Gardening in Waitaki 8th November 2022

Spring weather seems to be settling here in Waitaki, offering up warm sun-filled days and mild nights with the odd shower. Established box hedging should be firm enough to be trimmed now, oh how I remember doing this and ending up like a half shut pocket knife at the end of trimming.  If hedges are at the hight and width required take them back to the last growth. Newly planted box will probably need only the tops straightened leaving the sides to thicken, a boost with slow release fertiliser will feed and keep them green. Other hedges will be ready for trimming now as well, soft trimmings can be spread about gardens as mulch. Keep cutting back spring flowering perennials then fill gaps with annuals. Sun lovers:  lobelia, alyssum, antirrhinum, petunias, salvia, marigolds, cosmos, aster, verbena. Shade lovers:  Impatiens, begonia, coleus,lobelia, nemesia, viola, alyssum, cineraria. Roses: Fat rose buds are now opening, healthy and beautiful before succumbing to the stress of hot drying days, aphid, black spot and rust, if water, feeding and mulch is kept up these can be avoided and healthy roses can be enjoyed through to early winter. Pull off leaves showing any sign black spot or rust and burn, squish aphid or keep hosing off with a strong hose spray. Dahlias are pushing through now as spring bulbs finish. Dahlias need to grow in full sun, supports can be put in place now for large spreading dahlias before they put on heavy growth. Hydrangeas are leafing up, it is important to keep water up and a good layer of old stable manure around them now will keep them feed through the growing season. It's a dressing of lime for pink and Epsom salts or aluminum sulphate to keep them blue. Peony roses: Supports are needed for most peony roses to hold up those beautiful full flower heads.  Vegetables: Keep mounding potatoes to give more depth for them to produce, consistent watering is important for potatoes, this goes for all root vegetables. Leafy veg don't need any extra feeding at this time of the year it will just encourage them to bolt. Only plant as many plants as you think you would use when ready to pick and hold back small seedling plants from the same batch, keep in a semi shady place until required for planting.  Keep pumpkin and squash plants mulched, roots are fragile until their large leaves grow to create the root shade needed. Corn and beans can be planted now the ground is warm. Planting corn in squares rather than rows will ensure pollination on the lower tassel's and add support during strong winds.  Cheers, Linda.