Gardening in North Otago June 10th 2020

Bare root rose

From a bare root rose to a rose blooming all summer and autumn

We have almost reached the shortest day and there is still warmth in the June sun to warm days after the morning chill but boy when that sun goes down again we know we are in winter.
Rogue trees and shrubs: Now that deciduous trees and shrubs are bare I am finding a lot of rogue trees birds have introduced to our garden, some which have grown in among shrubs like rhododendrons and camellias that have become quite established and stubborn to remove. It is best to remove them completely if you can because they just keep growing stronger each year and undermine the roots of the needed plants. On the coast rouge trees and shrubs can be transplanted to grow on at this time of the year if roots are not compromised too much. There are also many self seeded plants that can be lifted and planted to grow on at this time of the year like hellebore, lupins, poppies, pansy, viola, forget- me- not and primula. If you have pollyantha's that were left in the ground from last year they will have multiplied and easy to break apart to plant out, a dressing of dried blood will green pollyanthas up after transplanting.

Roses: New seasons roses are in Garden centers now, if planting make sure it is in a place that has a full days sun with good drainage and clay free soil, if you do strike clay dig well down breaking the clay, deep enough to add a shovel or two of stones or gravel to act as a sump where there would have been a clay pan holding water.This applies to any hole dug for a tree or shrub planted in soil with a clay base.

Dahlias will be frost effected now, if remaining in the ground cut back and mulch with compost or straw to protect tubers. If clumps have increased and need to be reduced do it now  by digging up and pulling apart or putting a sharp spade through large clumps removing tubers not needed to be planted somewhere else or given away.

Hellebore's (Winter roses) are starting to send up flower buds, I removed all the old leaves from mine which allows the pretty flowers to be seen. There are a lot of hellebore seedlings growing around the main plants, I leave the very small first year seedlings but dig out and transplant seedlings from year before. These second year seedlings will take another few years to flower. Hellebore's look best in mass planting in damp soil and semi shade, they do wonderfully well planted around rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas. 

Vegetables: In the vegetable garden where green leafy vegetables and onions will be growing next summer give a dressing of 250 grams per square metre of dolomite lime. If you follow a regular rotation this will ensure that most of the garden receives lime once in three years, permanent crops like rhubarb should be limed every three years as well. Gardens fed annually with compost rather than chemical fertilisers tend to gradually rise the PH level eventually making regular liming unnecessary. Have garlic ready to plant on the shortest day Sunday 21st June.

Fruit: New seasons bare rooted trees will in Garden centers this month, prepare the ground in an all day, full sun location to get the best fruiting results. Fruit trees need room to spread so as not to be shaded by neighboring trees then everything depends the season to bring bee's out to pollinate when in blossom.Bees come out on sunny days. If days are overcast and dull while a tree is in blossom pollination will be poor.

Cheers Linda.

In very cold areas dahlias can be dug up and stored over winter.