Frost after frost this week letting us know it is still winter and making early starts hard for those working outside. Still, blossom is bursting bud and bulbs beginning to flower regardless of how cold it is.
After months of pruning and hard stuff going on in this garden it is now time to top up with the lovely black compost I have had delivered from the Pukeuri plant freezing works. I like to use this on top of my home made compost to plant into because it looks good and is weed free.
If you have a large area needing this sort of cover ring Gregg at 0272293215 who delivers full truck loads. Once this cover is on I set to planting out what I have been nursing though the winter along with all those new spring plants on offer now in garden centers like pollyantha's, forget-me-nots, dianthus, poppy's, sweet peas, pansy and viola. With frosts still happening as they are any plants bought will need to be hardened off for a good while before planting out into an, open to the elements garden. Once in the ground plants can be helped along with folia feeding to get roots going and keep them strong. Slow release fertiliser will start working now that plants are moving, sprinkle around perennials, annuals and established and newly planted trees and shrubs.

Now that hydrangea bushes are bare of leaves and flowers I have been laying some lower branches down onto the ground, making a dent in the damp soil then covering with soil and weighting down with large stones. These covered stems should root once the ground warms giving me a number of new bushes to grow on as gap fillers. This layering method works with many shrubs, rhododendron, azalea, choisya ternata (Mexiacan orange blossom) and camellia, almost any shrub you can get a branch down low enough to bury in the ground.

Tip layering is quite similar to simple layering. Dig a hole 3 to 4 inches deep. Insert the tip of a current season’s shoot and cover it with soil, roots form at the bend. 

Fruit Trees are still available in most Garden Centres, if you think your garden is too small for fruit trees I have seen dwarf Peach and Nectarine Trees on offer, what better if a little tree is needed to add height in an area of a small garden why not have one that blossoms beautifully and then gives you fruit.These dwarf tree's are perfect for the smaller garden as they only grow to a width and height of 1.5 metres. They can also be grown in a tub and require very little pruning.
The bees are still not about in my garden, lets hope the days stay sunny when blossom is out and needs pollinating.

vegetables: Vegetable gardens really benefit from continuous frosts breaking up and aerating soil. 
I am still digging carrots and using silver beet and the garlic is up and growing well, if your veg garden is still cold and frosty there is not much for you to do apart from adding some compost and a little lime in readiness for when you plant out later this month.


Cheers, Linda.
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