Happy New Gardening year to all.
What a changeable January so far, but thankfully we are experiencing some sunny days along with heavy rain from time to time, I have not had to drag the hoses around, a bonus for any gardener.
Roses, All roses should have had a summer pruning after the first flowering, cut a spent flower stem down to an out facing bud on a thick part of stem not just the flower. If just the flower is removed the remaining stem will die back to only the first bud, that part of the stem will be too weak to support new blooms. Dull days and mildew may become a problem for roses I have noticed mildew rust and the odd bush with black spot while cutting back. Pull all the affected leaves off and destroy, this can leave bushes quite bare but it takes no time at all for new leaves and buds to grow back. A spray with fungicide should limit problems.
Cut back summer flowering perennials and shrubs to encourage continuous flowering, I have just cut back daisy bushes, delphiniums, lavaterias, dianthus, lupins and most of the herbs because they were all going to seed. Feed with slow release or a liquid fertiliser, they will all come back fresh and most will flower again. 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 back 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.
Lawns: When the next rain arrives feed the lawns with lawn fertilizer and they will bounce back like fresh spring lawns.
Hydrangea's are showing their first large blooms and because of the frequent rains colours are very intense. Hydrangeas enjoy semi shade so are perfect for planting alternatively with rhododendrons and camellias, pinks in a sweet soil and blues grow and flower blue in the opposite, lime for pink and acid fertilizer for blue shades also pine needles and coffee grounds will help keep soil acid.
Petunias are taking center stage now, they are great gap fillers for sunny gardens, but do not preform well in shade. A shady spot can be filled with impatiens which are also colourful when planted in bold groups.
Seed collecting starts now, sweet peas, sweet William, poppies, iris, there is a lot of ripening going on and I have a lot of small paper bags stored away already.
Lifting tree branches: After the heavy rain it was easy to see which branches on large spreading trees were too low restricting light from plantings below. Oaks, flowering cherries, ash, Alms and maples put on a lot of new growth each year and most want to grow to the ground to shade roots if left. Remove cross over branches and any branches you feel are not required, dappled light is much nicer than dense shade.
Ponds: Keep an eye on pond water, evaporation from heat in summer means topping up regularly. Still water tends to green up as it warms, adding barley straw will keep slime from growing there is also a barley liquid available at pond retail outlets.
Fruit and veg: gooseberries, strawberries, raspberry's and currents ripen quickly so it is a rush to get them picked before they drop from the bushes. Cut all the fruiting branches from black currents then strip them of currents in a shady spot, this way the fruit is picked and the bush pruned at the same time. Grapes reduce the length of fruiting runners and remove all unproductive growth. Tomatoes need water kept up and some leaves removed to let more light in too many leaves take up nitrogen that should be used by the fruit. Water needs to be kept up and plants are maturing fast then bolting to seed if not picked when ready. Corn and pumpkins are making good growth benefiting from the rain . Keep planting all veg, we have the best growing and ripening time ahead.
Cheers, Linda
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