Gardening in North Otago September 10th 2014

North Otago is looking so pretty after some nice sunny days this week, masses of lovely blossom and daffodils everywhere, 

"Spring makes it's own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer."~

G. B Charlesworth.

This week I have been working on my ponds,over flowing them and cleaning out leaves. Water lillies, oxygen weed and water iris's are starting to make a move. A couple of years ago a helper and I removed all the yellow bog iris's from the big pond, this was a much needed job because this common yellow iris was spreading so fast and took up a quarter of the pond with mat it's forming roots ( lesson learned, don't plant yellow bog iris in a domestic pond) The place for this iris is along the banks of a creek, the fibrous roots are fantastic at holding the sides back from erosion. Don't be tempted to add bull rushes to a domestic pond either, they also spread too quickly. 

Now the sap is up, I have been removing unwanted growth from prunus trees, (flowering cherry) it has been said that this is the best time to make cuts in prunus to avoid the spread of silver leaf which can spread from tree to tree while in the dormant stage. Cut out  any weak growth and cross over branches before they grow thick. After fruiting take the height down on fruiting cherries & plums if they have grown beyond picking height as they tend to fruit on the top branches.   

Cut out all dead branches from beneath Kilmarnoch willows if you have them, this is the ornamental pussy willow used so often now in small gardens. Each new branch grows out from the bud of last years growth. All subsequent years growth dies and builds up under the new growth. The grafted weeping tree is much nicer to look at with all those dead branches removed and it is easier to do this when bare of leaves.

Keep feeding new spring growing plants (other than bulbs ) with liquid plant food to encourage strong growth and plant, plant, plant all the pretty spring seedlings on offer now.

Lawns, 

Lawns benifit greatly from an early spring feed of lawn fertiliser but this works best with rain to wash it in. Because we have had no rain as yet I have been moving the sprinkler around. 

Vegetables:

The soil is warming up and the sun is staying around longer. Everything is now coming to life for spring, so this is a busy time for gardeners who will be sowing, planting and fertilising their edible gardens.

Get pumpkin, butternut and squash seeds started now under protection, they need a long warm growing season to grow and ripen.

It is good to be planting salad veg again, keep planting leafy veg as you use the veg you have carried over the winter months...still no white butterflies or aphids about in my garden. As an early season deterrent start spraying fish emulsion on both veg and flowering plants. This will feed the plants and repel pests by fooling them into thinking their favorite food is now protein not vegetable. Have some ready in a spray bottle to repeat after rain.

Once seed potatoes have sprouted get them in the ground. Our Weston School caretaker supplied the Children,s garden  with cut down car tyres to fill with the fantastic compost he has made to plant out in potatoes. Four seed potatoes in each tyre and once leaves appear another tyre is placed on top and filled with more compost, four more potatoes are planted in this tyre. The tyres are said to keep the growing conditions warmer than the ground. When grown we will have 5 x two tyres high of new pototoes, Yum! 

Fruit: All deciduous fruit trees can still be planted in September while the plants are just coming out of dormancy . The widest selection will be available in garden stores now.  All fruits require a position in full sun. Shelter from prevailing winds is preferable.

Spray stone fruit trees on bud burst with Super Copper to protect from leaf curl disease. 

Strawberries: will do well with a dressing of feriliser specifically formulated with extra potassium, I am sure there will be one on offer especially for strawberries.

All other berries on offer should be planted now to settle in to a season of fruiting.

Cheers, Linda.