With warmer weather, most fruit trees will begin to ripen in the next few months and will need protection from the birds and wildlife, says gardening columnist JACKIE WARBURTON.
Netting stone and pome fruit trees after the fruit has formed ensures it is not eaten by wildlife.
Netting needs to be above the tree, leaving space between the tree and the netting for airflow and to stop branches breaking through the netting with natural growth.
All netting should be tight knit and nothing a finger can poke through – and bright white for the birds to see.
Summer pruning of fruit trees is just as important and winter pruning and can be done now. Growth on all trees can be shortened to where fruit is growing on the branches, Clean out any crossing branches to keep the air flow through the tree and, importantly, keep enough foliage on the trees to shade the fruit from the sun. This will reduce the amount of pruning in winter. Keep watering all fruit trees and mulch with straw or compost.
Apple trees like a little boron in the soil, which can be applied now. It adds crunch to the apple at harvest time. It also acts throughout the year as a macronutrient for pollination as well as bud development.
Thin any small fruits left on the trees to encourage big, fat, quality fruit at the expense of lots of small fruit.
Planting pest-deterrent plants around apple trees can help with insect issues. The best companion plants to grow are, nasturtiums, chives, lavender and parsley.
MEXICAN orange blossom (Choisya Ternata), a tough, fragrant, evergreen shrub, is in flower now and through the summer.
The most common foliage colour is deep green and there is a gold-tipped variety called Gold Fingers that’s really striking in shade.
But the new variety I’m keen to try this year is White Dazzler. The foliage is more linear with a profusion of long-lasting, bright-white flowers through summer.
While it grows only to a metre high, it’s terrific for a small hedge or individual planting. A little clip after flowering will keep it in shape.
THE holiday season is around the corner and now’s the time to ensure the irrigation system is in working order and batteries are refreshed in hose timers.
An automated irrigation system is the backbone of any successful and healthy garden.
The garden will survive better with consistency in watering. Keep on it, even if it rains. All irrigation should have long soakings to get the soil and roots moist and short waterings for pots and turf.
In summer our clay soils dry out quickly and any organic matter added will keep the moisture around the roots of the plants. Morning hand watering is recommended, which allows foliage to dry during the day – a sure way of keeping fungal diseases at bay.
Fertilising of garden beds can be done now before the heat of summer, but ensure the soil is wet before and after application to prevent burning of soft growth roots just below the soil. A foliar feed can be done in the cool of the day and is a quicker way plants can take up nutrients under stress.
Jottings
- Get the dahlias into the ground.
- Leave water bowls out for wildlife.
- Deadhead and fertilise roses.
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