A lovely weekend just past and much needed rain last week for North Otago, spring growth is now up and away judging by the explosion of blossom, spring bulbs and deciduous trees now showing green.
Hydrangeas are budding to leaf, the perfect time to feed and give a good soak, a dressing of lime for pink and alum sulphate for blue.
Roses are top priority right now,Things to watch out for are die back after frost damage, not all branches make the grade, if they have been affected cut them right back to new growth, also watch for growth below the graft, it comes up from the root stock, is usually a different colour and leaf to the grafted branches, cut right out. All roses are grafted onto a strong root stock. Green fly can be controlled, they start on the new growth tips so can be removed with finger and thumb. I have not sprayed my roses in the last few years choosing instead to feed them well with aged manure in late winter then folia feed once leaves have fully grown. Some still succumb to black spot, I just remove affected leaves.
Planting: It's all on now for planting seedlings in flower and veg gardens and sowing seeds for summer colour, here are some suggestions. Wild flowers, cottage plants, Nasturshams, lobelia, petunias, nemesia, lavatera, salvia, marigolds. Spring is a time when seeds can be sown directly where you want them to grow or if you prefer not to compete with weeds sow in seed trays or bedding 4 and 6 packs to develop roots.
Perennials are pushing up through mulch now, hosta's are making a move but there is still time to put the spade through clumps big enough to divide, slice cleanly through with a sharp spade and transplant where needed.
Peony roses are also pushing up fast, carefully clear mulch from around them to let sun in. Be very careful not damage the new shoots.
Cyclamen: If you were given a cyclamen in flower back in May it is time to plant it outside in a cool shady spot to finish the growing year. Pot up again just before Winter for indoor flowering.
Lawns: Lawn mowers are out again, avoid cutting too low as grass is still recovering from winter dormancy. Scalping opens gaps for weeds to take hold. If dasies and flat weeds are a problem lawn spray will work now. I don't want to harm worms or good bacteria in lawns so I only spot spray.
Vegetables: If you have never grown veg but intend to grow your own food this growing season it is not hard. A small patch of open ground in a warm spot dug deep and weeded could produce a good amount veg with successive planting and sowing. Rows of peas or beans grown up netted supports can also act as a wind break at one end of the patch with rows of beetroot, lettuce, brasicias, root veg then potatoes at the end with room for mounding the potato rows. Ground that has not grown plants before will not need building up with manure or fertiliser this season.
Potatos to plant now as an early crop are Rocket, Cliff Kidney, Jersey Benne, Maris Anchor.
Fruit trees in blossom are looking for bee's, raspberries and gooseberries are showing leaf, still time to thin out a gooseberry bush to let light in for good fruit development and easier picking.
Cheers, Linda.
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