Vegetables

• Keep moisture up to all seeds and plants. If necessary, cover with frost cloth to prevent burning and moisture evaporation. Mulching will also help trap in moisture.
• Water the base of plants, not the rest of soil.
• Regularly hoe soil as loose, friable soil will absorb moisture more readily than a hard surface. It will also suppress weed growth that can rob moisture from your desirable plants.
• Use liquid fertiliser to perk up your plants in a hurry if you've neglected your vege patch over the Christmas break.
• The following need lots of water regularly throughout growth – runner beans, cauliflower, celery (copious amounts), cucumber, leeks, lettuce, spring onions, peas, early potatoes, radish, spinach and tomatoes.
• Spray courgettes, tomatoes and potatoes with Bravo or Champion Copper to control blight and other fungus diseases.
• Start planning for winter. Cabbages, brussels sprouts, cauliflowers and broccoli need to be sown now (or plant out punnets of seedlings by the end of the month) to be ready to harvest in June. They take at least four months to fatten up. Sow all these brassicas in trays. Winter root crops like parsnips and swedes should be sown directly where you want them to grow in the garden.
• Plant out leeks, silverbeet and spinach.
• Control white butterfly caterpillars from decimating your brassica crops with natural Derris Dust. Hyssop, peppermint or sage planted nearby will deter the white butterflies.
• Garlic will be ready to harvest when the leaves turn yellow. When the flower heads fall over, usually in late January or February. Stop watering the plants to allow the bulbs to harden up before you dig up the bulbs and leave to dry out on top of the soil. If rain threatens, bring them indoors. Hang them up to dry with their stalks still attached. To check your garlic is ready, dig up a bulb. If it is small and you plants are still lush and green, give the plants a feed with liquid fertiliser.
• Turn your compost pile now after the holiday season, this encourages more organisms which break down the components. Remove weeds from the garden put them in your compost bin or rubbish. Do not leave on the garden soil as they will re-grow.
  
  Fruit

• Spray stonefruit at regular intervals (2-3 weeks) with Greenguard to prevent brown rot on peaches and black spot on apples and pears.
• Insect pests on fruit trees can be controlled by spraying Yates Mavrik.
• Spray citrus trees with a copper based spray to prevent fungus from deforming the fruit. Spread fertiliser around the drip-line.
• Spray citrus trees with a copper based spray to prevent fungus from deforming the fruit. Keep the base of the trees free of weeds by hand weeding (citrus resent disturbance of their fine surface roots) and spread fertiliser around the drip-line. Check wood for an attack of stem borer. If found, prune out infected branches and burn.
• New seasons growth on grapes can be trimmed and tied down. Spray with Yates Greenguard for downy mildew, powdery mildew and black spot control.
• Summer prune peaches, nectarines and kiwifruit.
• As berry fruit finish fruiting, prune out old canes which have fruited, selecting only the strongest. Spray with Bravo for cane spot and blight.
  As soon as possible after raspberries have fruited, spray with Nature’s Way Pyrethrum for control of raspberry bud moth. This caused buds to be eaten out and shoots emerge in tatters.
• Keep tamarillos well watered and mulched in dry periods to avoid early fruit drop.
  
  Herbs

• it's time to plant chervil, coriander and basil for Autumn. Remember they need a warm spot, full sun

• Continue spraying roses at 10-14 day intervals (weather permitting) alternating between Supershield and a combination of Yates Confidor/Guardall.
• Water roses in the morning as doing so in the evening will encourage pests and diseases.
• Deadhead roses, perennials and flowering annuals. Stake tall perennials. Feed regularly with a liquid fertiliser.
• When deadheading climbing roses do not cut them back too hard as you need to create a framework for next season’s flowers.
• Control rust on hollyhocks, lavateras and chrysanthemums withYatesYaFungus Fighter.
• Thrips on gladioli can be controlled with Confidor.
• Prune back native clematis plants to encourage new growth for next spring’s flowers. Tie up young tendrils to protect them from wind damage.
• Swan plants need lots of water and a sunny spot. The monarch butterflies will begin to hatch soon.
• Prune back Marguerite daisies to encourage new flowers for autumn.to maintain shape and vigour.
• Keep Italian lavender tidy and healthy with a light trim after the plants have produced their first flush if flowers. Never cut back into the hard wood – they won’t re-shoot.
• The first of the spring flowering bulbs, freesia, anemone and ranunculus are available at the end of the month. Prepare planting sites by cultivating soil, removing weeds and incorporating bulb food.
• Clean out water gardens and ponds to ensure you have clean oxygenated water for your plants.
• Shape topiaries and standards to maintain shape. Don't be afraid to trim back to original shape. The plants need to be pruned to promote fresh new growth.
  

LAWNS

• Keep the lawn well watered and mow once a week with the mower at its top height. This will help reduce summer stress and prevent weed invasion.