Gardening in North Otago February 9th 2021

Dry again in North Otago as we go into the ripening season,and then it rained to relieve parched ground.. The hedge trimmer has been on the go again here Trimming with secateurs is not practical for us with such a large garden and at this time of the year you can not do too much damage so if hedges need height and width taken well back the regrowth time is pretty quick. Buddleia's have been flowering for a while now attracting butterflies, when flowers die off they need to be cut well back to encourage new fresh growth to take through autumn and winter. Buddleia's are a great fill in bush and look attractive with their blue green foliage even without the blue, pink or white flowers, plant at the back of a border and you will not be sorry. Begonias, petunias and Lilly's are taking center stage now begonias are tropical perennials and like partial shade. Strong sunlight will burn leaves and blooms, if growing in dense shade they will grow more leaves than flowers, wind protection is needed because stems are damaged by strong wind. Let the top inch of soil dry out before watering. Petunias need dead heading often, cutting back and feeding petunias will keep them flowering for ages. Lillies: should be in good draining soil but never be allowed to dry out, mulching helps with this. Lilies do not re bloom, remove faded flowers so plants don't waste energy making seeds. Leave foliage until it turns brown storing energy for next years flower, cut dead stalks in late autumn. large lily clumps can be divided up and shifted straight after flowering.Dividing bulbs: Time is limited now for lifting and dividing congested bulb clumps while they are still dormant. Anemones and ranunculus: will be in Garden centers now I pop them in the fridge for a month in paper bags (not plastic) then soak them overnight in tepid water before planting (stratification), this simulates the winter chill then they are stimulated into growth with the water warmth before planting. Staggering the planting over several weeks will extend the flowering. Lawns continue to stay green with the odd rain shower and warmth which means no slowing down in growth. I spot sprayed lawn weeds again this week, clover really takes off if left and daisies like the continual rain watering, then there is that creeping the tiny leafed weed with yellow flowers that forms a mat in lawns. Every little plant off this needs to be zapped because it flowers and seeds very quickly and spreads from lawn to lawn when mowing. Fruit: It is time to shorten back fruiting leaders on grape vines, the growth is needed for the grapes that have started to form. If a leader has produced too many bunches remove some while shortening back. Veg Garden: Get seeds in the garden now for autumn veg, lettuce, carrots, beetroot, dwarf beans, parsley, parsnip, silver beet. Keep mounding up late potato rows to encourage bigger shores, keep water up to corn, which is growing well with warm days,  Corn have a shallow rooting system, mulching helps to keep them upright in strong winds and adds needed nitrogen. Pea straw is being baled again, order bales now then pick up from the paddock Ph: Sue 03 4326844. Cheers, Linda.