Gardening in North Otago December 18th

Great growing weather with the warmth and the little rain from time to time through the week, I was out in the rain with the fertiliser for the gardens and lawns on Tuesday morning because the dreaded rooster woke us at 5am!!! He is getting a holiday for Christmas: When it gets dry again soak hoses are great for deep soaking, they drip away continuously there is no water waste, the water goes where it is needed. This week has been another cutting back time for me, late spring and early summer perennials and annuals that are past their best. Once they have been cut back I am left with gaps which I have been topping up with, yes you guessed it, sifted soil! . The plants which I have cut back are already starting to bush up again with fresh new growth and will soon fill out, enjoy the new soil and cover the unsightly gaps. My delphiniums have grown so tall and strong this year they pushed over the supports I put around them, its hard to stand them up again with out breaking them and ending up with them looking a bit wonkey. I have been just cutting them back to the point where they have broken and I guess they will put out the smaller flower heads they send up once the main bloom has been taken. A dressing of blood & bone or slow release fertiliser and a good soaking will help them last longer looking good. Well it is count down time now for Christmas and the end of another busy year for most.The garden I am sure will be taking a back seat for everyone. If you are going away pop all your indoor plants in the bath with a little water to keep them going and baskets and manageable pots around to the shady side of the house until your return. Dead head as many roses as you can so they can get going on their second flowering, deep water and mulch if you have the time. Then let the garden look after it's self while you have a well deserved break. Vegetable garden: So much is ready for picking in the veg garden right now, cover the black current and raspberry bushes from the birds if you are heading off for a few days maybe someone you know could use what you cannot from your garden. How wonderful it would be to be able to fill a basket of fresh produce at Christmas / New year Gardening by the moon FULL MOON Friday, 28 December 2012 Flower Garden: Remove seeds pods from sweet peas to keep them flowering Layer carnations Plant bulbs in garden beds orchard or pots Dead head dahlias too keep them flowering Veg Garden: Water as required, especially just around the full moon as the plants are really wanting to grow Foliar feed three days before full moon Keep up tomato and pepper maintenance Spray neem oil for bugs. Spraying now will stop the next generation hatching Orchard: Watch for water stress Spray neem oil on any young trees that need protection Make a careful notes of when all your fruit ripens so that you know where the gaps are for future plantings That's it from me for this year, our tree is ready and waiting for the pitter- patter of tiny feet on Christmas morning and not one of them will need to hunt for Nana in the garden. I wish everyone a very happy Christmas and all the very best for 2011.