Gardening in North Otago October 28th 2014

I had last week away which is not the norm for me at this very busy time of the year in the garden but had in place a reliable person to water so all was good when I got home. Wind seems to be the norm around Labour weekend, this Labour weekend was a good one weather wise with a lot getting done by Gardeners I am sure. We still need heavy spring rain here in North Otago but the rain clouds seem to float above us then disappear! If you are wanting to transplant Rhododendrons, Camellias and Azaleas, do it immediately after flowering before they put on too much new season growth, invest in a bag of peat to get roots going after transplanting. If your spring flowering shrubs are in need of a trim prune them back once they have finished flowering.
Geraniums and pelargoniums are available now and should be planted in a sunny position. Fuchsias are also on offer, they benefit from afternoon shade. 

If you are concerned about a hot dry Summer having a disastrous effect on your garden? Plenty of Mulch breaking down on your soil will help retain moisture as well as improve the structure of your soil and suppress weed growth. Mulch like straw, grass clippings and weed free compost and a dressing of gypsum is also excellent for breaking down clay or poor draining soil. 

Newly planted roses are making lots of new growth so this is the month to feed them with slow release Fertiliser which will add nutrients to roots when ever water is applied. Potted plants also need slow release fertiliser and re-pot any plants that have been in the same container for more than three or four years. If they are too root-bound remove one third from the root ball then replant into the same container with fresh potting mix.

Cymbidium orchids can be divided and re-potted now if crowded. 

Water lilies are available this month and need to be planted in a basket lined with sphagnum moss or old carpet underlay, add garden soil, slow release fertiliser tabs or manure then the water lily and lastly a thick layer of shingle placed on top to help weigh the basket down in the water and stop the fertiliser / manure from leaching out which will create green slime growth in the pond as the water warms up. Also as I mentioned not long ago fish start breeding now as water warms, they will blow eggs into oxygen weed. Fish chase each other around at breeding time, If big fish are shifted to another pond after you have seen this activity eggs will be able to escape being eaten and hatch into tiny grey fish eventually becoming gold fish. The big fish can be returned to the pond when new fish have grown past a meal size. 

Fruit and veg: 

Watch your fruit trees and Grapes for fungal diseases, spray with a fungicide if needed. The cold snaps have been good for keeping the white butterfly's and Aphids away but aphids will no doubt soon start to become a problem so keep an eye out for infestation and if necessary wash off with a forceful hose or spray with an organic pesticide if they persist. 

Last chance to get coddling moth traps in place, I have mentioned in past notes the method below and have been told is successful. 

Use a plastic milk container, and place in it 1 banana peel, 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup sugar. Fill the container almost full of water, replace the cap and shake it well to mix and dissolve the contents. Remove the cap and firmly secure one container into each apple tree. The moths are attracted to the scent of the concoction, becoming trapped and drowned when they investigate. Refill with water as needed throughout the summer.

Now I need a concoction for Scruff the dog, he bolted twice last week and had us searching! got him back each time, now can't give him even a glimpse of a jogger or walker past our gate!! 

Cheers, Linda

Gardening in North Otago October 21st 2014

As predicted lawns and driveways are pink with blossom blown off trees, very pretty but a shame it dose not last longer. My main tulip display was disappointing this spring so I plan to dig them up with tops still attached and will leave them die back before storing them in a dry place to be planted out again next May. Blue saliva will be planted in their place for a summer show because a mass of blue seems to visually cool a hot summer garden.
I am in Nelson for the week I am writing this after having run around like a headless chook watering and getting things done before I left and hoping we could get some rain while I was away!! 
When I return I will set to changing beds from spring to a summer show with annuals, a good weeding, compost added, a thick layer not dig it in, I leave it on top to suppress any weed seeds wanting to germinate. Then I will plant out all the seedlings I have been nursing for the past couple of months.
Dead head and feed flowering pansies and polyanthus because as long as there is a chill in the air they will keep on flowering until it gets too warm for them. If you feel they are past it dig them out, cut them back and plant in a cool shady place where they can be left until you can plant them out again at the end of next winter.
Begonias should be showing small leaves now, I start now feeding them with fish based fertiliser. Flamboyant begonias make a wonderful show as a boarder or in pots and hanging baskets and they flower on and on through the summer.
Coastal gardens will be ahead of gardens further inland, these gardens will still be getting reasonable frosts and late frosts on the new growth of roses can be a problem but don' t be too concerned because rose leaves recover very fast and will have new buds to open in six weeks time. If watering don't let rose foliage go into the night wet, the rain of course can not be helped. When the nights start warming up any dampness on rose leaves will encourage mildew, water and spray them early in the day. Also keep the food up to your roses, they are making their buds and it's hungry roses that get diseased. Slow release fertilisers are good right now on any summer flowering plants and shrubs to keep the food supply up.
Spot spray convolvulus, couch and clover while fresh new growth, its the right time to zap them on a non windy day, if roses get even a sniff of hormone spray it will deform the foliage and the rose bush will eventually die so don't risk spraying on a windy day.
I have noticed some of my front shrub plantings are too big now, hiding good planting areas behind each over grown shrub. It takes only a few years for gardens to close in with out us really noticing and what a difference can be made by opening up and creating distance for a new and interesting planting. One area opened in my garden is deep enough to allow me to mass plant with blue bells and include a new maple tree and it was only two scrappy over grown shrubs removed which has made this difference. I planted a lot of sun flower seeds into trays a few weeks ago which are now large enough to plant out, and soon those huge sunny flower heads will be following the sun around the garden.
If you are keen to attract monarch butterflies on the coast, plant swan plants now but protect from late frosts until established.
Vegetables
Keep an eye on potatoes that are through the ground, mound the soil up around them and frost cloth may be needed at night just to be sure if your garden is low lying. Seeds are popping up in no time now so get them in ready for salad time. Pumpkin, squash, corn and courgette seeds can go in now, if you prefer to buy plants be sure to harden them off outside in a protected place for a while before planting them out. Sprinkle a little lime on compost heaps now, I do this in spring and Autumn. But if you have done a test and you need to raise the PH Sprinkle the lime over the soil surface and rake it into the top couple of inches, letting it naturally work down to the root zone. Do not dig it deeply into the soil, it will leach down soon enough. Dolomite lime is less likely to drastically change the PH but if your soil is in need of sweetening our local lime (calcium carbonate) will do the trick. Usually application rates are 2 to 3 pounds per 100 square feet of garden area, every second year to raise the pH from 5.5 to 6.5. There are some veg that like a more acid soil so don't go adding lime unless your soil needs sweetening. Brasica plants,cabbage, brussel sprouts and the like enjoy a sweet soil so you would be safe adding lime every second year where you plan to plant them.
Cheers, Linda

Gardening in North Otago October 14th 2014

winds and bone chilling cold resulting in my tomato plants turning blue and potato leaves and young seedlings wanting to retreat back under the soil and all of us I am sure getting the winter gardening gear out again, Grrrrrrr.

Hosing is still top of my list, it takes ages to get around this garden and it doesn't help having Scruff the dog hanging on with clenched jaw to the end  of the hose as I pull it from place to place!!

Once again I will go on about the weeds really going for it now! I can not believe how many have been pulled from our garden, mostly biddy bid, chick weed and convolvulous. Weeds need to be removed before they make seed or, you will be chasing them forever.

Potting up seedlings is a weekly task here in Spring, this week it was lupins, sun flowers, delphiniums, godetia, cosmos and marigolds  It is best not to plant very small seedlings into the garden, they will probably be eaten or just die off with not having enough roots to support them. It really is worth the effort to pot them on into individual pots or punnets to establish a good root mass.

Strong growing plants like sun flowers and delphinium seeds can be planted straight into peat pots and once the pot is filled with new roots plant pot and all into the ground, the strong roots will grow out through the pot as it breaks down.

I talked about slugs and hosta's last week but forgot to mention I have 6 little Peking bantams who take care of most snails and slugs here, (another reason I don't put down slug bait). Because these little bantams have very short legs scratching is minimal compared to long legged hens.

Companion planting:

With all the planting that is going on right now it is time to think about companion planting again.

Gardeners from the past have documented successful companion planting knowledge down through the years for us to follow. Some plants give off an aroma that is disliked by unwanted insects and others are thought to enhance the growth of certain plants if planted along side them.

Nasturtiums attract caterpillars, so planting it alongside or around vegetables such as lettuces, broccoli and cabbages should mean the nasturtium will get attacked rather than your edible crop.

Fox Gloves have stimulating effects on all plants in the garden, a welcome addition to the flower and veggie garden.

Marigolds have a scent that repels aphids and attracts hoverflies, which are predator insects

Tagetes, the lovely tiny marigolds, or French marigold, are invaluable to companion planting.

Cabbage white butterfly are attracted to their host plant by smell, planting rows of Mexican tagete is effective in masking the smell and reducing cabbage moth damage. A secretion from the roots of the Mexican tagetes deter eelworms so your potatoes and tomatoes are left alone. Tagetes and calendulamarigolds planted near tomatoes and roses will reduce aphid attack as the marigolds will attract the hover-flies that are voracious eaters of these pests. Garlic, chives and parsley can be beneficial planted with Roses as aphid deterrents.

Vegetables:

Basil and tomatoes are a well-known combinations

Dill is popular with bees and attracts them into the garden. Dill planted with corn will ensure a bumper crop, as more bees will be around to pollinate the corn strings.

Sage planted around the celery crop, helps to keep the aphids away.

Hyssop is said to repel white butterfly from cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli and other brassica crops.

Carrots and leeks work well planted together, they both have strong aromas, which repel the other’s pests.

My potatoes are well up so I have been adding more soil / compost, molding them up as they grow more leaves.

The corn is up, I planted corn in punnets this year, last year most were eaten off at ground level while small, I will plant them out when stronger in roots and leaves, then plant dill along side to attract the bees.

The dreaded carrot fly is about in October when carrots are being thinned, don't leave any thinnings near the planted rows for the carrot fly to smell. Tip, plant seed sparingly to avoid thinning. I have heard scattering freshly cut, un-sprayed  grass clippings along rows disguises the carrot aroma. 

With all the fruit trees in blossom we need sunny days to keep the bees busy at work pollinating. Keep the water up to them and mulch with unsprayedgrass clippings right out to their drip line to keep the moisture there, they have a lot of work ahead of them producing fruit.

Lawns,

The lawns are growing well after being fed, and the first spring shower. I let them get a bit of length on then spot sprayed the clover and weeds.

Our garden is looking very pretty right now for viewing should people be interested in taking a drive out to Weston, plenty of seating so bring a picnic.

Cheers, Linda

Gardening in North Otago October 7th 2014

Another week, so far without rain even though the sky's continue to show it is up there wanting to spill!

The later flowering cherries are taking center stage now, prunus Kanzan and prunus shimidsu sakura but unfortunately here in North Otago, at this time of the year strong winds can soon strip blossom.

Now that it's planting out time and there is a lot on offer it's probably a good time to talk about plants for the right place. starting with dry areas of the garden, under hungry trees or areas that drain too readily. You will be wasting your time and money planting shallow rooted plants like rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas or hellebore's in these areas. It's best to group plant with plants that will work their roots down to look for moisture like: 

Euphorbias in all their varieties, colours and sizes 

Agapanthus: large and small varieties they are great on a slope.

Buddleias: To fill gaps at the back of a border, lovely sliver blue foliage and blue to cerise/ purple flowers, must be cut back well after flowering to keep bushy and at the height you require them to be. 

Grass's always look good grouped together as they are in nature, they do well in the dry and add movement to the garden wafting in the wind. 

Geraniums also require little attention in a dry spot once established but do need water until established. 

Lupins: Are wonderful in big groups, they also need water until they become established, after the first flowering they will self seed to make their groups larger. 

All these plants once established will cope with dry conditions. 

Damp, Shade loving plants to consider:

Hydrangea, such a lovely bush in so many modern shades now. 

Hostas with their interesting leaves 

Heuchera: Not all shade loving plants have to be green. Heuchera plants come in a delightful variety of colors. Plant these as borders around the base of trees or even along the edge of walkways!

Acanthus mollis: This is my favourite bold grouping plant, I have it planted in so many problem spots and area's where a statement plant is required.

Aluminum plant: (Ground cover) would be too invasive for a small area but in an area that drives you potty because what you have planted just sits long enough to be taken over by weeds this plant is fantastic with it's variegated leaves lighting up the darkest of area's, it covers the ground in no time. 

Hellobores: (Winter rose) A must for every shade garden. 

Bedding plants: All bedding plants, once planted need attention, water and folia feeding. I sifting soil for resowing patches in the lawn and decided to use the sifted soil as a top layer to soil before planting annuals and seeds. Sifted soil packs round new roots firmly so they don't dry enabling roots to grow quickly. Soil, is after all nature given for growing in and here long before we had so many other growing medium choices!

Hydrangea's are leafing up now and will need fed ready for their long flowering season, aged animal manure is a good food source for them, they are shallow rooted so need watered often. To keep pink use a little lime around the drip line and for blue you use alliumn sulphate or epsom salts, These must be watered in and not just left on top of the roots. 

Ponds: I know wrote about ponds not long ago but forgot to mention with the warmer weather quickening up pond growth it's time to watch for slime developing which is harmful to fish if caught in their gills. A good way of clearing a pond after Winter is to flood it and most of the rubbish will float off, don't stir up the bottom as long as the water is clear on top the pond is working. If a pond fills with green slime in the warmer weather it means that there is too much nitrogen in the water, maybe fertiliser drifted in when lawns or gardens were being feed. Or, if you feed the water lilies with Manure some may have leached out into the water. Depending on the size of the pond put in a few slabs of old straw in weighed down with rocks and leave it to rot down. This works wonders on murky pond water and will get the pond working and clear in no time. I will tackle the oxygen weed next, this is very good as a mulch on the garden, removed half of it before the fish start to breed and blow their eggs into it. When I first added fish to my ponds I just put in some oxygen weed from a pond full of fish and the baby fish eggs all hatched, and with no other older fish in the pond to eat the eggs or hatching's they had no predators so all survived.  

Vegetable garden: Keep molding up potatoes as they show leaf, this keeps them cooler allowing more time for them to grow a bigger crop. 

I have sown mixed lettuce seeds in a tray and plan to transplant them into the garden as I need them, lettuce seedlings will hold in a tray for a long time in a shady spot and only really start growing when they are planted in a sunny spot and fed and watered. The broad beans took a hammering in the winds this week and needed a couple of good soakings, flowers are turning into small pods so the bees eventually found and pollinated them. Perfect veg growing conditions now, every seed planted is up and doing well here.

 

Cheers Linda.