Gardening in North Otago April 13th 2021

Well we got the rain and how,  while I write this gutters filled with autumn leaves will be overflowing and North Otago, while glowing in Autumn splendor will start to recover from months of damaging dryness.If I was still maintaining the large garden we have now left, the wedding season would be ending so cutting back would be full on. This is the last month when mild days make it a pleasure to be working in gardens which is good because before Autumn slips into winter there is a lot to be done. Light hedge trimming, cutting back of all that has finished flowering, clearing gardens and pots of summer annuals to allow replanting, dressing cleared gardens with compost / mulch, and yes all those leaves need to be raked, composted, leaf mulch started or burnt. Cuttings: Growth starts slowing as days shorten, tree and shrub wood begin to harden  as seeds are produced and ripen. Semi-ripe cuttings can be taken from this year's growth, woody at the base and soft at the tip. I have taken cuttings from buddleia, fuchsia, lavender, hebe, geranium, pelargonium, felicia daisy, salvia, rosemary, sage and lemon verbena. Take cuttings at a node, where a leaf is on the stem of a plant, because this is where most of the plant's natural hormones are concentrated. Depending on the plant make cuttings approx 10 -15cm long. Remove leaves from the bottom half of the cutting and also reduce some top leaves and reduce those left by half. I push cuttings into river sand ( also known as crusher dust), moist river sand stays tight around cuttings until roots develop. Cuttings can stay outside in a protected, semi shaded position with good overhead light. Seed raising for winter and spring annuals will have success germinating now before days become colder and shorter. Sow into trays of potting mix with a layer of seed raising mix on top. Place sown seed trays in a well lit protected place and once germinated pot on into punnets before seedlings become leggy. When seedling leaves are well developed make sure trays are in a place outside to harden as they grow. Germinating for me are pansies, violas, primula malacoides and wall flowers. Peony roses: Do not disturb peony roses, just cut back the dead stalks and leaves and destroy, if left near new growth diseases would be passed on. If a clump needs divided or shifted wait until Spring.  Hellebore's will benefit from fortnightly feeding now to encourage better blooms. I remove the old foliage from mine because the undersides are where green fly hide during winter. In colder areas it is best to leave the top growth on to protect buds, the cold should take care of greenfly.  Bulbs: Only feed bulbs and plants that are due to flower now, all other plants will be slowing their growth right down now to sleep through the winter. Don't waste good fertiliser on plants that won't use it. Move all spring flowering plants in pots into a sunny spot now, plants like camellia, azaleas and rhododendrons that have been tucked away in a shady spot over the hot months. If you fed them with acid fertiliser when they finished flowering, they should be fine. If not give them a little and water in well to give them a boost.  Compost:  Damp compost heaps after the rain still have time to build up heat now until the very coldest months. Layer leaves on compost along with animal manure, soft garden waste, un-sprayed grass clippings and left over compost from your last lot.  Lawns will have enjoyed the heavy rain, lets hope it drowned the grass grub! if the grubs are a problem in your lawns, (birds hunting them will let you know you have a problem)you have until May to treat lawns for grass grub, after May they stop feeding.  Grass seed sown now should strike but once frosts start you will need to wait for a spring sowing.  Fruit: If you have laden apple trees, pick as many as you need and store in a cool dry place for later and leave the rest for birds. Quince paste and quince added to apple jelly is a wonderful taste from the past.  Vegetables: Time to  clear and add compost to veg gardens for replanting  beetroot, spinach, all brassica. Sow seeds of carrots, swedes and broad beans. The ground is still warm and perfect for getting seeds and seedlings well on their way before the frosts cool things down. Concept Garden Design: Now that I am not maintaining the big garden I am putting more time into the second string to my bow, Garden Design. If in need of direction in this area I can help with a concept design for existing gardens or new builds. Contact me on 0274430256 and I will explain what I offer. Cheers, Linda.