Gardening in North Otago 27th March 2013

Another month has passed and still we are enjoying lovely mellow days. This week I have been doing a clean up spray around the gardens, drive and pathways, weeds really took off after that last lot of rain, I can’t believe how fast they want to grow to seed stage at this time of the year, zap them before they do or another spray will be needed before winter. I have started cutting back all the ornamental grasses we have growing here, they look great when they first get seed heads but the trick is to give them a chop before the seeds drop. I cut them back by two thirds and divide those clumps that have become too big by chopping into the middle with a sharp spade, then I stand on the half I don’t want to remove and pull the other half out to transplant somewhere else. Spring bulbs are going in here, I never say no to spring bulbs when offered and I cannot resist those big bags on offer at some outlets at this time of the year. Because they multiply annually I feel they are a good investment, however because they do multiply thought needs to be given to where they are planted. If put in a narrow border it will not take that many years for them to fill the border on their own and spring will be the only time of the year that border will look good. To get the lovely spring look in narrow borders bulbs can be planted in plastic pots and then pot and all buried into the ground. This way pots can be lifted and put out of site once flowers have finished. Daffodils look at their best planted in drifts, along a paddock or roadside fence line or under deciduous trees where they can be left for years to multiply. Bulbs in the garden or in containers must be planted before the end of autumn! , Keep sowing annual flower seeds with the warm days they will be up in no time, I nurse them along in mushroom trays over the winter months in a warm sunny spot, folia feed with liquid fertiliser and cover with frost cloth if needed until they are ready for mass spring planting. Dahlias are doing well this year, keep the water up to them and dead head to prolong flowering. I have a nice red pompom variety growing in different places around the garden which I plan to dig up when finished flowering and plant all together to give impact at the end of a vista. I do not grow the really large headed dahlia blooms because they get too heavy for their stalks and need to be staked. Roses: My roses will get only one more dead heading because roses need to make seed heads to encourage the new growth to harden enough to take them through the cold months until the big prune in July. Plan winter rose plantings now while blooms are still on show so you can ask the names and place your orders for June/July delivery. Lawns: Grass grub is really bad in some areas of our lawn, the only thing to be done once patches of grass die is to pull it out, It is just sitting dead on the soil with no roots left to hold it so can be lifted more or less in patches. Then fill bare patches with sifted soil and plant grass seed, firm then water and hopefully it will strike and thicken up before the ground gets cold. Vegetables: This is an important month for planting winter veg gardens, prepared prior to planting with compost, general garden fertilise and lime if necessary. Plant seedlings of beetroot, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, spinach, and silverbeet. Watch for white butterfly caterpillar, cover with open weave frost cloth to keep them out. On the coast sow seeds of carrots, parsnips, spinach, silverbeet, beetroot, swede, and turnip directly into the garden. These will need thinning later. Seeds of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and brussel sprouts are best sown in trays for planting out later. Potatoes & onions can be lifted and stored in a cool, dry place. Herbs: Parsley can be grown from seed sown now. Perennial herbs such as chives, mint, thyme, rosemary, sage, and marjoram can be divided and replanted. Basil is a summer annual and should be picked before the cold weather to be dried or frozen for a taste of summer in winter cooking. Gardening by the moon Waning gibbins 31st March/4th April THE WANING MOON During the Full Moon and Last Quarter phases the Moon wanes or decreases in light and sap flow in plants is more concentrated in the root area. As sap flow gradually slows. Because sap flow is lower in the foliage part of plants, crops or seed harvested for storage or drying are less likely to rot if harvested during the Moon’s waning period. Last Quarter phase is best for cutting back rampant shrubs and vines, – regrowth will be less vigorous. Cheers, Linda