Gardening in Waitaki September 28th 2021

October: Such a pretty month for gardens with still lovely blossoms about even after nor west winds threatening to remove them all. Rhododendrons are taking center stage right now but deciduous azaleas are slow to flower compared to other years by my notes. , in my view they are equal to any beautiful tropical flowers. Roses are well in leaf now and aphids are colonizing on new buds but using the index finger and thumb removal method you will manage to keep them under control. Aphids winter over on the underside of last year's hellebore leaves, if you have not done so already remove and destroy them because fresh new leaves are popping up now. Hellebores are still looking wonderful but if you don't want hellebore seedlings germinating all through the garden cut out spent flowers before seed is dropped. Peony roses are well through now, supports around them before they bud up will help with heavy flower heads. Peonies need a lot of water and benefit from liquid fertiliser. If you planted new crowns for this season it would pay to let only one flower develop to allow growth to go into the crowns, then cut the one blooming flower off before it makes seed pods. Peony roses need full sun and do not like to be smothered by other plants. Lavenders are also budding up with the absence( so far) of spittlebugs, if these bugs are a problem for you, spraying will not work, the spittle surrounding them is a barrier to pesticide. A forceful hosing will dislodge them and hopefully drown a few. Clematis are making good growth, hybrid's are those especially large flowered varieties, not the invasive pink and white montana type. You have to be quick in training hybrids where you want them to go while the trailers are still soft, they like a lot of feeding to take them to great heights. Manure, deep down with a little lime added when planting is beneficial. Don't worry if you have one with no buds just yet they all have different flowering times, If you planted one this year let it flower then cut it to the ground, this will make it send up many more shoots and you will have a much bushier and stronger climber. Hybrid clematis can also wilt and die for no reason, if this happens cut it to the ground but don't dig out because I have known some to shoot away again the following year with no sign of wilt. I have been potting up old fashioned cottage flowers like cosmos, love in the mist, salvia blue bedder, Clary sage, and lavatera. These are all taller flowering annuals that need to be planted close together so they hold each other up. The more plants put in the less room for weeds where soil is exposed is a good plan. All the annuals mentioned will be flowering at Christmas, and then for ages after if deadheaded regularly. Herbs: are making strong growth now in readiness for summer menus and drying, they need to be harvested often to stop running to seed. Vegetables: Keep planting veg seeds and plants, a few at a time so you can have the continuous thing happening as it is perfect Spring weather for growing all veg now the ground is warm and moist. My board beans are doing well with no sign of rust, could it be the pinch of potash put in when planting? Peas will be romping up netting in veg gardens and beans can go this month if the ground remains warm. Fruit:Thank goodness we are not getting overcast days this year so bees can be about visiting blossoms on fruit trees. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki 21 September 2021

Still experiencing the odd frost here in North Otago which means cold morning starts but it soon warms up and becomes pleasant working conditions. However the cold nights, mornings and wind chill are holding some spring growth back. I am spending days sowing seeds and potting up germinated seedlings, a lot of room is needed for this job once all seeds pop up, thank goodness for the Recycling center and all the pots they are able to supply. During last week I potted on lavender and hedge cuttings taken at the end of last summer, hedges are not for everyone because of the trimming but I love a nice hedge separating areas in a garden, a lot of plants are required to grow a hedge so it is worth putting in cuttings. Also in early spring fast growing gap fillers can be divided and planted to take over from spring and early summer flowering plants. I plant them now so that good roots establish, then cut them back at the end of summer and they regrow with fresh growth to take them right through until the beginning of next winter. Plants I use for this are mignoette, geranium, cineraria silver dust, aubretia, catmint,purple sage and anthriscus sylvestris (I call this bronze Queen Ann's lace) it spreads from seed profusely but pulls out easily and is a wonderful gap filler with its large feathery bronze leaves and clusters of small white flowers. I absolutely love sweet peas, groups of early sowing can sit over winter for an early flowering then another lot planted to scramble up behind lower plantings in borders. Sweet peas are gross feeders so a trench filled with well rotted animal manure below the soil they are sown in will ensure a good display that keeps producing those lovely flowers. This is the time to take tubular begonias out of dry storage, as they begin to sprout but with it still being cold there is time enough to do this. The showy edging flamboyant begonias become nice big tubas in time and by cutting sections off them each year you will achieve a border in no time. It's best to lift them at the end of their growing season each year because like dahlias they can rot in wet ground during winter, All begonias love any fertiliser with a seaweed and fish content. All of this month shrubs can be propagated by layering if branches are low enough to the ground to pin down into a dug out area then covered with soil. Azaleas and rhododendrons and low growing magnolias, any shrub that allows you to pin low growing slim branches down into the soil. Hopefully by the end of this growing season these branches will have developed strong roots, leave growing like this on the Mother plant for another year then cut free and pot up to grow on as a new bush. Ponds will be warming up now and in the heat of summer pond water will become too warm encouraging green slim to grow, the addition of un sprayed barley straw weighted down with rocks will help to keep water clear. It takes a couple of weeks after the straw is introduced to get the pond water working as it should. Water lillies are starting to move along with pond iris and oxygen weed and as water gets warmer fish will begin to think about breeding, Keep fertiliser from drifting into ponds, slime growth is encouraged by added nitrogen. Lawns: New lawns sown now on the coast will strike as soon as we have a few nice sunny days in a row to keep the ground warm, as I have mentioned before seed must be sown thickly in spring to beat annual weeds, the best time to water grass seed is in the morning and evening to avoid evaporation and being the coolest part of a day allows the ground to absorb water deeper. Keep the mower blades up when cutting spring grass to allow it to thicken and feed a little each time it rains to retain lushness. Fruit: Blue berries are a popular fruit and a health benifit, Blue berry bushes need to be growing in an acid soil with consistent moisture. Water well and mulch with pine needles, they will gently make the soil beneath more acid. Strawberries also prefer slightly acid soil so pine needles are an option for this as well as keeping weeds down and fruit off the soil. Vegetables: I have noticed there are still no white butterfly's about to lay eggs on green veg, when you do spot them cover leaf veg with netting above or even frost cloth which still lets enough light in for veg to be protected and keep growing as normal while small. Get sprouted seed potatoes in the ground and when leaf starts showing begin mounding soil up around them to create more depth for a bigger crop. All the veg seeds I planted at the same time are up and doing well, lettuce, broccoli, silverbeet, cabbage and cauliflower. Root veg seed can be sown now, carrots, beetroot and radish. Parsnips need a long growing season and enjoy a cool soil so can be sown as early as July until the end of November they do best in the South Island. Corn and tomato seed can be sown under cover to be ready for planting out when the threat of frost is over. Runner and French beans can be started under cover for planting out when the soil is warm. Cheers, Linda.

Layering a shrub branch.

Gardening in Waitaki September 13th 2021

"Spring makes it's own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer."~ G. B Charlesworth. North Otago is looking so pretty after some nice sunny days and spring rain, enjoy the masses of lovely blossoms and daffodils everywhere. lavenders: Removed old stalky lavenders, english lavenders eventually get leggy and past it, don't nurse them thinking they will come back because they will probably not, dig them out and replace with new fresh plants. Look around the garden for plants to make edging in front of gardens to give a structured look. If you have large clumps of lambs ear growing that have doubled in size, dig half of it out and brake it up into single plants. Silver is a perfect shade to use as a break between strong and soft shades and will grow in sun or semi shade, lambs ear also has the added bonus of being an interesting texture. There are a number of plants you can edge with, nepeta (catmint), erigeron daisy, Thrift (Armeria maritima), Purple sage, thyme,liriope, dwarf agapantha to name a few. Roses are really leafing up now and the warmer it becomes the more aphids ( green fly) will be about, aphids settle on the top new growth of rose bushes and are easily visible on new small leaves for you to dispose of by removing with finger and thumb. Pruning: Now the sap is up, remove unwanted growth from prunus trees, (flowering cherry) it has been said that this is the best time to make cuts in prunus to avoid the spread of silver leaf which can spread from tree to tree while in the dormant stage. Cut out any weak growth and cross over branches before they grow thick and remove any growth growing from below the graft which will look different from the growth above the graft. All ornamental deciduous trees are grafted onto a different strong root stock now and sometimes the root stock will grow from the graft join. Always make sure you're pruning equipment is cleaned from one tree to the next, methylated spirits is good for doing this and never prune like this on a dull damp day, this will spread silver leaf, pick a bright sunny day. Kilmarnock willow: this is the ornamental pussy willow used so often now in small gardens. Cut out all dead branches from beneath, Each new branch grows out from a bud of last years growth. All subsequent years growth dies and builds up under the new growth. These grafted weeping tree's are much nicer to look at with all those dead branches removed and it is easier to do this when bare of leaves. If left they becomes top heavy they can fall over after rain has softened the ground. Lawns benefit greatly from an early spring feed of lawn fertiliser but this works best with rain to wash it in. Aerating and de-thatching can be done this month, aeration involves perforating the soil with small holes in compacted lawns to allow air, water and nutrients to reach grass roots. During the growing season is the best time for aeration and de-thatching then grass can heal and fill any gaps. Removed thatch can be used on gardens as mulch. Vegetables: The soil is warming with sun is staying around longer so this is a busy time for gardeners who will be sowing and planting their edible gardens. Get pumpkin, butternut , squash and corn seeds started now under protection, they need a long warm growing season to grow d ripen. It's potato planting time from now until December. Keep nutrients up monthly, in the form of compost and fertiliser. Mound up rows as shoots grow until they are around 300 mm tall to encourage tuber development. keep planting leafy veg as there are still no white butterflies about, as an early season deterrent start spraying fish emulsion on both veg and flowering plants,this will feed plants and repel pests by fooling them into thinking their favorite food is now protein not vegetable. repeat after rain. Fruit: All deciduous fruit trees can still be planted in September while coming out of dormancy. A wide selection will be available in garden stores now. All fruits require a position in full sun, sheltered from prevailing winds is preferable. After fruiting take the height down on fruiting cherries and plum trees if they have grown beyond picking height as they tend to fruit mostly on the top branches. Strawberries: will do well with a dressing of fertiliser specifically formulated for strawberries containing extra potassium, old stable manure is beneficial as well. All other berries on offer should be planted now to settle in for a season of fruiting. Citrus: If you need to prune a citrus tree do it now, avoid doing so in summer as this is when citrus borer is active and pruning increases their vulnerability. If breakages in summer make pruning necessary, ensure you quickly cover up the cut with a pruning paste. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki September 7th 2021

The hum of bees is back with the flowering cherries and fruit trees in blossom and what a magnificent display magnolias are making around North Otago. It is a joy to be planting out bedding plants and putting the finishing touches to spring gardens when the sun is shining.  Soil is warmer and days are longer, perfect for planting seed, annuals and perennial plants. I think every gardener enjoys trying new plants and colour combinations, but keep an eye on germinated seeds with late frosts. Some seeds I planted a couple of weeks ago and have been protecting are up and already need transplanting.  Pansy, viola alyssum, with shallow roots can be three or four to a pot until ready to plant out but those with longer deeper roots like lupin, hellebore and Oriental poppy have been  planted into their own individual small pots. It is best to have well developed roots attached before planting out. Weeds are taking off again, I have the hoe on the go while they are small because I do not like spraying, once hoed in a covering of compost will keep weeds smothered in both the flower and veg garden.  Birds will be scratching about in gardens looking for worms and grubs to feed their young, They usually concentrate on the front edge of a garden making a mess on paths and lawns,  if you have a problem with this, growing a mat forming boarder will deter them. Some boarder plants to consider are catmint, lambs ear, alyssum, alchenilla mollis, dwarf agapantha, armeria maritim (thrift), mondo grass, any low growing perennial plant that mats over soil. Lavenders: are always popular, English lavenders will eventually get leggy and past it, if you have any like this don't nurse them thinking they will come back because they will probably not. Dig them out and replace with new plants. munstead lavender is the small edging variety which will not spill over a path as other English lavenders tend to. There are so many different varieties on the market now and none of them are very long lived if they do not like where they are growing. I have noticed the lovely tall English Hidcote does well growing down a solid fence line for support and keeps on keeping on if trimmed often, English lavenders are grown for oil and are a good drying variety. The bumble bee type, lavender major, are more manageable in borders and the French lavender dentata is a tall hedging lavender that flowers all year round. Lavender likes full sun, manure / compost enriched soil with a dressing of lime from time to time. They like it dry but need to get roots down deep to tap in to moisture, a good soak once a month over a hot summer will keep them on the dry side, don't give brief waterings as roots tend to stay high looking for moistCleaning out  ponds will be needing attention, leaves and old growth from pond plants needs to be removed then overflowing the pond will freshen it. Water Lilies, oxygen weed and water irises are starting to make a move. A couple of years ago a helper and I removed all the yellow bog iris from my then  big pond, this was a much needed job because this common yellow iris was spreading so fast and took up a quarter of the pond with it's mat forming roots ( lesson learned, don't plant yellow bog iris in a domestic pond) The place for this iris is along the banks of a creek, the fibrous roots are fantastic at holding the sides back from erosion. Don't be tempted to add bull rushes to a domestic pond either, they also spread too quickly. While water lilies are not fully in leaf sections can be cut and re potted. If you do not have a mesh pot specifically for aquatic plants, make holes in the sides of a plastic pot and use that. Line the pot with sacking or woven fabric and 3/4 fill with garden soil and a small amount of slow release fertiliser in the center. Plant a water lily section then add a good amount of stones or gravel to the top of the pot and submerge to the bottom of the pond.  Lawns: New lawns sown on the coast should result in a strike now that the ground is warmer, as I have mentioned before seed must be sown thickly in spring to beat the annual weeds. Keep the mower blades up when cutting spring grass to allow it to thicken and feed lawns just before or during rain and they will stay lush. Herbs: perennial herbs are making growth so can be divided and annual herb seeds sown, basil will need to be protected well until the threat of frost is over. Vegetables:  Here on the coast plant all leafy greens on offer, carrots,  lettuce plants at two week intervals and any spare ground could be planted out in seed potatoes. Plant corn and pumpkin seeds and protect until frosts have past, both of these need a long ripening season so it is best to have them well up early for planting when the time is right. I have sown tomato seeds of different varieties which I will be nursing in a warm well lit place.  Fruit: Strawberries and rhubarb are on the move, they need to be fed to get the best from them, manure enriched compost then mulched with straw, pine needles or un sprayed grass clippings to keep weeds down. Volunteers with the Garden corner at the Resource Recovery Park hope to be open this month with  a good selection of plants ready for planting. Gardners please drop in any unwanted plants for Volunteers to pot up and re-home. Cheers, Linda.  

Garden corner at Resorce Recovery Park