Gardening in North Otago February 5th 2019

Gardens are heading into the dry ripening season with new wood and seeds hardening so it is important now to cut plants back that have finished flowering if you want the plants to grow back with new fresh leaves to fill the gaps. If you let things run to seed as they want to some perennials and annuals will give up because they have made seed for plants to take their place. However if it is seed collecting you want then leave some flower heads to make seed. I have started seed collecting to store in brown paper bags and leave in a dark dry place until required. Seeds collected can be planted now as nature intended or sowing can be done in the spring. Spring sowing works better some times as hot summer sowing will usually result in fewer seedlings surviving. 

Seeds to collect now, delphinium, dianthus, marigold, sweet pea, lilies, violas, pansy and primulas, all of these will do well planted into seed raising mix to be planted out when strong enough. However some seeds need a winter chilling, cold treatment for seeds is necessary for plants or trees that require time in the ground over winter in order to germinate such as aquilegia, lavender, sage, sedums, perennial sweet peas, fuchsia, catmint and Chinese lantern. 

Nuts also need the winter chill, collect fallen walnuts, remove husks then place in water, nuts that float are not viable the nuts to plant are those that sink to the bottom, cold moist requirements can be met by planting nuts in autumn at a depth of 1 to 2 inches deep or first storing in a fridge for 90 to 120 days to be properly stratified before planting. 

Native seedlings:There are an abundance of native seedlings growing all through gardens, this is the work of birds doing their bit to regenerate the forna, dig out the small ones and pot them up but leave the larger ones until winter, they will have a better survival rate. 

Lift summer flowering gladioli as leaves begin to dry off, and hang upside down inside to ripen before cleaning and storing. 

large flowering (hybrid) clematis can be planted now to get roots established before winter. A fungus spray at planting will help eliminate the wilt problem some hybrid clematis suffer from at planting time, When planting try not to disturb roots too much and sprinkle a little lime to sweeten their ground. There are some stunning hybrid clematis on offer with huge or delicate flowers in vibrant shades that to me have a tropical look as they climb and spill through gardens. 

Spring bulbs are on offer again so where you have picture a show of them in spring choose from now on and plant in clumps for a good effect rather than one planted here and there. 

Continue dead heading dahlias to keep them bushy and flowering longer, take stalky old growth right back to where the stem is plumper. 

Lawns: are showing signs of summer dryness now after retaining a spring growth look for so long, lift the blades a little on lawn mowers to retain moisture and prevent scalping. Preparations for new lawns to be sown in autumn need to be started now by spraying out all perennial weeds, then the area should be dug or rotary hoed and raked to ensure there is a fine tilt and no underlying hard pan. Test the ph and if soil is too acid bring it up to about 6 with lime, leave as long as possible for the lime to be absorbed before applying fertiliser once grass is up. To ensure a level, firm planting surface, gentle compaction after digging by raking by treading or rolling is beneficial. 

Veg & fruit: This is a major harvest month for vegetable and fruits, jam and preserving pans will be busy so keeping the water up to everything especially the late ripening fruit trees is a must to get the best crops. I am sure it must be the favourite time of the year for birds with so much on offer to them, pick and store before they take all. 

Cheers, Linda

Seed collecting

Hybrid clematis