Gardening in North Otago 20th March 2018

More like autumn weather this week with still warm days, and then rain and weeds growing like they do in spring but if the hoe is kept on the go while weeds are small they wont get away on us like they do in spring. ( wishful thinking?) I am still cutting back heaps because everything is really tired now. Once I start chopping back at this time of the year there is no stopping me leaving destruction in my wake. Cut back, lift and divide summer flowering perennials and shrubs, remove seed heads from ornamental grass if you have not already done so, clumps will look a lot tidier. 

I have received a load of that lovely black garden mulch from  Alliance works Pukeuri, I find this perfect to build up my ornamental gardens and keep weeds down after an intensive growing season. I also use it around established plants in the veg garden and as layers on compost heaps. (too strong for seeds or young seedlings) Every plant, shrub, tree gets a dressing before pea straw beds the garden for winter. Inquiries to Gregg on 0272293215 

Ponds have been over heating this summer encouraging oxygen weed and slim to grow rapidly, I use a leaf rake to lift it out where I can get at it, the straw I put in the pond at the start of summer to help pond life broke down quicker than it should so I have just added more and also pulled out water iris as they escaped pots and seemed set to take over my pond. To re pot water iris line a plastic pot ( large enough to stand the top heaviness of the iris when tall) with sacking or even a chux cloth place a generous amount of gravel on top then some soil, a little stable manure, or slow release fertiliser granules, plant iris then add another layer of gravel. The gravel on the bottom and top helps to prevent manure or fertiliser leaching from the pot while at the same time weighting the pot down when the iris becomes top heavy. Topping ponds up often during hot weather helps to cool water and keep ponds cleaner.

Lawns Get new lawns sown now, the cooler nights and mornings are allowing moisture to remain longer after watering and a strike will happen pretty fast in the warm ground. For established lawns dry weather encourages thatch to build up around grass roots and lawns can become thick with it killing out good grass. If you feel your lawn is being choked by thatch this is the time to address the problem, a de-thatcher can be hired from our local garden hire business. Once a good portion of thatch is removed good grass gets a chance to grow strongly again. Scarification will also help remove moss and an added bonus is removed thatch can be added to compost heaps. Grass grub are on the go munching grass roots and leaving dead patches, treat lawns from now until May.

Vegetables. March is an important month for planting winter veg, prepare soil prior to planting with compost, general garden fertiliser and lime (only if needed to bring the Ph up), I add lime to my compost. Keep planting all veg seedlings on offer but as I'm suggested last week cover from birds and white butterfly, I had several punnets of broccoli seedlings grown from seed completely chewed off before I could get them planted!! Prepare garlic beds with compost/ manure worked in then left to settle until planting out in June, heartease (small wild pansy) ia a companion plant to garlic and onions.

Fruit: Weed, manure, mulch/compost around fruit trees while ground is warm. Citrus should be producing flowers and fruit well this season give them citrus food as a reward. 

Cheers, Linda