Tips

ORCHIDS: Visit the Cymbidium orchid greenhouse for an orchid exhibition. August 3, 9am-noon. Duckitt Orchid Nursery, opposite Malmesbury turn-off,

Get ready to prune roses in the last week of July. Not all rose bushes respond well to heavy pruning. A modern rose that particularly resents heavy cutting back is Iceberg.

A general rule with bush roses is to create a vase shape by removing any inward growing stems. Cut away all dead and diseased wood, and spindly growth. Cut back bush roses by a third, and train canes of climbing roses as horizontally as possible to encourage more flowers.

Never prune or cut back shrubs that flower in spring. These include rambling roses such as the banksia rose, azalea, camellia, deutzia, philadelphus (mock orange) and rhododendron.

Take out spent vegetables, dig over the beds and fork in compost and well-rotted manure in preparation for spring planting. Start seed potatoes in shallow trays of soil in a warm place in preparation for planting out in August.

Don’t wait until August before staking plants securely to prevent damage. New plants are at great risk from wind rocking and loosening emerging roots. Shrubs and trees with brittle branches should be reduced to avoid tearing and breaking.

There is still time to plant the bulbs of tiger lilies and tall white St Joseph FLOWER SHOW: A floral art show arranged by the Darling Presbyterian Flower Ministry. August 2-4, 10am5pm. Darling Presbyterian Church, Pastorie Street, Darling. Free. Contact: Ian on 084 441 3091. CENTENNIAL WALK: Highlights Kirstenbosch’s history, with Dot Malan. August 3, 10am. Meet at Info Desk Gate 1. Kirstenbosch. Booking essential. Contact Dot Malan on 021 799 8783. lilies. If planted now, good drainage is vital, so they’re best planted in containers where they can be protected from snail and slug damage.

There is still time to plant colourful winter bedding plants such as primula and pansy. Established seedlings of these bright annuals can be planted directly into prepared beds or containers. Pansies do best in a sunny corner, whereas primulas will do better in the shade. 3km south of Darling. Contact 022 492 2606 or www.duckittnurseries.com PLANT HACK: Join a plant hack at Betty’s Bay. August 4, 9am-noon. For more information contact Ed Silberbauer at 028 272 9096 or merran@telkomsa.net INDIGENOUS PLANTS: A talk on indigenous plants by top grower Luise Ehrich. August 4, 8pm. The Athenaeum, Boundary Terraces (next to WPCC), Campground Road, Newlands. R20. Contact Glenda on 021 531 5713 or www.capehorticulturalsociety.co.za

WARNING: Never prune azaleas in late July.