Rain,wind then more lovely rain to dampen gardens off after being blown to bits! but that is October and expected, so far growing conditions are ok but more rain needed to keep it that way.
Everyday something new and beautiful greats me in our garden, this week fragrant lilac, peony rose's, sweet-peas, English abutilon and KÅwhai to please the birds.
If you need to shift rhododendrons, azalea's or camellia's do it immediately after flowering, before they put on their new season growth, and if your spring flowering shrubs are in need of a trim prune them back once they have finished flowering. I large they will need a third of the top removed.
Geraniums and pelargoniums are available now and should be planted in sunny positions.
Fuchsias are also on offer, they benefit from afternoon shade to thrive.
If you are concerned about the predicted hot dry Summer having a disastrous effect on your garden? Plenty of Mulch breaking down into your soil will help retain moisture as well as improve the soil structure while suppressing weed growth. Mulch like straw, grass clippings, soft hedge clippings or weed free compost are excellent cover to keep exposed soil from baking while plants are establishing. Continual mulching plus gypsum breaking down into clay or poor draining soil will eventually convert this poor soil into good growing soil.
Roses should now have new growth, 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, re-pot any plants that have been in the same container for more than three or four years. As long as they are not too root-bound they can go back into the same pot, once most of the old potting mix is removed and fresh mix and water crystals are packed around the roots. I have just taken ornamental buxus out of the pots, removed half the roots with a sharp spade before replanting them again with new food. Buxus make more roots than they need. They will soon start taking up water and food again then send out healthy new growth.
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 a double layer of chux dish cloths will do it, then add garden soil, slow release fertiliser or manure, more soil then the 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 leaching out which will create green slime growth in the pond..
Fruit and veg:
I have been digging in fabulous pig manure, moulding potatoes, planting beans and salad greens, peas, corn and beetroot and I am determined to keep the water up to ensure that my time planting was not wasted .....I have been known to get busy and return to a limp display past restoring and have to start all over again, NOT THIS YEAR I plan green, crunchy and plentiful.!
Watch your fruit trees and Grapes for fungal diseases, if affected spray with an organic fungicide while growth is new.
If you have had trouble in the past with codling moth, get traps in place now before fruit forms.
CODLING MOTH – Codling moths attack apples, pears, walnuts, quinces, crab apples and stone fruit such as plums and peaches. The females lay their eggs on the foliage near a young fruit and when the grub hatches it crawls to the fruit and eats its way inside. Once inside it is very hard to control. After a period of time of feeding it emerges and forms a cocoon in the loose bark or under the tree, where it will winter over to emerge as a moth in the spring/summer and start the cycle again. A female moth can lay up to 300 eggs during her short life. Some trees never attract the moth, but if one dose you can be sure others will be chosen close by.
Eradication of codling moth, quarter fill a tin or plastic milk container with treacle and hang in the tree to attract male grubs, the treacle is said to smell like the female codling moths pheromone which will attract the male grub into the container to reach a sticky end. A double bonus is that the treacle will attract grub eating birds.
Pop out to Weston soon and walk about our pretty spring garden, "Rockvale Gardens"Bring a picnic seating is plenty, toilet available / donation entry.
Cheers, Linda
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