Do you feel like nature is conspiring to stop you getting outside to undertake some winter gardening? Rain, rain and more rain and short days and long nights, make it difficult to get some garden therapy. However, winter solstice is only days away, so now is a great opportunity to undertake those winter clean up chores before the days start to lengthen and the temperatures rise. July heralds the pruning season for roses on the Gold Coast. Don’t neglect your roses now though, de heading will help improve bud burst in the spring. This is a simple task, that should also be done throughout the summer to extend the flowering period (see below).
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Another winter job is to pick up all dead leaves lying on the ground, as they harbor fungal disease, including rust and black spot. Spores on the leaves overwinter, if left on the ground and re infect the plant, when the weather gets warmer. Pick up the leaves and remove from the garden beds to stop fungal infection. Aphids are also prevalent at the moment, so keep up your protective sprays. Aphids are a vector for virus, so control is important to stop disease spread.
So get outside, get some fresh air and get some winter gardening done, it will pay dividends in the spring.