Wind and cold rain last week to dampen gardens after being blown to bits! but that is October and expected, so far growing conditions are ok but more rain needed to keep it that way.
Everyday something new and beautiful greats me in our garden, this week fragrant lilac, iris, clematis, peony roses plumping, English abutilon and Kōwhai to please the birds and so enjoying the beauty of rhododendrons and azaleas. If you need to shift rhododendrons, azalea's or camellia's do it immediately after flowering, before they put on new season growth, and if your spring flowering shrubs are in need of a trim prune them back once they have finished flowering. If large they will need a third of the top removed.
Geraniums and pelargoniums are available now and should be planted a sunny position.
Fuchsias: are also on offer, they benefit from afternoon shade to thrive.
Mulch: If concerned about the predicted hot dry Summer having a disastrous effect on your garden. plenty of mulch breaking down into your soil will help retain moisture as well as improve the soil structure while suppressing weed growth. Straw, grass clippings, soft hedge clippings or weed free compost are excellent cover to keep exposed soil from baking while plants are establishing. Continual mulching plus gypsum breaking down clay in poor draining soil will eventually convert sad soil into good growing soil.
Roses: here are budding well, liquid fertilizer now on new growth will keep them in top condition along with slow release fertiliser which will add nutrients to roots each time water is applied.
Potted shrubs and plants also need slow release fertiliser, re-pot any plants that have been in the same container for more than three or four years. As long as they are not too root-bound they can go back into the same pot, once most of the old potting mix is removed and half the feeding roots have been removed, fresh mix and water crystals are then packed around the roots. I have just done this to ornamental potted buxus, buxus make more roots than they need, they soon start taking up water and food again then send out healthy new growth.
cymbidium orchids can be divided and re-potted now if crowded.
Water lilies are available this month and can be planted in a basket lined with sphagnum moss or a double layer of chux dish cloths will do it, then add garden soil, slow release fertiliser or manure right in the middle pf the container then lily and more soil to cover, and lastly a thick layer of shingle placed on top to help weigh the basket down in the water and stop the fertiliser / manure leaching out which will create green slime growth in the pond..
Fruit and veg:
Full on veg growth now and no white butterfly about as yet! mounding potatoes, planting beans, peas, beetroot, salad greens, tomatoes and corn and pumpkin seeds. I am determined to keep the water up to ensure that time planting was not wasted, I have been known to plant then get busy and return to a limp display past restoring then have to start all over again NOT THIS YEAR I plan to harvest green, crunchy and plentiful.
Fruit:
Rhubarb is romping away, so good when picked before stalks become become stringy, I pick, cook and freeze for breakfast fruit on cereal, pies, pickle, jam and deserts.
Fruit trees and Grapes: watch for fungal diseases, if affected spray with an organic fungicide while growth is new. If you have had trouble in the past with codling moth on apples, pears, walnuts, quinces, crab apples and stone fruit such as plums and peaches. Get traps in place now before fruit forms. The females lay their eggs on the foliage near young fruit and when the grub hatches it crawls to the fruit and eats its way inside. Eradication of codling moth, quarter fill a tin or plastic milk container with treacle and hang in the tree to attract male grubs, the treacle is said to smell like the female codling moths pheromone which will attract the male grub into the container to reach a sticky end. A double bonus is that the treacle will attract grub eating birds. A female moth can lay up to 300 eggs during her short life. Some trees never attract the moth, but if one does you can be sure others will be chosen close by.
Concept Garden design: I have been designing gardens for many years and have just caught up on my design concept plans, if you have an area you need help with I would be happy to help. Rockvale gardens (facebook)
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