A good settled day or two this week after that wild hale storm on Sunday which sent an unseasonable chill upon plants and people, in our garden the first frost!! However in no time at all it was back to this lovely time of the year with the sun warm and low in the sky, the leaves turning and falling and busy insects getting the last of what the growing season offers.
I have the rake and wool packs on the go again collecting the bounty of leaves to turn into leaf mulch by layering lawn clippings, manure and water. I start on wet bare ground for moisture, ground warmth, microorganisms and worms to be drawn up through the heap to start decomposing.
Time to take stock of the garden and make plans for what gets trimmed, shifted, chopped out and nurtured over the soon to be here cold months. Collecting seed and taking hard wood cuttings is top of the list, seed is gathered when dry and the cuttings need to be in while the days are still warm enough for them to settle and start to make roots.
Take advantage of the warm ground and cool mornings and nights to keep planting out well grown shrubs, their roots really take off at this time of the year and settle themselves in before the frosts. I have been finding runners on some of my low growing shrubs, branches that have grown down and rooted themselves into the ground. This is the time of year to cut them from the mother plant, pot them up and nurse them over the winter. Plant them out when the pot is filled with roots, when growth starts moving again. Have a look around the bottom of climbers as well, jasmine, honey suckle, clematis there are sure to be sections rooted into the ground.
While looking around the garden see what is there for the taking in the way of seedlings, I have potted up heaps of natives and created many dentata lavender hedges from seeds which have germinated in the drive.
Lavatera's need a good cut back now if they are to look good and bushy through the winter, cut out all the old non producing wood and let it come fresh again from the cuts.
Same for geraniums, they have made a lot of growth over the summer months and need to be cleaned out in the middle where old leaves accumulate and white fly can be harboring, cut out old non productive stems and shorten back long lanky growth. Further inland leave them alone, cover when frosts arrive but take cuttings now in case you loose established plants over winter.
Sweet-peas popped up for me this week, the winter will hold them but as soon as the ground warms up a little they will take off and be there for picking in late august.
Sweet-peas are gross feeders, they do best in a different position each year. If you really want them planted in the same place dig a trench and fill with stable manure to keep them fed for their long flowering period.
Keep an eye on hellebore's ( Winter rose's) they dry out at this time of the year to the point where they die. They are one of the first plants to flower in late winter so keep the water up to them and feed them, blood & bone, manure or slow release fertiliser. The baby plants growing around mother plants can be potted up now, they take about three years from seed to flower.
Fruit & Vegetables
Codling moth caterpillars can be trapped now as they are leaving the trees, Tie strips of corrugated cardboard (Corrugation inwards) around the trunks. Once the harvest is over remove and destroy the cardboard.
Keep sowing vegetable seeds onion, radish, spinach and planting seedlings, cabbage, celery, winter lettuce here on the coast. further inland broad beans, cabbage and spinach.
I like to sow and plant butter crunch lettuce now as it keeps growing well into the winter.
Gardening by the moon
NEW MOON
Garden:
Prepare garlic beds
Plant green manure and compost crops in empty beds
Last plating of biennial flowers and herbs such as hollyhocks, sweet William, columbine and verbascum
Sow calendula, cineraria, poppies, snap dragons and pansy seed for flowers in the winter vege garden
Sow heartease for companion to garlic and onions over the winter
Plant out Autumn/Winter flowering annuals that are ready now
Orchard:
A great time to establish your orchard herbal leys while the ground is warm and moist.
Plan and organise winter plantings
Take out any trees that need removing while ground still warm and moist.
FIRST QUARTER
Saturday, 31 March 2012
Garden:
In areas where broad beans are planted in Autumn, soak overnight and plant into beds or into seed trays and transplant
In warmer aeas this is your last chance to sow directly on the surface, silverbeet, rainbow chard, endive, brassicas, peas, coriander and celery
Foliar feed three days before full moon
Finish planting any spare beds in compost crops such as lupins, mustard and wheat rye.
When transplanting winter veges, manure and lime well with dolomite and composted animal manure, fish meal and biophos, and then mulch. The worms will go crazy!
Orchard:
Continue jobs as in the New Moon phase
Cheers, Linda.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Gardening in North Otago 20th March 2012
More rain at night this week to make this another green Autumn like last year, the ground is so easy to weed and seeds are germinating fast.
This week I have been cutting back heaps because all of a sudden plants are calling out "Hey, I'm done now how about cutting me back so I can put out some new growth" Well that's what they would be calling out if they could!
I need no encouragement in this area so the wheel barrow has had good use. Once I start chopping back at this time of the year there is no stopping me, leaving destruction in my wake.
Cut back, lift and divide summer flowering perennials.
Plants that got the chop in my garden: Acanthus mollis (bears britches), tall phlox, day lillies, damaged hellebore and hosta leaves, buddleia, honey suckle, jasmine, abutilon, evergreen viburnum, alstromeria, Hebe's, iris and all leggy, gone to seed herbs.
While working my way around I dealt to all my bearded iris's by cutting leaves back by two thirds and making sure the top of rhizomes were above ground to bake in the autumn sun. I have shifted a lot out from shade into sunny well drained locations. Iris's are well worth the trouble of growing and look wonderful planted together in their own bed enabling them to put on a grand display on their own. Propagation is usually 6-8 weeks after blooming when the rhizomes are divided leaving a chunk of rhizome and roots to every new division.
You need to plant bulbs now to create splendor in your spring garden, bluebells and snow drops can cope with dappled shade, the daffodil family need good light, wonderfully fragrant Hyacinth's look great in either pots or garden, ranunculus and anemones are vibrant after a long dull winter and freesia's love a sunny warm spot. Tulips are planted in May.
If your bulb clumps are getting too big offer some to other gardeners who I am sure would gladly dig them up and find the perfect spot in their garden for them. Thank you to a friend who bought me a bucket of mixed bulbs from her garden this week, such a lovely gift.
It's time to remove seed heads from ornamental grass, it just pulls away with a rake and leaves grass clumps a lot tidier. Clumps can be trimmed back if getting too big or divided by putting a spade through the middle and removing half. Sometimes I have to dig the whole grass out to do this, then put the spade through and pull apart while standing on half.
If thinking of adding Rose's or more roses to your garden I suggest looking at rose variety books or going on line to make your choices then getting your order into Garden centers. New seasons roses will begin arriving in June and by ordering now you will be sure not to miss out.
Vegetables.
March is an important month for planting winter veg, prepare prior to planting with compost, general garden fertiliser and lime if needed, (I add lime to my compost)
Beetroot, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, spinach, and silverbeet seedlings can be planted but will need to be protected from the white butterfly. A frame work or stakes to hold strawberry net stretched over plants would do the trick.
In colder areas seeds of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and brussel sprouts are best sown in trays for planting out later.
Any areas of the vege garden which are not to be used for vegetables this winter can be planted with a green manure cover crop. This will be dug in later to enrich the soil for spring and summer crops. Blue lupin, mustard or oats are good options. Make sure the mature crops will not shade vegetable plantings.
Herbs
Parsley can be grown from seed sown now.
Perennial herbs, chives, mint, thyme, sage, and marjoram can be divided and replanted. Basil, a summer annual should be harvested before the cold weather. It can be dried or frozen.
Fruit
Late peaches should be ready to pick now
Feed citrus trees with citrus fertiliser
Summer prune nectarine trees.
Gardening by the moon
NEW MOON
March 2012
Garden:
Prepare garlic beds
Plant green manure and compost crops in empty beds
Last plating of biennial flowers and herbs such as hollyhocks, sweet William, columbine and verbascum
Sow calendula, cineraria, poppies, snap dragons and pansy seed for flowers in the winter vege garden
Sow heartease for companion to garlic and onions over the winter
Plant out Autumn/Winter flowering annuals that are ready now
Orchard:
A great time to establish your orchard herbal leys while the ground is warm and moist. Design Your Own Orchard Author: Kay Baxter
Manure, mulch and compost around fruit trees while ground is warm but after rain comes
Plan and organise winter plantings
Cheers, Linda
This week I have been cutting back heaps because all of a sudden plants are calling out "Hey, I'm done now how about cutting me back so I can put out some new growth" Well that's what they would be calling out if they could!
I need no encouragement in this area so the wheel barrow has had good use. Once I start chopping back at this time of the year there is no stopping me, leaving destruction in my wake.
Cut back, lift and divide summer flowering perennials.
Plants that got the chop in my garden: Acanthus mollis (bears britches), tall phlox, day lillies, damaged hellebore and hosta leaves, buddleia, honey suckle, jasmine, abutilon, evergreen viburnum, alstromeria, Hebe's, iris and all leggy, gone to seed herbs.
While working my way around I dealt to all my bearded iris's by cutting leaves back by two thirds and making sure the top of rhizomes were above ground to bake in the autumn sun. I have shifted a lot out from shade into sunny well drained locations. Iris's are well worth the trouble of growing and look wonderful planted together in their own bed enabling them to put on a grand display on their own. Propagation is usually 6-8 weeks after blooming when the rhizomes are divided leaving a chunk of rhizome and roots to every new division.
You need to plant bulbs now to create splendor in your spring garden, bluebells and snow drops can cope with dappled shade, the daffodil family need good light, wonderfully fragrant Hyacinth's look great in either pots or garden, ranunculus and anemones are vibrant after a long dull winter and freesia's love a sunny warm spot. Tulips are planted in May.
If your bulb clumps are getting too big offer some to other gardeners who I am sure would gladly dig them up and find the perfect spot in their garden for them. Thank you to a friend who bought me a bucket of mixed bulbs from her garden this week, such a lovely gift.
It's time to remove seed heads from ornamental grass, it just pulls away with a rake and leaves grass clumps a lot tidier. Clumps can be trimmed back if getting too big or divided by putting a spade through the middle and removing half. Sometimes I have to dig the whole grass out to do this, then put the spade through and pull apart while standing on half.
If thinking of adding Rose's or more roses to your garden I suggest looking at rose variety books or going on line to make your choices then getting your order into Garden centers. New seasons roses will begin arriving in June and by ordering now you will be sure not to miss out.
Vegetables.
March is an important month for planting winter veg, prepare prior to planting with compost, general garden fertiliser and lime if needed, (I add lime to my compost)
Beetroot, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, spinach, and silverbeet seedlings can be planted but will need to be protected from the white butterfly. A frame work or stakes to hold strawberry net stretched over plants would do the trick.
In colder areas seeds of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and brussel sprouts are best sown in trays for planting out later.
Any areas of the vege garden which are not to be used for vegetables this winter can be planted with a green manure cover crop. This will be dug in later to enrich the soil for spring and summer crops. Blue lupin, mustard or oats are good options. Make sure the mature crops will not shade vegetable plantings.
Herbs
Parsley can be grown from seed sown now.
Perennial herbs, chives, mint, thyme, sage, and marjoram can be divided and replanted. Basil, a summer annual should be harvested before the cold weather. It can be dried or frozen.
Fruit
Late peaches should be ready to pick now
Feed citrus trees with citrus fertiliser
Summer prune nectarine trees.
Gardening by the moon
NEW MOON
March 2012
Garden:
Prepare garlic beds
Plant green manure and compost crops in empty beds
Last plating of biennial flowers and herbs such as hollyhocks, sweet William, columbine and verbascum
Sow calendula, cineraria, poppies, snap dragons and pansy seed for flowers in the winter vege garden
Sow heartease for companion to garlic and onions over the winter
Plant out Autumn/Winter flowering annuals that are ready now
Orchard:
A great time to establish your orchard herbal leys while the ground is warm and moist. Design Your Own Orchard Author: Kay Baxter
Manure, mulch and compost around fruit trees while ground is warm but after rain comes
Plan and organise winter plantings
Cheers, Linda
Friday, March 16, 2012
Gardening in North Otago 16th March 2012
Some sun this week, soooo good for people & plants, the ground is so easy to weed and seeds are germinating fast with the soil being warm again. I have been planting wall flower, stock, Virginia stock , sweet pea, Iceland poppy, pansy, pollyantha, primula malacoidies and forgetmenot seeds and if the sun keeps shining they should all be soon for me to prick out and and plant into containers where they will continue to grow and harden off a little before the danger of hard frost. If some grow big enough to reach bud stage I will plant into the garden but most will need to be carried over until the ground warms up again in spring.( Sweet pea seeds should to be planted straight into the garden.)
This week I have had the hedge trimmer out because some shrubs in my garden have grown and grown with the warmth and rain. I thought it might be a good time to mention the pruning and shaping of shrubs.
Shrubs that have flowered on previous years growth like rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas, ceonothus, forsythia, coleonema(breath of heaven) only if they need to be trimmed and shaped to reduce their height and width. they should always have this done while there is still enough growing season left for them to make new growth and harden off before the frosts.In colder areas like Kurow this trimming should be done as soon as flowering has ended, with the exception of hydrangeas you can leave the old growth on through the winter to protect the new shoots then prune in Spring when they begin to shoot.
I have also thinned out crowded camellia bushes, there should be enough open spaces for a bird to fly through to let enough light in to encourage the best buds for next spring.
Shrubs that flower on current years growth like lavenders, daisy bushes, rosemary, fuchsia are best left with top growth on them now until the end of winter.They will make rapid new growth when the days begin to get warmer, you will only risk loosing them if you cut them back hard now.
This month is the latest I feel to cut back natives like pittosporums and hebe's they need to have the new growth harden off before winter, if you intend to shape them be quick or leave them until after winter. You can always tell when it is time to trim hebe's, if they are covered in flower heads gone to seed they need the spent flower heads trimmed off, if this is not done hebe's will get lanky, woody and look untidy. Once they have been trimmed plant a few tip cuttings, remove the bottom leaves and cut the top leaves back by half then plant into the ground or trays, keep them moist and in no time at all they will develop roots. Once growing pinch the cuttings back at least twice to get nice bushy plants.
The rule of thumb is hedging plants such as photinia, box hedge, viburnum and tecreium can be cut any time during the growing season but I apply that only to here on the coast in the late autumn. Late spring and summer is a safer time in colder areas.
Autumn is said to be the best time to plant conifers, there are such a lot of different types on offer now and I consider these contribute to the bones of the garden along with trees. Tall narrow conifers planted in groups give larger gardens a vertical push and formality. Read labels carefully they will give you the height and width for the first ten years, after that they do keep growing and can be removed if they start to look untidy but most ornamental conifers look wonderful for years & years.
Lawns.
This is such a good year to sow autumn lawns and fill in gaps in lawns. I have been spot spraying the flat weeds in lawns and when we get rain again I will apply grass grub granules, from February until may is the time to do this.
Vegetables
Gardens will be producing in abundance now, I have so much ready to use, parsnips, beetroot, carrots, potatoes, corn and pumpkins scrambling all over the place needing to make up for the loss of sunny days. Have frost cloth ready for outside tomatoes and pumpkins should there be an early frost.
Keep planting in rotation, leaf veg where root veg has been, the warm soil will keep germinating and producing until the first frost.
When potatoes are dug they need to be kept in the dark or they well green up and even potatoes stored in the dark will sprout as spring nears. There are products which will inhibit sprouting but many like me avoid chemicals near food so I will share a natural alternative with you. Layer the stored potatoes with dried sprigs of rosemary, sage and lavender, the essential oils given off by these herbs not only inhibit sprouting, they will also help to keep the tubers free from bacterial soft rots.
Gardening by the moon
17 March 2012
Waning crescent
Synodic:
This is not a good time to be sowing anything in the garden. Instead use this time to weed and harvest from the garden. It is an excellent time to start building a new compost heap.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Sagittarius: This is a Fire sign. This is a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans (Fava) , Cucumbers , Peas , Tomatoes , but it would not be a good time to sow Leaf plants like Cabbages , Celeriac ,Celery , Dill , Lettuce , Rhubarb , Spinach ,
Sidereal:
Moon in Sagittarius: Dry and barren. Good time to plant onion sets and bulbs.
18th March 2012
Root Capricorn
Waning crescent
Synodic:
This is not a good time to be sowing anything in the garden. Instead use this time to weed and harvest from the garden. It is an excellent time to start building a new compost heap.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Capricorn: This is a Earth sign. It is a good time to sow Root plants like Asparagus , Beetroot , Carrots , Chives , First Early Potatoes , Horseradish , Jerusalem Artichokes , Leeks ,Onions , Parsnips , Potatoes , Radish , Second Early Potatoes ,Shallots , Spring Onions , but it would not be a good time to sow Flower plants like Broccoli , Cauliflowers , Globe Artichokes ,
Sidereal:
Moon in Capricorn: Potatoes and tubers planted now will have a strong growth.
Cheers Linda
This week I have had the hedge trimmer out because some shrubs in my garden have grown and grown with the warmth and rain. I thought it might be a good time to mention the pruning and shaping of shrubs.
Shrubs that have flowered on previous years growth like rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas, ceonothus, forsythia, coleonema(breath of heaven) only if they need to be trimmed and shaped to reduce their height and width. they should always have this done while there is still enough growing season left for them to make new growth and harden off before the frosts.In colder areas like Kurow this trimming should be done as soon as flowering has ended, with the exception of hydrangeas you can leave the old growth on through the winter to protect the new shoots then prune in Spring when they begin to shoot.
I have also thinned out crowded camellia bushes, there should be enough open spaces for a bird to fly through to let enough light in to encourage the best buds for next spring.
Shrubs that flower on current years growth like lavenders, daisy bushes, rosemary, fuchsia are best left with top growth on them now until the end of winter.They will make rapid new growth when the days begin to get warmer, you will only risk loosing them if you cut them back hard now.
This month is the latest I feel to cut back natives like pittosporums and hebe's they need to have the new growth harden off before winter, if you intend to shape them be quick or leave them until after winter. You can always tell when it is time to trim hebe's, if they are covered in flower heads gone to seed they need the spent flower heads trimmed off, if this is not done hebe's will get lanky, woody and look untidy. Once they have been trimmed plant a few tip cuttings, remove the bottom leaves and cut the top leaves back by half then plant into the ground or trays, keep them moist and in no time at all they will develop roots. Once growing pinch the cuttings back at least twice to get nice bushy plants.
The rule of thumb is hedging plants such as photinia, box hedge, viburnum and tecreium can be cut any time during the growing season but I apply that only to here on the coast in the late autumn. Late spring and summer is a safer time in colder areas.
Autumn is said to be the best time to plant conifers, there are such a lot of different types on offer now and I consider these contribute to the bones of the garden along with trees. Tall narrow conifers planted in groups give larger gardens a vertical push and formality. Read labels carefully they will give you the height and width for the first ten years, after that they do keep growing and can be removed if they start to look untidy but most ornamental conifers look wonderful for years & years.
Lawns.
This is such a good year to sow autumn lawns and fill in gaps in lawns. I have been spot spraying the flat weeds in lawns and when we get rain again I will apply grass grub granules, from February until may is the time to do this.
Vegetables
Gardens will be producing in abundance now, I have so much ready to use, parsnips, beetroot, carrots, potatoes, corn and pumpkins scrambling all over the place needing to make up for the loss of sunny days. Have frost cloth ready for outside tomatoes and pumpkins should there be an early frost.
Keep planting in rotation, leaf veg where root veg has been, the warm soil will keep germinating and producing until the first frost.
When potatoes are dug they need to be kept in the dark or they well green up and even potatoes stored in the dark will sprout as spring nears. There are products which will inhibit sprouting but many like me avoid chemicals near food so I will share a natural alternative with you. Layer the stored potatoes with dried sprigs of rosemary, sage and lavender, the essential oils given off by these herbs not only inhibit sprouting, they will also help to keep the tubers free from bacterial soft rots.
Gardening by the moon
17 March 2012
Waning crescent
Synodic:
This is not a good time to be sowing anything in the garden. Instead use this time to weed and harvest from the garden. It is an excellent time to start building a new compost heap.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Sagittarius: This is a Fire sign. This is a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans (Fava) , Cucumbers , Peas , Tomatoes , but it would not be a good time to sow Leaf plants like Cabbages , Celeriac ,Celery , Dill , Lettuce , Rhubarb , Spinach ,
Sidereal:
Moon in Sagittarius: Dry and barren. Good time to plant onion sets and bulbs.
18th March 2012
Root Capricorn
Waning crescent
Synodic:
This is not a good time to be sowing anything in the garden. Instead use this time to weed and harvest from the garden. It is an excellent time to start building a new compost heap.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Capricorn: This is a Earth sign. It is a good time to sow Root plants like Asparagus , Beetroot , Carrots , Chives , First Early Potatoes , Horseradish , Jerusalem Artichokes , Leeks ,Onions , Parsnips , Potatoes , Radish , Second Early Potatoes ,Shallots , Spring Onions , but it would not be a good time to sow Flower plants like Broccoli , Cauliflowers , Globe Artichokes ,
Sidereal:
Moon in Capricorn: Potatoes and tubers planted now will have a strong growth.
Cheers Linda
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Better weather this week in North Otago, last week I mentioned leaving small grade plantings until spring but with moisture still in the ground from the last rain larger grade shrubs and conifers an be planted now to get their roots started. There is time for them to harden off in readiness to take them through the winter without too much damage.
Take the trouble to find out each plants preference for soil and shelter. Remember some shrubs grow really fast, pick the right spot that will allow for shrubs to grow full size horizontally and vertically . While shrubs are small gaps can be filled with annuals or perennials like lupines, hellebore's or forget-me-not. which can be dug out as shrubs need more space.
The cold snap we had reminds me that the frosts will not be far off, although I feel our seasons are getting later so I am hoping for a long warm autumn, as long as the night temperature is not less than 10 degrees at night things will continue growing and germinating so keep planting seeds and get them well under way before the colder nights.
I have had the weed spray out again this week, I like to zap them when they are small and I have dealt to the couch grass which is showing its self through the pea straw cover I have had my eye on it and was waiting until it became long enough to spray. This grass cannot be ignored because it spreads really fast under mulch and weed mat and will pop up all over the garden.
Most gladioli have have finished flowering now and can be lifted, although I have seen some still flowering. Remove leaves once they have dried off and store in paper bags (never plastic). in all but the coldest areas it is ok to leave them in the ground provided the site is well drained. if superior blooms are required for showing then it is best to lift them and dust them with protective powder. The blooms will always do better if lifted.
Keep collecting ripe seeds for sowing in spring, seeds like cosmos, sunflowers, lupins, marigold, poppies any flower you like which have gone to seed. Pot up seedlings you find around your garden, I have an amazing amount of young seedlings of lavender, pansies, primula, hollyhock and foxglove popping up.
Stop dis budding chrysanthemums now, they will be well budded up now bringing wonderful colour to gardens.
Pick apples and pears now, pears especially need to be picked while still firm and as soon as they come away easily when pulled, they ripen well inside.
Keep feeding & watering cropping trees and citrus, blood & bone is fine for this and mulching will help keep moisture there.
Grapes need to reach their full sweetness while on the vine, but they will need protection from birds.
Winter veg in cooler inland gardens should be encouraged to grow vigorously while the soil is still warm by mulching, generous watering and liquid feeding late beans can help them go on producing. Keep an eye on pumpkins which will need frost cloth at the first sign of frost if still not ready.
Gardening by the Moon early march
Prepare, compost and manure/fert beds as necessary for winter planting
A good time to collect seaweed and cow manure to use in the autumn compost heaps.
Tomato & pepper maintenance - mainly feeding and disease control. Stop delateraling tomatoes.
Plant seeds for the winter garden, such as cauliflower, cabbage, kale, broccoli, lettuce, celery, swedes, turnips, parsley, welsh bunching onions, radishes, daikon, silverbeet, chard, peas, Miners lettuce, endive and corn salad.plant a widerange of winter vege, choose secific winter varieties and a choose a widerange of maturing times for optimal food security.
Plant flowers for winter and spring colour, and for vege companions, such as calendula, heartsease, stocks, chamomile, hollyhocks, sweet william, forget-me-nots, columbine and viola
Plant sweet peas now for early flowering .
Orchard:
If you are planning on planting an orchard or improving your orchard this winter now is the time to do your planning. Read Design Your Own Orchard. If you fancy a Food Forest we recommend Martin Crawfords wonderful book Creating a Forest Garden to help you out with your planning.
Irrigate all trees as required.
Plan and organise your autumn orchard fertilsation program, Best to feed while soil is warm and moist for best results following season. It is critical to have the right minerals in right relationships for optimal tree health and crop set, do a little research. Compost and compost tea can be used on small or large areas.
A good time to cut trees in shelter or hedgerows for firewood or garden stakes, etc.
Make a list to help organise winter planting and order any trees you need
Shift hawk kites and nets to protect fruit from birds
Cheers, Linda
Take the trouble to find out each plants preference for soil and shelter. Remember some shrubs grow really fast, pick the right spot that will allow for shrubs to grow full size horizontally and vertically . While shrubs are small gaps can be filled with annuals or perennials like lupines, hellebore's or forget-me-not. which can be dug out as shrubs need more space.
The cold snap we had reminds me that the frosts will not be far off, although I feel our seasons are getting later so I am hoping for a long warm autumn, as long as the night temperature is not less than 10 degrees at night things will continue growing and germinating so keep planting seeds and get them well under way before the colder nights.
I have had the weed spray out again this week, I like to zap them when they are small and I have dealt to the couch grass which is showing its self through the pea straw cover I have had my eye on it and was waiting until it became long enough to spray. This grass cannot be ignored because it spreads really fast under mulch and weed mat and will pop up all over the garden.
Most gladioli have have finished flowering now and can be lifted, although I have seen some still flowering. Remove leaves once they have dried off and store in paper bags (never plastic). in all but the coldest areas it is ok to leave them in the ground provided the site is well drained. if superior blooms are required for showing then it is best to lift them and dust them with protective powder. The blooms will always do better if lifted.
Keep collecting ripe seeds for sowing in spring, seeds like cosmos, sunflowers, lupins, marigold, poppies any flower you like which have gone to seed. Pot up seedlings you find around your garden, I have an amazing amount of young seedlings of lavender, pansies, primula, hollyhock and foxglove popping up.
Stop dis budding chrysanthemums now, they will be well budded up now bringing wonderful colour to gardens.
Pick apples and pears now, pears especially need to be picked while still firm and as soon as they come away easily when pulled, they ripen well inside.
Keep feeding & watering cropping trees and citrus, blood & bone is fine for this and mulching will help keep moisture there.
Grapes need to reach their full sweetness while on the vine, but they will need protection from birds.
Winter veg in cooler inland gardens should be encouraged to grow vigorously while the soil is still warm by mulching, generous watering and liquid feeding late beans can help them go on producing. Keep an eye on pumpkins which will need frost cloth at the first sign of frost if still not ready.
Gardening by the Moon early march
Prepare, compost and manure/fert beds as necessary for winter planting
A good time to collect seaweed and cow manure to use in the autumn compost heaps.
Tomato & pepper maintenance - mainly feeding and disease control. Stop delateraling tomatoes.
Plant seeds for the winter garden, such as cauliflower, cabbage, kale, broccoli, lettuce, celery, swedes, turnips, parsley, welsh bunching onions, radishes, daikon, silverbeet, chard, peas, Miners lettuce, endive and corn salad.plant a widerange of winter vege, choose secific winter varieties and a choose a widerange of maturing times for optimal food security.
Plant flowers for winter and spring colour, and for vege companions, such as calendula, heartsease, stocks, chamomile, hollyhocks, sweet william, forget-me-nots, columbine and viola
Plant sweet peas now for early flowering .
Orchard:
If you are planning on planting an orchard or improving your orchard this winter now is the time to do your planning. Read Design Your Own Orchard. If you fancy a Food Forest we recommend Martin Crawfords wonderful book Creating a Forest Garden to help you out with your planning.
Irrigate all trees as required.
Plan and organise your autumn orchard fertilsation program, Best to feed while soil is warm and moist for best results following season. It is critical to have the right minerals in right relationships for optimal tree health and crop set, do a little research. Compost and compost tea can be used on small or large areas.
A good time to cut trees in shelter or hedgerows for firewood or garden stakes, etc.
Make a list to help organise winter planting and order any trees you need
Shift hawk kites and nets to protect fruit from birds
Cheers, Linda
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