaces. Run a coarse gravel pathway around the vegetable patch, inter-planted with herbs.

Dry continental region

Green weeds show up well against frost bitten lawns so spend time digging them out now. Ensure that your standard roses, trees etc. are securely staked, before the August winds arrive. Bend the brown leaves on your tree ferns upwards and tie a few together with string, this will protect the tender crown of new leaves in the centre of your plant. Get out your stepladder and clear out your gutters. Continue to water in the morning, to allow the soil to drain and the plants to dry off before nightfall. Never allow your azaleas and camellias to dry out totally or the flower buds will fall off.

It is still too cold to sow summer annuals unless you have heated germination trays but phlox, candytuft alyssum, columbine and larkspur have cold germination tolerance and can be sown now. The nurseries are usually brimming with ‘instant colour’ seedlings just starting to bloom, which can still be planted out now. Most of them will be winter flowering annuals that will go off when the weather gets too hot in summer.

In very cold regions peas are sown this month, this ensures that they bloom when the weather has warmed up considerably, but is not yet too hot for them. You can also still sow onions and Swiss chard. Broccoli and cabbages can be harvested this month. Thin out your carrots if necessary, this will allow the remaining ones to reach a good size.