Gardening in North Otago March 8th 2016

A much needed heavy drizzle  at the beginning of this week enjoyed by all thirsty plants but it only wet the surface of our baked ground. 

At this mellow time of the year I would like to slow down along with all growth and enjoy the mellow days.  

I spend a lot of time hand watering to top up moisture around plant  roots while at the same time noticing what needs dead headed or cut back, perennials cut back last month have already bushed up again to fill in gaps.

Autumn crocus has burst into flower, chrysanthemums are budding and I notice some spring bulbs are pushing through which means it is bulb planting time, iris, crocus, hyacinth and daffodils along with any daffodil bulbs you need to shift.  Bulbs require deep planting in a sunny well drained spot, tulips and lilies can be planted in may or June.

Sow Seeds

March is the month to collect and sow  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.

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.

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 just cover with compost before a final cover of pea straw.

Pea straw is available again Phone 034326844 , offering large and small bales off the paddock.

Lawns. 

The grass grub damage is really showing up in our lawns now with black birds letting me know just where they are, I have decided to leave them to the black birds to deal to then rake out all damaged patches and re-sow.

Vegetables: All seeds sown will germinate but watch the heat, I have covered my seed boxes with shade cloth to keep them from drying out. If planting out seedlings I would cover them as well to keep moisture in and white butterfly's off.

Cheers Linda