Gardening in North Otago February 1st 2017

Children back at School, ok, now we really are into this new working year and so far this summer no day is the same weather as the one before! The hot winds are a chellange for people and plant life, they quickly dry the top soil and plant roots so for the first time this summer hoses have been really needed. Hand watering around roots is the most effective along with low soak hoses, evaperation is too great for sprinklers unless they are in the same spot for an age. Keep the water up to maples, hydrangea, rhododendons, azaleas and camellias. Hybrid clematis: It's the right time from now on to plant these large flowering beauties to get roots established before winter. Fungus spray on roots when planting will help eliminate the wilt problem some clematis suffer from, when planting try not to disturb the roots and sprinkle a little lime around the drip line to sweeten the ground. There are some stunning hybrid clematis on offer, huge or delicate flowers, in vibrant shades that to me have a tropical look climbing and spilling through gardens, I have two stunning varities flowering now one claret red and one lavender scrambling up over structures. I forget about them every year until they bloom to surprise and please me. Spring bulbs, strange I know to think about Spring but wanting a spring bulb display starts now. Clumps are much more effective than one planted here and there, so if you have scattered spring bulbs about your garden now would be the time to dig up same bulbs and plant together for maximum effect. Irises (bearded) finished flowering some time ago and we are now left with green tops, these tops carry on photosynthesis for next years growth and will die down to nothing over the summer. Irises need at least a half days sun and well drained slightly acidic soil, bearded irises do not mind baking in the summer sun and push rhizomes up out of the ground for this to happen. After 2 to 5 years when clumps become congested, divide and replant the best rhizomes in fresh soil, (usuallly soon after flowering) however I am transplanting now into places where they will have moist feet but dry knees." Irises (bulb) Dutch, English, and Spanish irises. Choose a site that has reasonably fertile soil and plenty of moisture, soil that won’t dry out in summer. Dutch and Spanish produce leaves in autumn and winter, so they need a sheltered environment and good drainage will help them survive the winter. Bulbs will be avilable in Autumn to be planted in deep soil, with about 5 to 7 inches of soil cover. Dutch and Spanish irises, are best lifted and stored in a cool, dry place over Summer, lifting them provides the dry resting and ripening period they need for a great flowering season the following year, replant in late Autumn. Lawns Mowing, mowing, mowing the lawns are so lush and green for this time of the year and clippings used as mulch have given our garden continuous humus, I fertilised lawns during the last rain which adds to the nutrients for gardens and compost. Fruit: soak and mulch while fruits are developing in the heat. Vegetables: Weed, plant, pick and enjoy.