Gardening in North Otago December 14th 2022

Christmas Eve in my past Garden

Here we are at the end of another year with Christmas looming, gardens will be full to bursting with colour and produce just as many of us will be setting off for a break. With so many overcast days some plants have been slow to move which can be an advantage when it comes to produce not bolting to seed. Things will rectify once the hot summer we have been promised starts. I have almost finished planting out our new town, low maintenance garden having spent three or four years growing plants from cuttings taken from the large formal garden we left behind. I selected plants that brought me the most pleasure so I can still enjoy them. I designed most of our new garden in a structured, Japanese theme using weed mat and gravel which will cut out digging and replanting. Larger trees and shrubs have been planted in grow bags to semi bonsai which means they will still retain shape but at a reduced width and height. Each plant is being shaped to the desired effect needed. As it is count down time now until Christmas I am sure gardeners will be spending less time in the garden, just getting lawns mowed and watering done. You will know by now that I am determined to get all gardeners soaking then mulching to retain moisture, this time of the year is when gardens benefit most from being mulched because where dirt is left bare there will always be weeds. Soft hedge trimmings can go on as mulch along with grass clippings, tree mulch (forest floor) ornamental grass clippings, rotted leaf mulch and decomposed pine needles will all do the job. Remove seed heads from Peony roses as they interfere with subsequent blooming, foliage can stay until it turns brown. Delphiniums that have suffered from wind can sometimes be blown right over, it's hard to stand them up again without stems breaking so cut them back to the broken point to continue to put out smaller flower heads. Dead head as many roses as you can so they can get going on their second flowering, deep water and mulch if you have the time. Then let the garden look after itself while you have a well deserved break. Roses first flowering is almost over so it is time to deadhead spent blooms, cut at an out facing bud down on the strongest part of a branch, they will bud up and flower again in a few weeks. I collect fragrant rose blooms to lay out and dry to fill a basket for the hall table. Dry between sheets of newspaper until all hint of moisture is gone and they will last for months without going mouldy. If you are going away, pop all your indoor plants in the bath with a little water to keep them going and baskets and manageable pots around to the shady side of the house until your return. Fruit for us Kiwis fruit ripens at the busiest possible time for picking, it is such a waste if left to drop so maybe with some bribing Children could be recruited as pickers, if needed for jam or pickling and just pop fruit into the freezer until your return? Laden black current branches can be cut from bush's and stripped of fruit in a cool place while having a Christmas drink, this way pruning is also taken care of. Gooseberries are the tricky fruit to pick but the end of a branch lifted with a gloved hand will find fruit hanging from the underside ready to strip off a handful at a time. I find raspberries and strawberries the most time consuming to pick but so worth the effort. Vegetable garden: So much is ready for picking in the veg garden right now, I will be throwing shade cloth over mine to protect from sun and birds when I am not here to keep an eye on things . That's it from me for this year, our tree is ready and waiting for excited Children on Christmas morning and not need to hunt for Nana in the Garden this year. I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and all the very best for a safe 2023. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki December 6th 2022

We Gardeners can start thinking about just enjoying the fruits of our labor now as flower and veg gardens fill with colour and produce, but unfortunately weeds and lawns don't stop growing so I guess we must soldier on. Mulch will be holding moisture in the soil on those very hot days, I learned over many years how beneficial mulch is on soil and around plants and trees. Exposed soil dries out very quickly during hot summer weather which means plant roots suffer, growth is stunted, worms dive deep and nutrients deplete as moisture is needed to get benefit. When gardens are mulched, less watering is needed and decomposing  mulch is a tonic to soil and plant growth, beneficial insect life is encouraged and weeds are limited with soil covered. Arborist mulch is great as a mulcher reduces live wood and green together into small particles readily able to break down faster than large chunks of bark which robs nitrogen from gardens. Fresh lawn cuttings scattered thick enough to keep light from soil  (not thickly laid) can become mulch, pine needles and compost will work, mulch becomes dry instead of soil and plant roots.  Buddleia can be cut back now as they finish flowering. When newly planted I cut them back by half after flowering and the mature buddleias right to the ground as they push up new growth very quickly and look attractive with new blue green foliage. Buddleias are a good fill-in shrub and come in shades of blue /purple, pink and white make this an ideal plant for a back border and can be grown from a cutting.  Forget-me-not,  most gardeners pull out forget-me-not when it has finished flowering, I cut it right back to almost nothing and it returns in nice green clumps stronger than ever and becomes a perennial which will flower for years every spring. Heaps of the seed heads stick to clothes while cutting back but as a woodland plant you can't go past forget-me-nots as a pretty sea of blue among rhododendrons. Branches lifted on large trees now will let light onto underplanting, I hired a small chainsaw on a long handle which I found perfect for reaching up to remove long branches growing naturally as a canopy to shade the tree roots but in a garden situation plantings beneath need light to survive.  Anemones and ranunculus for winter flowering can be planted in the next two weeks, I used to plant first into pots to make roots then transplant later when the summer clearing had been done. I liked them grouped and would forget where I had planted them and dig through them in my big garden. Lilies are flowering now, large clumps can be divided up and shifted straight after flowering and planted into good compost. Lily bulbs should never dry out, I have had clumps of Christmas lilies completely disappear and have not noticed until I miss them flowering at this time of the year,  so keep an eye on them through the dryer months. It takes years for lilies to grow from little pup bulbs and seeds so they are worth looking after.  Lawns: If you don't like using sprays and you have a few flat weeds in the lawn try painting them with vinegar, I was told about this recently and it works! I used white vinegar, also great for spot spraying pathways and drives. Clover browns off a little, I am watching to see how much it knocks it. Apply the vinegar in full sun, keep off needed plants. Vegetables Keep mounding up potato rows to encourage bigger shores, corn likes to be mounded up also when stalkes get to about knee high. Corn has a shallow rooting system and the mounding helps to keep them upright in strong winds. All leaf and root veg will be thriving this month, I am picking a lot from my veg plots then filling gaps with new seedlings. One thing is for sure you can put off doing what is needed but nature can not be put off when it comes to weeds and ripening of fruit and veg. If time is limited, cutting the flowers off weeds before they run to seed will reduce the spread until you can tackle them. Fruit: It is time to shorten back fruiting leaders on grape vines, growth is needed for the forming grapes. If a leader has produced too many bunches, remove some. I was told years ago that offal or a dead animal is what a domestic grape vine likes to have buried down around it's roots, too much nitrate fertiliser will produce too many leaves and leaders. Most fruiting plants like a little potash to encourage fruiting during spring. Pip and stone fruit should grow in abundance this season. Usually a tree will shead small forming fruits if too crowded, but I have found this reduction needs to be done by the gardener as well, now is the time to check the number of fruit to branch ratio.  Cheers, Linda

Gardening in Waitaki December 3rd 2022

December is here and does the cutting back NEVER end? It's getting rid of it all that creates a problem for most people, however at this time of the year the cut back growth is soft and with the help of daily heat will break down in heaps or on the compost so pile it up until it all reduces, then cart it off. Gaps left can be built up with fresh compost and planted out in summer annuals. Catmint edging can be cut right back now, it will grow back and flower again and lavender will be flowering well now, English lavender is worth cutting, bunching and hanging once stems have firmed, it will continue to give off that lovely fresh lavender fragrance, if kept inside right through the year until it flowers again next year. Rhododendrons finished flowering need spent flowers removed before they make seed, impossible to do on very large bushes but beneficial to smaller bushes as you want them to put growth into the bush not seeds. There is a point on a spent flower that when bent will break cleanly without damaging new growth. Roses: will have enjoyed the rain but remove rain damaged buds and blooms, if left they will encourage fungus during humid weather. roses need dry sunny days to flower at their best. Lilies will be enjoying moisture in the ground, lilies cannot cope with dry ground but like most plants will rot if water logged. Hedge trimming will go on for a while, if a hedge is trimmed before new growth has stopped it will be sure to put out more new growth and need trimmed again. Storing dried Herbs: Herbs should be harvested when flavor and aroma oils are at their peak, before they flower. Harvest early in the morning after the dew dries and before the heat of the day. Herbs must be completely dry when cut and bundled for drying to rub and store, any moisture will result in mold. Drying herbs is well worth the effort as a summer harvest and drying can amount to enough mixed herbs to last all year, as well as a gift to others. Culinary herbs to dry: rosemary, thyme, sage, dill, basil, chives, parsley, oregano, tarragon, nasturtium (leaves and flowers) Fruit: black currents, raspberries and gooseberries are all wanting continuous sunny days , remove any strawberries showing signs of rot and large top leaves to let more air and light in but they need to have a net cover if exposed to birds. Vegetable garden: Weeds as well as veg are romping away but are easy to pull while the soil is damp, get rid of any veg rotting and when time and weather allows work ground with a hoe to get air in. Keep potatoes mounded, protect carrots from carrot fly by covering with cloth that lets light in, don't leave carrot thinings laying about. Pumpkins and corn sould be in to get the summer length needed to ripen. produce is so good from your own garden to the table and planted now will reward you through summer and Autumn. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki November 23rd 2022

What great rain last week to push spring growth on, then sun shine on Sunday for the wonderful Victorian market day, perfect. Right now conditions are just right for planting, the soil is warm and moist, weeds are easy to pull and hoe out which brings me to mention mulching again, bare soil will always grow weeds and weeds are starting to mature and make seeds so get them out before they do. If time is limited just cut seed heads off to avoid spreading. Fill your gardens with annual and perennial flowering plants, all gaps will be filled with beauty plus bees and insects will be encouraged for pollinating berry and fruit trees growing close by. 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 and lots of annual seedlings, flowers and veg which germinated during the last two weeks.....this sure is seed planting time. Dahlia supports put in now will reduce damaging plants by adding when growth is well on. Roses are well on now, if you have not fed rose bushes around roots do it now to keep them healthy. Aged manure or slow release fertiliser will keep them happy. The Recycling center offers bagged pig manure, no smell and clean to handle, it is a stressed hungry rose that will succumb to disease. If aphid and fungus or black spot have taken hold, feed and spray with an insecticide/ fungicide product. Pond water will be heating now, one of the easiest ways to keep your pond water cool is by shading the pond. You can install a shade sail over the pond or use a small tarp to cover a part of the pond if there are no plants to create shade for fish. Pond plants with large leaves or shrubbery planted to block strong afternoon sun are the natural way to provide pond shade. Top water levels up, evaporation is greater from now on. Fruits are forming well, reducing apple clusters will achieve good sized fruit. Mulch around all fruit trees to retain moisture from the last rain. Unsprayed grass clippings mixed with compost will do the trick. Vegetables: Keep mounding the potatoes to keep them producing more and more new potatoes for Christmas, consistent watering is important for potatoes now, this goes for all root veg. Carrot fly is on the wing now, thinning young carrots can attract carrot fly with smell if thinnings are left lying about. Delaying sowing until early summer, you can sidestep the first generation of the pest. I have planted early so have covered rows with frost cloth which still allows light in and keeps the low flying carrot fly off. Growing varieties of pungent Rosemary, Alliums, Sage or Marigold provides a deterrent by confusing smells. Wind has been hard on my broad beans, stems break very easily, I have created a string web with stakes through the bean stalks which seems to do the trick and have already started picking young tender beans. Tomatoes are zooming up stakes and needing attention almost daily now to control growth. Flowers are looking for pollination which is encouraged by flowers being included around tomato plants, marigolds, basil, sage thyme, plants to attract pollinators. As mentioned last week, keep pumpkin, squash and courgette plants mulched, their roots are fragile until large leaves grow to create the root shade needed. All new small plants can be over watered to the point where their roots cannot cope and they collapse, the soil should be dry on top between watering's and good drainage is essential . Cheers, Linda

Gardening in Waitaki November 16th 2022

North Otago is experiencing lovely warm days to help active roots especially for annuals coming on for a summer show, plant up pots and hanging baskets now and they will put on good growth before Christmas. I have divided clumps of violas now finished flowering,  just dig a clump up and basically pull it to bits and plant sections with roots into pots, by the start of next winter the small pots will be filled with roots, new leaves and buds ready to be planted out. The same for polyanthus, and primulas, break up clumps; plant out only fresh new growth and throw away gnarly old spent roots. There is still time to divide agapanthus, they can get a bit clump bound which reduces their flowering which usually happens in February but I have been noticing some in bud to flower soon? Dig out the whole clump (if still manageable enough to do this), then pull off smaller root sections and plant out on their own using compost to get the roots going again. Agapanthus are great gap fillers in new gardens, they can always be removed as you fill your garden with permanent plants. If you have, or can get hold of some aged compost, finished working and ready to put on the garden you will be able to make compost tea. Compost Tea is a nutritionally rich, well-balanced, organic plant food made by steeping aged compost in water which is then diluted and used as a root / or foliar feed. When used as a foliar spray It is noted for its ability to control various plant diseases (blights, molds, wilts, etc. ), to repel and control insect pests and their damage when used on a regular basis. Around roots to encourage the growth of beneficial soil bacteria which results in healthier, more stress-tolerant plants. The basic recipe most often recommended is as follows:1 large container with lid (plastic rubbish bin works well) enough aged, completed compost to fill an old pillow case 1/2 to 3/4 full. Fill the container with water, place the compost filled pillowcase (cheese cloth bag or pantyhose also work well), tie off the top and submerge in the container of water. Cover (to prevent odor and insect problems) and let steep for a MINIMUM of 2 weeks. This steeping time is crucial to the formation of beneficial bacteria and the required fermentation process. When finished, dip out the tea and dilute it (3 parts water to 1 part tea)  use weekly for all plants. The following factors will determine the quality of the finished tea:  If using purchased compost it should contain a portion of aged animal manure which apparently remains active longer than compost made up only of plant matter. Dilute it a little more when using on young seedlings.  COMPOST TEA AND MANURE TEA ARE NOT THE SAME THING. Manure tea can be made in the same way but is not generally recommended as foliar spray and is not as nutritionally well-balanced but great for roses when applied around roots to keep them healthy.  Weeds are maturing to seed stage, get them out while the ground is soft or if in a large rough area and time is limited, just remove seed heads.  Fruit: Gooseberries, raspberries, currants and strawberries should all be making fruit if bees have done their job, keep water up to help swell small fruits. Vegetables:  So much can be planted now so veg and herb gardens will be filling. Potatoes are putting on fast growth and should be forming good crops below the warm soil, don't load them and other green veg up on high nitrogen fertilisers, it will only encourage top growth and leaf veg to bolt. New small plantings can be over-watered to the point where their roots cannot cope and they collapse, good drainage is essential and soil should be dry on top between waterings. This applies to glass house plantings as well.Tomato plants should be flowering now and ready for side shoots (laterals) to be removed to help channel energy into the fruit, rather than wasting it on foliage.  Mulch pumpkin and squash plants as leaves increase in size to protect fragile roots.  Elder flowers are blooming again, I have been out collecting to make the first lot of elderflower cordial, lovely at the end of a hot day added to a gin and tonic, how wonderful to be coming into Summer again. Cheers, Linda 

Gardening in Waitaki 8th November 2022

Spring weather seems to be settling here in Waitaki, offering up warm sun-filled days and mild nights with the odd shower. Established box hedging should be firm enough to be trimmed now, oh how I remember doing this and ending up like a half shut pocket knife at the end of trimming.  If hedges are at the hight and width required take them back to the last growth. Newly planted box will probably need only the tops straightened leaving the sides to thicken, a boost with slow release fertiliser will feed and keep them green. Other hedges will be ready for trimming now as well, soft trimmings can be spread about gardens as mulch. Keep cutting back spring flowering perennials then fill gaps with annuals. Sun lovers:  lobelia, alyssum, antirrhinum, petunias, salvia, marigolds, cosmos, aster, verbena. Shade lovers:  Impatiens, begonia, coleus,lobelia, nemesia, viola, alyssum, cineraria. Roses: Fat rose buds are now opening, healthy and beautiful before succumbing to the stress of hot drying days, aphid, black spot and rust, if water, feeding and mulch is kept up these can be avoided and healthy roses can be enjoyed through to early winter. Pull off leaves showing any sign black spot or rust and burn, squish aphid or keep hosing off with a strong hose spray. Dahlias are pushing through now as spring bulbs finish. Dahlias need to grow in full sun, supports can be put in place now for large spreading dahlias before they put on heavy growth. Hydrangeas are leafing up, it is important to keep water up and a good layer of old stable manure around them now will keep them feed through the growing season. It's a dressing of lime for pink and Epsom salts or aluminum sulphate to keep them blue. Peony roses: Supports are needed for most peony roses to hold up those beautiful full flower heads.  Vegetables: Keep mounding potatoes to give more depth for them to produce, consistent watering is important for potatoes, this goes for all root vegetables. Leafy veg don't need any extra feeding at this time of the year it will just encourage them to bolt. Only plant as many plants as you think you would use when ready to pick and hold back small seedling plants from the same batch, keep in a semi shady place until required for planting.  Keep pumpkin and squash plants mulched, roots are fragile until their large leaves grow to create the root shade needed. Corn and beans can be planted now the ground is warm. Planting corn in squares rather than rows will ensure pollination on the lower tassel's and add support during strong winds.  Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki November 1st 2022

Now we can hear growing happening around us as nature gives us the perfect spring growing conditions. As I write this, gardens everywhere are exploding with colour. If not in your own garden, visit our public gardens to see it all happening beautifully. Rhododendrons, azaleas, peony roses, iris, and fresh green on hedges and trees and "oh," the birdsong as nests are filled with eggs and young. This is undoubtedly the time for planting, but never in the heat of the day, wait until the end of the day or better still wait and plant on a dull day if possible. I am busy most days weeding and pricking out flower and veg seedlings into punnets. Fill every space in the garden to not only look amazing but also to leave no room for weeds to take hold. Those that do persist need to grow fast to the light which makes them easy to pull. A full garden also keeps plant roots shaded and less evaporation after watering. Sow summer flowering seeds now and leave to germinate in light, semi shaded areas, too sunny and planting mix dries out too quickly, too shady and seedlings grow too fast looking for light. Once seedlings come through, leave until a set of two leaves fully form then prick out carefully into punnets and soft water spray often until firm enough to cope with a stronger hosing. Once planted punnets are filled with roots they can be planted into the garden and should thrive.  Spring is the perfect time to get Children involved in gardening by planting sunflower seeds so they can watch plants grow fast and taller than themselves. Runner beans are great for growing over bamboo or wooden lengths joined into a teepee tent shape for the bean runners to grow over to form a green living tent for them to play in and pick beans. I work with Children in a School garden and know they love peas, carrots, beans,  radish and  all berries straight from the garden. We Also grow swan plants so monarch butterflies will visit, lay eggs to hatch for Children to watch grow into fat caterpillars that create a chrysalis then grow into beautiful butterflies. Nature at its best is to touch, smell, taste and happenings in real time. Peony roses are stunning right now in bud and flower, it pays off putting supports under them to hold up heavy flowers to come. I have tall wire supports shaped like a u that are pushed into the ground with the rounded top in place to let them flop over and stay in place. Peonies need water kept up to their roots,  I have some crowns that were planted last season so I have let only one flower develop to see what it is like and removed any others. I will cut the one blooming flower off before it makes seed pods. A clump will form much faster if you do not let it flower for the first two years. Hybrid clematis:  ( those large flowered clematis) are shooting skyward now, you have to be quick to train them onto supports or they will just find their own way over plants. Direct them while trailers are still soft, they like a lot of feeding to take them to great heights, manure is great. Don't worry if you have one with no buds just yet they all have different flowering times, If you planted a new one this year, let it flower then cut it to the ground this will make it put up more shoots and you will have a much bushier and stronger climber. If you have one that looks dead with the ends wilting I am afraid it will have wilt and should be cut off at the ground level. Don't remove it because I have known some to shoot away again the following year, climatic like a sweet soil so add a little lime. Lawns: Grass, Grass. Grass...So much mowing! sprinkle unsprayed clippings around the garden, it is wonderful humus but don't leave thick piles, spread it out so it can break down fast. Your garden can take as much fresh green growth that you can throw at it now the warmth is here to break it down. Sow new lawns and fill bare patches with the right lawn seed for the lawn you require. An autumn sowing usually has a more successful strike by not having to compete with annual weeds and not drying out at the same rate as an early summer sown lawn. Fruit: Blossoms have moved on to forming fruit, gooseberries, currents,  strawberries, pip and stone fruit seem to be all swelling fruit well. Remember to keep water up when needed while fruit is plumping. Veg: Keep planting veg seeds and plants, a few at a time so you can have the continuous thing happening. Butterflies are about wanting to lay eggs on brassica crops, keep them off with overhead netting.  The ground is warm enough now to plant corn and beans, pumpkins and courgettes. Carrot flies are still about, when thinning carrots remove thinnings as carrot flies can pick up the scent from far away. In the glass house tomato plants will be looking to be tied and supported, cucumbers and peppers should be starting to make progress. Plant basil and a few marigolds to encourage pollinators in and deter pests. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in waitaki October 26th 2022

New peony growth.

November soon and hopefully more consistent warmth for growing.  As Spring moves on with new growth still too tender to need our attention.  Rose buds are forming, thank goodness for the rain we have had to get them off to a good start, aphids can be dealt to with a finger and thumb on the new growth tips before they settle in around bushes.  Deciduous azaleas Are taking center stage flaunting wonderful colors, the display in our Botanical Gardens is breathtaking right now.  Peony roses are budding well ready to delight us when they explode into flower, early peony buds are already opening so if you haven't already done so get some frames around them to keep them from flopping under the weight of flowers.  Dahlias are pushing through now, if you discover some in shade with tree branches having spread wider they can be shifted while leaves are still low, take a good amount of soil around the roots and plant in a sunny position.  Hydrangeas have leafed up and are starting to produce flower heads so it is important to keep the water and food up to them, old stable manure, blood and bone, liquid or slow release fertiliser will keep them happy and flowering well. It's lime for pink and Epsom salts or aluminum sulphate to keep them blue. Strong winds can be detrimental to new hydrangea leaves, if they do get damaged they will soon recover. Hydrangeas are the perfect shrub for a semi shaded area. Fuchsias also prefer semi shade and are making a lot of growth now as well, if you missed cutting any back, do it now, they will flower later but will soon catch up.   Abutilon (Chinese lantern: If you are looking for something non invasive to make a show of colour against a wall why not try Abutilon. They come in strong colours of yellow, orange, burgundy and white. I planted yellow, burgundy and white together in a large container under planted with a lime green sedum.  Abutilon being a rather spindly plant I intertwined them and they now look like one bush.  Lawns: We are still getting heavy dews on lawns which helps to keep them lush, but hot days will soon put grass under stress, have lawn food on hand for the next good rain. If your lawns are inclined to crack when dry they have probably been planted on soil with high clay content. A soil test is the best way to determine what's best for a healthy growing lawn and garden. To test your soil pH level, a simple and effective way is to use a home testing kit. I have always suggested gypsum is used to break down clay soil but since giving time to study results I now know that gypsum works well on coastal soil with clay and sodium content but not on heavy clay soil inland. To rectify heavy, non draining soil add organic matter, along with at least 6 inches of river sand to the top 6 inches of soil worked in before sowing seed and just spread over an already existing lawn.  Vegetables: We have had some rain this spring but not enough to give veg gardens the start needed, hosing does not give the same results as a good rain, but of course with early new growth weeds will take over if left unattended. Hoeing while small is still the best weeding method I know. Any veg plant or seed now will pop up and thrive when the sun shines. Tomatoes; will be getting taller now however the consistent cold snaps and  will be holding them back ,making leaves curl and take on a blueish look, this will stop once we get a continuous warm spell. On dull cold days watering will chill them further so water and folia feed on the warm days early in the day to allow time for soil to warm again before the evening.  Cheers,Linda.

Young tomato plants.

Gardening in Waitaki October 19th 2022

Spring is such a beautiful time but as always so unpredictable, very difficult gardening weather with one day warm and the next really cold! It was getting dry and then rain on Monday evening and then a lovely soft shower or two again as I write this on Tuesday. Moisture helps soil to warm and create perfect growing conditions. If weed spraying is needed now is the time before new weed seeds form, pop and spread but please choose a spraying day wisely. Bees choose sunny days to be busy working, to be in line of weed or pesticide spray in the air and coating plants. They have such an important job to do for nature. Natural, alternative weed sprays are much improved these days for driveways and rough areas needing attention. Perennial weeds like convolvulus, couch grass and dock are not so easy to kill with alternative weed spray because their roots are long and strong but if you are prepared to keep at them, spraying each time they send shoots up you will beat them.  I have not used pesticide for many years, prefering to encourage the predators of garden pests. Predators will arrive and feed on an infestation if left long enough to be found. In my experience it took two to three seasons of ensuring good plant health for nature to work and trust my no spray garden. Then I saw positive results of nature taking care of things. Right now as the growing season begins aphids on rose leaf tips can be removed with a finger and thumb, black aphids love to start, breed and fatten on broad bean tip growth, pinch off affected tips and destroy before they travel down to lower leaf and flowers.  Trim shrubs that flowered in late winter now if you have not already done so, before they put new growth on past old growth and get leggy. This partially applies to ericas, callunas and hebes once they have finished flowering. Newly planted shrubs and trees need to be really well staked before the strong winds we usually get around Labor weekend, if trunks and roots are moving around in wind growth will be slow and stunted or not at all. Also keep the water up to newly planted shrubs and trees until roots become established enough to hold.  Tubular begonias will be showing shoots now, bed them into damp (not wet) sawdust or peat / compost. Once this is done they will begin to sprout well, they must never dry out again until they have finished flowering and time to dry store them again.  Peony rose growth should be well up now, while plants are still low, place wire ring supports around to hold them as they grow. Young shoots of peony plants are very delicate and easily broken which can lead to pests, diseases, and even the death of the plant. Now is the time to layer azaleas and rhododendrons, low growing magnolias and other low growing shrubs by pinning a slim branch down into soil then firming in place with maybe a bent wire. Hopefully by the end of this growing season the branch will have developed strong roots which should remain attached to the Mother plant for another year before cutting free to be potted up to grow on as a new bush.  Lawns would have loved the soft rain and being fed during rain, if not this last rain  have fetiliser ready for the next spring shower. Fruit: Keep moisture up to all berry bushes as they move from flowering to making fruit. Vegetables: Still no white butterflies about (in my garden) keep planting out seeds and seedling plants and keeping moisture up to them. Mound up potatoes as they push leaf through and cover at night should there be another cold snap to blacken off new growth. Get peas in with supports, they will be up in no time wanting to climb, like climbing beans they need to be planted in an open sunny position and support has to go in when they are planted so they are not disturbed once they start growing. Because peas and beans put on so much growth in a short time a trench of animal manure enriched compost and a little lime for roots to tap into will keep them growing and flowering longer. ( This applies to the flower sweet peas as well)  Herbs: If you have not removed old growth from your herbs do it as soon as possible because they are putting on new growth, feed manure enriched compost with lime added and keep picking often to encourage continual new growth all season for your salads and cooking.  Cheers, Linda

Gardening in Waitaki October 11th 2022

It's all on now that the cold snap is over, soil is warm again and all we gardeners require now is a nice gentle shower or two because as I write this our sprinkler is on the lawn and I am needing to water gardens.Later flowering blossoms are taking center stage now like prunus Kanzan and prunus shimidsu sakura. Enjoy because they will not be on show again until this time next year.  Weeding, weeding, weeding is what happens now,  spot spraying convolvulus and couch while fresh new growth is coming through is about the only way I was able to get on top of them, I would zap them on a non windy day. I could never use weed spray anywhere near roses, a sniff of hormone spray will deform the foliage and the rose bush will eventually die so if you need to use spray don't risk it on a windy day.  Coastal gardens will be quite far ahead of gardens inland, still getting reasonable frosts from time to time I'm sure. Late frosts on roses' new growth can be a problem but don' t be too concerned if new growth has been frosted, rose leaves recover very fast and will have new buds to open in six weeks time. When the nights start warming up any dampness left by hose water on rose leaves will encourage mildew, keep food up to your roses while they are making buds, it's hungry roses that get diseased. For a quick result, slow release fertiliser is good right now for any summer flowering plants and shrubs.     Keep deadheading and feeding flowering pansies and polyanthus as long as there is a chill in the air they will keep flowering until it gets warmer, If you feel they have done all they are going to do dig out, cut old leaves back and plant in a cool shady place where they can be left until planting out next year.  Camellias can be trimmed and shaped when finished flowering, take out branches from the middle, enough to let a bird fly through, this lets the light in to help form next year's buds.  About now in  my past large garden I would be taking notice of how shrubs had come through the winter and if some of my front shrub plantings were too big now, hiding good planting areas behind. It takes only a few years for gardens to close in without us really noticing and what a difference can be made by opening up and creating distance for a new and interesting planting.   Seeds are germinating very quickly now, sunflower, cosmos, cornflower, lavatera, nasturtiums are some of the flowers seeds I planted into trays but because they are still small snails and slugs will be attracted to them so I will pop into punnets until they put on more growth. If you are keen to attract monarch butterflies on the coast, plant swan plants now but protect from late frosts until established.  Vegetables: Keep an eye on potatoes that are through the ground, frost cloth may still be needed depending on where you live. Soil is warm enough now and there are so many veg options available for growing our own food. Sow salad greens, carrots, corn, beans, beetroot, Pumpkin, squash, and courgette.  If you prefer to buy plants be sure to harden them off outside in a protected place before planting. Glass houses will be ready for the many varieties of tomato plants on offer but if you have no glass or tunnel house try growing on a sunny deck or patio the harder tomatoes  in containers or planter bags that can include stakes.  Smaller varieties are easiest to manage e.g. Red Robin, Russian red or Totem in containers and the cherry tomato tumbling Tom in large hanging baskets. Plant in a tomato mix, water as needed and liquid feed fortnightly. In the glass or tunnel house why not try basil plants growing among tomatoes to repel white fly, the general consensus is that basil - both plants and extracts made from the leaves can be an effective natural deterrent for white fly, mosquitoes, tomato horn-worm, aphids and house fly as well as being a wonderful culinary enhancement with tomatoes.  Cheers, Linda

Gardening in Waitaki October 5th 2022

Trim back ericas that have flowered.

As I write this it is the first week of School holidays and the cold polar blast will be keeping all inside,a gentle warm spring drizzle is what gardens need right now, not this harsh weather which is hard on new spring growth. Spring bulbs are still dancing in gardens. Enjoy the blooms then let green tops die down into bulbs to feed and encourage bulbs to multiply. If you have really big clumps of bulbs choking your garden space there will always be someone willing to bring a spade to halve big clumps and adopt bulbs. Put a sign at the gate saying Bulbs to give away, bring a spade! Geen tops will still die back into bulbs if left on when dug up. Sifted soil is what is needed for reseeding lawn bare patches and to add body to tired gardens, pots, baskets and seed trays. With peat based planting mediums used today soil becomes light and fluffy and will not hold moisture, soil is nature given for growing and sifted it is the perfect medium for new roots, spread it on top and it will wash in beneath the mulch with each watering to bulk up depleted soil. Lavenders eventually reach the end of their growing but if trimmed back at the end of Winter you will soon know if they are going to make good growth only or just patchy growth with most of the plant staying woody. If you have the odd lavender doing this pull it out and replace it with a fresh plant. Cuttings can be taken now from stronger growing lavenders, Tip cuttings with stems that have firmed can be taken along with a little hard wood at the bottom, (too soft and it will not work) strip bottom leaves and dip into rooting hormone, then push into damp, sharp crusher dust and place in a warm place with good overhead light, (not full sun) . Nurse cuttings until they are ready to pot on into individual pots. Take tip cuttings from shrubs as well now once stems have firmed, using the same method as lavender cuttings. They will make roots over the Spring and summer ready to be potted and nursed for planting at the end of next winter. Keep an eye on tall growing chrysanthemums they start making a lot of growth now, Pinch back growing tips two or three times as they grow to keep them bushy. If this is not done they become leggy and woody. Prune fuchsias back now if you have not already done so, they will make new fresh growth, because they flower on new seasons wood, they can be taken well back. Ericas that flowered over winter can be trimmed now so new growth does not start above the spent flowers. Dahlias are just starting to make a move so if you want colour to continue in your garden when the spring show is over dahlias will do the job. They like a warm full sun, free draining spot, tubas will rot if planted in ground that remains wet. Lawns: mowers are humming again on lush lawns, use the clippings around your garden as mulch, not great piles but evenly scattered around will keep the weeds down and help to retain moisture. Vegetables: Tomatoes, Peppers and cucumbers for those with glass houses, prepare the soil well by digging in good organic compost. This will need to have been heated to the point of all fungus disease being eradicated. Summers here in North Otago can be cool so a glass or tunnel house is a must if wanting to be a serious tomato grower. However, a glass house is a perfect incubator for fungus disease during nights and dull days when moisture is not taken up quickly by plants and never let tomato plant leaves go into the night wet. There are a lot of tomato varieties to choose from. Beefsteak, the big tomato best for sandwiches and cooking, Early girl, stars producing early and keeps on until late in the season, Potentate, medium/small firm with moderate acidity and low in sugar, Money maker, medium size and good flavor , Doctor Walter is the very low acid tomato Cherry tomatoes, the plant you can grow in a pot inside or on a porch, great for Children's lunch boxes. Russian red a tomato to grow outside in a sunny spot protected from the wind. Heirloom tomatoes have become popular, they don't look great but they have the great taste of yesteryear. Most need staked and tied up in the glass house and ALL tomatoes like sun all day, 6 to 8 hours. Nip out laterals and it helps the fruit if there are fewer leaves on the plants. Tomato leaves create unneeded shade, compete for nutrients, and harbor disease. Keep planting vegetable seeds directly into the garden but don't sow too thickly, mix seeds with fine soil when sowing to avoid a lot of thinning. Beans, pumpkins and corn can be planted as soon as the ground remains warm. Cheers, Linda. Tomatoes,basil, peppers and cucumber.

Gardening in North Otago 28th September 2022

Dahlias for summer colour.

October’s a rewarding month in the garden, seeds sown will be popping up and seedlings planted making good growth. There is a lot now on offer in plant outlets and plenty to enjoy and do in the garden. During the many years I have been a Gardener gardening methods have gone through changes, digging soil and digging in compost was encouraged in the early days with ongoing weeding soil between plants. Then mulching bare soil between plants became the thing. Now Gardeners are encouraged to fill gardens with planting, allowing no gaps and keeping soil structure in tack by composting on top of soil to be taken down by hard working worms. This is the practice I have preferred for many years with good results, especially through the drying summer months. Close planting shades plant roots and mulching retains ground moisture, undisturbed soil is how nature meant it to be. Direct drilling on farm land allows soil structure to stay intact, the next step now would be to move away from mono plant crops by including mixed plant species in rows through or around cropping pastures. Predators of insect crop pests would be encouraged and chemical pest spraying reduced, then hopefully someday eliminated. Lavenders are out there for sale again, all flowering and looking good. These lavenders will have been encouraged to flower so what I do when I buy one is cut most of the flowers off to give the roots a good chance to establish. If flowers are left they want to make seed which takes a lot out of a new plant. Lavenders in the garden can be cut back if woody as new growth is pushing out now. Tip cuttings of fuchsia, hebe's, and chrysanthemum can be taken now, as long as stems snap off when bent they will be ready, if they don't then they are still too soft. Once snapped off, push into river sand to develop roots. Chrysanthemums will not flower until Autumn and most grow too tall. Chrysanthemums are not pruned, instead When a plant reaches 6 inches tall in spring, simply pinch off 1 inch of each shoot. throughout the growing season to encourage plants to branch out, become fuller and offer more blooms. Prune fuchsias back now and they will make new fresh growth, they flower on their new wood so can be taken well back. It is too early to trim box hedge, wait until spring growth has finished as you only want to trim once. It's time to think about Dahlias in the garden for summer color. If you have a sunny spot that needs a bit of brightening up, how about putting in a few dahlia tubers? They come in beautiful shades and varieties, Tall, medium and dwarf and are just starting to make a move now. If you want colour to continue in your garden when the Rhododendrons have finished, dahlias will do the trick. Tubas are on offer now in shops, choose some and plant in a sunny, free draining spot. Dahlia tubers will rot if planted in ground that stays wet. Peony roses & Hosta's are on the move, peony roses like all day sun, no overhead shading, this is the time to put in wire rings to hold stems as they grow. Hostas prefer shade and moist conditions. Slugs and snails LOVE eating hostas so while they are still not fully grown surround stems with sharp gravel or clippings of prickly plants. Still too cold to plant out most summer flowering annuals even though we are getting warmer days but they can be potted up and grown on in a sheltered place until the soil and nights are warm enough. Lawns are growing well now, keep the catcher up and have lawn fertiliser ready to apply during the next rain. Vegetable growing is on the go again as it's the perfect time to start growing food, salad greens, peas, carrots, brassicas grown in rotation will keep your supply up and save you money. I plant a few veg seedlings every second week so they will mature at different times. Potatoes are another easy to grow money saver. Prepared soil and dig straight, shallow trenches, 2 to 3 feet apart. Plant 12 inches apart, and cover with a good amount of soil. When new green leaves reach 10 to 12 inches tall, mound soil up against the leaf shoots, burying stems halfway. Mounding will help protect potatoes from the elements. To avoid blight water soil not the foliage. When watering, water the soil not the foliage to avoid blight. Be vigilant and stop unwanted insects and diseases from ruining your plants. Tunnel and glass houses should be ready to plant tomatoes, peppers and cucumber along with a scatter of marigold seed to flower and help with white fly. Cheers, Linda.

Early plantings in the glass house.

Gardening in Waitaki September 21st 2022

Garden magic is now in full swing, Waitaki is looking so pretty right now with the help of some warmth and showers. The hum of bees is back and it's a joy to be planting out gardens again.   Seed sowing and planting to take us right through late spring and summer, happens now there is so much on offer, tubas, bulbs, bedding plants, shrubs and trees waiting to be chosen and planted.  When buying punnets of plants get them accustomed to changeable weather and cold nights before planting.  I absolutely love sweet peas, so I have had groups sitting over winter for an early flowering and today have planted more to scramble up behind lower plantings. Sweet peas are gross feeders so a trench filled with well rotted animal manure below the soil they are sown in is beneficial. Fuchsias: Here on the coast fuchsias can be cut back now that they are pushing out leaves, they flower on new growth so take them as far back as you need to for the height you would like them flowering. Fuchsias prefer afternoon shade, moist ground and food keep up to them during the growing season to get best results. Rose leaf tips may be targeted by greenfly during mild days, keep an eye out for hatchlings, usually right at the tip of new growth and squish them with a finger and thumb, I keep this up to eliminate the need to spray. As I mentioned last week, roses will be looking for food, old stable manure or the pig and sawdust mix at the Recycling centre  around the drip line (not up against branches) will keep them happy.  Lawns: Winter damage will be noticed in lawns now that grass is growing again, rake out damaged patches, rough up the soil then spread generous amounts of clean, sifted topsoil to sow grass seed on. If birds are a problem each patch can be covered with shade cloth until seed germinates.  Vegetables:  Here on the coast plant lettuce plants at two week intervals and any spare ground could be planted out in seed potatoes. I am now dealing with clodding, clay soil in my new raised gardens. During winter I planted them with a green crop which has since been dug in and managed to grow a few veg in amongst it. The soil is still heavy but I know that layering compost on top now for worms to take down will improve  it during spring and summer. Worms: I am often told that gardens are lacking in worms, especially those newly created like mine, I came across a way to encourage worms a few years ago that I now use. Half fill a fertiliser bag with fresh cow / horse manure and leave it sitting on top of grass or soil for a number of weeks, long enough for manure moisture to leach out into the ground. When the bag is lifted there should be a mass of garden worms there. Tiger worms from worm farms do not last long in gardens, they remain too close to the top of soil so are taken by birds.  Fruit: Strawberry plants are on the move towards flowering, they will be looking for compost mulch now to grow into. Bees are about to pollinate blossoms, too late now for any spraying, just let the bees do their work and look forward to bumper crops. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki September 14th 2022

Trimming lavender in spring.

Another unsettled week here in North Otago but I guess that is expected from spring weather, I am so looking forward to warm sun filled days with the hum of bees, then it is a joy to be in the garden again. Seedlings need to be protected during Spring cold snaps so if buying punnets of annuals get them accustomed to changeable weather and cold nights before planting them out and possibly losing them. Still too early for lobelia, begonias, petunias and marigold but not too early to sow seed of these under protection. This is the perfect time to plant seed for late spring and early summer, wildflower seeds, cosmos, cornflower, lavatera, nigella, poppys, statice, to name but a few. A patch of wildflowers look wonderful if you have room in your garden, or a neglected area nearby that could do with brightening up. Now is a good time for clearing weeds to create a wild garden, weeds are small and the ground is soft, completely remove any perennial weeds like couch grass, dock and convolvulus then loosen soil enough to sow seeds. Potted shrubs need to be inspected for root crowding, it takes only a year for some to exhaust the mix they are planted in. Remove from the pot if not too big and trim roots back by half with a sharp spade and replant into a fresh, heavy potting mix, then completely soak to the bottom of the pot to help the shrub settle back in with no air pockets. With Larger unmanageable pots and barrels I top up with mix after pushing a sharp object down through the roots to create large holes for potting mix to be washed down in around established roots. However if after a number of years a shub stops thriving it will be time to start again with something fresh. Lavenders:Will be showing new growth now so if yours need a trim do it now. Because they are so popular I thought I would go into detail. 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 plants. Munstead lavender is the small edging variety which will not spill over a path as other English lavenders. The bumble bee type, lavender major, are more manageable in boarders and the French lavender dentata is a tall hedging lavender with serrated leaves that flowers all year round.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. Full sun, with a dressing of lime from time to time, lavenders like it dry but need to get roots down deep to tap into lower soil moisture. Rose leaves are firming up now and buds are forming so they are looking for food to help with the long growing season ahead, getting moisture down and mulching to keep it there is really beneficial to keep them healthy and from dehydrating as we head into hot weather. Healthy happy roses do not attract pests which means very little spaying, if any. Lawns: The mowers are out again! keep catchers up while grass is lush and they will not dry out as they do when cut low. I managed to make use of the last rain shower by fertilising our lawn which should give it a boost to start the new mowing season off. Vegetables: Sow veg seeds into trays and protected from cold, cover seedling plants already planted from cold and birds. My board beans and peas are up and doing well and the seed potatoes I have ready to plant have sprouted well, I am sure there will be clever Gardeners out there who have potatoes growing in a sheltered spot almost ready for the pot but I wait until I see a rogue potato left behind from last year's digging to send up leaves to let me know the ground is ready. Fruit: All berry fruits are on the move so food, water and mulching are needed for a good production, the earlier this is done the better the crops. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki September 6th 2022

Well it arrived, the last sting of winter....(we hope) snow flurries, cold and frosts here in North Otago yesterday, causing Gardeners, bugs and plants to retreat back into winter mode. Cherry blossoms should be unfolding now, so on warmer days bee's will be back to work. With spring stopping and starting this year it has allowed  more time to shift and reduce the size of perennial plants. I am sure every gardener enjoys trying new plants and colour combinations. Now is the perfect time to sow seeds for summer flowering, I have mine under glass and some hardening off under frost cloth as germination has happened in stop, start mode this year but I see some are up and in need of thinning and regular watering. I thin them out by transplanting some like Pansy and dianthus which have shallow roots into deeper seed trays and those with longer deeper roots like lupin, hellebore and Oriental poppy into their own individual small root pots. It is best to have a well developed root ball attached before planting out. Baskets and pots can thought about now, plan with the thought of using only shallow rooted plants for baskets like pansy, lobelia, small type petunias, nemesia, and trailers like Virginia stock and dwarf sweet pea. Add slow release fertiliser and water Chrystal's to keep plants going through the growing season. To get the best results the roots of what you want to plant will determine the size and depth of a pot, give plants the depth needed for growing. Look around the garden for plants to make an edge to give a border a formal look. A border of low plants will also stop birds scratching uncovered soil for worms to feed their young. A large clump of lambs ear, catmint, dianthus,  scabiosa, aubretia, viola Maggie mott to name only a few clumps that may be growing in your garden.  Hydrangeas and fuchsias Once this cold snap is over hydrangeas and fuchsias can be pruned, they both flower on new growth. Hydrangeas are pruned by cutting stems that flowered last season down to the second bud from the bottom and leaving the new stems unpruned to carry flowers for this year.  Fuschias can be cut right back, commercial  growers do this to encourage new fresh growth so cut back all that scraggly old wood, but have the frost cloth ready in case we have another cold blast. Dahlia tubers can be planted now that soil is not so wet,  tubers left in the ground over winter will start to come into leaf when the temperature is right for them, some may have rotted in wet ground. . Roses are starting to bud, we still have time to plant new roses and feed all established roses, plus we don't have to chase aphids ( green fly) yet but they will be about soon to settle on the top new growth, easily visible for you to dispose of by removing with your finger and thumb.  Lawns: Prepare ground for sowing new lawns, here on the coast ground will soon be warm enough to get a strike, seed must be sown thickly in spring to beat the annual weeds. Once spring mowing starts keep the mower blades up to allow grass to thicken up and feed lawns just before or during rain and they will stay lush. Fruit: Now that sap is up, prune unwanted growth from established fruit trees using clean tools, large wounds can be sealed with beeswax, smaller wounds will heal and not push out new growths as they tend to when pruned during winter. Vegetables: Here on the coast sow lettuce seed and plant lettuce plants out at two week intervals. My board beans are well up, I was once told to plant each bean with a little potash to help with rust problems, they still get a little rust but I think that's probably due to them getting too dry between waterings. Strong winds will be with us soon so now is the time to put in stakes to secure them. Prepare ground for planting seed potatoes in soil with organic matter added like compost ( not manure) this will push out too much green top. Plant sprouted seed potatoes in furrows (rows of small trenches) about 15 cm deep and 80cm apart. Place seed potatoes 25cm apart with the sprouts pointing up and cover carefully with soil. As the shoots pop up through the soil mound the soil around the shoots until the potato stems start to flower. Strawberries are starting to move towards budding, they need to be fed, watered and mulched, aged animal manure and straw, pine needles or un sprayed grass clippings will do the trick. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki September 1st 2022

SEPTEMBER, the beginning of our new growing season and this past week has convinced me that spring has arrived with bulbs, blossoms and flowering rhododendrons in abundance around North Otago. Everyday something new is happening in gardens, sweet peas, ranunculus, anemones and tulips are through and putting on good growth each day. If you have wide perennial borders couch grass, biddy- bid, and chick-weed will be growing as fast as spring plants. Try to get rid of weeds now while flowering plants are still low and the ground still soft. This is the perfect time to get garden plots ready for spring planting once the threat of frost is behind us, don't be in a hurry to plant because it is still early enough and soft seedling plants will hold in punnets and pots until the time is right. Liquid feeding can start now on all perennials and bedding plants making growth, and now is the time to start applying slow release fertilizer to trees, shrubs and plants you feel need a boost. Potted plants that have wintered over will be looking forward to a revamp with a root reduction ( if needed), new potting mix and a tidy up. Last year's potting medium will now not contain food for this new growing season. Cut the old growth from the cat-mint once the new growth is noticed, this applies to all perennials that have wintered over with last year's growth left on for protection. It's time to think about garden colour for late spring and summer. Early spring takes care of itself with what is left in the ground from year to year, colour where you want it and what colour is needed where. Concentrate on the sunny areas in the garden because these will be the warmest to get bedding pants and perennials moving. There is a great choice of roses on offer right now for summer colour, they do not need to all grow together in a rose bed, use them as gap fillers in sunny borders. If you're new to roses I have listed the different modern rose types below. Miniature Roses A dwarf growing bush rose with all parts scaled down. Their height will be listed on the label - I find these not as long lived as the larger bush rose. If you have one that is not performing now, and has been growing for a few years, dig it out, change the soil and plant another. PATIO ROSES About knee high for a front border planting, about 80 cm apart when grouping. These can be grown in containers as long as the roots are cool and they are fed right through the growing season. FLORIBUNDA Flowers grow in clusters - bushes grow to about waist high on average, space these about 1mtr apart when grouping. Cut off flower clusters when spentand they will reward you with masses of colour right through the growing season. HYBRID TEA This is the rose to give you the large exhibition one steam bloom. They grow about chest high. These are the picking roses and need feeding well right through the growing season to give the best results. CLIMBING ROSES Flower on branches trained horizontally along a wall or fence. PILLAR ROSES These are the roses to grow up a pillar or over an arch. The secret to keeping roses free from disease starts now with removing all last years' diseased wood and leaves from the ground after pruning and burning. Keep the food up to roses, starting now while they are beginning to leaf and continue right through until the end of summer. Manure enriched compost around them now will feed and protect the roots. When the ground warms up a little sprinkle the man-made balanced rose fertiliser around them and water in. These fertilisers have been designed to promote just the right amount of leaf and flower growth but need warmer soil to activate so don't waste fertiliser by using too soon. From my experience a rose-planted bare rooted in the winter or early spring will do better than a potted rose planted during the warmer months.. Here I am heading on into summer already with my advice!! enjoy spring and all its splendor happening around us right now. Vegatables and fruit All green crops need to be dug in now, before flowering and becoming stringy. Keep planting seeds and seedlings during this absence of white butterflies! but cover seedlings to keep hungry birds off. Gooseberry bushes are early to flower and leaf so if thinning is needed do it now, cutting up the bottom branches will get bushes higher off the ground for picking from underneath. Keep an eye on early peach and nectarine budding, just on bud burst is the time to give a spray of sulfur or copper-based fungicides for leaf curl. Note: The Garden corner at the Waitaki Recycling Centre in Chelmer St here in Oamaru is being set up for an openong this weekend, we were going to open in October but we find that Gardeners are wanting to start planting now. Lots of nice fresh stock priced and ready to go. No vegetable plants yet, those being grown are still not ready.

My veg seedlings ready growing fast.

Gardening in Waitaki August 23rd 2022

Almost the end of August which means we should be leaving winter behind, BUT we could have a few more frosts which would upset my new seedlings, so my frost protection will stay on for a while yet. Plants have been putting on slow growth in the last couple of weeks, weeds included, chickweed and bidibid will romp away now that days are longer but at this stage are very easy to pull out before they run seed.  Magnificent magnolias have been taking center stage, they are very worthwhile trees to grace any medium sized garden. Beautiful bare branching through winter, stunning blooms and then large attractive leaves take them through to winter. They grow well with azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias because they all prefer an acid soil. There are many different choices in tree size and blooms, for the smaller garden, Magnolia billowing cloud is White / Pink Upright habit- Hgt / width 3m x 2,5m, for a larger garden Magnolia Charles Raffill soft Pink upright habit, Ht/width 7m x 5m, and Star Wars one of the first out, lovely large pink fragrant blooms   Ht/width5m x 4m, so many different beauties to choose from in Garden centers now. Roses: roots are moving fast now looking for food to swell buds into leaf. Well fed roses stay healthy roses, well worth the effort to minimize any spaying needed later on  Sow seeds under cover, seed packs that recommend spring sowing should germinate now. I sow seeds in trays of potting mix / soil mixed and layer of seed raising mix on the top. Once planted, cover trays with plastic or glass, using spacers to let air circulate. Lawns will be greening up after the rain but will need some attention after Winter dormancy. Moss can be eradicated with sulphate of iron (watering can), once moss has turned black rake out. The presence of moss in lawns indicates poor growing conditions for grass, growing where grass cannot survive, such as nutrient poor soil, soil with high acidity, soil that is compacted or drains poorly or where there is excessive shade or thatch accumulation. Give the older lawns a good rake to lift any thick thatch, cut and then aerate to improve drainage. Once all this has been completed, over the next 2 to 3 weeks apply lawn fertiliser during rain to boost and give lawns a good start. Vegetables: If you are planting out a veg garden, seedlings are best planted in a sunny position, kept moist and covered from birds and butterflys. Birds love small new plantings and butterflies, like to lay eggs on veg at any stage.  In area's you do not plan to plant for a while sow a green crop to add humus to the soil, Mustard, lupine, barley or wheat they will germinate in no time then dig in when lush, soft and green.Plenty of seed potatoes on offer now for you to get sprouting, early varieties can go in if soil is not too wet, and should show leaf in about a month when frosts are over.  protected from frost if they show leaves early. Fruit: As mentioned last week give fruiting shrubs and trees a dressing of potash enriched fertiliser to help with fruiting. Fruit trees and everything in the way of small fruit should be planted in August / early September at the latest. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki August 16th 2022

Days are really drawing out now as spring is slowly pushing winter out a little more each day, but as I write this I hear there is wet weather coming our way once again. After the last lot of wet we are still drying out from our ground will not take long to become saturated once again. On our new build back lawn we soon found out where moisture was not getting away and new grass died from rot. My garden plan for that area has had to change and introduce more gravel to allow for drainage to be included. We are dealing with a compacted clay pan not far below soil returned to our site after the build. Raised garden beds work to give plant feeder roots a depth of soil to establish as taproots force down through the clay. Raised gardens along a fence line in a new build are becoming the norm. Firstly a length, be it wood or stone will be used to create a raised bed, either in a straight line or curved to suit your proposed design, the height of this is a personal choice. Wood will be used for ours, 200 mills in height, pegged in place then filled with a mix of soil and the compost from Alliance Pukeuri plant, contact (Gregg Mcone ph:0272293215). Perennial weeds and couch grass are best removed before beginning to create a clean planting space. Planting trees where a depth is required, digging down into clay will need to be done, so digging deeper than needed is required then gravel or stones  added to the bottom of the hole to create a sump for drainage and trees or shrubs staked well against wind. Sowing seeds can be done now under cover and placed in a warm sunny place to germinate, air spaces are needed when trays are covered with glass or plastic to eliminate mold and rot. Hardwood cuttings can be taken at this time when sap is slowly rising, cuttings of deciduous plants, hydrangeas, roses, grapes and wisteria are best taken in winter. The last of winter pruning and the start of a winter clean up around gardens will be happening now. I have cut back woody munstead lavenders, some will survive but as lavenders give up after a few years I don't expect all of them to come away again. Lavenders seem to like a hungry ground but will benefit with a dressing of lime to boost them. Any plants that are starting to push out spring growth will benefit from feeding now. Peony roses are pushing up through the pea straw so watch where feet are put because at this stage shoots will break off if bumped.  Vegetables: If you plan to grow vegetables this summer, get the garden ready now by digging in weed free compost, then let the soil settle before planting. Plant veg seedlings then keep moist until they take hold and start growing, watering is best done at the start of the day. Cover with frost cloth or old shade curtains to keep birds and butterflies off.  In area's you do not plan to plant out for a while why not do tired soil a favor and sow a green crop to add humus. Mustard, lupine, barley or wheat, they will germinate in no time to be dug in while still lush. Plenty of seed potatoes on offer now for you to get sprouting, early varieties can go in if soil is dry enough, they should show leaf in about a month when frosts are over.  Fruit This is also the time to give fruiting shrubs and trees a dressing of potash to help with fruiting. I have been thinning and arranging  raspberry canes this week, taking out old canes that have fruited and removing  all spindly canes and excess runners.Now is a good time to trim, feed and shift citrus trees. Cheers, Linda.