Small landholder seasonal activity list

Page last updated: Wednesday, 13 December 2017 - 1:32pm

Please note: This content may be out of date and is currently under review.

August

Keep on top of the following issues during August to ensure your property is well prepared for the coming months:

Topics Issues to consider

Livestock
  • Flies start becoming active during August as it starts to warm up, and can be severe in September with warm moist conditions causing flystrike. Worm burdens build up in spring in young sheep and this can cause scouring, which can also lead to flystrike.

Crops and pasture
  • If you are planning to cut some pasture paddocks for meadow hay, now is the time to decide which paddocks you will use, lock these paddocks up and fertilise appropriately to ensure good production. Remember poor quality pasture will make poor quality hay.
  • Now is a good time of year to assess the composition of your pastures. Assess their weediness and make decisions on paddocks that require some work to improve them. Start initial planning for weed control late this season and into next season. Seek advice.

Fresh produce
  • First plantings of onion and zucchini seeds and last planting of coriander.
  • Continue picking mandarins and late harvest naval orange varieties. Fertiliser applications for citrus should commence.
  • Prune grapes. Winter pruning of deciduous fruit trees should be nearing completion now ready for the new season. Any planting of dormant bare rooted fruit trees should be completed before the buds start to burst – make sure the soil is moist and irrigation is in place to commence irrigation as soon as required.
  • Check your irrigation set up and ensure repairs or replacements are completed early so you are ready to irrigate when required. Keep monitoring soil moisture for avocado trees and irrigate as required if extended periods without rain occur.
  • Harvesting of Hass avocados will have started in Perth regions – remember to check dry matter before commencing harvest as consumer research has shown that dry matter over 23% is preferred.

Land and infrastucture management
  • It is important to monitor this year’s tree planting site for weed problems. Weeds can out-compete young trees and shrubs for light, water and nutrients. If weeds are becoming a problem you may need to hand weed or use careful chemical control.
  • Mulching around plants can also reduce the amount of competition from weeds.
  • If you have boggy areas on your property it is advisable to restrict stock access as this can cause soil structure decline and increase the risk of stock getting foot problems.

Pests and weeds
  • Olive lace bug is an increasing pest of olive trees. It is important to be on the lookout for this bug. The lace bug can cause serious stress to trees resulting in crop depletion if not identified and treated early.
  • Citrus growers need to continue to be vigilant in their control practices for Mediterranean fruit fly – continue baiting and removal of any unwanted fruit to keep numbers of Medfly under control.
  • If you own horses it is important to check your pasture. Weeds like Marshmallow weed, Paterson’s Curse and Cape Tulip are poisonous to horses.
  • Spray stone fruit for leaf curl and shothole with a copper fungicide. Apples and pears should be sprayed with lime sulphur for the control of scab.
  • Be on the lookout for San Jose Scale on apples, pears and stone fruit. San Jose Scale needs to be treated or it will kill large parts of a tree. Dormant oil alone or a dormant oil/insecticide mix can be used.

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Topics

Small landholder seasonal activity list

  1. January
  2. February
  3. March
  4. April
  5. May
  6. June
  7. July
  8. August
  9. September
  10. October
  11. November
  12. December
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See Also

Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS)

Regions

Goldfields-Esperance
Great Southern
Peel
Perth regions
South West
Wheatbelt

Seasons

Autumn
Spring
Summer
Winter