Gardening in Waitaki October 15th 2024

Flamboyant begonias.

A chill in the air this week which keeps spring fresh and crisp as it should be. Town gardens are filled with spring prettiness which I enjoy viewing as I walk Scruff each morning.  I have been weeding and composting my small town gardens and watching as they fill with perennials that have been waiting to come back from the winter dieback. Hydrangeas are also pushing out new growth with buds forming, hydrangeas have a long blooming season so will benefit from a good thick layer of manure-enriched compost and moisture to keep strong growth up.  I see shoots on my flamboyant Begonias now and some tubers have become big enough to cut into several shooting sections to become plants on their own. Flamboyant begonias make a wonderful show as a boarder or in pots and hanging baskets and they flower on and on through the summer. Once they send up leaves I start feeding them fish fertilisers to keep them going strong, all begonias do well when fed with fish fertiliser.Keep the food up to your roses now, they are making their buds and it's hungry roses that get diseased. Nitrophosca is good right now on any summer flowering plants and shrubs for a quick result, used every fortnight to keep the food supply up, especially in pots & hanging baskets. Geraniums and pelargoniums are available now and should be planted in sunny positions. Fuchsias are also on offer, they benefit from afternoon shade. If you are concerned about a hot dry Summer having a disastrous effect on your garden? Plenty of Mulch breaking down in your soil will help retain water as well as improve the structure of your soil While suppressing weed growth. Mulch as straw, grass clippings, and weed-free compost are also excellent for breaking down clay or poor-draining soil. I do not like using sprays but found I needed to spot spray in my past large garden to keep those tough weeds convolvulus, couch grass, biddy- bid and clover under control but here in my smaller garden, I pull or dig them out before any seeds ripen and fall. Seeds are forming now on plants and weeds that have flowered so whack them off if you don't want them to spread. I planted Cosmos, larkspur, nasturtium, and marigold seeds that are now up and ready to prick out into punnets along with sunflower seeds I planted into trays a few weeks ago which are now large enough to plant out. With summer just around the corner, I look forward to the show of those huge sunny flower heads following the sun around the garden. Sunflowers are a perfect fast-growing plant for Children to grow and be amazed by the height they reach.    Lawns:So much lawn growth after that heavy rain, my lawn is struggling having been sown on clay soil so for the last 3 mows I have left the catcher off and raked the clippings over as mulch and spread gypsum to help with the clay compaction. Vegetables: Keep an eye on potatoes that are through the ground, mound the soil up around them, and frost cloth may be needed at night just to be sure if your garden is inland or low-lying. Seeds are popping up in no time now so get veg seeds in for them to be ready for salad time. Because of the cold snap, I have started Pumpkin, squash, corn, and courgette seeds in a glasshouse, if buying plants, be sure to harden them outside in a protected place for a while before planting out.The cold snaps have been good for keeping the white butterfly and aphids away but aphids will no doubt soon start to become a problem so keep an eye out for infestation and if necessary wash off with a forceful hose.  Cheers, Linda

Gardening in Waitaki October 1st 2024

October already and Waitaki gardens are in full spring bloom. This month is when chasing weeds becomes a full-time job - Hoeing and hand pulling weeds is still the best option while weeds are new and small in planted areas especially if you are clearing a garden to plant out for a summer show. Couch grass and convolvulus need to be taken right out if you can, remove each long runner under the ground and any little pieces that may have been chopped with the spade because they will grow and spread very fast if left. I spot-sprayed couch grass and convolvulus in badly affected areas, trying hard not to bring the spray into contact with plants. Once all obvious weeds are gone, cover the area with compost /mulch, thick enough to keep the light from allowing any weed seeds left behind to germinate. NOW plant, plant, plant! as many annuals and perennials as you can get into the prepared areas, they will grow fast from now on to beat the weeds. If you have not fed plants, roses, or shrubs do it now, powered plant food should always be watered in, If you have homemade compost ready to use add blood & bone; and some sulphate of potash this will add food and a flowering/fruiting component. Watering and liquid feeding for new plantings is the key to success as plants settle in and make new feeding roots. First thing in the morning is the best time to water, giving plants and dirt time to dry before night as fungus thrives in damp ground on mild nights. Roses: Old stable manure along with compost can be spread around the drip line of rose bushes to keep them going over their long flowering period, watering & rain will take it to the roots as required. Once rose leaves have hardened a little green fly can be removed with a finger and thumb on new growth or left for birds to remove. If too infested why not try a homemade organic spray as a deterrent once aphids have been blasted off with a hose? My homemade deterrent spray is as follows. 3 or 4 rhubarb leaves roughly chopped, into 4 cups of boiling water, simmer for 20 mins then allow to cool. Strain, pressing rhubarb leaves in the strainer to get full leaf infusion. Spray: mix 1 teaspoon of detergent or (baby shampoo if you have) to 2 1/2 cups of cold water, then add the leaf infusion into a spray bottle. Spray onto roses and any other ornamental plants that succumb to green flies. Store leftover leaf infusion by freezing as each application works best when fresh. ( but do not use on edible plants.) Hostas are starting to leaf now, so watch when working around them in the garden, it will not take much to knock the point off the new leaves, keep them well watered, and give them a dressing of compost and blood & bone. Slugs come in droves if they get a sniff of hostas, they slide down into the center of clumps to lay eggs, and the young then feast. Slugs can’t cross copper, so copper tape acts as a barrier. Lillies have pushed up, put in stakes to support them before they get higher, and never let them dry out, same for peony roses they do so much better growing up through holding stakes. Lawns are going for it now which means the ground has warmed enough to sow grass seed, sow thickly to beat weeds and birds, keep moist and you should have a strike in no time. Don't fertilise newly struck grass, all fertilisers will be too strong. Fruit: Raspberry canes and gooseberry bushes are flowering along with all fruiting trees so now we need sun to bring the bees and pollinating insects out. Herbs: If it's a Herb garden you are keen to make and have chosen a sunny spot, dig in some old stable manure and lime before planting, all herbs like both. Why not plant up some mixed herb pots now and they will be ready to give as Christmas presents. Vegetables: It is so easy to grow your food and from this month garden centers are full of veg, herbs, tomato plants, and seed potatoes. If you do not have an existing vegetable garden but you do have a patch of vacant ground, clear it, dig or rotary hoe it, and edge it with whatever you have on hand, limestone, bricks, tree branches, sleepers or wood lengths. Spray weeds around the outside of your edging so they will not encroach on your planting space then go for it, get planting at this time of the year everything will grow fast and well as long as you keep water up and hoe the weeds away. Corn and pumpkin seeds need to be planted now and plants planted out when all threats of frost have passed to ensure a long growing season. Carrot seeds planted now. If carrot fly has been a problem for you in the past I would cover rows with an insect net once seeds have germinated, from October until April as this period includes the three generational life cycle of the carrot fly. I have been told that Resistafly F1 hybrid Egmont seeds are less likely to be infested. Carrot flies are attracted to the carrot smell while flying low to lay her eggs so thinning carrots is almost like calling the flies. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki October 8th 2024

Our lovely Botanical Gardens:

How pretty Waitaki is looking after all the rain, growth is rampant now and we should have moisture deep down for trees and plants to cope well during the strong winds that we wait for at this time of the year. Rhododendrons, tulips, and late blossoms are taking center stage now. Tulips are best left until all green has been absorbed by the bulb. A main display of tulips can take up garden space restricting room to get other plants in, they can be dug up with all still attached to the bulb and bedded into a spot in the garden where not noticed until the die back is finished then stored away where rats can not get at them. Deadhead all spring bulbs as they finish flowering, leaving them to make seed will weaken bulbs but as with tulips leaves are left on to die back into bulbs. Dressing the garden: At this time of year Gardeners get busy planning a summer display, the ground is damp and warm and just right for planting the abundance of plants on offer plus planting seeds to be ready for summer flowering and eating. Preparing the garden: The trick is to get rid of surface weeds and past flowering annuals, water the bed well then put a thick layer of compost on top of the wet soil, it must be a thick layer, don't dig it in leave it on top and plant your new season's plants into it. Bagged compost will have been heated to a temperature that destroyed any weed seeds it contained. Fill all spaces with plants you love leaving no room for introduced weeds. Seeds I planted in late winter are ready to be planted out or potted on, I see them out the corner of my eye beginning to climb out off trays as I rush past, I have even been known to comment SOON to them while keeping the water up when I really should be potting up!! Nitrophosca will work now on flowering plants and shrubs for a quick result, used every fortnight will keep the food supply up. Pansies and polyanthus will keep flowering if dead-headed, they will bud up again if fed but flowering will not be as strong as it has been, Polyanthus soon let you know when it is too hot for them if you feel they have done all they are going to do dig them out, cut back and plant in a cool shady place where they can be left until planted out again next year. Sunflower seeds can go in now, they do best being planted straight into the ground, Sunflowers are a quick result for Children to plant and watch grow taller than themselves. If you have room plant cosmos, larkspur, nasturtium, marigolds, delphiniums, and alyssum. I would love to attract monarch butterflies to the garden but can never get the swan plants to stay alive through the winter. Plant them now in the hope of attracting monarchs into your garden but keep young swan plants covered to allow them to become bushy before a monarch can lay eggs. Compost piles and bins will start heating up and working well with the layering of new grass clippings, soft hedge clippings, manure, soil, and seedless weeds. In closed compost bins watering will be needed from time to time to get warm moisture working right through the middle to create the heat needed. Too early yet to trim box hedges, wait until the new growth firms up a little. The perfect time to trim buxus in late spring is during overcast days, the hot sun burns new undergrowth, dull days give them time to recover. I notice that dreaded convolvulus, couch grass, and clover thriving once again as it pops through the ground, spot spraying where it will not affect other plants is the only way I can get on top of it. Fruit: Apple and crabapple blossoms are bursting from buds and with the sunny days bringing the bees out we should get good crops, black currants, strawberries, and raspberries are looking to crop well also. Keep the water up to all fruiting trees and plants, especially after strong winds. Vegetables Potatoes love warm ground, I put mine in later than I usually do so I am still waiting for leaves to show so mounding can begin but the broad beans are well up, corn seeds have popped through and pumpkin, squash, and courgette seeds can go in now. If you prefer to buy plants be sure to harden them outside in a protected place for a while before planting them out. Cheers, Linda

Bee in the apple blossom

Gardening in Waitaki September 24th 2024

It's that time again, leave the catcher off now and then to add lush humus to your lawn.

What a changeable week, it caused browning to magnolias and camellias, and new growth blackening on some tender new growth that will soon recover. This is a good time to work at tidying up gravel paths and driveways, They pack down hard over winter. A good raking will sort that out, lift weeds and moss, and get them looking fresh again. If you have a moss problem on a shady path or drive try sprinkling some inexpensive laundry powder over the moss, it will soon die then it can be raked out. Spot spraying will work now on rough-growing areas and hoeing where annual weeds are still small among plants that will soon become large. If you do not want to use chemical sprays on annual weeds why not try some of the natural alternatives on sale, these work on hot sunny days when plants are very thirsty. The leaf of the plant collapses which means there is nothing left to support the roots causing the plant to die. Perennial weeds, convolvulus, and couch grass are not so easy to kill with alternative weed spray because roots are long and strong but if you are prepared to keep spraying what they send up you will beat them.The most economical weed control is common table salt, but is toxic on soil if not used the right way. Use it at the rate of 240 grams (about 12 heaped tablespoons) to a litre of warm or hot water to dissolve it, and then spray it on the foliage of the weeds during sunny dry conditions only but only in garden areas where salt can be regualy dissolved by rain and watering. This works very fast on annual weeds but perennials probably need a stronger organic herbiside. If spraying a salt silution only on foliage, at the above rate, there will be little residual damage done to the soil. To make sure, give the area a good drenching once weeds have collapsed. Trim shrubs that flowered in late winter now before they put out new growth on past growth and get leggy, this partially applies to ericas, callunas, and hebes which should not have old flowers left on to make seed. All of this month is the time to layer azaleas and rhododendrons by pinning low-growing slim branches down into the soil, hopefully, by the end of this growing season these branches will have developed strong roots allowing them to be cut free from the mother plant, and potted up to grow on as a new bush. Strong winds put stress on plants, trees & shrubs where roots are working hard to take hold, deep root watering is a must on newly planted shrubs and trees and firm stakes, if trunks and roots are moving growth will be slow and stunted or not at all. With the days warming softwood cuttings can be taken from plants and shrubs this month. Dipping in a hormone powder is beneficial to encourage roots quickly. Cuttings can be taken from new wood shrub and plant growth, and many perennial herbs.  Herbs If you have not cut your herbs back yet, do it as soon as possible because they are starting to grow now, feed manure-rich compost with lime added, and keep picking often to encourage continual new growth all season for your salads and cooking. Fruit trees begin again with blossom so it is the sun and bees that are most needed now. Vegetables: Still, no white butterflies keep planting out, but deep watering is required during strong winds. Keep mounding up potatoes as they push leaf through and cover at night should there be another cold snap which will blacken off new growth. Early showings of peas should be well up and starting to climb. Like climbing beans, they need to be planted in an open sunny place and firm supports need to go in when planting so they are not disturbed once they start growing, if well supported you will not have to keep propping them up when the crop becomes heavy. I have just sown corn, tomato, cucumber, and pumpkin seeds undercover to germinate and then they will be nursed well. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki September 18th 2024

Rain and wind chill again in North Otago as new spring growth wants to retreat back into bud, but spring rain is always welcome here.The hum of bees is back when the sun shines on all the flowering cherries in blossom and what a magnificent display magnolias are making. Now is the perfect time to sow seeds for summer flowering, I am sure every gardener enjoys trying new plants and colour combinations but keep an eye on seedlings with late frosts. Some I planted 3 weeks ago have germinated so I have been protecting them. Birds will be scratching about in gardens looking for worms and grubs to feed their young, they usually concentrate on the front edge of a garden making a mess on paths and lawns, if you have a problem with this, growing a mat forming a border will deter them. Some border plants to consider are catmint, lambs ear, alyssum, alchemilla mollis, dwarf agapanthus, armeria maritim (thrift), mondo grass, any low growing perennial plant that mats over soil. Baskets and pots need to be thought about now, use only shallow rooted plants for baskets like pansies, lobelia, small type petunias, nemesia, and trailers like dwarf sweet pea, with the addition of slow release fertiliser and water Chrystal's to keep them going. The roots of what you want to plant will determine the size and depth of a pot. Place a deep saucer on the basket bottom to catch and hold water before filling with planting mix.Time to address root-bound pots, most established potted shrubs respond well to being removed and having half the roots removed with a sharp spade, then re-potted in fresh mix with a good amount of plant food to suit the plant, repot spring flowering shrubs after flowering. Potted roses and hydrangeas need a deep pot that will not heat up and cook roots during summer. Tin foil around the inside of a pot before filling,( shiny side facing out) will help keep roots cooler for roses, camellias, azaleas, hydrangeas, and small trees and shrubs. All potted plants need excellent drainage and a consistent food and water supply. If a potted plant is left too dry for too long between watering it will never thrive.Roses are leafing up now and the warmer it becomes the more aphids (greenflies) will be about, aphids settle on the top new growth of rose bushes and are easily visible for you to dispose of by removing with your finger and thumb. If you feel you need to spray, wait until the leaves are well-grown and have hardened up a little, or leave to encourage birds and predators to take the bugs. Lawns: New lawns sown on the coast should result in a once the cold snap is over, as I have mentioned before seed must be sown thickly in spring to beat most annual weeds although annual weeds will be mowed out with the first mow. Keep the mower blades up when cutting spring grass to allow it to thicken and feed established lawns just before or during rain and they will stay lush, no feeding is required on very new lawns as they need to push roots down deep looking for moisture and nourishment to become strong. Fruit: Strawberries and rhubarb are starting to move, they need to be fed, watered, and mulched, manure enriched compost then straw, pine needles, or un sprayed grass clippings will do the trick around both. Vegetables: Here on the coast Plant lettuce plants at two-week intervals and any spare ground could be planted in seed potatoes. Plant corn and pumpkin seeds early and protect once through the soil until frosts have passed, they both need a long ripening season.  Enjoy watching the glory of spring gardens as the beauty unfolds before our eyes. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki September 12th 2024

North Otago looks so spring-pretty after some nice sunny days, with masses of lovely blossoms and daffodils everywhere and the magnolias, rhododendrons and azaleas taking centre stage. Now that it's planting time and there is a lot on offer it's a good time to talk about plants for the right place. starting with dry areas of the garden, under hungry trees or areas that drain too readily. You will be wasting your time and money planting shallow-rooted plants like rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas or hellebores in these areas. Grouping with plants that will work their roots down to look for moisture is the way to go, like euphorbias in all their varieties, colours and sizes, agapanthus, large and small varieties are great on a slope. Grasses grouped as they are in nature do well in the dry and add movement to the garden as they waft in the wind, geraniums like it dry but need water until their roots get down and need to be cut back after flowering. Lupins are wonderful in big groups but also need water until they become established, after the first flowering they will self-seed and make their groups larger. All these plants once established will not need watering. (Shady areas next week.) Hydrangeas are a popular shrub, grouped or as a gap filler, they are leafing now and will need fed ready for their long flowering season, animal manure is a good food source for them ( not fresh) Hydrangeas are shallow-rooted so need to be mulched and watered often. To keep pink use a little lime around the drip line and for blue use aliumn sulphate or Epsom salts, these must be watered in and not just left on top of the roots. Lawns, Lawns benefit greatly from an early spring feed of lawn fertiliser, this works best with rain to wash it in. I have been spreading pig manure over my clay-based new lawn because it needs humus to build up to help with drainage. Vegetables: The soil is warming and days are longer, everything is now coming to life for spring so this is a busy time for gardeners who will be sowing, planting and fertilising edible gardens. Get pumpkin, butternut, squash and corn seeds started now under protection, they need a long warm growing season to grow and ripen. It is good to be planting salad veg again with still no white butterflies or aphids but new seedlings should be covered from nesting birds. Fruit: All deciduous fruit trees can still be planted in September while they are just coming out of dormancy. The widest selection will be available in garden stores now. All fruits require a position in full sun and shelter from prevailing winds is preferable. Codling moth Spring flowers are the trigger for codling moth grub to become active, as soon as the petals start to fall, it’s time to act to prevent infestation. I have come across a method of dealing with codling moth which is said to have worked well for some. Use a plastic milk container, and place 1 banana peel, 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup sugar in it. Fill the container almost full of water, replace the cap and shake it well to mix and dissolve the contents. Remove the cap and firmly secure one container onto the apple tree. The moths are attracted to the scent of the concoction, becoming trapped and drowned when they investigate. Refill with water as needed throughout the summer. Strawberries: will do well with a dressing of fertiliser specifically formulated with extra potassium, I am sure there will be one on offer, especially for strawberries. All other berries on offer should be planted now to settle into a season of fruiting. Mound up potatoes as they show leaves, this keeps them cooler and the light from them. If you are still to sprout and plant potatoes here are a few FIRST EARLY VARIETIES: Cliffs Kidney, Jersey Bennes, Maris Anchor, Rocket. SECOND EARLY Ilam Hardy, Karaka, Red King. MAINCROP VARIETIES: Desiree, Mondial, Nadine, Pentland Dell, Red Rascal and Rua. I have sown mixed lettuce seeds in a tray and plan to transplant them into the garden as I need them, lettuce seedlings will hold in a tray for a long time and then really start growing when they are planted. Garden design: If creating a new garden or revamping an existing garden I can steer you in the right direction with a concept garden plan. I have been creating concept garden plans for many years with local plant and design knowledge. Message me for a consultation. email:linda.lsw@gmail.com

Mounded potatoes

Gardening in Waitaki September 3rd 2024

"Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer."~ G. B  Charlesworth. A blustery start to our new growing season to dry soil out after winter rains, the trouble with such strong winds is that soil will dry too much on top where new shallow spring roots are beginning to push up new growth. Plants such as delphiniums, iris, peony roses, and any perennials making a comeback will need moisture to help roots push deeper down into damper soil.Cleaning out ponds should be on the gardening list now, leaves and old growth from pond plants need to be removed, and overflowing the pond will freshen it. Water Lilies, oxygen weed, and water iris are starting to make a move. While water lilies are not fully in leaf sections can be cut and re-potted. If you do not have a mesh pot specifically for aquatic plants, create holes in the sides of a plastic pot and use that. Line the pot with sacking or woven fabric and 3/4 fill with garden soil and a small amount of slow-release fertiliser in the center. Plant a water lily section then add stones or gravel to the top of the pot and submerge to the bottom of the pond.  Now that sap is rising, remove unwanted growth from prunus trees, (flowering cherry) this is said to be the best time to make cuts in prunus to avoid the spread of silver leaf which can spread from tree to tree while in the dormant stage. Always on a warm dry day cut out any weak growth and cross over branches before they grow thick. A tree that can be difficult to prune is a silver pear (Pyrus Salviifolla pendula, best to prune out the center now while not in leaf. Remove branches that are clogging up the center and work to encourage the new outfacing growth which will give your tree the pendula look required.  Foliar feed new spring-growing plants (not bulbs, they store food in the bulb), and liquid plant food will encourage strong growth. Now is the time to plant, plant, plant all the pretty spring seedlings on offer, and sow seeds for summer flowering to save on buying seedlings later in the year.  Lawns, benefit greatly from an early spring feed of lawn fertiliser or a dressing of manure-enriched compost to build up humus on clay-based lawns. Unfortunately, too much soil is removed from new building sites these days which means the clay is not as far down creating a solid moisture-holding pan under the soil. Gypsum ( soluble lime) along with the compost will work on opening up clay without changing the ph of soil. Frosts will soon be over allowing new lawns to be sown, remember to sow seed thickly as annual weed seeds will be competing.  Fruit: All deciduous fruit trees can still be planted during  September. All fruits require a position in full sun, shelter from prevailing winds is preferable, or a stake added for a couple of years until roots are well anchored. If leaf curl is a problem on young stone fruit trees, pull affected leaves off and destroy them, and new leaves take their place. Strawberries are easy to grow in a home garden, as little as 25 plants can yield more than 50 pounds. Strawberries need at least six hours of direct sun daily and will do well with a dressing of fertiliser specifically formulated with extra potassium, regular irrigation, and slightly acidic soil covering the bed in straw or pine needles will keep the weeds down and the fruit clean. All other berries on offer should be planted now to settle into a season of fruiting. Vegetables: With soil warming every plant is now coming to life for spring so there is a lot to do in the vegetable garden as you ready it for planting. Break up and rake clods to fine soil down for direct seed sowing. Get pumpkin, butternut squash and corn seeds started now under protection until frosts finish, they need a long warm growing season to grow and ripen. It's great to be planting salad veg again especially while there are still no white butterflies or aphids about. As an early season deterrent by spraying fish emulsion on both veg and flowering seedlings, will feed the plants and repel pests by fooling them into thinking their favorite food is now protein, repeat after rain. Get sprouted potatoes in the ground, when leaves appear mound over them to keep all light out as potatoes increase in size. Keep water up to rows during dry spells.  Cheers, Linda.