Another good weather week for North Otago, still not the consistent hard frosts needed so far but I am sure we will get them so I covered exposed Margarette daisy bushes and all seedlings with frost cloth over night.
I have decided to leave most of my hydrangeas until buds show signs of shooting, as I mentioned last week I did prune some very protected hydrangea bushes but need to stop myself from being tempted to start on any others until nearer spring. But you can give pink hydrangeas a dressing of lime now to keep them pink and blue hydrangeas a dressing of sulphate of allium or the specially prepared blue hydrangea mix that can be bought from the garden centers.
This time last year I attacked a group of large leggy rhododendrons that had leaves, buds and blooms only on the top of long woody branches taller than myself. I was only going to cut the woody non productive wood off because the bushes were beginning to flower, however once I started I ended up cutting them all right back to a healthy bulging nodule, then they got compost and straw. In spring they soon pushed out fresh new growth and this year I see even the odd small bud but it will take a another couple of years before they bush up.
Tulips planted in May should be through the ground now, don't give them any fertilizer as this will only promote leaf growth which will take away from the bloom. Tulips store the food needed in their bulb.
More rose pruning this week as well, I had to invest in some new secateurs as the pair I have been using were not cutting clean, rips on a rose prune will not allow the cut to seal which will result in die back and can sometimes claim a whole branch. Because roses should ideally be planted during dormancy new varieties are available now from garden centers.
If winter has left your garden looking a little too bleak, Garden centers will also have nice potted colour to brighten things up. I have noticed on offer pansy's, wall flower, pollyanthas and primula malacoydies which look fresh and bright planted in groups or as a border before bulbs bloom.
Vegetables
This week I planted some more garlic cloves, the list of facts, benefits and legends surrounding Garlic are many and varied, garlic has been a staple in both the pantry and the medicine cupboard for century's. The shortest day is traditionally garlic planting time but it is still ok to plant them now by separating cloves and planting pointed end up in well prepared soil with plenty of organic matter. Plant five to seven cm below the soil surface about 10 to 15 cm apart in a sunny, well drained location. Garlic will also grow well in containers or pots.
Time to start preparing the soil for spring planting. Cultivate vacant spaces, digging in green crops if sown earlier. Add compost, and lime if you feel the garden needs humus and sweetening.
Fruit
Winter is the time you will find the best selection of fruit trees in garden centres, they are grafted and tall growing so plant up to where they were planted in the bag and stake well to protect against the wind.
A tip I read the other day that could work to eradicate codling moth attacking apple trees, quarter fill a tin or plastic milk container with treacle and hang in the tree to attract male grubs because the treacle is said to smell like the female codling moths pheromone which will attract the male grub into the container to reach a sticky end. A double bonus is that the treacle will attract grub eating birds.
Cheers, Linda
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