The start of a new busy growing month !
Still cutting back spring flowering perennials and cleaning up after more hedge trimming here, things always look a little too neat and tidy but nature will do it's best to soften things again within a couple of weeks. Roses: No flowers on my roses as yet but buds are forming, thank goodness for all the rain to get them off to a good start. Some bushes have rust on leaves which I have pulled off and destroyed to stop the spread to other bushes.
The spittle bug is back, which looks worse than the minimal damage caused to plants as they cleverly surround themselves with spittle as a protection against predators and is also a deterrent to sprays. A strong hosing will wash them off. n
Dahlias are pushing through now as spring bulbs are finishing, I discovered some in shade as tree branches spread wider. While dahlia leaves are still low I have shifted clumps into a sunnier position. Hydrangeas are starting to produce flower heads now so it is important to keep the water and food up to them, old stable manure, blood and bone, liquid or slow release fertiliser will keep them happy and flowering well. It's lime for pink and Epsom salts or aluminum sulphate to keep them blue.
Fuchsias are making a lot of growth now as well, if you missed cutting any back do it now, they will flower later but will soon catch up. Fuchsias are on sale right now and are wonderful in pots or a shady spot. Tip cuttings can be taken from fuchsias now, if you spot some you like in a friends garden ask for some cuttings. I break a cutting off at a heel or a nodule section, remove some of the top growth and push into firm wet river sand.Tip cuttings from Hebe's will also root with no trouble in river sand .
Abutilon (Chinese lantern: If you are looking for something non invasive to make a show of colour against a wall why not try Abutilon they come in strong colours of, yellow, orange, burgundy and white. I planted yellow, burgundy and white together in a large container under planted with a lime green grass. Being a rather spindly plant I intertwined them and they now look like one bush.
Peony roses: What a wonderful addition to the flower garden peony roses are, wonderful fillers in a sunny spot.
The weight of rain on deciduous tree branches makes it easy to see those needing to be lifted, if left they cast shade over surrounding plants. Any branch growing downwards with a canopy branch directly above it can be cut back or removed altogether.
Lawns: Still getting heavy dews on lawns which helps to keep them lush, but hot days will soon put grass under stress, have lawn food on hand for the next good rain. If your lawns are inclined to crack when dry they have probably been planted on soil with high clay content. Apply gypsum ( soluble lime) and water in, after a couple of years of doing this your lawns will have a spring in them as gypsum works it's way through the clay to break up clay pans.
Vegetables: The rain this spring has been a treat to veg gardens as hosing does not give the same results as a good rain, but of course with all lush growth weeds will take over if left unattended. Hoeing while small is still the best weeding method I know. The carrots, runner beans, yams, lettuce and peas I planted a couple of weeks ago have all popped up with growing conditions being so perfect.
Tomatoes; will be getting taller and flowering now and with the heat of last week should be forming fruit, folia feed and water early in the day to allow time for soil to warm again before the evening.
Rockvale Garden is bursting with new growth and wonderful fragrances, come wander and enjoy, open daily.
Cheers, Linda.
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