As I write this North Otago is really in need of rain pleeeease! dragging hoses about with scruff pulling on the end and hose connections bursting often is testing my patience! Nothing worse in a spring garden to see droopy leaves when all plants are pushing out new growth, a soak is more effective than a sprinkle on those shallow rooted plants like rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias and newly planted annuals.
I have had a couple of grueling days bent over trimming box hedge, mine are all established to the height and width required so I take them back to the last growth. Newly planted box will probably need only the tops straightened leaving the sides to thicken plus a boost with slow release fertiliser.
After many years trying to grow plants regardless of conditions preferred, thinking as long as I kept the water up and protected them through the winter I could beat nature BUT I finally gave up, it's a waste of time and money nursing plants that need a warmer climate and more rain than we have here. Plants like hibiscus, banana, gardenia, palms, anything that requires a tropical seasonal rain is going to struggle. However bougainvillea is growing here on the coast, mine can be fine for a couple of years but other years the frost really knocks it back. Read plant labels and make sure that our conditions are right for the plants here, for example there are some lovely pelagoniums for sale now but I have yet to have one survive the winter in my garden, although I see them growing well on the south hill where the frosts are not so harsh so I guess it's a matter of looking at what is growing well in gardens close to you and knowing that the same plants will do well in your garden.
Roses: I have not needed to start spraying roses for green fly and disease yet, a systemic insect / fungus combined spray will take care of both green fly and fungus if you follow the instructions and spray every 10 days to get on top of infestation. Keep the food up as they flower, it's hungry roses that are more susceptible to disease. Fish emulsion is a wonderful folia feed as well as a deterrent to aphid and Slow release rose fertiliser will feed each time you water.
I will once again sing the praises of raised gardens,advantages include: soil warms up faster in the spring, and doesn't cool as fast in the autumn. limited bending, better drainage, soil is not walked on eliminating compaction, can be a garden feature as it has a specified geometry and form. Studies have shown that a raised bed garden may be up to two times more productive per square foot compared to normal gardening techniques. The raised garden can be any length you want, but it shouldn't be more than 4ft wide so you can reach across comfortably from either side. It can be as high as you want it, but keep in mind that the higher you go, the more support you will need to build. A raised vegetable garden must be built in a spot that gets all day sun. Raised beds for shade and moisture loving plants need to be closer to the damp ground, raised too high and the drainage is too great for these plants. Once you have constructed your raised bed fill with fresh soil, compost, and well aged manure. Wood surround must be untreated timber, rocks are an economical option but they tend to loose soil with rain and watering.We are fortunate here in Oamaru to have our own versatile Oamaru stone and there is also the ready made wooden raised garden surrounds on offer.
Vegetables: Keep mounding potatoes to give depth for them to produce, consistent watering is important for potatoes, this goes for all root vegetables. Leafy veg don't need any extra feeding at this time of the year it will just encourage them to bolt. Only plant as many plants as you think you would use when ready to pick, hold back the other small seedling plants from the same batch and keep in a semi shady place until required for planting. The small plants will hold if watered only when too dry, over watering will encourage rot . Keep pumpkin and squash plants mulched, roots are fragile until their large leaves grow to create the root shade needed. Corn seeds sown last month are now ready to plant out, planting corn in squares rather than rows will ensure pollination on the lower tassels and add support during strong winds.
Well done Ardgowan School fund raising members for organising and holding your very successful Garden and new home visit day last Sunday.
Cheers, Linda.
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