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JUNE
Lift & divide polyanthus crowns & violet runners.
Prune modern roses in mild climates - wait untill next month if frosts are expected.
Burn all rose prunings, or put into garbage; not the compost.
Also prune grape vines, virginia creeper and chinese gooseberry.
Plant asparagus and rhubarb crowns. Gladioli corms should be planted in weekly succesion to have continous flowers for summer.
Lift, divide and replant herbacious perenials, including day lillies.
Cut chrysanthemums back to 5cm.
Fertilise early-planted annuals with soluble plant food - eg. ageratum, forget-me-nots, snapdragons, statice, sweet peas and sweet sultan.
Harvest vegetables as they ripen. Cold weather often hardens the skins.
Dig over all ground which is cleared and sprinkle with lime.
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JULY
Time for garden housework. Mend tools, sharpen or renew blades, service machinery, paint garden furniture, throw out rubbish.
Finish pruning modern roses, crepe myrtles, buddlaea and wisteria.
Take hardwood cuttings of deciduous plants like philadelphus, weigela, grape, deutzia, tamarisk and forsythia.
Feed citrus of all types with an all-purpose citrus fertiliser and rich organic mulch.
Harvest lemons and other citrus as needed. Cut, do not pull, fruit from stem.
Set out seed potatoes in trays to encourage sprouting.
Trim lawn edges. Feed cool climate lawns and top dress if necessary.
Big tree lopping is best done this month by a qualified tree surgeon.
Repair lawns if they are showing signs of wear or poor drainage. Aerate with a hollow-pronged fork and top dress lightly with sand.
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AUGUST
Weed everywhere - by hand for preference but chemical weed killers are effective on drives and pathways.
Fertilise lawn grass as it starts growing again. Water well first.
Repot indoor plants in fresh potting mix, especially bonsai plants. Root & tip prune plants which are staying in the same pots.
Check citrus trees for gall wasp. Cut off and burn any infected stems.
Prune citrus, removing dead and twiggy growth.
Spray stone fruit trees with Bordeaux to control fungal problems.
Mulch all trees and shrubs and feed established roses with No. 11 fertiliser.
Pinch off dead blooms on annual flowers to encourage longer life.
Plant globe artichokes, onions and transplant seedlings of cabbage, cauliflowers, lettuce and silver beet.
Sow beetroot, carrots, onions, peas, silver beet and spinach.
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