August in your Sub-Tropical garden

The last tree planting should be completed this month. It becomes more risky as temperatures rise. Use suitable organic compost to improve the soil, adding gypsum to the soil in heavy clay. Apply Debco Mulch'n'Feed as a surface mulch, remembering to keep lawns away from the base of trees planted in grass.

Gladioli should be planted now. This will allow them to flower before the heat of summer. Plant the corms 10cm deep and 20 cm apart in groups of the one type. Note that their heights vary enormously so plant them where the emergent spikes will suit the size of the surrounding vegetation.

Addition of organic material to the soil about four weeks before planting is advisable.

Petal blight can be a problem for azaleas especially during wet weather when the fungal spores are quickly spread. Good hygiene is essential so collect up infected flowers and dispose of them. If you are given to spraying, apply Bayleton.

Remove citrus stems infected with citrus gall wasp, and either burn them or put them into plastic bags and dispose of them with your rubbish. They can be seen as swellings along the stem. Young wasps will hatch late in August , so remove and dispose of affected material before this time.

Prune Camellia sasanqua when flowering is finished, removing growths beyond the desired size. If plants are espaliered, remove the greater part of the forward growth and tie horizontal branches back to the frame, removing excessive growth.

Feed citrus plants heavily using a citrus food from your local nursery or an organic fertiliser. The latter can be applied as a surface dressing out to the edge of the canopy, making sure more is against the trunk. Increase fertiliser applications as the trees age, 4 – 16 kg of composted manure for young trees increasing to 20-40 kg for older, fruiting trees.

Incorporate lots of suitable organic compost into the ground and then plant cucumber seedlings about 1m apart. Water well and use Phostrogen Plant Food regularly as the plants grow. Nip out the tips of trailers to encourage growth of laterals and production of the female (fruiting) flowers. Encourage a heavy crop by removing young fruit as they form. Water consistently.

Silver beet and spinach are two extremely useful vegetables that can be harvested over time by removing outer leaves. Work in some suitable organic compost and apply superphosphate to the soil prior to planting. Keep the plants well watered and fertilise every fortnight with Phostrogen Plant Food to encourage consistent yields.

For a more decorative display, grow some Swiss Chard, with its wonderful gold, pink, red and cream coloured stalks.