Gardening in North Otago 19th February 2011

Wow what wonderful night rains we have been getting, I notice that some of my potted plants like petunias are looking a bit yellow in the leaves, when i investigated further the affected pots had their drain holes blocked or were continually sitting in water in the saucers that were filling with rain. these plants were drowning, there was no oxygen for their roots. Take the saucers away until we get a dry spell and they are needed. I tipped the sodden pots on their side and left them like that for a day or two until the excess water had drained away. when i do water them again I will add fertiliser as the potting mix will be stale. I have been filling gapes in my garden with annuals I know will go on flowering until the first frosts, such as lobelia, impatients and saliva, they are perfect for cheering up a tired looking basket or garden.I plan to trim the photinias bushes we have around the garden to reward me with bright red new foliege in April / May and into the winter. you think something in your garden needs a cut back do it now, at this time of the year you cannot do damage the grow back rate is pretty quick. Even if the plant is still producing flowers, but you notice there are more seed heads than flowers it's a good indication the plant or bush is ready for a trim.Some rose bushes now have leaves that are yellowing and have rust and black spot, don't be alarmed these are old leaves ready to drop and make way for new fresh leaves. it is best to remove these diseased old leaves before they fall and spread disease into the ground. After I have done this some of my bushes have only one or two leaves left. New leaves soon grow along with new buds if you keep the dead heading up.If you have If buddleias, ( the butterfly bush) tall thin arching branches with grey/blue leaves and lavender, purple or pink long narrow flower heads at the end, cut them back almost to the ground when they have finished flowering then again at the end of winter. They grow back very quickly and are best grown at the back of a border. Lawn clippings should be filling catchers after the rain's, keep the food up to them when it rains and keep the blades up a notch to what you usually have them set at from now on to give needed shade to roots.Vegetables
Keep planting all vegetable plants in rotation...if you now have a space where root veg were growing fill it with leafy veg and visa versa. Any spaces you have vacant fill with a green crop, wheat, barley, oats, blue lupin or mustard seed. Dig into the soil before it flowers. The humus created from a green crop is about the very best thing you can do for tied soil. Cheers, Linda.