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| Autumn watering important for maples |
Entering into the ripening season things are dry here in North Otago, watering should be number 1 on the gardening list to keep plants, shrubs and trees from becoming dehydrated. Acer, (Japanese maples ) can be lost by becoming too dry during autumn.
I have been seed collecting and sowing to get young seedlings well on before the ground cools. Summer annual seeds need to be saved in a dry place until time to sow in spring but seeds from hardy spring flowering plants can be sown now, pansy, viola, pollyantha, delphinium, antirrhinum ( snapdragon), wallflower, Cyclamen, stock, sweet-pea, primrose and calendula.
Cuttings: Now until the end of Autumn is the perfect time to take stem cuttings from shrubs and woody plants. Take semi hard wood cuttings, not too hard and not too floppy these will still contain the necessary energy too push out roots to continue growing. Cuttings can be left in water containing willow leaves and branches over night which will stimulate cuttings as hormone rooting powder does. I use wet sharp river sand or crusher dust with a little compost added for cuttings to push roots into. Cuttings taken now will need to be taken through the winter before being potted so protection from the cold will be needed when days and nights cool. If you do not have a glass or tunnel house a cold frame is good protection. A raised frame covered with heavy plastic will do the trick and when it is very cold a layer or 2 of frost cloth can be added.
Rose cuttings taken now will give good results, take a cutting on a slant from a stem that has flowered approx 15 cm long from a mid section with at least 3 growth nodes, 2 of these should be buried when cuttings are planted. Pop cuttings into water as soon as cut, willow water as above if you can. Plant cuttings close together in a pot of wet river sand with good drainage. Roses are grafted these days but some rose enthusiasts consider cutting grown roses to be the stronger growing.
Planting a new garden: March is defiantly a great planting month If planting a new garden. Garden outlets are well stocked with shrubs, trees, plants and bulbs The warm ground is perfect now for new plantings to make some growth, harden and settle in for the first winter.
Bulbs: I notice spring bulbs beginning to move up through the ground and those still below the dirt I sometimes dig up by mistake, even trillium bulbs are showing pointed new growth so be careful while working around them.
Lawns give you an abundance of garden mulch if weed spray free, spread clippings evenly over moistened gardens to hold moisture in. Spread too thickly it will form a shield to suppress moisture.
Veg: Pumpkins ripening, corn cobs ready, beans in abundance and while we plant out our next leaf crops the white butterflies are in full force laying eggs on them as a food for their caterpillars. I cover newly planted veg seedlings with shade cloth which seems to restrict the view and still let enough light in for continued growth, I also have lengths of white grape netting, this being a slightly heavy net works best stretched across a frame not allowing any gaps to let those determined butterflies in.
Cuttings: Now until the end of Autumn is the perfect time to take stem cuttings from shrubs and woody plants. Take semi hard wood cuttings, not too hard and not too floppy these will still contain the necessary energy too push out roots to continue growing. Cuttings can be left in water containing willow leaves and branches over night which will stimulate cuttings as hormone rooting powder does. I use wet sharp river sand or crusher dust with a little compost added for cuttings to push roots into. Cuttings taken now will need to be taken through the winter before being potted so protection from the cold will be needed when days and nights cool. If you do not have a glass or tunnel house a cold frame is good protection. A raised frame covered with heavy plastic will do the trick and when it is very cold a layer or 2 of frost cloth can be added.
Rose cuttings taken now will give good results, take a cutting on a slant from a stem that has flowered approx 15 cm long from a mid section with at least 3 growth nodes, 2 of these should be buried when cuttings are planted. Pop cuttings into water as soon as cut, willow water as above if you can. Plant cuttings close together in a pot of wet river sand with good drainage. Roses are grafted these days but some rose enthusiasts consider cutting grown roses to be the stronger growing.
Planting a new garden: March is defiantly a great planting month If planting a new garden. Garden outlets are well stocked with shrubs, trees, plants and bulbs The warm ground is perfect now for new plantings to make some growth, harden and settle in for the first winter.
Bulbs: I notice spring bulbs beginning to move up through the ground and those still below the dirt I sometimes dig up by mistake, even trillium bulbs are showing pointed new growth so be careful while working around them.
Lawns give you an abundance of garden mulch if weed spray free, spread clippings evenly over moistened gardens to hold moisture in. Spread too thickly it will form a shield to suppress moisture.
Veg: Pumpkins ripening, corn cobs ready, beans in abundance and while we plant out our next leaf crops the white butterflies are in full force laying eggs on them as a food for their caterpillars. I cover newly planted veg seedlings with shade cloth which seems to restrict the view and still let enough light in for continued growth, I also have lengths of white grape netting, this being a slightly heavy net works best stretched across a frame not allowing any gaps to let those determined butterflies in.
Fruit: Home Gardeners will be harvesting stone and pip fruit as well as grapes which should have reached high sugar levels with the heat we have been experiencing. Once picked grapes do not continue to ripen so it pays to do the sweet test before picking a sour bunch.
Autumn attention to fruit trees, 1. deep watering at the end of fruiting, 2 to 3 inch soaking, ( not just enough to wet the surface.) 2. Keep the base of trunks clear of grass and leaves. 3. No fertiliser in Autumn, trees need to harden for winter 4. Wait until spring before all major pruning.
Cheers, Linda.
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| Picking grapes for wine |
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