I so enjoyed the lovely days this week, especially after a good frost last weekend.  These warmer than usual days have encouraged early flowering of

of hellebore's, daphne, jonquils, primula and pollyanthas, but no bee's about to take advantage of all the early pollen just yet.

With all the compost and pea straw in place now it will not be long before bulbs and perennials will be using what is offered and pushing up through it all, then I will know where the gaps are for filling with all the small plants coming on from the seedlings and cuttings I have been nursing since last summer. Plants like viola Maggie mott, pansy, carnation, primula and dianthus can be planted now but the others will stay under the frost cloth until early spring.

Rose pruning of the tough old varieties can be done now but I am leaving my more modern type until the end of this month in the hope that they will get a good continual freezing before then to harden the wood and kill the bugs. 

How I prune:

Bush roses: concentrate on clearing the center of the bush, remove all inward facing branches at an outward facing bud, prune height back by two thirds always at an outward facing bud and remove any really old and damaged branches. Brush old gnarly rose centers with a wire brush to stimulate and encourage new budding.

Floribunda bush roses like iceberg need a few older branches taken right back each year to encourage new strong branching and newer branches taken back by two thirds.

Hybrid tea roses: These are the roses that can grow exhibition single blooms, these bushes can be pruned back quite hard to an outward facing bud.

Standard bush roses: Same as bush roses.

Climbing roses: These roses flower at their best when the branches are trained horizontally along a fence or wall, they develop small branches along the length of the trained branch and give a brilliant show. After a number of years the long horizontal branches will need to be removed and replace by a softer new branch, being careful not to damage this soft wood train gently out to take the place of the removed old wood. The new branch will bud up quickly sending out small outward growing branches and harden off in a couple of years. Prune the outward growing branches growing along established horizontal branch's back to the second outward facing bud. It's the new bud growth from this pruning that will develop into flowers. 

Pillar roses; These are the best type to climb up and be trained over an arch or pergola. I cut the old growth back off these with a hedge trimmer.

Fairy rose and flower carpet roses: These, I also cut back with a hedge trimmer but open them up by removing branches from the middle with secateurs. 

Compost heaps are working much more slowly now than in the summer and autumn but the worms will be still working as long as there is adequate moisture. Once wet right through heaps can be kept warmer by being covered, Straw is perfect for this as it still lets the rain in.

Boost bedding plants with fish based fertiliser or a little dried blood.to encourage buds during sunny winter days.

Veg: This mild winter weather has been kind to producing vegetable gardens, I planted peas in Autumn as a trial and so far so good, they will sit over winter, flower and pod up for early summer peas . 

Once I have used all carrots, parsnip and silver beet I will dig the raised gardens over and work in some compost in readiness for spring planting.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Fruit:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

If your strawberry patch is manured and ready, plant new strawberry runner plants in now while the ground is soft and moist.

The best time of the year to prune fruit trees.

Early to Late Spring for Peaches Peach trees should be pruned yearly to maintain an open center, prune off the damaged wood in the early spring. This will allow the wounds to close faster as growth begins. In the early spring you should also be able to see how many flower buds have survived the cold weather. 

Prune apricot trees in late winter or early spring as the new leaves and flowers begin to open because the tree is actively growing and the pruning cuts heal quickly. Remove all branches with a narrow crotch—(those that grow up more than out.) on  newly planted trees remove all branches that are within 18 inches of the ground. Remove additional branches as necessary to space them at least 6 inches apart. Shorten the remaining lateral branches to 2 to 4 inches in length. Each stub should have at least one bud. In older trees thin out the canopy so that sunlight reaches the interior and air circulates freely. 

Early Spring for Plums, Plum trees should be pruned to maintain an open center, don't let your plum tree branch too close to the ground. The best fruit often grows at the top of the trees. Keep the tops of trees low, so they are easily accessible. 

Winter for Apples and pears The best time to prune your apple and pear tree is when it is dormant, during the late Autumn and winter. During the dormant season, you will want to cut away any overly vigorous stems, which are usually high in the trees. 

Scruff our pup graduated from doggy School this week, gaining success in disciplining us, but I feel he would benefit from higher tertiary learning!! he was rewarded for his attendance and effort with a very handy pink ball thrower, a bag of dog food, and our promise that we will continue to jump through hoops for him.

Cheers, Linda