Early morning gardening and constant watering are the keys to protecting your garden, and yourself, during the summer months, writes Helen Young.

Timely tasks

As we enter the hottest time of the year, do your gardening in the early morning using your usual sun protection. Unless you live in the tropics, watering is a priority, especially for pots and vegetables that can dry out in a day. Perennials such as catmint and whirling butterflies (Gaura lindheimeri), will re-bloom if you cut them back now. Don't prune camellias from now onwards as they're already forming buds. Roses need their summer prune in February, to remove thin and twiggy stems. Then feed them generously with a mix of manures plus compost and potash for beautiful blooms in autumn. Remove spent flower heads of agapanthus to stop them self-seeding where they're not wanted. Strike cuttings of gardenias, rosemary, geraniums and hedging plants.

The productive garden

Harvest leafy vegetables in the cool of the morning to prevent them wilting. Keep soil moist with daily watering and a cover of soft mulch, such as lucerne. On the hottest days rig up a shade cover over vulnerable vegies. Seasol applied fortnightly helps protect against drought stress. Treat powdery mildew on pumpkins, zucchini and other cucurbits with a weekly spray of one part full-cream milk and six parts water. This works on grapevines, figs and roses too. Keep removing developing flowers on basil to prolong its life. Prune stone-fruit trees after fruiting finishes. Harvest garlic bulbs, leaving them in the sun to harden for a few days. As summer crops end, sow a fast green-manure crop such as mustard to improve the soil before autumn planting.

January and February in bloom

Brightly coloured sunflowers, geraniums, bougainvilleas and marigolds are favourites that stand up to the sun's glare. Stand-out flowering trees include frangipani and flaming red poinciana, while the gorgeous blossoms of Eucalyptus 'Summer Red' and 'Summer Beauty' evoke Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.

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