A happy gardening New Year to all.
What a changeable start to January, but thankfully we are experiencing some long sunny days and with rain from time to time so I have not had to drag the hoses around which is a bonus for any gardener.
Roses: Moisture and humidity have proved a problem this summer with rose buds browning before blooming but roses are enjoying the deep moisture from the early summer rain. I cut all affected buds and leaves off and destroy them as I dead head, It takes no time at all for new leaves and buds to grow back. All roses should have a summer pruning after their first flowering, cut a spent flower stem down to an out facing bud on a thick part of stem.
Cut back summer flowering perennials and shrubs to encourage continuous flowering, daisy bushes, delphiniums, lavaterias, dianthus, lupins and herbs before they all go to seed then feed with slow release or a liquid fertiliser, they will all come back fresh and most will flower again. Cut chrysanthemums back, they will flower in the autumn on shorter steams and plant some tip growth into river sand and they should root to be planted once clumped up. Foliar feeding is very important to encourage fresh new growth after cutting back anything at this dry time of the year. Fill gaps in the flower garden with annuals. Front planting full sun: impatiens, small type petunias, begonia, small marigolds, lobelia, alyssum. Mid plantings: nicotina, coriopsis, tall petunias, tall marigolds, bedding dahlia, salvia, nemesia. Tall plantings: cosmos, lavatera, sun flowers, Canterbury bells, love in the mist. Semi shade ( with good light )plantings: impatiens, bedding begonias, lobelia, Japanese anemone (perennial), foxglove. When the next heavy rain arrives feed the lawns and they will bounce back like fresh spring lawns.
My ponds get topped up regularly at this time of the year as there is a lot of evaporation on hot days and ponds tend to green up a bit as the water warms. The addition of barley straw to one end of a pond is so beneficial in helping pond water clear naturally. Weigh straw down with a large rock and with the topping up and straw doing it's job the water stays clear for fish and lilies.
Herbs: Culenary herbs are putting out heaps of growth now, harvesting, tieing and drying is what I am doing. Hang in a cool darkish place until crisp to touch then rub onto newspaper and store in sealed glass gars. Mint, bay leaves, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, savory and thyme work well together as mixed herbs.
Fruit and veg are maturing fast then bolting to seed if not picked when ready and birds can be a problem for me so I use strawberry net when needed. Gooseberries, strawberries, raspberry's and currents are doing well now that we have sun and heat but they are ripening quickly so it is a rush to get them picked before they drop from the bushes. Black currents, cut all the fruiting branches off ( they fruit on the previous years growth) then strip them of berries in a nice shady spot. This way the fruit is picked and the bush is pruned at the same time. reduce the length of fruiting runners on grapes and removed all unproductive growth.
Tomatoes need water kept up and some leaves removed to let in light, too many leaves take up nitrogen that should be used by the fruit.
Corn and pumpkins are making good growth and the potatoes I thought were all top and no potatoes proved me wrong by being just the opposite, I gave them a tickle up on Christmas day and was amazed at the number and the size. Keep planting all veg , we have the best growing and ripening time ahead.
Cheers, Linda
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