July in your Tropical garden

Lightly prune any ornamental shrubs that may have become straggly, to provide a natural rather than a rounded shape.

Take heeled cuttings of Chinese lanterns and plant them in Debco Propagation Mixture, where they will root easily to provide excellent shrubs by next winter.

Plant bird-attracting native plants close to the window, and enjoy the colour and movement birds provide. Grevillea pteridifolia would make a great choice; it flowers for nine months of the year.

Dig in garden mulch and compost to improve soil structure, notably to open up clay soils.

Divide perennial clumps that are occupying too much space. Plant back as large groups for greatest impact.

Plant pawpaws in a protected sunny position. Well drained acid soils are preferred and this is helped by digging in plenty of organic matter and mounding the soil. Apply a surface mulch.