garden in the

Mulch, mulch, then mulch some more. Using an organic product such as pea straw or lucerne hay is still one of the best ways to retain moisture while improving soil condition. Get a hedge established

in a sunny spot. Not a fan of trimming? Try a no-clip pittosporum, such as ‘Golf Ball’ and variegated ‘Hole in One’. Sow the world’s tastiest

tomato, according to many: the award-winning ‘Sungold’. Seeds of this wilt-resistant tomato are now available in Australia through Mr Fothergill’s, mrfothergills.com.au.

Check lemon trees for scale and, if present, spray with white oil or pest oil. Spruce up indoor plants with a dust and a wipe with a moist sponge. If you spot insects, use a sponge dipped in soapy water.

Start growing a few

pots of herbs to bedeck in ribbon and give away as Christmas presents in December. Repot cymbidium orchids that have grown too large for their pots. Keep the colour coming during summer by planting marigold, petunia, snapdragon and gerbera.

Prune camellias that have finished flowering to keep them in shape.

Prune roses and other spring-flowering plants that have finished blooming. Fertilise passionfruit

but remember, the roots wander wide, so fertilise well out from the plant. Help pollinate tomatoes

by briskly shaking the plants. This should be done once flowers have opened. Plant up summer hanging baskets using a goodquality potting mix, basket liner and seedlings of colourful performers such as lobelia, verbena, petunia and calibrachoa. Look for fabulous flowering hydrangeas

that are starting to appear in southern nurseries, for adding zing to your Christmas garden.