1. Stay cool
Keep an eye on the weather forecasts.
When extreme heat is forecast, water fragile plants deeply the night before. Hanging baskets and small pots dry out fast. Saturate them by dunking in tubs of water until the bubbles stop rising. Be aware that annuals such as petunias may need daily watering.
2. Protect your lawn
African black beetle larvae can quickly damage lawns, especially in summer.
Most harm occurs during the larvae stage, when they feed on roots, leaving wilted leaves and dead patches.These beetles attack nearly any lawn. To check for them, pour 5L water with 30ml dishwashing detergent over 1m² of grass – more than five beetles indicate a large colony. Regular monitoring prevents sudden infestations. Treat lawn grubs with Richgro Lawn Beetle and Grub Killa. Well-maintained lawns are more resilient and recover faster than neglected ones.
3. Care for stone fruit
Summer is key for stone fruit.
WATER: deeply to encourage strong,deep roots. Avoid frequent, shallow watering which produces weak, surface roots. Once established, reduce the watering frequency.
FEED: in early spring and late summer with a balanced organic or slow-release fertiliser to replenish nutrients and support healthy growth and fruiting.
PRUNE: apricots, nectarines and peaches immediately after fruiting. Open up the canopy, remove dead or crossing branches and disinfect tools to prevent disease. Proper pruning reduces stress and boosts next season’s yield.
PROTECT: developing fruit with wildlife-friendly netting that has small apertures to avoid harming birds or bats. Support the netting over adiagonal poly-pipe frame and secure it at the base. Apply netting just after pollination to allow pollinators access.
4. propagate plants
Early January is a great time to take tip cuttings of a range of plants from your garden.
Daphne: Select an 8cm-long, non-flowering, semi-hard wood stem. Make a cut just below a node, remove the lower leaves and dip the cutting in rooting hormone. Plant the cutting around the edge of a small pot with free-draining, moist potting mix. Cover your pot with a plastic bag retain humidity. Keep it in a shaded, protected location.
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Salvia: Take a 10-12cm-cutting from a non-flowering stem. Make the cut below a node and remove lower leaves. Plant cuttings into a pot with a gritty, well-draining potting mix. Keep the soil moist, cover pot to retain humidity and place it in a warm, bright spot.
Lavender: Take a 6–8cm-cutting from a healthy plant. Cut it just below a leaf node and remove the lower leaves. Dip the base of the cutting in rooting hormone, then plant in a pot with gritty well-draining potting mix. Keep the cuttings in a sunny, warm, humid location. Roots should develop within a few weeks.
For more information visit our article 'know your lavender'.
Native plants: Take10–15cm-tip cuttings from melaleuca, grevillea, bottlebrush (Callistemon) or mintbush (Prostanthera). Select shoots firm but not woody, avoiding soft new tips, as these are less reliable. For best results, take cuttings early in the morning when the plant is well hydrated.
5. cut roses back
Prune Roses once they’ve finished flowering to encourage repeat blooms and maintain a neat shape.
Cut back spent stems to two or three sets of leaves, then water deeply and apply fertiliser, such as Neutrog’s Sudden Impact for Roses or Richgro’s Black Marvel Premium Rose Food for strong, healthy growth.
6. Keep plants happy
Protect your pot plants while you are away this summer.
A small amount of water crystals applied to each pot will help keep your plants watered and fed for up to three weeks so you can enjoy your well-deserved break, without worrying about your plants!
7. reduce fire risk
If you live in a bush fire prone area, consider using a gravel mulch instead of wood or bark chips to reduce your fire risk. A depth of 5cm of coarse gravel will provide the same benefits.