June garden guide: Tips to help keep your garden in sharp shape

Dark and damp Winter has officially arrived, and now is the perfect time to prune, plant trees, fruit trees, garlic and shrubs!

Edible Garden

• It's the perfect time to plant some new fruit trees; these include Citrus, Pears, Apples, Peaches, Plums and Nectarines.
• Now is also a great time to prune the trees that have finished fruiting, be sure to cut the stems back to a healthy growing bud, and, remember to seal the cuts on larger stems with Pruning Paint; this will protect against disease.
• Use white spirits to keep your secateurs and loppers clean; this will help to prevent the transfer of any diseases. Always keep your cutting tools sharp for neater cuts - this will avoid the growth of any diseases.
• Be sure to spray deciduous fruit trees with a protective copper fungicide and Conqueror Oil to protect them from diseases and pests.
• It's a great time to sow seeds of Silverbeet, Spinach, Peas, Lettuce, Onions, and in warmer climates; Broad beans.
• Seedlings of Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Winter Lettuce, Spinach and Silverbeet can also now be planted.
• Feed Cabbage, Cauliflower and Broccoli with Phostrogen or Nitrosol.
• Protect your Winter veggies with a protective copper fungicide to prevent fungal disease.
• If you're thinking about planting asparagus crowns, be sure to plant in free-draining soil.
• It's a great time to plant Garlic and Shallots as well as Strawberry plants (well-established plants will start fruiting earlier and for longer when Spring and Summer arrives).
• To see what to plant and when in your area, you can download this handy planting calendar. Download this handy planting calendar to see what to plant in your area, and when.

Flower Garden

• You can start sowing your Calendula, Lobelia, Sweet William, Alyssum, Dianthus, and Sweetpea seed. In warmer areas, you're able to sow Delphinium, Stock, Larkspur, Carnation, Nemesia, Canterbury Bells, Wallflower and Gypsophila.
• Alyssum, Pansies, Forget-me-not, Viola, Primula, Polyanthus, Poppy, Sweetpea, Cyclamen, Hollyhock, Lobelia, Sweet William, Anemone, Candytuft and Bellis Daisy seedlings can be planted now too.
• Lift, cut back and divide perennials such as Achillea, Asters, Dahlias and Phlox.
• There is still time to plant those Lilies (Lilium); and, they're easy to grow. They can be planted at any time between May and September. Work bulb food into your planting area and be sure to cover the bulbs with at least 10cm of soil.
• Hydrangeas? Now's the time to prune out any thin and spindly growth. Cut back vigorous shoots to 2-3 buds from the base. Add garden lime to improve pink colouring and aluminium sulphate to improve blue colouring.
• Now is also a great time to plant new seasons roses.
• Give your Roses a top dressing of Sulphate of Potash now for maximum flowering, and prune toward the end of June.
• It's a brilliant time to plant Camellias, Daphne, Camellias and Rhododendrons to add a welcome pop of colour to the garden in Winter and early Spring.
• Ensure that your young trees and fragile plants are firmly staked and tied.
• Mulch all plants with compost.
• Prune back your deciduous trees in dry weather.
• Protect your new sub-tropicals, new plants and other frost tender plants with frost cloth at night. 'Vapour Guard' sprayed on frost tender plants will also help to protect them in the colder months.

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