This week started with a heavy frost then Tuesday gave us the nor wester wind which was a nice reprieve from the cold for the function held in our garden that day, BUT the wind can stop now before the ground dries out and all the new blossom is blown off!!! Yes I know, Gardeners are never happy! With the wind the hoses come out, I have been watering different areas of the garden each day to keep things going having had the nod that we could be in for frequent dry periods, deep soak hose watering works best on windy days
Roses are top priority right now :
Things to watch out for are die back after Winter, not all branches make the grade, if they have been affected cut them right back to new growth.
Watch for growth below the graft, it comes up from the root stock, is usually a different colour and leaf to the other grafted branches. Cut it right out because it is stronger and will leave the grafted branches behind. All roses are grafted onto strong disease resistant root stock of an insipid flowering rose.
Once leaves are fully out and have hardened off spraying can begin to keep your bushes healthy, use what works well for you every 10 to 14 days if you are new to roses good old shield or guild will do the job, they combated both insects and disease.
I prefer maintaining mine organically by keeping them well fed and if needed spraying with fish emulsion and pyrethrum spray plus a natures way fungicide. Fish emulsion feeds the bushes and fools the insects into thinking that the foliage is protein.
Keep rose crowns clear of soil and remove any lower leaves that come in contact with the ground, they will allow fungal infections to travel up into the bush especially after rain.
Do not water rose foliage at the end of the day and go into the night wet, mildew thrives on wet rose leaves at night.
Eliminate stress right from the start of the season by supplying lots of food for new growth and deep watering, a rose bush will always let you know if it is stressed by dropping leaves and susceptibility to black spot and rust, it is hard to bring a rose back to good health after being stressed.
If you were given a cyclamen in flower it is now time to plant it outside in a cool shady spot to finish the growing year, keeping an eye that moisture over summer and autumn is kept up. Pot up just before Winter to bring back inside to flower, they will continue to do this for many years.
My perennial tall phlox is pushing up through the pea straw now, I will start early this year with a copper spray well down into the root area in the hope the mildew problem can be solved. I do know that tall phlox need to be grown in full sun to get the best result and the heady fragrance they waft through the garden in late afternoon is worth growing them mildew and all.
Lawns:
I have been sowing grass seed in the areas of lawn that have been effected by grass grub, I am sure the birds were delighted when they saw me doing this and were down on the seed as soon as I turned my back! I cover small areas with weighted down frost cloth or shade cloth, this still allows light and moisture through and I leave it on until the seed has germinated. once the young grass is up keep the moisture up to it but do this early in the day so the ground is not attracting fungus's by being wet and cold through the night. Sulphate of iron is great for getting rid of moss in lawns, buy a small bag from a garden centre, quantities for a watering can will be on the bag, once watered on effected areas leave until moss turns black then rake out.
Veg:
The nights have been still too cold for new young seedlings and plants without covering them with frost cloth, this goes for vegetable plants too in colder area's, I have a lot of seedlings planted early to get the roots going but the cover still goes on at night.
Get seed potatoes and peas in now and they should make good growth and be ready for Christmas and all herbs can go in now there are heaps on offer for summer cooking. Always harden new flower and veg plants off before planting out, leave them outside in a sheltered lightly shaded spot for 2 or 3 days to get them used to your outside temperature, never plant them out in the heat of the day, they will only wilt and then take a while to recover.
Fruit:
Raspberry canes need attention now:
Summer bearers produce berries on two year old canes while one year old canes grow right beside them. Older canes are brown and the new are green. In autumn older canes that finished a fruitful year should have been taken out and about 6 strong green canes left, remove all canes growing sideways.
In a row, tying these new canes into hoops keeps them neat and easy to pick, left alone all summer rows will become thickets.
To get best fruiting results raspberry canes need to be mulched right through the summer to retain needed moisture.
Rhubarb is on the move as well now, it will be looking for some good manure enriched compost.
Cheers, Linda.
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