Gardening in North Otago June 5th 2019

                                                                              

Cool week after the rain, frost cloth is in place for me on plantings I am hoping will keep growing roots and flower at the end of winter, or even during winter in sunny areas,
 however aafter rain in June the ground will stay damp and cold so I think we can say goodbye to the mild out of season growth we have been enjoying and  plants and bulbs will know for sure what season we are experiencing.


My hellebore's have had all old leaves removed because they were very infested with greenfly wintering over, waiting to pounce onto my roses come Spring. Now beautiful winter rose flowers will pop up and flower without being hidden by leaves and look wonderful in sad winter gardens. 


Perennials can be divided if overgrown, plant rooted cuttings from the outer edges of the clumps.


Dahlias have been halted by frost, mine are blackened and will die back into the tubers. When they dry out cut back at ground level and mulch for protection. if where you have them is not draining well tubers will probably rot. They can be dug out and stored in moist sawdust and plant again when frosts are over.   

Lilium bulbs can still be planted, these are best planted in raised beds and roots should never dry out. 


Roses are looking bare and stalky now, don't be tempted to cut, leave pruning until the end of July when they can be taken well back to an outward facing buds which will plump up gradually to become new spring growth.

Buxus (Box hedging) Re-pot container grown buxus every second year or if they look pot bound.Trim the outer roots and replace potting mix. They make a huge amount of roots every year that are not all needed.

Spots of winter colour: Plant polyanthus for a bright patch of colour, a few poly's in a pot is all that's needed to brighten up any doorway. Pansies, viola's, wall flower, primula melacoidies,  ornamental kale and, poppies and sweet peas planted now will all flower early.

Wisterias:  once wisterias have lost all their leaves prune off all long and unruly canes because if you don't they will entwine themselves around established branches and keep growing thicker each year.

Vegetables: On the coast sow broad beans, garlic, shallots and rhubarb.
Colder areas nothing much can be planted.  

Fruit: Now all leaves have fallen pip fruit trees can be pruned to ensure good cropping next season, Feijoas, figs, olives can be pruned when finished harvesting. Lemon bushes should be left until frosts are passed, they do not need to be pruned every year.

Stone fruit, almonds and plums should have been pruned in Autumn but remove any old remaining fruit and leave to hard prune in summer / autumn after fruiting.

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Cheers, Linda.