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