Wow Monday was so cold, numb fingers and toes but then Tuesday was like a warm
spring day, so hard to adjust to for not only people but plants as well, frozen
one day and basking the next. How ever frosts are here to stay for a while now
with the shortest day upon us, Plants can be acclimatised to the cold by gradual
exposure to outside and overnight temperatures. Many plants may be frost tender
when young but will be quite tolerant when mature. Meyer lemon bushes are a good
example, keep frost cloth on when young but a couple of years on they are frost
tolerant. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and if the overnight low is
predicted to be 4 degrees Celsius or below with little wind, tender growth will
need a cover. Cover plants with frost cloth, newspaper or any light material
that will drape over, although woven fabrics are better insulators than plastics
or paper. The covers can be laid right over plants, supported above them which
is even better. Plants under evergreen trees are protected from frost so this
might be an option for where to place potted tender plants. Water before the
frost –it has been proved that a moist soil can hold four times more heat than a
dry soil. It will also conduct heat to the soil surface faster than a dry soil,
aiding in frost prevention. These days sprinklers are sometimes used on
commercial plantings to keep the plants “warm” on a frosty night, the science
being that as water freezes, it releases heat, go figure ? Most perennial plants
will recover in the spring from frost damage even if they have gone black or
mushy with frost, don't remove the effected growth, just leave to protect the
new growth which will appear when the ground warms again. In favor of frost, it
is very effective in reducing populations of over-wintering pests, it also helps
break down clay soil if clods are left exposed over winter, come spring it will
fork over easily prior to planting. Digging up and shifting young shrubs around
like rhododendrons, azalea's and magnolias can be done now, anything you think
has been struggling in the spot it has been planted. This is also the time to
remove trees and shrubs that have long out grown their youthful beauty, you can
change the whole look of a tired garden by replacing these plants with a younger
version of the original or something different. Trees like ake ake, hebe's,
olearia traversiorum (Chatham island ake ake) and Hoheria (lace bark) can be
nice trees for a number of years but will then die back and eventually look half
dead. Pittosporums will grow nicely for many years if trimmed but if left to
grow into a tree will soon become unattractive. Many natives respond well to
being taken off at ground level, most will regrow into a nice shrub again. Over
grown hoherias (lace bark) need to be completely removed. Veg. The shortest day
is here already which should mean we are over the hump of winter and heading to
warmer days down the other side, BUT as we all know there is a lot of winter yet
to come here in the south. The shortest day means garlic planting and plenty
more veg here on the coast if you provide a warmer microclimate to aid
germination. A cold frame can be used for starting seeds, and cloches or frost
cloth for protecting newly planted seedlings in frosty areas. Or plant veg in
pots or boxes and position them in a warm sheltered spot to make the most of our
North Otago winter sun.
Cheers, Linda
No comments:
Post a Comment