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