Gardening in North Otago 12th June 2018

Very dull weekend and week days so far with rain making it even gloomier, 
While rain keeps up it gives a chance to see areas in the garden not draining well, if you have plants that are water logged dig them up and improve where they are growing by digging the hole deep down to the clay which is probably forming a pan and holding the water. Break up the clay as much as you can then put a layer of gypsum on top of the broken clay and add at least three shovels of gravel to create a sump for water to drain into. By doing this the plant of your choice can stay in that spot without drowning.

Pruning: Now trees have shed leaves they are open for inspection, many ornamental trees need attention in late winter, branches crossing, too many branches blocking light from buds once in leaf, height and width reduction. Most trees are pruned in winter while sap is down and insects / diseases that can potentially invade pruning cuts are dormant as well as trees. In winter the worst disease is silver leaf, which attacks stone and pip fruit,roses, poplar, willows and escallonia hedges. It is during cold wet weather that spores are released which can then enter the pruning cuts. During dry weather the spores are not released and this is the reason that some prefer a summer prune on susceptible trees and a reason to avoid pruning on cool wet days.

Thinning: is the removal of an entire branch if two branches are doing the same job, this technique rids the tree of weak and diseased branches and increases light penetration and air movement. I have included diagrams of where and where not to cut for best healing practice. 

Heading back: is shortening the length of a branch back to a bud or the next side branch below, as shown.

Hellebores: I have finally cut the leaves from all my hellebore's, they were infested with greenfly wintering over, new fresh leaves will soon appear after the beautiful flowers have popped up and flowered on their own. 
Erica's are flowering now, very hardy plants that are perfect ground covers, over wall spillers and great as a wide border. They usually grow only 6 - 12 inches high and spread 2 - 3 feet. Upright erica melanthra improved is one of the prettiest winter flowering small shrubs, bright pink 60cm high by 1m wide fully grown.

Leucodendrons are looking wonderful now, perfect for picking, will last for weeks in a vase. Remember not to give them rich compost or fertiliser, they prefer poor soil conditions.

Even though we are in the middle of winter there is plenty on offer to plant, deciduous trees can settle in with a firm stake, roses do best planted now, if planting evergreen shrubs that look like they have been nursed get them used to the outside temperatures before planting then protect with frost cloth. Plant labels should tell you their hardiness.  

Rose pruning: is done once rose wood has had enough time to harden, end of June, July even August is not too late. If unsure of how to prune roses the rose society is holding a rose pruning demonstration at North School, 1pm on the 30th June.

Compost/mulch: This is the perfect time to supply food for plants and bulbs in the form of compost / mulch which worms will take down to roots in time for spring growth. Contact for a load of compost made at our local Pukeuri meat works is Gregg Ph: 0272293215. Also our Resource recovery park offers well heated mulch for keeping weeds down under trees and in rough areas of the garden.
Vegetables: On the coast Sow broad beans, garlic, shallots and rhubarb. Colder areas nothing much can be planted.