Gardening in North Otago June 21st 2022

The shortest day already and the sun is beaming down as I write this after a number of dismal, winter days in a row. The first Matariki holiday this Friday will give us a long weekend to maybe get busy in the garden as there is so much to be done right now for Gardeners. Compost and pea straw spreading, chainsaw tree work and hedge trimming, pruning, cutting back and mowing up the last leaves. After all that, gardens will be waiting for Spring and Gardeners can get on with sowing seeds and potting up plants for the new growing season. That is what I am busy doing now because I like to be ready when gardens slowly awaken after winter, plus I do not now have that big garden to put to bed, whew!! Sowing seeds on the coast: I put seed trays under cover and seeds do germinate when the ground warms on sunny days. Pricking out into punnets can also be done once seeds show two leaves then returned to the protection until frosts are over. Wait until the potting mix looks dry before mist watering and always do this in the morning which gives the mix time to warm again before the night chill. Plant sweet-pea's now to flower in early spring. It is too late in the year to trim soft trees and shrubs wait now until new growth has firmed and finished growing in spring. Ivy is one plant you can cut back at any time, like wisteria if you let it get away each soft leader put out can grow into a thick woody tree trunk if left. This is a good time of the year to really look at the garden, with deciduous trees and shrubs bare of leaves branches can be removed if overcrowding and large tree branches taken back if they were throwing too much shade in the growing season. It can make all the difference to letting light into the house and opening a view from windows. If a tree has outgrown its space close to the house consider removing it and replacing it with a smaller tree or shrub to create the enclosed look needed without overpowering and causing problems. Conifers can outgrow an allotted space in 10 years, then just keep growing up and out becoming a problem. If a conifer has branches removed from the bottom they will not regrow and doing this will always spoil the shape. If a huge gap is left with the removal of a tree or shrub, fill the gap with a section of manuka screening placed behind the smaller replacement plant, it will give the plant protection and once the plant has reached the desired height and width the screening can be removed. You may find lots of rogue trees and shrubs birds have introduced popping up everywhere while weeding, some may have grown amongst shrubs like rhododendrons and camellias and become quite established before noticed. They can be stubborn to remove but it is best to remove them completely rather than cut them off, they will just keep growing stronger each year and undermine the roots of the needed plant. On the coast keep an eye out for the many self seeded plants, a bonus for the garden, hellebore, lupins, poppies, pansy, viola, forget- me- not and primula. If you have pollyantha's that you left in the ground from last year they will have multiplied, and will be easy to break apart and plant out separately. Polly's love dried blood, it greens them up after transplanting. If you do have dried blood, sprinkle a little around camellia's and Daphne's if they look like they are not thriving. Winter lawns that have been performing poorly in spite of feeding and watering may be improved with a winter liming. Aim to achieve a PH of around 6 (mildly acidic) which will encourage strong grass growth. Vegetable garden: The shortest day is garlic planting time. The annual crop has been planted at the Weston School veg garden, now we are hoping for a good harvest in December. Planting Garlic: Prepare your soil with organic matter like manure enriched compost. Choose a sunny spot to plant NZ grown garlic, point end up, about 3 inches deep. Bulbs form in November / December so keep water up if rain is scarce and feed with blood and bone or liquid feed during the growing season. Sow a green crop where soil is bare and leave until spring before digging in. I have sown mustard thickly to get a good cover. Cheers, Linda. Digging last years garlic at Weston School.