Gardening in North Otago 11th September 2010

Not a lot of sun again this week and moisture we really don't need but spring is still happening with such lovely blossom everywhere.

This week with an energetic helper we removed all the bog iris from my big pond, this was a much needed job because the iris was spreading so fast and took up a quarter of the pond,( lesson learned, don't plant yellow bog iris in a domestic pond) The place for this iris is along the banks of a creek, the fibrous roots are fantastic at holding the sides of a creek back from erosion.

Cut out all the dead branches from beneath Kilmarnoch willows if you have them, this is the ornamental pussy willow used so often now in small gardens. Each new branch grows out from the bud of last years growth. All subsequent years growth dies and builds up under the new growth. The grafted weeping tree is much nicer to look at with all those dead branches removed.

The popular Robinia mop top also required a clip back of all its last years branch growth. Removing the branches will encourage new bushy growth.

After the wind last Sunday night you will have been shown what was needing staked in your garden as I was shown in mine. I had one well grown Ake Aake tree blown over which has left a huge gap, thankfully I have a youngish cornus tree needing a new home once the chain saw has done it's job. Those freak winds are always a possibility at this time of the year and firm stakes will save young trees but the quicker growing trees like Ake Ake, gums, wattles and virgilias are all ways susceptible when large and top heavy.

Keep feeding new spring growing plants (other than bulbs ) with liquid plant food to encourage strong growth.

Lawns need to be feed as well, best time to do this if using dry fertiliser is when it's raining, or now would be a good time to use the liquid weed and feed option as lawn weeds are on the move.
With the soil now warming up I have been sowing grass seed in areas of lawn that have thinned out over winter. Seed must be sown thickly at this time of the year to beat and smother weeds that insist on growing when sowing a spring lawn. I use fine sifted soil to cover seeds before the birds get a look at what I am up to. If birds do find sown seed, cover the area with wind break or frost cloth pinned down until signs of germination.

Vegetables:

Get pumpkin, butternut and squash seeds started now, they need a long warm growing season to grow and ripen.

It is good to be planting salad veg again, keep planting leafy veg as you use the veg you have carried over the winter months...still no white butterflies or aphids about in my garden. As an early season deterrent start spraying fish emulsion on both veg and flowering plants. This will feed the plants and repel pests by fooling them into thinking their favorite food is now protein not vegetable. Have some ready in a spray bottle to repeat after rain.



Cheers, Linda.