Gardening in Waitaki August 17th 2021

Another dull day as I write this, we are slowly moving into Spring with early blossom bursting buds and bulbs. To prepare for spring treat your garden to a late-winter pep-up by removing weeds while they are still small then digging in plenty of organic matter, such as compost and manure. Wigelias can be cut back, these are lovely old fashioned deciduous shrubs with no center trunk, they send long canes up from the ground that cover themselves in pretty pink  flowers in late spring. I remove all the old branches that have flowed, you can tell which branches they are because the wood looks really old and spent compared to the new fresh wood there ready and waiting to take their place.  Spirea shrubs need the same treatment and  hypericum (St Johns Wort, green leafed evergreen shrub with large bright yellow flowers can get a trim back now as well, if too tall and wide they can be taken well back.  Lift and divide perennials such as delphiniums, chrysanthemums, asters and astilbes. Sow seeds : alyssum, begonia, californian poppy, carnation, chrysanthemum, cosmos, dahlia, delphinium, dianthus, gypsophila, honesty, nemesia, marigold, pansy, petunia, phlox, portulaca, salvia, snapdragon, sunflower, verbena, viola, viscaria, and zinnia.  Plant seedlings: alyssum, aquilegia, canterbury bells, carnations, cornflower, cosmos, cineraria, delphinium, pansies, polyanthus, poppy, gypsophila, forget-me not, hollyhock, stock, and viola.  Fairy magnolia blush is proving to be a winner for a pretty hedge or tree for a small garden and looks great in a pot. This magnolia / michelia cross grows 4m high and 3m wide after 10 years, like's full sun or semi shade.  Roses: Apply a dressing of Rose Food to establish Rose's and Water in well.  Lawns: August can be a tricky time of the year for your lawn because the weather is so unpredictable, fertilize if we get a good shower for food to be available when needed. You may find the growth rate of grass increase from now, if you feel it necessary to start mowing keep the blades high and  remove any perennial weeds by hand before they flower and seed.  Fruit: Get all fruit bushes and grapes pruned as soon as possible because sap is rising which means branches will bleed sap when cut. remove some old grape leaders, replacing them with new growth leaders along wires. The result of this will be vertical budding and fruiting next year.  Citrus trees may need to be covered against early spring frosts in sheltered areas. New season’s fruit trees particularly pip and stone fruit can be planted now. I see a few bees at work already which is a good sign for the soon to be happening fruit blossom pollination.  Vegetables: Raised gardens in a sunny location probably have not had enough hard frosts this winter to break up the soil. If planting veg seedlings it is so good not to have to worry about the bugs and white butterflies at this time of the year.Onions: although onions prefer a sunny position with a rich but light soil, they will do well in most soils as long as it is firm. You can grow them in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Seeds should be sown at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. When planting, space plants 5-10 cm apart, seed trays don't have to be in a greenhouse, any sheltered spot will do to guard against rapid changes of temperature, especially at night. Downy mildew, neck rot and white rot are the most common diseases that attack onions. To avoid these, plant disease-resistant varieties and keep the garden clean of diseased debris. If your veg garden is further inland start adding some compost and a little lime now in readiness for when you plant out later this month.  Cheers, Linda.