JULY is a busy time for planting, from bare-rooted fruit and ornamental trees to shrubs and the huge range of berry plants.

It’s important with many fruits to have two trees that flower at the same time for cross pollination by the bees.

Years ago in Canberra and Queanbeyan, when it seemed that every gardener grew a selection of fruit trees, it was almost certain that neighbours would have trees to share the pollination.

While most fruit trees have gone from gardens as lifestyles change, for those who still want to grow their own fruit there has never been a greater variety available.

Don’t stress about cross pollination; your local garden centre will advise you how to care for fruit trees, including evergreens such as Loquats and Feijoa, both excellent for jam and jelly making.

I was involved in the initial release of ballerina apple trees some years ago in England. Suitable for very small gardens, they grow in a columnar shape, tall and slender like a ballerina, to 3.5m tall x 0.6m wide.

These delicious apples include varieties such as Charlotte or Crimson Crisp.

ORGANIC gardening is vitally important for the environment. Undissolved chemical fertilisers wash off gardens into stormwater drains and, ultimately, into the city’s lakes. This is a contributing factor in blue green algae.

Benefits of organic gardening include healthier plants and fruit and vegetables, saving bees and ladybirds, not to mention soil health. Soil contains a complex mix of microbes (bacteria and fungi) and mesofauna (worms and predatory mites) that play a vital role in recycling material to keep plants healthy.

Synthetic chemical fertilisers and non-organic products kill off this biological diversity and can build up salts in the soil. This can harm plant roots and physical structure of the soil.

Organic Crop Protectants is a company that specialises in certified organic products that are available at most garden centres. One important product in its range is Eco-Aminogro, a certified organic fertiliser made from a blend of amino acids, vitamins and essential bio-nutrients that improves growth through larger flowers and more fruit, and doesn’t affect soil organisms. It is safe for all plants, from natives to veggies. There’s a full range of OCP certified garden products at ecoorganicgarden.com.au

Events…

• THE Canberra Horticultural Society is demonstrating rose pruning at 1 Spence Place, Hughes, 1pm-3pm, on Saturday, July 18. And rose and fruit-tree pruning at its trial gardens, corner of Braybrooke Street and Battye Streets, Bruce, 1pm-3pm, on Sunday, July 19. Both sessions are free and open to the public.
• CEDRIC Bryant will give an illustrated talk on daphnes at the next meeting of the Horticultural Society at the Wesley Church Centre, National Circuit, Forrest, 7.30pm, on Monday, July 20. The meeting is open to the public.
• SOIL testing and how easy it is will be the subject of the next talk at The Garden Parkwood Nursery, 10.30am, Wednesday, July 22. Bookings to 6254 6726.