Gardening in North Otago February 19th 2020

Rockvale Gardens blooming

Whew! those hot muggy day's last week were a test to this gardener, things are certainly dry even though we have had some rain, however it is how it should be going into the ripening season.

We are still cutting back and tiding plants here to keep the summer flowering going. Get last years leaf mulch on to dry gardens after a good watering.We will be adding last years leaf mulch to gardens once they are cleared as much needed humus for the soil. Most gardeners remove thick piles of leaves during Autumn, I like to replace them in mulch form then start again storing the next leaf fall to the compost heaps.

Spring bulbs are in Garden Centers now for sale, seems strange I know to think Spring at this time of the year but to get that spring garden delight it starts now. bulbs need to be planted as deep as indicated on packets, at least 4 to 6 inches deep and that's 4 to 6 inches on top of the bulb to get them through very dry patches of weather when dormant. 

Keep dead heading roses and dahlias to keep them flowering well.

Rake mulch off bearded iris rhizomes they need to be exposed to the sun for a baking.

Lawns can do with a good feed now, have some fertiliser ready for when it rains next, if you are finding dead patches it will probably be grass grub, there is still time to treat from now until May when they are at grass roots munching. For a number of years treatment granules were taken off the market but there is a new solution available.Native organic Neem granules deal to grass grub as well as so many other pests about the garden, worth reading up on.

Vegetable and fruit, Still lots of growing happening so keep the water up on days that it will not evaporate quickly. Birds are zooming in on outside growing tomatoes and ripening apples, cover so they cannot be seen with old net curtains or even frost cloth. Apricot trees can be pruned as soon as all fruit is picked. 

Cheers Linda.