Gardening in North Otago March 3rd 2015

Autumn begins:
Another much needed rain at the beginning of this week but it only wet the surface of our baked ground. At this mellow time of the year growing slows and I tend to slow down a little as well, often topping up on moisture around roots by hand watering and at the same time noticing what needs dead headed or cut back, Autumn crocus has burst into flower and chrysanthemums are budding and perennials cut back last month have bushed up again to fill in gaps.

Sow Seeds

March is the month to sow the seeds of hardy annuals, foxglove, honesty and sweet william directly where they will flower with a little fertiliser, forked into the soil, before sowing. Once sown these areas need to stay open to the sun so mark them to avoid covering with winter mulch.

Hard wood cuttings: This is the time to take hard wood cuttings , place cuttings in a water filled container as they are taken. Prepare cuttings by removing the bottom leaves and cutting the top leaves back by half. Plant into river sand filled trenches in the ground or trays of river sand, keep moist and in no time at all they will develop roots. Once growing pinch the cuttings back at least twice to get nice bushy plants.

Bulbs:

Plant Spring now, iris, crocus, hyacinth and any daffodil bulbs you need to shift. Tulips and lilies can be planted in may or June. Bulbs require a deep planting in a sunny well drained spot.

This week I have had the hedge trimmer out again because some shrubs in our garden have out grown their space and with the favorable conditions we are experiencing they should make new growth which will harden off before frosts here on the coast. 

Planting

With days shortening and nights cooling the still warm ground begins to retain moisture again making Autumn one of the best times for planting trees and shrubs. Always plant trees and shrubs to the depth they were in the pot or bag and stake well if tall.

Autumn is said to be the best time to plant conifers, there are such a lot of different types on offer now and I consider these contribute to the bones of a garden. Tall narrow conifers planted in groups give larger gardens a vertical push and formality. Read labels carefully they will give you the height and width for the first ten years, after that they do keep growing and can be removed if they start to look untidy but most ornamental conifers look wonderful for many years. 

Caring for soil is important now after the intense heat and summer blooming this year, deep watering then the addition of organic matter either dug in or left as a top mulch will help to condition soil in readiness for next spring.
I wait until autumn leaves have been raked off gardens before I add the compost and pea straw cover that will take gardens through winter which leaves time from now until then to sow a cover crop like blue lupin, mustard or alfalfa to add natural nitrogen to soil. Dig in before flowering, or as I will do, cover with compost in which lime has been added, then a final cover of pea straw.

Lawns. 

Keep sowing those new lawns, the ground is nice and warm, perennial lawn weeds have slowed down and if the moisture is kept up grass seed will be up in no time. 

I sprayed for flat weeds at the end of January but see the odd few settling in again so have been popping them out with the blade of my secateurs to avoid spraying. 

Vegetables: What a great year for produce this is, keep planting in rotation, leaf veg where root veg has been. Sow Root plants like Asparagus , Beetroot , Carrots , Chives , Leeks ,Onions, Shallots, Spring Onions and last month to sow parsnip before winter.

When potatoes are dug they need to be kept in the dark or they will go green. I take what I need from a dig and leave the rest in the ground until needed. When the time comes for you to store them there are products which will inhibit sprouting, but many gardeners avoid chemicals near food so I will share a natural alternative with you. Layer the stored potatoes with dried sprigs of rosemary, sage and lavender, the essential oils given off by these herbs not only inhibits sprouting but will also help to keep the tubers free from bacterial soft rots. 

Fruit: Apples, crab apples, quince, plums, late peaches and soon walnuts, so much at once! the birds must be overjoyed by their feasting and the rats / mice will be waiting patiently for the nuts and sun flower seeds, such abundance!

Cheers Linda