Gardening in Waitaki 11th May 2022

Leaf mulch composting in bags.

Wow what a change in our weather here in Waitaki, winter woolies will be getting an airing I am sure. After the rain there will be wet leaves everywhere waiting to be raked and hopefully used on compost heaps or on gardens. Leaf mulch is wonderful for soil, especially wet leaves already beginning to break down and will usually stay if put on gaps in the garden. With wet fallen leaves getting a head start in breaking down in the autumn warmth it would be a waste not to turn them into leaf mulch. Each tree leaf drop is meant for nourishing the roots of the tree that shed them but piles of leaves left on lawns will restrict light needed for grass growth. Leaves can be returned to tree roots as leaf mulch. To make leaf mulch : I have used both black plastic bags or wool packs to create leaf mulch. Firstly mowing through piles of dry leaves gets mulch breaking down faster, if leaves are dry add enough water to wet each layer, grass clippings caught in the mowing will add a green component. Leave your full, closed bag in a warm place that catches all day winter sun and mulch should be ready to place around the garden come spring. I have been potting on seedlings and cuttings before the nights get colder, they are lifted straight from seed trays or the riversand I use for cuttings. The newly potted will need frost cloth cover from now on until spring which will be removed during sunny days then replaced once the sun goes down. Remove water trays from potted plants, soil will stay damp from now on and should never be waterlogged through winter as this will lead to plant roots freezing and rotting. This is a great time to make new perennial beds or re-organise existing beds, with perennial clumps increasing in size annually they soon over fill a space. Lift overgrown clumps, break up and replant some of the youngest growths from the perimeter. Healthy vigorous plants can be reduced by putting a sharp spade in where you would like a reduction then lift the cut portion out without disturbing the remaining plant. I have done this in the past with asters, phlox, aubretia, small grasses, hosta's, lambs ear, modo grass and herbs like sage, thyme and lemon balm. Rockery plants can be divided now as well. Once plants have been sectioned and rearranged, cover the bed and around plants with compost to encourage new root growth, compost also help to keep perennial beds warmer through the colder months. Hellebores (winter roses) All old leaves from my have now been removed, they are budding up for a winter display so a fortnightly liquid feed can be given now if you feel they need boosting. Further in land it would be advisable to leave some top growth on to give frost protection to soft new growth, once hardened remove all leaves to display flowers. Lilies, this is the main time to shift or divide old over grown clumps of lilies. Be careful not to break the fleshy scales and to retain all the basal roots. Don't pull the old stems away from the bulb as it leaves a hole where water can enter and cause rot, just cut old stems short and bend. Never allow Lilly bulbs to dry out while out of the ground, I plant lilies on a little river sand and cover with compost which has had blood and bone added. May is the planting month for tulips, bulbs should be in retail outlets, plant them at least 8 inches (20cm) deep in a well drained sunny spot, they also do well in an east facing garden. I have stored tulip bulbs in the fridge for a month or two to give them an early chilling before planting. This seems to get them started when soil still has a little warmth. Vegetables and fruit . Continue planting strawberry plants, raising the beds where drainage is suspect and adding manure rich compost to the beds. Still time to get cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, beetroot, bok choi, broad beans, cavolo nero, celery, coriander, kale, mesclun, spinach, silverbeet, onion, parsley and maybe a late crop of peas. Herbs rocket, rosemary, sage, thyme will settle in if planted now as will rhubarb. Feijoas are plumping up and our NZ cranberries (myrtus ugni) are ripe for eating , also figs should be ready along with walnuts and hazelnuts so still a lot of gathering happening. My new gardens are coming along nicely, but still a way to go breaking into new soil and working to a plan. Cheers, Linda

Tulips in my past garden at Rockvale.

Lifting lily bulbs