Gardening in North Otago 2nd March 2011

The drying winds have arrived which is in keeping with the beginning of Autumn.
Unfortunate for the poor people of Christchurch who must now deal with all the dust, luckily we have my Ch Ch family here with us because like so many their World has been turned upside down.
I have been watering gardens and using the compost made from last winter and spring to mulch them, I need the bins empty for all the leaves that will be falling from now on. The compost being made from the summer cut backs will need the sprinkler on now to add the moisture needed to start the compost cooking during the hot autumn days, once the heat has built up the compost will hold the heat and go on breaking down the compost over the cold winter months, but it must start to heating up now and have the moisture needed to do that.

A lot of gardens have cat mint, I always give mine a second summer cut back about now because there is still time for another flush of growth now before winter.

From now on is said to be the best time to sow a new lawn, a lot of the annual seeds will not germinate as fast as the grass seed now with the cooler nights giving the grass seed a chance to grow quickly and smother new weeds.
Prepare the ground by raking and firming, fill any hollows. If you can not get hold of a roller use a sheet of hard board and get everyone to run over it. Once the ground is firm lightly rake it over, sow grass seed and lightly rake it into the soil then a light watering.Don't allow the ground to be too damp going into the night, dews are enough for the tiny new grass roots and if kept on the dry side they should put roots down looking for moisture.
Choose the right type of grass for the area, there is seed for high traffic and shady and sunny areas & fine grass for show lawns It is best to get fresh seed coated with bird protection. Birds will still begin to feast on this so if you have sown only a small area cover it with frost cloth. This will keep the birds off and still let the light in to allow the grass seed to germinate.

If you have bunches of grapes the birds are waiting for cover them with old pantyhose until they are ripe enough to pick.
Passion fruit needs well watered and feed now as this helps improve the fruit.

Harvest herbs now for drying, they will soon put on another lot of fresh growth before the frosts make them dormant.
Cheers, Linda