Gardening in Waitaki February 24th 2022

Collect nature given seedlings.

We should be heading into our driest season but nature has other ideas this year as temperatures fluctuate, however I have been noticing some trees are starting to get an autumn look about them. Leaf colouring occurs because of changes in the length of daylight and temperature, leaves stop their food-making process. The chlorophyll breaks down and green colors disappear leaving yellow, orange and colors to become visible. Gardens will be getting tired and rather faded now so cutting back is the only way to smarten things up and get plants and shrubs to push new growth and colour out before the first frosts. Roses, petunias and begonias get knocked back after rain but if you have the time to deadhead and cut back to new growth they will recover in the warm autumn sun. I find many new seedlings to plant out once gardens are trimmed back and cleared of annual weeds. Cut back what is there flowering and add the annuals that will take over once those flowering now are pulled out. Stock, statice, snapdragon, wall flower, and Iceland poppies are good fillers. I am still collecting and storing seed on dry days, have managed to collect a good stock of lavatera and delphinium seed to dry, the lavatera I will save until spring but the delphinium can be been sown and once up will sit making strong roots until planted out in spring. Roses: If you needed to deadhead roses after the last heavy rain up it should be the time, it is 6 weeks from a prune to another bud which will take us into April, after that flowering don't deadhead, pruning and feeding will encourage new soft growth so no feeding from now on either. leave blooms to make seed which will help to harden wood for the winter ahead. Compost: I have been adding ready compost to potting mix for all the potting up I am doing. Compost bins and heaps should be ready to use on cleared gardens leaving them empty to make room for all the leaves to come. New summer heaps should be breaking down well with the heat and rain. March is definitely a great planting month with the soil warm and the nights and mornings cooler, newly planted trees and shrubs settle in well. There are a lot of well grown trees, shrubs and plants on offer right now in Garden centers ready and waiting to be planted. Gardner's further inland will need to read the labels to establish frost ratings before buying, if in doubt, wait until spring. Spring bulbs can be planted now. If you have not already done so, break up really large clumps as they tend to double in size without you noticing and in no time a garden bed can become choked, looking attractive only in spring and dull for the rest of the year. I have often been asked the reason for spring bulbs not flowering after being planted for a few years, the problem can be overcrowding, lack of adequate light as trees become larger and throw more shade during summer, but the most common problem is bulbs may not have not been planted deep enough. Spring bulbs need to be planted 4 to 6 inches deep, that's 4 to 6 inches on top of the bulb, if not planted deeply eventually when they do come into leaf and experience a dry patch during this time they won't take up enough moisture to come into bud. Rake mulch from bearded iris rhizomes they need to be exposed to the sun for baking now. Layer carnation stems by pinning the center of the stem down under the soil while still attached to the mother plant with the flower end still exposed, roots should form along the buried stem. Once rooted, cut from the mother plant and pot up to grow on before planting out in lime sweetened soil. This layering method can be applied to many herbs, plants and shrubs. Lawns. Rainfall has helped lawns to stay green this summer and catchers will be filling up for a while yet. Autumn is the best time to sow a new lawn as growth slows, grass seed will not have to compete with annual weeds like in a spring sowing. Fruit: Late peaches, plums, quince and new seasons apples coming on. There are so many ways to use fresh apples, if they start dropping from your tree soon and you are unable to use them all give them away to those who can. I picked plums & elderberries last week before the birds got them all and made elderberry cordial, apparently they are good for boosting the immune system and working on flu viruses, worth a try ! Vegetable Gardens will be ready to grow new crops for the cooler seasons, leaf veg should not bolt so readily now and will not mind the days getting shorter and cooling and root veg seeds will germinate well while the ground is still warm. A second sowing of peas can be planted, corn will be ready to pick and pumpkins will have out grown their space by now. Pumpkins should be picked before the first frost. Onions can be lifted once leaves have bent over, don't bend or damage leaves before they are ready to bend naturally if you want them to store and keep well. Once dug lay them out in a warm place to fully ripen then store in a cool place. Root veg seed should germinate quickly in warm/moist autumn soil. Cheers Linda

Gardening in Waitaki 15th February 2022

Summer dead heading roses

The recent rain will have rejuvenated gardens and lawns but I am sure the drop in temperature had an adverse effect on Gardeners, thank goodness the balmy days have returned as we come to the end of this month. Parts of gardens will be getting tired now particularly in hot sunny areas, rain spoiled rose and dahlia blooms need to be removed to get a late show. Cut a rose bloom back to a firm part of the stem at an out facing bud and cut dahlia flower right down off a branch. To get superior blooms on gerberas, dahlias, delphiniums and chrysanthemums dead head and give fortnightly feeds of liquid fertiliser, remove excess buds from large flowering chrysanthemums they will be putting on a show soon,deadheading all plants will encourage flowering rather than seed producing. With rain and the now heavy dew's gardens should carry on producing new growth until the first frosts but as days shorten colouring and leaf fall will begin then the raking up season will begin! Those lucky enough to pile garden trimmings in a stock paddock for burning, be mindful of what is being left for stock to eat. There are a number of common plants that can poison animals and Children : Arum lilies, Calico bush ( Kalmia latifolia ), Daphne, English yew, foxglove, Hemlock, Holly berries, Iris, Ivy, Kowhai (especially seeds) Laburnum, Lily of the valley, Ngaio, Deadly nightshade, Privit, Rhododendron, Rhubarb (leaves) Spindle berry, Potato ( green berries and green tubers) Wrenching: I would dearly love to shift shrubs but I know they would suffer being shifted at this time of the year even if water was kept up to them, best to wait until winter when the sap is down, so wrench now shift later. To wrench is to dig down on one side of the tree or shrub cutting roots as you go, once all feeder roots have been severed pack compost or peat potting mix around them for new roots to grow into over autumn. Untouched roots on the other side will continue to feed the tree or shrub until lifting in winter when plants are dormant. However if you have no option and have to shift trees or shrubs a root ball would need to be as wide as the plant, retaining as much of the tap root as possible, the planting hole should be twice as big as the root ball, compost or peat added then filled with water before planting and firming in with a secure stake to protect the transplant from wind movement. Remove a third off the top and side growth then leave a hose dripping down into roots until you feel things have settled. Monarch butterflies are still busy laying eggs on leaves of swan plants, my advice is to squash eggs because there is no time now for caterpillars to develop in cocoons before temperatures drop at night and their food supply is coming to an end. Once eggs have been removed, cover bushes with frost cloth to keep butterflies off and protection for cocoons developing. Lawn weeds sprayed here last week are wilting away, even the Hydrocotyle which I thought was not going to succumb to the spray. I see where grass grubs are eating away at the roots of grass, mostly in the ground at the foot of trees night beetles strip leaves from, (Grass grubs turn into these beetles), granules can be applied from now until May during the next significant rainfall. Veg: New root veg can go in now, board beans, french beans, carrots, parsnips and beetroot, if planting out leaf veg it would pay to cover from white butterfly and birds that seem to go for the small newly planted. So much home grown produce will be picked and frozen or store for winter this month, it is reassuring for gardeners to know their fresh veg is fresh and safe from chemicals. Tomatoes: Gardeners will be having the same trouble as me, waiting for tomatoes to ripen. There was informative information written by James Wong in the ODT last week which I can endorse. Remove the top tall growth on tomatoe plants once it has produced 4 bunches of fruit. The season is becoming too short now to ripen tomatoes from flowers now and plants will put energy into ripening already developed fruit. Also gradually reduce the amount of water given now. If you are able plants can be stressed into ripening by root trimming, 50cm out from the main stem with a spade work your way around until you have a ring around each plant. If plants are too close together you will be unable to do this. Fruit: Dig out old spent strawberry plants and discard, plants being kept for another season should have runners cut off now to preserve the strength of the main clumps. Transplant strong runners closest to the parent plant and keep water up to them until they make roots. Apples, late peaches, nectarines, quince and grapes are the next picking crops then walnuts will be falling, SUCH ABUNDANCE. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki February 9th 2022

Now that was a good rain for gardens last week, summer rains before Autumn are always a benefit to trees and shrubs carrying full foliage and fruit. However, the drop in temperature sent me looking for warmer clothes and extra bedding. Hoses will be out again now to revive plants from sun heat but moisture will stay around roots from the rain as long as we are free of wind, evaporation from leaves is a problem especially in shallow rooted rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas and tall plants where moisture needs to reach a distance.  Wheelbarrows will have been busy this week, with so much growth, cutting back seems endless, I know I go on about this each week but any plant or bush that has finished flowering needs cut back to where the new growth is starting to appear, hebe's finish flowering and make seed very quickly, cut all those seed heads and stems off, the bush will look bare but will soon push out new growth and stay the size you require it to be.  Photinia bushes and hedges trimmed now will reward you with new bright red foliage in April / May and into the winter. Roses: Keep the water up to roses, if roots dry out between watering they will respond with yellowing leaves, rust and black spot, don't be alarmed these are usually old leaves, remove them before they fall and spread disease into the ground even if it means removing most of the bush, new leaves will soon take their place. buddleias : If you have buddleias, ( the butterfly bush) tall thin arching branches with grey/blue leaves and lavender, purple or pink long narrow flower heads, cut them back almost to the ground when they have finished flowering and they will develop new silver leaves to take them through the winter. They grow back very quickly and are best grown at the back of a border. Ponds will have had a good topping up after the rain, ponds evaporate quickly during very hot days and fish need plant or rock shade cover to stay cool. If you are hoping for your fish to breed  oxigen weed like greenery will need to be in the pond for fish to blow eggs into to hide them from big fish and frogs from eating. When new gold fish hatch they are a light brown and hard to see. English lavender is ready for harvesting now, even if you do not hang and dry it is time to clip back by half to keep bushes from becoming woody. I hang to dry then rub and store for creative people who use it. Lavender likes soil that is low in nutrients so don't pile them up with compost after cutting, it will encourage bushes to split open and flop. A little potash only to increase colour. Garden centers are full of lovely bedding plants and shrubs right now, read labels regarding where to plant, sun/shade, with shrubs frost tolerance is important, I have noticed tender shrubs not suitable for hard frost areas on offer, they look nice but have probably been grown under cover and would not cope with frosts if planted out in the in, in pots under cover they should be ok, ask assistants if in doubt if a plant will tolerate winter in the the area you live. Lawns: Spot spray flat weeds and clover in the lawns with worms in mind I never cover a whole lawn in spray. The evidence of grass grub will be noticeable in tree shaded areas now, the adult brown beetles tend to lay eggs under the trees they feed on. There was an absence of product for a couple of years but I see there are choices back on the market. Eggs of the NZ grass grub are laid in the soil during summer; normally hatching after about 2 weeks. The small larvae feed on the grass roots until spring, infested grass dies off leaving a dead mat. The grubs are usually found about 15 cm below the soil surface and control of the grub requires getting insecticide to this level in the soil. Treatment is most effective from February to March. Fruit: With the warmth fruit has been ripening  well, birds will be  having their fill if fruit is not being picked, I don't bottle these days just stew then freeze for puddings and jam making in the cold months. Late peaches, apples and grapes need water kept up to them. Herbs are wanting to run to seed now so get them cut and dried and a fresh lot of re-growth ready to pick before winter frosts takes them. Vegetables:Keep planting all vegetable plants in rotation...if you now have a space where root veg were growing fill it with leafy veg and visa versa. Any spaces you have vacant fill with a green crop, wheat, barley, oats, blue lupin or mustard seed. Dig into the soil before it flowers. The humus created from a green crop is about the very best thing you can do for tied soil. Cheer, Linda

Gardening in Waitaki 4th February 2022

We got our share of warmth last week and will have responded by opening blooms and pushing out buds and as I write this rain is promised I must comment on how pretty our town is right now with beautiful blue agapanthus cooling warm sunny gardens and complementing the second flush roses and vibrant dahlia's, a special mention to the colorful Council gardens and pretty hanging baskets. If I was still in my big garden I would be cutting back and deadheading so much, it all has to go if it has flowered and died back to encourage new fresh growth. February is a good month for taking cuttings and propagating your own plants because by late summer the soft new spring growth has hardened and cuttings are less likely to lose moisture from leaves. Many common shrubs such as buxus, abelia, lavenders,camellias, azaleas, fuchsias and hebe's have a relatively high success rate, it is all about keeping the cut pieces alive while they develop their own new roots. Professional nursery people grow cuttings in glasshouses where they're regularly misted with fine sprays of water. But there are lots of techniques that can help a home gardener to achieve success. Take cuttings early in the morning, while it’s still cool. Choose tip pieces that are about 100- 150 mm long. Pop immediately into water. Working in the shade, fill pots with Seed Raising Mix / crusher dust and water well, allow to drain, trim the base of the cutting so that it ends just below a leaf node (which is where the leaf has been attached to the stem). Remove bottom leaves, leaving a few at the top, large leaves can be cut in half. Dip the base of the cutting into hormone Gel or powder ( or without) then poke into the mix, a 150mm pot can hold about six cuttings. Place pot in a lightly shaded spot. When nights cool off cover with plastic wrap held above the cuttings, (wire hoops made out of an old coat hangers work well ) keep moist and Check regularly and after a couple of months gently move the stems to feel if they’re firm. This will mean roots have started, plant into individual pots when roots are established. Seed collecting: Seeds grown locally and stored will do well, store in envelopes and label, you think you will remember but! There are many annual flower seeds to collect, Poppy, nigella, cosmos, sweet pea, lupin, lavender plus, plus, plus. If your veg has gone to seed leave until ripe and save to sow in spring. Hedges can get a light tidy up, (not the buxus, too much heat in the sun to trim them just now.) but ok for all other hedges that have put on unwanted new growth. Spring Bulbs will be coming into Garden centers, a bulb comes ready-equipped with food and the promise of a flower, they look best planted in groups. Trees and shrubs: We can hold off from planting planting trees and shrubs, unless you are able to water daily, no reason to not choose and buy trees / shrubs when you see them on offer now, store in light shade while still in growing in bags and keep the water up to them until planting time in mid to late autumn. Lawns: During rain is a good time to fertilise lawns, lawn weeds respond well along with the grass, hydrocotyle is thriving this year with summer rains, hydrocotyle spray which also deals to a number of other lawn weeds including clover will deal to it, sorry worms! spot spraying is best. Fruit: Feed citrus trees with citrus food and spray any scale you notice with winter oil. Fruit is dropping fom trees, plumbs, peaches, apricots and apples and pears are ripening well.I am sure there will be a lot of jam and pickles going into jars. Vegetables: Keep sowing veg seeds like carrot, beetroot, parsnip, spring onion, brussels sprout, keeping onions and lettuce because there is plenty of growing time left to germinate seeds before it cools. Dig and store potatoes if you feel they have been in the ground too long, I was doing this the other day with the unwanted help of scruff the dog...I am sure he thought I was digging up ball's to be carted off ready for throwing! If storing store in a bag or box in a cool dark place layered with a generous amount of fresh mixed herbs cut and placed on top of dug potatoes is an old garden tip for keeping them from rotting and sprouting. I use thyme, rosemary, sage, marjoram and mint. Cheers, Linda.