Gardening in North Otago August 20th 2013

The benefits from the good deep watering we have had here in North Otago will be obvious from now through to early summer. It is still very wet and sticky under foot but plants and new lambs are pushing on and making it feel more like spring everyday. This week I have been doing the final winter clean up around the gardens I don't mulch with pea straw.,These gardens get a covering of the lovely black compost we get each year from the Pukeuri freezing works, which allows the spring bulbs to take center stage for the next couple of months. I do have pea straw in other areas where bulbs are growing and now that I can see where they are popping up I push the straw away from them to give them light. It is at this time of the year I notice yellowing of some plants, the ground gets depleted of nitrogen during winter especially when plants are shallow rooted like camellia and rhododendrons, and potted plants with roots out grown containers. With applications of complete plant food and compost this condition will be rectified. Plant specific slow release fertilisers on offer make it easy to choose the right one and each time it rains or you water the garden food is released to plants. If you have not trimmed back ornamental grass's yet do it now, cut the old seeded ends well back and clean out the dead thatch around the base, its amazing how much you will need to cart away after this hair cut but they will look wonderful and will grow back to their soft wafting shape in no time. Use what you have cut off as mulch around the garden, a cover for the compost or in the chook or calf shed if you have any. I bet the weeds are growing well at your place as they are at mine! I had the sprayer out last week and I see this week it is working so it must be warm enough now. With the ground being so soft hand and hoe weeding is really easy, get them out before they take off and seed everywhere, or dig them in before they seed. Lawns After all the snow & rain moss will thrive in lawns, pathways and garden structures. There are a lot of products out there to deal with moss but killing the moss in lawns is simply a short term measure they do nothing by way of treating the basic problem of moss in lawns. They simply kill the moss which is there. It will return If you really want to eradicate moss from your lawn, then you have to find out the actual problem that is causing it, the reasons are various, but not too difficult to isolate. Moss is a sign that something is basically wrong with your lawn. Things that would be causing moss in your lawn could be: Water logging - in winter or summer. Poor feeding regime - usually shown by light green grass. Soil too acid - carry out a test, lime may be needed. Shaded Lawns - overhanging trees or large shrubs. Mowing lawns too close is a very common cause, for it weakens the grass allowing moss to take hold Drought - if severe enough to harm or kill the grass. Not to be confused with a bit of summer-browning Sandy - free-draining soils. This can weaken the grass and allow moss to take over. Some mosses are quite happy in these conditions. Compaction - continued use by children and pets with no remedial attention by way of aeration in the Autumn. Generally, lawns that are well maintained - which includes being well fed, cut properly, aerated and de-thatched - problems which result in moss should not occur, moss rarely competes with strong growing grass in lawns. Get the grass growing properly starting with the first spring feeding and rake in humus (compost or sieved soil) to add more body, this will encourage worms as well. Slow release grass fertliser is ideal when the ground is wet and rain is about. Treating small areas of lawn moss can be carried out with sulphate of iron watered on at the strength displayed on the pack per sq meter. The moss will turn black and after a couple of weeks you can rake out the dead moss and re-seed. Vegetables Pick winter crops while still at their best - Fold cauliflower leaves over and tie to protect from frost and keep florets tight. Asparagus is a vegetable that repays planting over many years. To prepare beds cultivate deeply and add generous amounts of compost. Existing asparagus beds should be cultivated carefully to avoid damaging the crowns that lie just below the surface, add a new layer of mulch. Here on the coast get spring sowings off to an early start now, use a row of cloches if you have them or stretch out a length of clear polythene to warm and dry out the soil, particularly further inland where the soil will take a bit of thawing out before any planting Can be done. Fruit With fruit trees being well budded up and blossoming we need some sunny days for the bees to come out to turn the blossom into fruit. Keep spray away when the bees are about. Citrus are susceptible to water logging so remove saucers from under potted lemon bushes while it is so wet and always ensure that your bushes in the ground have good drainage and are not sitting in a puddle of water. Cheers, Linda