Prepare garden beds by applying mulch now, the benefits of mulch have been expounded before in this column but it cannot be expressed enough just how important mulch is to the health of a garden. During the months ahead mulch will help conserve soil moisture by preventing evaporation, stop weed seeds from germinating and maintaining stable soil temperatures for good root growth.

Always apply mulch to a moist soil, preferably after rain, to lock in the moisture and keep the mulch to a thickness of 50mm for the most benefit. Mulching container plants is also recommended but keep mulch away from the stems of plants.

Spring annuals that have gone past their prime can be removed and replaced with heat loving summer annuals such as cosmos, petunia, lobelia, celosia, verbena or zinnia. Grow annuals in containers to really brighten up entertainment areas, the bold colours of many of these plants will dazzle outdoor areas for those summer barbecues. Using a monochromatic colour scheme which simply means sticking to one colour can provide a dramatic effect. Colour combinations of complementary or contrasting colours can also enhance the aesthetics of an area and provide a real sense of interest as the scheme can be changed on a seasonal basis. Planting now will give seedlings an opportunity to establish and be flowering for Christmas celebrations.

Correctly watering plants is critical to how well they will cope over the summer months. Deep watering trees and shrubs once or twice a week is far better than short shallow watering on a more regular basis. Shallow watering will encourage plants to develop surface roots which will become desiccated when soils begin to dry out. This leaves plants vulnerable to water stress and often results in losses. The veggie patch will however require more regular attention to watering, as the hot summer sun will be devastating to water-stressed vegetables.