Winter has arrived in New Zealand, and June is a critical month for garden maintenance and preparation. This guide will help you keep your garden vibrant and healthy during the colder months.
General Garden Maintenance
- Weeding and Mulching: Regularly remove weeds and apply a thick layer of mulch to garden beds to suppress weeds and protect plants from the cold.
- Pruning: Prune deciduous trees and shrubs while they are dormant. Remove any dead, diseased, or damaged branches.
- Tool Maintenance: Clean and sharpen gardening tools for efficient use.
Protecting Plants from Frost
- Frost Shelters: Protect young citrus, tamarillo, and passionfruit plants with frost shelters. Use frost cloth or newspaper as a cheap and easy option on cold nights.
- Liquid Frost Protection Oil: Spray on susceptible plants to provide a protective coating.
The Vegetable Patch
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Planting:
- Strawberries: Plant new strawberry plants and snip runners from existing plants into fresh soil. Add compost and sheep pellets for nutrition.
- Asparagus: Plant crowns about 50cm apart.
- Garlic and Shallots: Place garlic cloves 10cm apart and 5cm deep with the root side down and the pointed end up.
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Winter Vegetables:
- Rainbow Stemmed Chard and Beetroot: For eye-catching colour and nutritious additions to winter salads.
- Broad Beans: Stake or build supports as they grow. Pinch out tips for use in stir-fries.
- Other Vegetables: Plant cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli, spinach, silverbeet, and winter lettuce.
- Frost Protection: Cover young citrus, tamarillo, and passionfruit vines in frosty areas.
The Fruit Garden
- Planting: June is a great time to plant new fruit trees. Ensure they are in sunny, well-drained locations.
- Pruning: Prune deciduous fruit trees like apples, pears, and stone fruits.
- Feeding and Mulching: Apply compost or well-rotted manure around the base of fruit trees and mulch to retain moisture and protect roots.
- Order New Fruit Trees: Consider self-fertile varieties or those grafted with multiple varieties.
The Flower Garden
- Winter Flowers: Plant winter and spring-flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. Add winter-flowering annuals like pansies, violas, and primroses.
- Scented Shrubs: Plant daphne, wintersweet, boronias, and Burkwood viburnum for fragrance.
- Colorful Shrubs: Azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons, witch-hazel, winter jasmine, and mahonia provide winter color.
- Perennials: Divide and replant hostas and daylilies. Cut back dead foliage from the previous season.
- Winter Roses (Hellebores): Plant in raised beds or banks to view their beautiful interiors.
Lawn Care
- Mowing: Keep the grass a bit longer to protect roots from frost.
- Fertilising: Apply a slow-release fertiliser.
- Aeration: Aerate lawns if compacted.
- Caterpillar Control: Monitor and control these pests.
Indoor Plants
- Light and Watering: Ensure sufficient light and reduce watering as plants grow more slowly in winter.
- Humidity: Increase humidity around indoor plants by grouping them together or using a humidifier.
Miscellaneous Garden Tips
- Composting: Add kitchen scraps and garden waste to your compost bin. Turn it regularly.
- Pest Control: Watch for winter pests like slugs and snails. Use traps or organic pellets.
- Watering Systems: Check and maintain irrigation systems.
Gardening & Landscaping Projects for June
- Soil Conditioning: Add compost and sheep pellets to improve soil structure and fertility. For heavy clay soils, add gypsum.
- Mud Control: Use Jakmat to create stable, mud-free areas for driveways and paths.
- Build a raised garden bed: Check out our guide on how to build a raised garden bed.
By following these gardening tips and tasks, you can ensure that your garden remains healthy and beautiful throughout the winter months. Happy gardening!