Gardening in North Otago March 24/3/2022

What a nice wetting, soft rain we received here in North Otago, this Autumn is proving the dampest I can remember but leaves are turning and falling as they should be. Bob, Scruff, the cat and I have finally moved into our new home, what a huge job packing, shifting and unpacking 42 years of living in a 7 bedroomed home down to a 3 bedroom is like fitting a round into a square!!! However my new garden is waiting for me to make things happen once the garage is cleared of STUFF. Cutting will be full on in gardens with everything really tired now and wanting to make seed, when I started chopping back at this time of the year there is no stopping me from leaving destruction in my wake. While working your way around gardens, rake mulch off bearded iris's to allow rhizomes to bake in the sun and cut leaves back by two thirds. Shift any from shaded areas into sunny well drained locations. Iris's are well worth the trouble of growing and look wonderful planted together in their own bed enabling them to put a grand display on come spring. 6-8 weeks after blooming rhizomes can be divided leaving a chunk of rhizome and roots to every new division. If needed you can also divide and re potted clumps of water iris now. To re pot water iris line a plastic pot with sacking, or a chuxs kitchen cloth, place a generous amount of gravel on the bottom then some soil, a little stable manure, or slow release fertiliser granules well into the middle of the pot then plant the iris and add another thick layer of gravel. The gravel on the bottom and top helps to prevent fill and fertiliser leaching from the pot while at the same time weighting the pot down when the iris becomes top heavy. Submerge replanted iris back into the pond. If you have a pond that fills with leaves during Autumn why not cover the pond with netting ar shade cloth to catch them, if they break down in the pond they're a source of nutrients and can quickly overload the pond's natural nitrogen cycle, leaves that are not broken down, turn into sludge at the bottom of the pond. Remove seed heads from ornamental grass if you have not already done so, they just pull away with a rake. Clumps can also now be trimmed back if getting too big or divided by putting a spade through the middle and removing half. Sometimes I have to dig the whole grass out to do this, by putting the spade through once pulled apart while standing on one half of the clump. If you are thinking of adding Rose's, or more roses to your garden I suggest you look at rose variety books or go online to make your choices now, then get your order into a Garden center. New season roses will begin arriving in June and by ordering now you will be sure not to miss out. If ordering for a new rose bed be sure to take note of heights and widths because they will be all growing together and you would not want some out growing and shading others. All bought roses have been grafted onto a strong root stock but roses can be grown from Autumn cuttings on their own roots. Choose a strong new growth about the thickness of a pencil that has made hard wood, if cut from the bottom of the bush three or four cuttings can be taken. Strip all leaves, make a straight cut on the bottom and a slanted cut at a bud node on the top of each cutting. Dig a narrow slit into firm damp earth and push cuttings in straight cut down, then firm soil around cuttings and water in. These cuttings will not make roots until spring, shift and pot each one up when you notice buds swelling. Vegetables. March is an important month for planting winter veg, prepare prior to planting with compost, general garden fertiliser, I add lime to my compost then know the garden is getting it when compost is added. Beetroot, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, spinach, and silverbeet seedlings and broad beans can be planted, covered with netting or frost cloth if they are troubled by birds or white butterflies. In colder areas seeds of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and brussel sprouts are best sown in trays for planting out later. A green manure cover crop will germinate quickly right now to be dug in before flowers develop, this will add enriched humus to soil. Blue lupin, mustard or oats are good options. Parsley can be grown from seed if sown now and perennial herbs such as, chives, mint, thyme, sage, and marjoram can be divided and replanted. Basil is a summer annual so should be harvested, dried or frozen before frost. Prepare garlic beds, sow heartsease (small wild pansy) alongside, a companion plant to garlic and onions. Manure, mulch and compost around fruit trees while the ground is warm. Late peaches should be almost ready to pick now. Feed citrus bushes with citrus fertiliser, they just keep on producing flowers and fruit. A Scruff update, he has reverted back to small dog syndrome since we have become townies, barking and jumping up on visitors, the postie in that red and yellow buggy makes him almost turn inside out!!! a stern talking to sends him off to take his frustration out on a squeaky dog toy we bought him. He has no grounds to be a master off now and he dropped his lead at my feet the other day ...telling me something?? The Lovely Botanical gardens are now our gardens. Cheers, Linda.

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