June and July mark the Noongar season of Makuru in Boorloo / Perth. It’s a special time of the year when birds and mammals begin pairing up and wildflowers start putting on a colourful show. Keep an eye out for the blues and purples of the blueberry lily (Dianella revoluta) and the purple flags (Patersonia occidentalis).

Although this time of year is traditionally the coldest and wettest season for us in the South West of Australia, we enjoy some of the mildest winter weather in the world. With plenty of sunny days to get out in the garden and extended crop growing times over winter, Makuru is a wonderful time for any homegrower. 

Check out our Perth planting guide for winter below and keep reading for some gardening jobs to keep on top of this time of year.

Perth Planting Guide for June and July

With soils still warm and rain falling regularly, there’s plenty to plant in June and July. Get your seed potatoes in the ground if you haven’t already (check out our potato growing guide). Now is also a great time for stars like brown onions, rhubarb and spinach, and edible flowers such as calendula, viola, marigold and nasturtium.

And for some gorgeous beauty later in the year, sow your everlasting seeds now.

When growing from seed, we recommend heirloom or open pollinated seeds from WA suppliers because they are better adapted to our climate, of the highest quality. Heirloom seeds will grow true to type in the next generation, which means you can save your seeds to grow next season. 

Also read: Hybrid vs Heirloom Seeds: What’s the Difference?

 

Plant Lucinda's everlasting daisies now for a flush of pink and white beauty later in the year.

Also Plant Now: Native Tube Stock and Trees!

Makuru is the perfect time to get more native plants in your garden. If you’ve been dreaming up a native verge or want to replace your grass with a vibrant native ecosystem, now is the best time to do so. Get your tube stock in the ground so it can establish deep roots before the hot weather returns. 

Winter is also the best time to plant trees. And planting trees is one of the most powerful things we can do to tackle climate change and protect our local ecosystems. Trees capture carbon dioxide, help the soil store carbon, cool down our urban landscape, provide habitat and bring much joy and beauty into our neighbourhoods. For fruit trees, buy bare-rooted trees from your local nursery and get them in the ground now to save money and water and give the trees time to get established before the weather warms.

Winter Garden Jobs for June and July

Be Water-Wise

Don’t forget to turn off your retic. In WA we have a complete sprinkler ban from 1 June to 31 August that applies to all scheme and bore water usage for homes and businesses in Perth, Mandurah and some areas in the South West and Great Southern.

Although we receive our highest rainfall over the winter months in Perth, it’s crucial we save as much water as possible. Why not embrace the increase in rainfall, saving water for the dryer months? If you’re not in a position to install a rainwater tank, even simple water catching systems can make a difference. Placing a repurposed drum or bin under downspouts can be a low-key solution. 

Or embrace the ancient Japanese solution of kusari-doi rain chains. Made of a series of cups that guide rainwater from a rooftop, kusari-doi were traditionally used in temples and shrines to collect water in basins used for purification rituals and garden irrigation. As water trickles from one bowl to the next, it creates a beautiful sound while guiding the water where you want it.

Decorative and functional – these lily rain chains catch and direct rainwater while creating a beautiful sound.

 

Clean Gutters

Winter is a good time to check on your gutters, clearing any leaf fall and debris that may be impacting their effectiveness. If you do have rainwater tanks, make sure all gutters and downpipes are connected and you’re not losing any precious rainwater. 

Get Composting

With many deciduous trees shedding their leaves this time of year, now is a great time to get a compost system going in your backyard. You can even toss the bits gathered from your gutters on the compost pile.

Worm farms will also do well in the cooler weather and make a great project with the kids this time of year. 

New to composting? Read our Beginner’s Guide to Composting to get started.

Deter Cabbage White Butterflies

Often mistakenly called cabbage moths, the cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae) lays eggs from May to September. The caterpillars that emerge love to dine on brassicas and leafy greens such as cabbage, brussel sprouts, kale and cauliflower. They can do disheartening damage, so it’s best to take steps early to protect your crops.

Many gardeners swear by cabbage butterfly decoys which are made to look like adult butterflies. The decoys suggest to any cabbage butterflies passing that there are other (fake!) cabbage butterflies already in residence and this is not a good place to lay their eggs due to food competition for their young. 

Alternatively, you can use protection netting to prevent butterflies from laying their eggs on your veggies.

If you are buying vegetable seedlings from a nursery, be sure to check the undersides of the leaves for any eggs that may be already present.

Place these white cabbage butterfly decoys near your brassicas to deter real cabbage butterflies from laying their eggs on your crops.

 

Manage Slugs and Snails Naturally

Slugs and snails love the moisture and cooler weather. Try these natural techniques to deter them from your valuable crops:

• Place crushed eggshells or thorny blackberry branches around your seedlings – the sharp barrier will prevent slugs and snails from getting too close.

• Stick adhesive copper tape around pots and garden beds – it will send a tiny electrical charge to repel slugs and snails without killing them. 

• Handpick slugs and snails, and place in another part of the garden or on your compost pile. You can also feed them to your chickens.

• Create habitat for natural predators of snails and slugs such as bobtails, quendas and magpies. 

Whenever dealing with any pests in your garden, aim to restore balance by natural means. Using pesticides (even organic ones) can throw your garden ecosystem even more out of balance in the long run. Read our guide to Natural Pest Management for more ideas.

Copper slug tape deters slugs and snails from your precious crops by sending a tiny electrical pulse.

 

Stay on Top of Citrus Gall Wasp

In June, look out for woody galls on your citrus trees, particularly lemons, oranges and grapefruit. These are formed by the citrus gall wasp (Bruchophagus fellis) laying its eggs in the wood. Galls are typically visible from February, but very obvious by June.

• Aim to prune all branches with galls before the end of June. The larvae inside the galls won’t survive if pruned this time of year and you can put the pruned material in your compost or green waste bin. 

• If you prune galls after 30 June, you will need to treat them before disposing to make sure wasps don’t emerge from your offcuts. You can treat the galls by solarising, shredding or burning if permitted in your area.

• No need to prune old galls. You can tell an old gall from a new one because it will have tiny holes in it where the wasps already emerged from.

• Avoid feeding your citrus heavily in winter or spring as this encourages excessive new growth, making the tree more vulnerable to citrus gall wasp.

• Protect new growth with a kaolin clay spray such as Vasili's Garden Citrus Gall Wasp Spray which helps to deter the Gall Wasp. This natural product acts as a repellent and disrupts egg laying in spring. Just remember to reapply after any rain.

Read more on our article Pest Alert: Citrus Gall Wasp.

Galls on fresh growth of citrus trees (left) can be pruned off. Use Citrus Gall Wasp Spray (right) to prevent wasps from laying their eggs in your trees in spring.

 

Prune Deciduous Fruit Trees

Show your apples, pears and stone fruit some care during Makuru. Remove dead and diseased branches and open up the centre of the tree to improve airflow. Also consider reducing the height of your trees to make it easier to harvest fruit next season.

Clean and Maintain Tools

On a rainy day when you’re stuck inside, give all your tools some love. 

• Remove rust with fine sandpaper or steel wool

• Sharpen pruners and shears with a sharpening stone or file

• Apply a coating of camellia oil to all metal surfaces

Also read: How to Maintain Your Metal Garden Tools

Camellia oil is an excellent oil for keeping your garden sharps in good nick. A favourite from Japan.

Taking Slow, Small Steps of Kindness in the Garden

The cooler, wetter months can be a beautiful invitation to slow down, reflect and connect with all the life in your garden. Whether you’re sowing seeds to grow healthy food for your family, planting your verge with natives, welcoming fruit trees into your garden ecosystem or working on your compost pile, every act of care is an important step towards a kind, regenerative future. 

If you need any advice or tips about gardening in the Makuru months, visit us at Urban Revolution in-store or online. We have a wide range of seeds, tools, natural pest control solutions and more. We’d love to support you in your growing journey.

Happy gardening in Makuru! 

PS. If you’re looking for some winter-specific inspiration for your home, garden and community, we’d love to recommend this Winter Issue Bundle of Pip Magazine. An uplifting read, full of practical ideas for anyone interested in sustainable, connected living.