You may think that there is not much to do in the garden in July but you would be wrong. Even though it’s still cold outside there is plenty of things to get on with.

Now is a good time to be digging over that empty section in the garden that has been lying dormant. This is the ideal opportunity to add some much needed organic material to your garden. South-Hort Compost is blended from sustainable natural products and is Bio-Grow certified. It will add much needed nutrient for plant development as well as helping to break up clay soils and add body to sandy soils. If you find your soil is heavy add some handfuls of Gypsum to the compost when digging in this will help break down the clay Once you have done this you can plant out Cabbage,

Cauliflowers, Silverbeet and Broccoli seedlings. You can also sow your onions now into trays for planting out later. South-Hort Seed Raising mix is ideal for this as it contains a 3-4 month controlled release fertiliser.

 

Raised garden beds have become very popular over the past few years. The tendency is to try and get as much out of your bed through the summer months as you can. Just like your garden these also need a top up at this time of the year. South- Hort Vegetable mix is ideal for this purpose. This mix contains a controlled release fertiliser that will provide your plants with the nutrient they require for the coming season.

 

You should already have your Garlic and Shallots planted but if you haven't you still have time. Plant your Shallots in rows about 5cm deep and 20cm apart. Break your Garlic into individual cloves and plant each clove 5cm deep and 10cm apart. Plant the biggest cloves you have as this will ensure the largest crop.

It's time to get those roses into the ground. Most roses this time of the year are bought bare rooted. Before planting them you should dig in a good amount of South- Hort Compost. This should be blended with the soil and back filled around the roots of the roses. This is the same method to use when planting out your bare rooted trees. This will give both your roses and trees a great start.

Now is the time to complete your punning. This will remove any dead and unproductive wood. As well as controlling the size and shape of your plant. Prune your roses just above a strong bud preferably one that's pointing up. One of the most important things when it comes to pruning is a good pair of secateurs. South-Hort now stocks the Gardena range of secateurs as well as garden hoses and fittings.

Remember good gardening starts with the soil. So come and talk to us at South-Hort and discuss your needs with our staff. Have a look at the barks and other products available in our yard. If you can't collect ask about our delivery service.

Good gardening