Gardening in North Otago 20th April 2021

An image taken at Oamaru's lovely Botanic Gardens. Autumn splendor everywhere here in North Otago with leaves falling thickly now as we gradually move towards the colder months. As I have mentioned before most leaves compost well layered with soft green waste, manure and completed compost, adding water as you build. When layering is finished cover heaps with old carpet, polythene or anything you have on hand that would serve as a cover to keep heat in as it builds. Nature's plan for trees is for the leaf drop from each to mulch and nourish the tree which we tend to ignore as we rake leaves up, however by mulching we can give back to trees. Don't be too worried about raking every leaf from the garden they will soon break down, however too many leaves left piled on gardens will be creating homes for garden pests to winter over. Snails and slugs will be searching for damp hidden places for winter protection from birds, they are usually found under hellebores, heuchera and hostas. Roses: It is important not to deadhead roses even though they look untidy. When a spent bloom sets seed sap continues to be drawn up to feed these seeds and keep them developing, when this is happening the bud shoots on the steam are not activated because the sap is bypassing them to get to the seed. If we cut the seed head off the sap will go into making new growth too soft to go into winter. Right now remove and dispose of all the diseased leaves from bushes and the ground around them to prevent the over wintering of rust, black spot and mildew. A spray of lime sulphur next month will defoliate them and kill off the remainder of summer disease.  Shifting shrubs, camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, and other small shrubs can be shifted now, If roots have been compromised in the shifting a third of the top growth should be removed, if you don't do this nature will do it for you. Larger shrubs can to be trenched now and shifted in late winter.  Lawns:  De- thatching can be done now if required, lawns can become thick with dead thatch under good grass, a de-thatcher will pull all that build up out to give grass a chance to grow healthily. A De-thatcher is easy to use and can be hired from T K Hire in Humber Street Oamaru.TMarch / April are the best months to sow a new lawn and resow thin patches. Even though nights start cooling after the clocks go back the ground stays warm for a few more weeks to let grass seed germinate. If your lawns have not done well during spring and summer a dressing of sifted compost, about 1/2 a bucket to the sqm working it down to the roots with the back of a rake will improve both very light and very compact soils.   Fruit: Clean up sprays can be applied to all fruit trees and fruiting shrubs that have shown leaf and mildew spots. On a fine day super copper or Nature's way fungus spray can be used. Feijoas, The aroma and flavour of feijoas are a treat at the end of the fruiting season, ripening and picking will go on into winter. (Quote), feijoas are said to be an excellent source of hydration for the body and provide soluble fibre to combat a build up of toxins in the digestive system. Vegetables: Still time to sow a green crop when space becomes available in the vegetable garden, dig in veg gone to seed and annual weeds before they go to seed, it's all good humus for soil.Keep planting winter veg and keep pumpkins growing on, no sign of frost yet here on the coast. Give plants more light In glass houses now, remove any shading and give plants less water. Cheers, Linda

De_thatcher at work, thatch can be used as mulch on the garden.