The last month of the summer season means lots to prep for what we call the new spring – Autumn. Planning your planting and getting ready to rejuvenate your soil is a must. Here are 3 must-do garden tasks and other key tasks in February to remember this month.
- Summer prune roses – Giving your rose bushes a good clean-up in summer will encourage a beautiful flush of blooms in autumn while keeping plants tidy. Use sharp, clean secateurs to cut bushes back by about 1/3 making cuts just above outward-facing buds. Remove any dead or straggly stems too. After pruning, treat your roses to some organic fertiliser, water deeply and apply a layer of sugar cane mulch to retain moisture and shield roots from summer heat. Your roses will thank you with a spectacular show!
- Clean up fallen fruit
It’s important to keep things tidy under your fruit trees. Fallen fruit might seem harmless, but it’s a breeding ground for pests and diseases. Regularly rake up and dispose of any fruit on the ground to keep your garden clean and healthy. - Feed potted plants
Outdoor potted plants need extra feeding in summer, as frequent watering washes away nutrients. Replenish their food supply with a handful of slow-release organic fertiliser pellets once a month to provide steady nourishment over time. To help keep that precious moisture in the mix, top the surface with a layer of sugar cane mulch. Your plants will stay happier, healthier, and hydrated through the last of the summer heat!
