June in the garden

Winter has arrived with longer nights and colder days, but that’s okay  – the garden needs the cold for all sorts of reasons.  So take the time to stay indoors, cosy up and bring the garden inside with indoor plants.  Lifestyle Home Garden shows you what you need to do in June in your garden, how to tend your indoor plants, and what needs doing with your fruit trees and in your veggie garden.

Still a few things to do in the Garden 

Ensure that all tender plants are covered against the frost, either with sheets of frost cover or frost bags. Frost cover will protect plants, while still letting in light, air and water, so it can be left on the plants during the daytime. Remember to also cover tender climbers and your bonsai – we tend to forget those.
Spread a thick layer of mulch in all beds or top up the existing layer to protect roots against the cold.
Apply a general garden feed of organic 2:3:2 fertiliser and/or worm castings throughout all garden beds now. Use the same for new plantings and when transplanting. It is high in Phosphorus, which is essential for healthy, strong root formation. It also stimulates general, strong growth and flower, fruit and seed formation. All the good stuff needed for a great spring show!
Cut down on watering and if you have an irrigation system, ensure that it is programmed for reduced watering now. Most larger shrubs, trees, perennials, climbers and the lawn will only need a good watering every 2 to 3 weeks. However, rose bushes as well as spring flowering Camellias, Azaleas and Magnolias need to be watered weekly to prevent bud-drop.
Water in the mornings only to allow leaves to dry and the soil to warm up and absorb most of the water by nightfall.
Feed all winter annuals fortnightly with a liquid fertiliser. Water weekly and regularly deadhead and pick flowers to prolong their flowering time. 
Feed bulbs fortnightly with a liquid fertiliser or bulb food and water deeply once a week. Check plants for aphids and treat with an organic aphicide. 
Cut back deciduous ornamental grasses 
Continue feeding the birds and providing fresh water. June is one of the coldest months and food is hard to find, especially in the city.  Birdseed and suet will provide fuel to keep our feathered friends going and warm their bodies.

Indoor Plants

Cut down on watering of indoor plants in the cooler weather.
Feed flowering indoor plants fortnightly with a liquid fertiliser and water when needed.

Fruit and Veg

Start pruning deciduous fruit trees and vines from late June while they are dormant to ensure a good crop in the coming season. Water thoroughly.
Cover young citrus trees with frost protection cloth.
Water winter veg once a week and feed monthly with an organic 6:3:4 or liquid fertiliser.
Continue staking and guiding peas, broad beans and Brussels sprouts.
Cut back overgrown evergreen herbs like rosemary and thyme.
If you have a worm farm, move it to a warmer, protected space as the worms are sensitive to cold.