Gardening in Waitaki May 18th 2022

Here we are now on the last stretch of May and still mild as I write this but with the promise of things to change to cold by the end of the week. I have never known an autumn with so much rain and mud. Being in our new home now Scruff the dog has to put up with having his paws cleaned whenever he enters while looking at us as if thinking "What's this all about" ??The lovely autumn flowering sasanqua camellias are putting on a show now, it almost seems wrong with every plant nearby shutting down for winter. You will probably see these lovely flowering camellias on offer in Garden centres, the perfect shrub to add interest to a garden in late autumn early winter. Roses continue to produce buds and flowers, all the more reason to leave them alone and let the flowers continue on to make seed and in doing so, along with hard frosts  it will harden rose wood in readiness for pruning in July / August. If you feel the need to spray, start with lime sulphur in early June to take care of black spot, rust and fungus. After the big prune bushes can then be sprayed with Champion Copper and Conqueror Oil mixed.  New seasons, bare rooted roses are already arriving in Garden centers, if planting, prepare the ground by digging in old stable manure or bagged rose mix. If planting a rose in the same place a rose has been growing, you will need to remove the old soil and replace it with soil from another part of the garden, disease is transferred very quickly from one rose to another.   Peony rose tubers need to be planted now before the coldest months, if you must shift or divide established peonies, this is the time. Peonies do not respond well to transplanting but if planted well will require little maintenance. Choose the location wisely, full sun, shelter from strong winds, away from trees or shrubs competing for food and moisture. Plant with eyes up (new shoot) in deep, fertile, humus-rich moist soil that drains well spaced 3 to 4 feet apart about 2 feet deep and 2 feet wide. New season deciduous trees will be arriving into garden centers next month. If you are starting a new garden in a built up housing area choose carefully because after around eight years large growing trees dictate and create work, blossom fall, raking leaves, pruning and root problems under concrete in time. However  you can still plant those wonderful trees that eventually grow to around 15 to 20 feet high and wide if you plant them in the right size Evergrow planter bags. www.evergroworchard.nz this is a local business who originally created these bags for keeping the growth of cherry trees down.  I am using evergrow bags buried into the ground for maples, cornus, large growing native's, conifers and a wisteria. All large growing trees put down a deep tap root to anchor the tree and strong spreading roots to feed wide spreading branches. A 30 litre / 40 litre evergrow bag will let the tree grow to the shape it should be while controlling the size and encourage maximin fruiting  if a fruit tree.  Where big trees shade and shedding is not a problem large garden areas are the perfect place to plant deciduous trees to grow their majestic best for future generations.Here are some smaller growing trees for you to consider if evergrow bags are not prefered. Cornus florida Cherokee Chief (Flowering Dogwood), Cercis canadensis "Forest pansy", Malus (crab apple) is a pretty alternative to a large prunus (flowering cherry) and Robinia lace Lady.  Most of the mentioned will eventually grow to around 4 metres high and wide but branches are thinner and more manageable than the huge Oak, ash, Elms, some maples and the like. Reading a tree label before buying is so important to limit  problems in the future. Vegetable garden: Keep planting shallots, butter crunch lettuce plants, beetroot and broad beans keeping water up until they get settled. Cover with frost cloth to protect from frost and birds when small. Fruit: Tamarillos, if lucky enough to have these in your garden they will be hanging like jewels from almost bare branches, such a treat at this time of the year. Because the plants do not make hard wood they are frost tender but here on the coast in a sunny location they ripen and are ready to pick now. Tamarillos will grow from tip cuttings, a bush will last for a decade if protected during winter and prefer to be outside not in a glass house.Feijoas are a treat right now as well, they do not ripen all at once, dropping from the bush when ripe.Lemon “Meyer” are cold hardy and will fruit all year, if planting a new plant remove all flowers and small fruit for the first 3 years to get branch work established then it will produce for years. Plant where they get afternoon sun, feed with citrus food in early spring and early autumn.NZ Cranberry(Myrtus ugni) has a taste combination of strawberry, pineapple and apple my Grandchildren pick and eat them whenever here. A small evergreen bush, very fragrant when fruiting, can be hedged. Cheers, Linda.