Gardening in Waitaki 12th December 2023

I know all gardeners will be busy with end of year happenings right now, the only important job if you have time is to pull weeds before they seed. Nature just carries on regardless and would have much joy in spreading weed seeds throughout your garden. Right now summer weeds are flowering and ready to move on to ripen seed. Wild grass is doing the same, cut those seed heads off to save yourself the work they will give you if you don't. Keep deadheading roses, don't just cut the flower off, cut at an outward facing bud on a lower section of the branch strong enough to support a new flower to keep new blooms coming. Begonias are really pushing through now and I see that I have lost a few that I left in the ground from last year. I did dig and store some of them over the winter which I am now glad about. The food begonias most appreciate is any fish based fertiliser, as a folia spray or watered in around their roots.  Hydrangeas are producing flower heads now so it is important to keep the water and food up to them, old stable manure, blood and bone dry or  liquid or slow release fertiliser will keep them happy and flowering well. Remember it's lime for pink and Epsom salts or aluminum sulphate to keep them blue.   Fuchsias are making a lot of growth now as well, if you missed cutting any back do it now, they will flower later but will soon catch up Fuchsias are on sale right now and are wonderful in pots for a shady spot and they soon become bushy and to fill a pot. Tip cuttings can be taken from fuchsias now, if you spot some you like in a friend's garden ask for some cuttings. I break a cutting off at a heel or a bud section, remove some of the top growth and push into firm wet river sand.Tip cuttings cuttings from Hebe's will also root now with no trouble in river sand .  Lawns: keep lawn food on hand for the next good rain, lawns get really stressed from now on as the heat of the day intensifies. If your lawns are inclined to crack when dry they have probably been planted on clay soil, apply gypsum ( soluble lime) and water in. After a couple of years of doing this your lawns will have a spring back in them. Gypsum works clay to become more like soil, especially near the sea front. Vegetables: The days are warm and the nights a little cooler, just right for growing. I am amazed that the white butterfly is STILL not a problem in our garden, long may it last. I had bad luck with the runner beans planted directly into the ground before labor weekend, they popped up then were eaten off I am guessing by snails / slugs!. So more beans have been planted but this time into trays to be transplanted when big enough to make a start on climbing up the frame. Tomatoes will be getting taller and starting to fruit now, the removal of leaves shading tomatoes will benefit your plants by allowing more nutrients to the fruit along with more sun to encourage flowering and allowing flowers to become more visible for pollination. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki December 6th 2023

So much in the garden has finished flowering now and needing a cut back, if early summer flowering plants have grown leggy and collapsed cut back the perennials and pull out annuals even if they are still producing flowers. Fallen plants will eventually rot plants they have fallen on. Clear the ground where they have been, add compost and plant annuals that will continue flowering through until autumn. Cosmas, nicotiana,saliva, verbena are tall growing. Petunia, gaillardia, coreopsis, bedding dahlia and bergamot (bee balm) are all mid plantings. Alyssum, lobelia, coreopsis and begonias are front planting gap fillers. peony roses are taking center stage now, if picked with a strong stem and an opening bud flowers will open in a vase. Tree peony's doubles in size each growing season. Don't let them swamp your garden and shade other plants, the older woody canes can be cut right down leaving the new green stalks to be next year's flower branches. By doing this now seed pods will be cut off, if allowed to ripen pods will pop all over your garden and grow. Other plants I have had to cut back are bush lavatera, English abutilon, ornamental broom, false Valerian and cat mint, all will grow back quickly and some bud up for another flowering. Monarch butterflies are being encouraged into many gardens as gardeners plant swan plants for caterpillars to feed on. To keep the butterflies in your garden plants they feed on need to be growing. Buddleias are tall shrubs that flower on new growth, cut back after each flowering to produce new flowers through summer, all verbenas ( tall and low growing), echinacea, daylilies, hydrangea, zinnias, cosmos, Californian poppy, foxglove, Viper's Bugloss and coreopsis will keep monarch butterflies happy but for them to lay eggs there is no alternative to the swan plant in NZ. Lawns: Don't cut grass too low and boost with lawn fertiliser during the next rain. I have been popping out flat weeds rather than the spraying and upsetting worms. Veg: Root veg and potatoes need deep moisture to draw on and leaf veg plants grow better in moderate cooler weather conditions. A rise in temperature increases the plant's growth rate to bolting. Rise in temperature also has bad affects on seed germination. As tomatoes grow be remove laterals from the taller growing variety and stake to keep them upright as the fruit gets heavier. They should be flowering now waiting for bee's to pollinate, if they are in a glass house and you do not see many bee's why not try companion planting, some plants have been proven to help and enhance others I plant basil & marigolds with tomatoes, carrots and onions together, the onions help keep the carrot fly at bay and carrots the onion fly. Celery and the brassica family, i.e.: cabbage, caulis, and broccoli. the celery will confuse the white butterfly when wanting to land and lay it's larvae eggs. Marigolds and beans/brassicas, the marigold emits a natural gas which protects surrounding plants from insects like aphids and white fly. Make your own natural sprays: The following plant leaves can be simmered in water and the resulting liquid used on plants. Basil for aphids, Chives prevent mildew occurring on cucumbers, squash and pumpkins, Coriander also for aphids and spider mite. Eucalyptus is a good general purpose insecticide. Rhubarb has been found to help prevent blackspot. These may be only plants but in liquid form they can be harmful to children so keep marked bottles high up. Cheers Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki November 28th 2023

Another cold change happened here in North Otago but we can never say no to spring rain regardless of how cold it is.  I am needing  to spend most of each week  away from my new garden right now and when I do arrive back I notice Mother Nature takes full advantage of my absence and all gaps are filled with wonderful spring growth. If you have had violia's flowering through winter cut back and divided clumps, I just dig up part of a large clump and pull it to bits basically. You can gently pull masses of new young plants out of the clump and plant them out separately in a cool shady part of the garden. They will soon form their own small clump which can be planted out next autumn to flower where you want it. The same for polyantha type primulas, break up clumps; plant out only fresh new growth in a cool place and throw away knotted old spent growth. Plant up hanging baskets now with small rooted annuals like lobelia, petite or cascading petunias, nasturtium and cascading begonias. Avoid upright plants and plants that make a big root ball, they need more depth than a basket can offer and will soon rob all the nutrients and fill the basket with dry roots. The secret to hanging baskets is a good heavy potting mix, water crystals, a lot of slow release fertiliser and consistent watering. I am using old carpet underlay as liners again this year but if I had none the coconut liners look good and do the job. If you have aged compost that has finished working  you are able to make some economical compost tea. Compost Tea is a nutritionally rich, well-balanced, organic plant food made by steeping aged compost in water. The water is then diluted and used as a root and/or foliar feed. It is also noted for its ability to control various plant diseases, blights, molds, wilts, etc. when used as a foliar spray, to repel and control insect pests. and encourage the growth of beneficial soil bacteria. The basic recipe is as follows: 1 large container with lid (plastic rubbish bin works well) enough aged, completed compost in an old pillow case 1/2-3/4 full, tie off the top and submerge in the container of water. Cover to prevent odor and insect problems and let steep for a minimum of 2 weeks. This steeping time is crucial to the formation of beneficial bacteria and the required fermentation process. When finished, dip out the tea and dilute it (3 parts water to 1 part compost tea) and use as root food for any and all plants on a weekly basis. To use as a foliar spray on young seedlings dilute it a little more. Lawn: Good grass growth is giving me garden mulch to suppress weeds, moisture and warmth help to break down layers into humus. Vegetables & fruit: Transplant late crop tomatoes, beans, corn, basil, courgettes, cucumbers and leeks. Plant seed into trays for late summer harvesting of dwarf and climbing beans, courgettes, carrots, beetroot, lettuce, basil, short season corn. Herbs: mint, marjoram, thyme, sage, parsley and rosemary I have cut and have laid out to dry on news paper in a dry shed. Once they are crunchy I will rub them and store them airtight dry glass jars. Fruit: Gooseberries and currants are fruiting well, all the rain and heat are just what they need in fact all fruiting shrubs and trees should be doing well this spring.  Put bird protection net in place over fruit bushes before fruit ripens. Watch carefully for branches of stone fruit showing signs of silver leaf - often just one limb of a tree will have silver leaves. Now is the time to cut that limb off and burn it and seal the tree with Trichopaste. Cheers, Linda.

Drying herbs.

Gardening in Waitaki 21st November 2023

Begonia display at The Oamaru Botanical Gardens.

Another month has almost run away from us, and with all the early Christmas hype the pressure is on to be ready for the festive season. Because nights are still cool the night beetle and the big Porina moths are not about yet, porina caterpillars feed on lawns along with grass grubs which turn into night beetles. However spittle bugs are here frothing up plants. Spittlebug nymphs can turn a liquid secretion into bubbles by moving or pumping their bodies, once bubbles have formed, they use their hind legs to cover themselves with the froth that insulates them from temperature extremes and protects them from predators. Although spittle bug nymphs do feed on plant sap, the damage is minimal and populations are usually small, so no pesticide is necessary, a strong blast from a hose should be enough to dislodge them. Roses: I am keeping up the fish emulsion to foliar feed roses and deter greenfly. Orchid growers it is the time to re-pot now, use orchid mix for the best results, it takes the guesswork out of wondering what to feed them. Tuberous Begonias are are beginning to show leaves, they are easy to grow in pots, baskets, window boxes and the garden as long as you provide good drainage and shelter from scorching afternoon sun, dappled sun or bright shade, in a spot protected from strong winds to avoid damage to the foliage and stems. Dew's are still wetting so the ground is still holding some moisture, scatter grass clippings around as mulch if your lawns have not been sprayed, they become good humus. I empty the catcher, then rake it about to cover any bare soil. vegetable garden: Successive plant and seed planting can be kept up right through the Summer. The best way to keep pests from young plants is covering them with mesh that lets light in. If your veg has already been attacked, make your own natural sprays, the following plant leaves can be simmered in water and the resulting liquid used on plants. Basil will eliminate aphids, Chives prevent mildew occurring on cucumbers, squash and pumpkins. Coriander also for aphids and spider mite. Eucalyptus is a good general purpose insecticide. Rhubarb has been found to help prevent blackspot. These may be only plants but in liquid form they can be harmful to children so keep marked bottles high up. I found from experience that it is not a good idea to breathe in fumes when bringing to the boil and keep doors and windows open. Get corn and pumpkins in as soon as possible because they need a long growing and ripening season. Fruit: Keep water up to currants and berries, lemons and fruit trees, it takes a lot out of a plant to fruit. All fruiting trees and plants need a lot of water now to create juicy plump fruit, it takes only a day of strong wind to zap moisture from the ground. Remember to cover your strawberries from birds, strawberry netting stretches out to cover a large area and does the job well, birds can strip gooseberry bushes as well, throw some frost cloth over them until you get a chance to pick them. Keep food up to tomatoes as they grow, be sure to remove laterals of the taller growing variety. Tomatoes should be flowering now, waiting for insects to pollinate them. If bees are few and far between on overcast days you could take a hairdryer into the glass house to gently blow the pollen around while leaves are dry. Stake tomato plants to keep them upright as tomatoes get heavier. Cheers, Linda

Gardening in Waitaki November 14th 2023

Some nice spring weather over the last few days, even one so hot I had to take Scruff the dog to Friendly bay for a dunk in the sea. It is time once again to cut back plants that have finished flowering, alyssum, ground cover phlox, aubrieta, aquilegias and forget-me-not. if you cut them back now they will green up again and look good over summer, same goes for Erica's, cut all the brown spent flower stems back and they will green up again in no time. Spread compost in the gaps created and fill every gap with flower seedlings like cosmos, petunias, statice, blue salvia, nasturtium, lavatera and lobelia. Leaving no room for weeds to grow while creating a magic summer picking garden. Dahlias should be pushing up leaves leaf now, once in bud they can be pinched out like chrysanthemums to encourage bushiness, they will still get tall so put stakes in now before they get up too far and begin to bend and fall. If your daffodils did not flower so well this spring, It's a good time to break up large clumps while you can still see where they have been. Flowering will be restricted when clumps get over crowded. Dug bulbs can be left to dry, (leaves left on) to be planted again in Autumn or replanted in small groups in about 20 cm of compost...plant, feed with blood and bone and mulch so they don't dry out over summer. There are autumn flowering bulbs in Garden centers now, like belladonna lilies (naked Ladies), nerines & crocuses plant in full sun where they will not be disturbed. Water lilies can be added to ponds now that the water is warmer, if buying one it should be in leaf, plant into a plastic basket using thick news paper first then some manure and garden soil, plant the lily in soil then top with a thick layer of stones or gravel. It is important not to let any fertiliser or manure leach out into the pond water because it will encourage the water to go green with slime which is harmful to fish when caught in gills. If your pond is stagnating it means that it is not working, put in some un-sprayed barley straw weighed down with a rock so it does not float around. At first the pond water will not look too healthy but soon you will be amazed at how fast it will clear and stay clear once things start working naturally. There is now a liquid barley extract of barley straw on offer. To work naturally the bottom of the pond can and should be a little muddy, but the top should be clear, you can easily tell when it is. Introduce some oxygen weed from a pond already filled with fish. Fish blow their eggs into the weed so there is sure to be eggs now in the weed, these will hatch out in your pond with no big fish around to eat them. You will not have to feed fish as the warmer months attract plenty of bugs to a pond. Lawns: Keep mowers up a notch and try mowing without the catcher now and then, then rake the clippings out over the lawn to add humus. Lawns need fed regularly through the growing and cutting seasons but never without moisture to follow to avoid grass burning. Have some fertiliser on hand for the next rain. Dig out daisies, clover and flat weeds before they seed or spot spray each weed, then gaps where the weeds die should fill in with grass during this rapid growing season. Fruit: Check your fruit trees now for over crowded bunches, thin bunches out by snipping small fruits off if winds do not do it for you. Vegetables: I have planted peas where the broad beans were and lettuce and coriander where I dug out the beetroot. Potatoes are well up, corn and pumpkins should be romping away during warm days. So far no white butterflies about looking for brassica to lay eggs on. Keep planting all vegetables but not too many of the same at one time and cover to keep bugs off while small. Cheers Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki November 7th 2023

Some nice rain last week ment hoses did not need to be out, the weight of rain on deciduous tree branches makes it easy to see those needing to be lifted, if left to increase width they cast shade over surrounding plants. Any branch growing downwards with a canopy branch directly above it can be cut back or removed altogether because lower plantings need overhead light to prevent stretched growing. Hedges: will still not be finished pushing out spring growth and if trimmed too early another trim will be needed so best to wait until new growth  has hardened and stems snap clean when bent. All new growth hedge trimmings can go on the compost or be scattered around the garden as mulch.  Cut back spring flowering perennials that have finished flowering and fill gaps with summer annuals. Tall annual plants like cosmos and lavatera at the back, petunias, nemesia, saliva and marigolds middle and lobelia. alyssum, dwarf sweet peas and petite petunias in front.  Roses: Fat rose buds are now opening, healthy and beautiful before succumbing to the stress of hot drying days. Aphids, blackspot and rust will not be a problem if water, feeding and mulch is kept up healthy roses can be enjoyed through to early winter.  Dahlias are pushing through now as spring bulbs finish, if you see some of your dahlias will be in the shade cast by tree branches growing wider, shift clumps into a sunnier position  while new growth  is low. Support can be put in place now for large spreading dahlias before they put on heavy growth.  Hydrangeas are starting to produce flower heads now so it is important to keep the water and food up to them, old stable manure, blood and bone, liquid or slow release fertiliser will keep them happy and flowering well. It's a dressing of lime for pink and Epsom salts or aluminum sulphate to keep them blue.  Fuchsias are on sale right now and are wonderful in pots or a shady spot, they are making a lot of growth now so if you missed cutting any back do it now, they will soon catch up.  Peony roses: What wonderful additions these are to the flower garden, peony roses are beautiful fillers in a sunny spot and great for filling vases. Support will be needed for most peony roses to hold up full flower heads.  Lawns are thriving after the spring rain, annual weeds will have been mowed out but perennial lawn weeds will need removing before they make seed and spread. I dig them out as I see them while small but if they have spread over your lawn they may need lawn spray but please just spot spray and never on a sunny day when insects and bees are about.  Veg garden:  I have planted peas where the broad beans were and lettuce and coriander where I dug out the beetroot. Potatoes are well up, corn and pumpkins will have a chance to go for it now without the threat of frost. So far I have seen no white butterflies looking for brassica to lay eggs on.Keep planting all vegetables but not too many of the same at one time. Elderflower cordial: Elder flowers are covering bushes now, they  don't last long before berries start forming from the flowers. Ingredients: 20 large elderflower heads, 4 lemons, 1 tsp citric acid, 1.5 liters water, 1kg sugar. Method; Grate zest off lemons, then roughly chop into chunks. Gently wash the flowers and steep them in a bowl with water and add this to the flower head mixture. Cover and leave for 24 hours, then strain through muslin gently, bring the strained liquid to the boil, add sugar and stir until dissolved. Pour into sterilized glass bottles and store in the fridge when cool. Add a measure to iced water for the perfect fresh summer beverage for all ages and a dash in gin for those who like a G and T.  Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki 1st November 2023

Hydrangea in early bud.

A chill in the air last week with even a flurry of snow, Nature has her own way with fresh spring growth. Rhododendrons, azalea's, delphiniums and peony roses will put on their show as we look forward to the expectation of something new happening every day in the garden. But once again Gardeners will be pulling sticky biddy-bid, chick weed and convolvulus because every year there seems to be just as much as the year before! Convolvulus is the worst, the only way to completely eradicate convolvulus is to dig out the mass of roots below. These roots are easily identified; they are thick, white and long, it is so satisfying to pull a length right out without it breaking. Every little bit of root left behind will grow very fast. Hydrangeas are well leafed up now with flower buds forming, if you have not mulched them with manure enriched compost do it now and they will reward you well.  I use pig manure from the Recycling center on hydrangeas, roses and all other plants needing a boost.  Box hedges should have put out a good amount of new growth now so all new growth can be trimmed back to the last cut on established hedges. On new plantings even up only the top growth leaving the sides to grow together. Trimming is best on an overcast day to limit the amount of sun scorching that will happen. When planting a new buxus hedge 5 to 7 plants per metre for small plants. All other hedges can be trimmed when finished putting out spring growth.   Lawns: There should be excellent results from grass seed sown, to repair winter damage, rake out bare patches, add sifted soil and plant grass seed. Small patches can be covered with shade or frost cloth to keep birds off until seed has germinated. Keep lawn mower blades higher while grass is lush to shade roots and we are still getting dew which settles on longer grass keeping the ground from drying out. Veg Garden: A good no fuss way to grow veg is in a no dig garden.  Making a no dig garden: Find a sunny spot on bare ground,( not concrete) surround with sleepers, logs, Oamaru stone, boards or even small straw bales, high enough to hold layers of manure, soil, compost and straw. Flood the base dirt before you start to get dampness deep down. If you plan to create a no dig garden on top of grass soak the base ground well then spread a layer of manure on top to attract worms from deep down, second layer can be a thick layer of compost, old leaf mulch and dried grass clippings, soak before adding a layer of soil, (clay soil is fine in this layer), water well after each layer leaving no dry spots. Next add a layer of straw, (soak) then add more layers of compost, old leaf mulch and dried grass clippings, (soak) and top that with more soil, (soak). As you build layers add river sand, a little lime and an all purpose fertiliser. Lastly add a top layer of straw to suppress weeds. When you think the garden is high enough, start planting and you should be eating your own produce within six weeks at this time of the year.  Fruit: Bee's will be doing their job on fruit blossom, berry fruits are romping along so water is important while fruit is forming especially after wind, a good soak from time to time if rain is scarce will ensure full juicy fruit.  Grapes will be flowering, give only the vines you think could do with a boost fertiliser in early spring, feeding established vines that are doing ok will only encourage more leaves and leaders. A little potash from time to time will help with fruiting.   Codling moths appear from October to February I have come across another method of dealing with codling moths which is said to have worked well for some. Use a plastic milk container, and place in it 1 banana peel, 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup sugar. Fill the container almost full of water, replace the cap and shake it well to mix and dissolve the contents. Remove the cap and firmly secure one container into each apple tree. The moths are attracted to the scent of the concoction, becoming trapped and drowned when they investigate. Refill with water as needed throughout the summer.   Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki October 25th 2023

The wonderful Labour weekend weather bought garden growth on beautifully with the last of the blossom trees in full bloom, prunus shimidsu sakura a lovely low, spreading prunus with large double very pale pink / white ballerina blossom and the upright prunus kanzan with bright pink blossom gracing many gardens in North Otago. Spring planting: There will never be a better time for planting annuals, perennials and herbs than right now, the soil is warm and moist to get roots growing. When growth is lush the most important thing along with keeping the moisture up is deadheading as blooms die off. If a plant is left to run to seed it has finished the job it had to do. Keep deadheading and plants need to keep flowering. Roses are doing well now that the nights have warmed up, keep the food and deep root watering up to them as they bud up, foliar feeding on fresh new leaves works well now along with slow release fertilizers which ensures they are feed each time they are watered. Green fly on bud tips can be washed off with a strong hose which will hopefully drown them. Cut spent flowers off hellebore's so you get the full effect of their wonderful leaves. Weed spraying: With warm ground weeds grow before our eyes but right now roots are still soft enough for weeds to be pulled or hoed. Wild areas may need spraying before they make seed and spread everywhere. Lawns: Keep feeding lawns when rain is about, powdered fertilizer's need to be washed well in to stop fertiliser burning lawns during hot sunny days. Vegetables: plant out pumpkin, squash and corn plants. Pumpkins need a large prepared area to ramble with lots of compost and old stable manure dug in. Leaves will always let you know when they need water. If you have a glass or tunnel house why not plant some peppers, they can grow high so staking will be needed. Tomato plants will be romping away, those planted early will have been affected by the last cold snap, bottom leaves can curl and take on a blueish look but they should grow through that and grow normally. It helps to plant bee attracting flowers as tomato flowers develop Raspberry Kane's and strawberries: both flower and fruit up really quickly as long as they get all day sun they will ripen fast. These berries and new season peas are perfect for encouraging Children into the garden. They all learn the results are well worth the wait. Rhubarb: Keep manure enriched compost up to Rhubarb, if the soil gets hard and dry around rhubarb it will grow stringy dry uneatable steams. Elder flowers are blooming now so elderflower cordial will be happening again https://thisnzlife.co.nz/recipe-elderflower-cordial/ Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki October 19th 2023

Labour weekend upon us and the time I have always felt for safe planting of summer annuals both floral and veg with the needed warmth and moisture in the ground supports new fresh growth. Roses are budding up, keep the deep root watering up to them, foliar feeding on fresh new leaves works well now along with slow release fertilisers to keep roses healthy. Aphid is looking for new rose growth, if time allows removal with finger and thumb while on top growth will reduce numbers moving down into the bush and laying eggs. Cut back Erica's and callunas that have finished flowering, this stops them from going woody, removing all the spent flowers will encourage fresh new green growth for summer. If you don't cut the old flowering growth off they will make their new growth out from the old growth which means they become woody at the base. Cut back aubretia rockery plants and you will get another flowering, also cut spent flowers from hellebore to stop seeds ripening and spreading, if you want to build up hellebore numbers leave a few to drop seed. If you are concerned about a hot dry Summer having a disastrous effect on your garden? Plenty of Mulch breaking down on your soil will help retain moisture as well as improve soil structure and suppress weed growth. Mulch can be straw, grass clippings or weed free compost. So many spring perennials, iris and other pretty garden fillers well up now to notice as Gardeners walk their gardens. Lawns: keep feeding lawns when rain is about, to wash fertilisers in. A new spring lawn sowing will compete with strong growing weeds so a thick sowing of grass seed is required to choke out annual weeds. Annual grass weeds will be removed when mowing begins. Flat perennial weeds in established lawns will need to be removed or spayed before they spread seed. Vegetables: PLANT, PLANT, PLANT plants and seeds, I have planted pumpkin and squash plants grown from seed with a lot of compost and old stable manure dug in, they need a large prepared area for them to ramble. Peas and radish are perfect for encouraging Children into the garden, If you have a glass house or tunnel house you will have success with growing tomatoes, (strings attached from the roof to stakes for support as they grow up), cucumber, peppers and basil need the warmth of a glass house as well. Fruit: Berry cane's and strawberries both flower and fruit really quickly as long as they get all day sun. Gooseberries can cope with shade and actually do better without harsh afternoon sun. Blueberries are best planted in spring or autumn, if you have had trouble growing blueberries they need to be planted and grown in conditions suited to them, acid, clay free, good draining soil. If in doubt plant in a good size pot drainage stones on the bottom in acid mix and water with rain water if possible because it is thought tap water has a negative effect. Keep manure enriched compost up to rhubarb, if the soil gets hard and dry around rhubarb it will grow stringy dry uneatable steams. Mound up earlier planted potatoes, critical that you either mulch or mound up well to obtain heavy crops and avoid potato worms. A foliar spray with raw milk is a great way to kill blight spores, add to a foliar spray of high quality compost tea, this is a great way to strengthen the microbe populations on the potato and tomato leaves to help avoid blight. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki October 11th 2023

Fresh spring new tree growth:

This is such a lovely time of the year, with new fresh growth on trees, splashes of plant colour everywhere, longer days and soil warming, it's all on again in gardens. Tulips are best left after flowering until all green has been absorbed by the bulb, if like me you have a main display of them and need to get other plants in once tulips have flowered, dig them up with leaves still attached to the bulb. Bunched they can be bedded into another part of the garden or stored away in a box where rats can not get at them. Dead head all spring bulbs as they finish flowering leaving leaves to die back into bulbs. If allowing bulbs to make seed will weaken bulbs. With the exception of blue bells, they spread faster if allowed to drop seed. This is the time of the year that kept me busy getting my big, past garden presentable for Spring tours, the ground is damp and warm and just right for planting the abundance of plants on offer, I plant seeds now to be ready for summer flowering and eating. The seeds I planted in late winter are now ready to be planted out or pot on. Compost is heating up and working well with the addition of new grass clippings and plenty of water. A sprinkler on open compost bins is needed from time to time getting warm moisture working right through the middle to create the heat needed. Pansies and polyanthus will keep flowering if dead headed, pansies and violas can be cut right back and fed with liquid fertiliser to come into bud again and flower on a little longer, flowering will not be as strong as it has been but as long as there is a chill in the air they will keep on flowering until it gets too warm for them. Polyanthus soon let you know when it is too hot for them, if you feel they have done all they are going to do, dig them out, cut back and plant in a cool shady place where they can be left and planted out again next year. Coastal gardens will be ahead of gardens further inland, late frosts can be hard on new rose growth, don' t be too concerned because rose leaves recover very fast and will have new buds to open in six weeks time. To avoid mildew problems don't let rose foliage go into the night wet in mild weather, also keep food up to your roses while they are making their buds, it's hungry roses are susceptible to diseased. Fortnightly folia feeding and slow release fertiliser are good right now on any flowering plants and shrubs. The new growth we don't want, convolvulus, couch and clover will be popping up and in large properties spot spaying will be needed while growth is still low, any spraying needs to be done on dull days when bees are fewer. Biddy bid and chick weed needs pulled out before it runs to seed, I do this every year but it still seems to run rampant. I planted sun flower seeds into trays only a week ago which are now up and large enough to plant out, they do best being planted straight into the ground but I like to get good roots going with no chance of birds finding the seeds. Sun flowers are a quick result for Children to plant and watch grow taller than them. I also have almost ready to plant out cosmos, larkspur, nasturtium and marigolds, delphiniums, and alyssum. Attract monarch butterflies to the garden by planting swan plants, planting them now will allow them to get bushy by summer in the hope of attracting or introducing them into the garden. On warm days there are butterflies already about laying eggs so I advise covering your young swan plants with clean frost cloth or clean net curtain (which lets light in )to keep butterflies off until shrubs are strong and bushy. If monarch butterflies have already lain eggs on your young swan plants it is better to squish eggs than caterpillars. Fruit: strawberries, Raspberries, goosberries and currants are starting to flower so give them a boost of strawberry fertiliser watered in around roots. Blueberries like a more acid soil so citris fertiliser will work for them. Vegetables Potatoes are loving the warm ground, mine are well up and have had the first mounding . Veg seeds I planted are germinating in no time as well, Pumpkin, squash, corn and courgette seeds can go in now, if you prefer to buy plants be sure to harden them off outside in a protected place for a while before planting. If your vegetable garden has been disappointing in the past with plants not growing as well as you would like you could do a Ph test and if the PH of your soil needs to be raised you can then add lime. I sprinkle lime on my compost heaps in spring and Autumn which then goes on the garden with the added bonus of lime loving worms. If you have done a soil test and need to raise the PH Sprinkle lime over the soil surface and rake it into the top couple of inches, letting it naturally work down to the root zone, do not dig it deeply into the soil, it will leach down soon enough. Dolomite lime is less likely to drastically change the PH but if your soil is in need of sweetening our local lime (calcium carbonate) will do the trick. Usually application rates are 2 to 3 pounds per 100 square feet of garden area, every second year to raise the pH from 5.5 to 6.5. There are some veg that will tolerate acid soil, carrots, cucumbers, beans, peppers, parsnips, potatoes, and tomatoes so don't go adding lime unless your soil needs sweetening. Cheers, Linda Mound potatoes up as they grow.

Gardening in Waitaki 26th September 2023

Spring is such a beautiful time but as always so unpredictable, very difficult gardening weather with one day warm and the next really cold with frosts arriving out of the blue to remind us not to plant those tender plants too soon . Seed sowing and planting to take us right through late spring and summer, happens now there is so much on offer, tubas, bulbs, bedding plants, shrubs and trees. When buying punnets of plants get them accustomed to cold nights and changeable weather before planting. I absolutely love sweet peas so I planted some into punnets in late July and kept under the protection of frost cloth, they are well up and starting to climb for an early flowering. Today I planted more to keep sweet peas scramble and flowering right through until the end of summer. Sweet peas are heavy feeders so a trench filled with well rotted animal manure deep down for roots to reach when in need. Fuchsias: Here on the coast fuchsias can be cut back now that they are pushing out leaves, they flower on new growth so take them as far back as you need for the height you would like them to be flowering. Fuchsias prefer afternoon shade, moist ground and food keep up to them during the growing season for best results. Dahlias : I have just replanted dahlia tubas I had removed and stored over winter because the garden they were in remains wet and cold. Dahlia tubas will rot during winter if left in those conditions. I checked my begonia corms this week and found they are beginning to show tiny shoots, early enough yet but pots and baskets can be planted to get them going but warm, well lit protection is a must until the weather is warm enough for them. Rose leaf tips may be targeted by greenfly during mild days, keep an eye out for hatchlings, usually right at the tip of new growth and squish them with a finger and thumb, I keep this up to eliminate the need to spray. Roses start looking for food well before leaves arrive, old stable manure or the pig and sawdust mix around the drip line (not up against branches) will keep them happy. Worms: I am often told by gardeners their gardens are lacking in worms, especially those newly created gardens like mine. I came across a way to encourage worms a few years ago that really works. Half fill a fertiliser bag with fresh cow / horse manure and leave it sitting on top of grass or soil for a number of weeks, long enough for manure moisture to leach out into the ground. When the bag is lifted there should be a mass of garden worms there. Tiger worms from worm farms do not last long in gardens, they remain too close to the top of soil so are taken by birds. Lawns: Winter damage will be noticed in lawns now that grass is growing again, rake out damaged patches, rough up the soil then spread generous amounts of clean, sifted topsoil to sow grass seed on. If birds are a problem each patch can be covered with green shade cloth until seed germinates. Vegetables: Here on the coast plant lettuce plants at two week intervals and any spare ground could be planted out in seed potatoes. I am now dealing with clay soil in my new raised gardens. During winter I planted a green crop which has since been dug in plus layered manure enriched compost and managed to grow a few veg in amongst it. The soil is still heavy but I know that layering compost on top for worms to take down, which will improve the top planting layer. Fruit: Strawberry plants are on the move towards flowering, they are heavy feeders as well so will be looking for compost mulch now. Straw or pine needles around strawberry plants will keep weeds down and fruit clean. Bees are about to pollinate blossoms, too late now for any spraying, just let the bees do their work and look forward to bumper crops. Cheers, Linda.

If worms love your soil you will have a happy garden.

Gardening in Waitaki 20th September 2023

Mount Fuji in full bloom.

Rain in North Otago last week and what a difference it has made to new growth and the lawns. I was out in the rain with the lawn fertiliser to boost them even more. The hum of bees is back with the flowering cherries in blossom and what a magnificent display magnolias are making around North Otago. It is a joy to be planting out bedding plants and putting the finishing touches to gardens when the sun shines. I am sure every gardener enjoys trying new plants and colour combinations and now is the perfect time to sow seeds for summer flowering, but keep an eye on seedlings with late frosts. Some I planted a couple of weeks ago and have been protecting are up and in need of transplanting and regular watering. Birds will be scratching about in gardens looking for worms and grubs to feed their young, They usually concentrate on the front edge of a garden making a mess on paths and lawns, if you have a problem with this, growing a mat forming a border will deter them. Some border plants to consider are catmint, lambs ear, alyssum, alchemilla mollis, dwarf agapanthus, armeria maritim (thrift), mondo grass, any low growing perennial plant that mats over soil. Baskets and pots need to be thought about now, use only shallow rooted plants for baskets like pansy, lobelia, small type petunias, nemesia, and trailers like dwarf sweet pea, with the addition of slow release fertiliser and water Chrystal's to keep them going. The roots of what you want to plant will determine the size and depth of a pot. Time to address root bound pots, most established potted shrubs respond well to being removed and half the roots removed with a sharp spade, then re potted in fresh mix with a good amount of plant food to suit the plant, Spring flowering potted shrubs can be repotted after flowering.Potted roses and hydrangeas need a deep pot which will not heat up and cook roots during the height of summer. Tin foil around the inside of a pot before filling,( shiny side facing out) will help keep roots cooler for roses, camellias, azaleas, hydrangeas and small trees and shrubs. All potted plants need excellent drainage and a consistent supply of food and water. If a potted plant is left too dry for too long between watering it will never thrive or look lush and healthy. Roses are putting outleaf now and the warmer it becomes the more aphids ( green fly) will be about, aphids settle on the top new growth of rose bushes and are easily visible on new small leaves for you to dispose of by removing with your finger and thumb. If you feel you need to spray, wait until the leaves are well grown and have hardened up a little or leave to encourage birds and predators to take the bugs. Lawns: New lawns sown on the coast should result in a strike now that the ground is warmer, as I have mentioned before seed must be sown thickly in spring to beat the annual weeds although annual weeds will be mowed out with the first mow. Keep the mower blades up when cutting spring grass to allow it to thicken and feed established lawns just before or during rain and they will stay lush, no feeding is required on very new lawns as they need to push roots down deep looking for moisture and nurishment to become strong. Vegetables: Here on the coast Plant lettuce plants at two week intervals and any spare ground could be planted out in seed potatoes. Plant corn and pumpkin seeds early and protect once through the soil until frosts have past, they both need a long ripening season. Fruit: Strawberries and rhubarb are starting to move, they need fed, watered and mulched, manure enriched compost then straw, pine needles or un sprayed grass clippings will do the trick around both. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki September 13th 2023

A cool change this week here in Waitaki, I guess that is expected from spring weather. When the sun shines, bees are about working hard among blossoms and plants so all is as it should be in gardens. Seedlings need to be protected during cold snaps so if buying punnets of annuals get them accustomed to changeable weather and cold nights before planting them out and possibly losing them. Still too early for lobelia, begonias, petunias and marigold but not too early to sow seed of these under protection. Right now is the perfect time to plant seed for late spring and early summer flowers. Potted shrubs need to be inspected for root crowding, it takes only a year for some to exhaust the mix they are planted in. Remove from the pot if not too big and trim roots back by half with a sharp spade then replant into a fresh, heavy potting mix. Completely soak to the bottom of the pot to help the shrub settle back in with no air pockets. With Larger unmanageable pots and barrels top up with mix after pushing a sharp object down through the roots to create large holes for potting mix to be washed down in around established roots. However if after a number of years a shub stops thriving it will be time to start again with something fresh. Lavenders: Will be showing new growth now, if yours needs a trim do it now. English lavenders eventually get leggy and past it, don't nurse them thinking they will come back because they will probably not, dig them out and replace with new plants. Munstead lavender is the small edging variety which will not spill over a path. The bumble bee type, lavender major, are more manageable in borders and the French lavender dentata is a tall hedging lavender with serrated leaves that flowers all year round. lavenders like it dry but need to get roots down deep to tap into lower soil moisture, plant in full sun, give a dressing of lime from time to time, Lawns: The mowers are out again! keep catchers up while grass is lush and they will not dry out as they do when cut low. Make use of rain showers by fertilising lawns to boost new growth. Vegetables: Sow veg seeds into trays and protected from cold, cover seedling plants already planted from cold and birds. My board beans and peas are up and doing well and the seed potatoes are in, I am sure there will be clever Gardeners out there who already have potatoes up and growing in a sheltered spot, almost ready for the pot. I wait until I see a rogue potato left behind from last year's digging to send up leaves to let me know the ground is ready. Fruit: All berry fruits are on the move so food, water and mulching are needed for a good production, the earlier this is done the better the crops. The Garden corner at the Resource recovery park will be open again this weekend offering lots of natives and gap fillers. Cheers, Linda.

Repot root bound plants now

Gardening in Waitaki September 6th 2023

Wild flowers, plant seeds now.

SEPTEMBER Tra La" and spring thank goodness! The season of new beginnings and with the nice drizzle we had last week I am convinced a new growing season has begun. As I walked in the drizzle with Scruff I noticed all the pollen being washed into gutters, there is so much pollen in the air, settling on every outside surface and being breathed in I am sure there will be a lot of sneezing going on. Everyday something new is happening in gardens, sweet peas, ranunculus, anemones and tulips are well up and putting on good growth. I am now watching as I work around the garden as to what is pushing through. Weeds are off to a flying start as well so hoes and sprayers will be out, there are organic sprays and they work best when weeds are small so now is the time to remove them before they flower and make seed. My past garden had very wide perennial borders that insisted on growing couch, biddy- bid, and chick-weed and this was the time I attacked them while perennials were still low and the ground damp and soft, making weed pulling easy. While doing this weeding I could see what needed attention, delphiniums needing stakes before they put on too much growth, removing mulch from around iris rhizomes and peony rose crowns and removing self sown plants and natives before they settle in. Plants, shrubs and trees respond to feeding now, sap is well up and buds are swelling, liquid feed all perennials and bedding plants and use a good general fertiliser for trees and shrubs. Azaleas and tulips are the exception, azaleas like fed after flowering and tulips store enough food in the bulb for their requirements. If you load them up with more they will grow more leaves than needed and hide blooms. It is also time to dress your garden for late spring and summer, think colour, where you want it and what colour is needed where. At this time of the year concentrate on the sunny areas in the garden to get bedding pants and perennials moving. Why not plant wildflowers, this year I am filling egg cartons, after piercing with drainage holes fill indents with seed raising mix and wildflower seeds, cartens can be buried into soil suppressing weeds then breaking down once seeds germinate and grow. Roses: there are still roses on offer, they do not always need to grow together in a rose bed, use them as gap fillers in sunny borders. To give new to rose growers an idea of what to look for I will list the different types below once again. PATIO ROSES: grow about knee high for front border planting, plant 80 cm apart when grouping, these can also be grown in containers as long as the roots are kept cool ( tin foil around the inside of the pot before filling will help with this) feed right through the growing season. FLORABUNDA: Flowers grow in clusters - bushes grow to about waist high on average, space these about 1mtr apart when grouping. Cut off spent flower clusters and they will reward you with masses of colour right through the growing season. HYBRID TEA: This is the rose to give you the large exhibition one steam bloom. They grow about chest high, these are the picking rose and need feeding well right through the growing season to give the best results. MINIATURE: A dwarf growing bush rose with all parts scaled down, height will be listed on the label. If you have a rose that is not performing and has been growing for a few years, dig it out, change the soil and plant another. The secret to keeping roses free from disease is to remove all last years' diseased wood and leaves from the ground around them and burn them. Keep the food up to rose bushes starting now while they are beginning to leaf and continue right through until the end of summer. Lawns: With that lovely moisture last week I fed my lawn and can already see results, healthy lawns are fed often to leave no room for weeds. Vegetables: Plant carrot, spring onion, lettuce, brassica, pea and broad bean seeds. Still too early for tomato, basil, corn, summer beans and all from the pumpkin family. All garden areas do not have to be ornamental, why not consider growing food in a sun filled garden front or back of your property, once potatoes are planted and up that will take care of filling a space and weeds, then you can dig and eat them and replant that spot with leaf veg. Fruit: Buds are swelling to blossom burst as sap rises, what's needed now are sunny days and bee's. I worked on my gooseberry bushes this week,Thinning branches before the leaves arrive, cutting up the bottom branches to get bushes higher off the ground making it so much easier to pick the fruit as it hangs beneath branches.. Cheers, Linda. Pretty gardens with produce to be eaten.

Gardening in Waitaki 30th August 2023

Urban rewilding brings nature to town.

A good frost early this morning as I walked Scruff but Soil is warming on the coast so planting begins in Veg and flower gardens.  Have you considered contributing to Native green corridors? More native planting is thought to be needed here in Waitaki to Increase biodiversity. Green corridors bring birdsong, wildlife and remove starkness from urban streetscapes. Many native plant roots do not cause a problem with paving if this is the reluctance to soften a fence line with much needed fauna & flora.The cycle track between Oamaru and Weston is a good example, being added to constantly by enthusiastic volunteer plants people. The same planting and wonderful biodiversity has been achieved at Cape Wynbrow, now a special place for wildlife and walkers. There are many roadside fence lines with grass verges that could be incorporated in a green corridor.  Sap is on the way up again so unwanted growth from prunus trees  (flowering cherry) can be removed, this is the time to make cuts in prunus to avoid the spread of silver leaf which can spread from tree to tree while in the dormant stage. Cut out  any weak growth and cross over branches before they grow thick.  Sow seeds for late spring and summer flowering into seed trays, raise trays up off the cold ground and cover with glass or clear plastic to get good germination and water when dry with a mist spray early in the day. Cuttings pushed into river sand in autumn should have made roots. Pot into small pots in a heavy potting mix then store in a warm location until roots fill pots. Only water when the mix is dry on top, roots will be too small to take up excess moisture. Foliar feeding spring flowering plants (other than bulbs ) with liquid plant food to encourage strong growth. When weeds are growing strongly it will be safe to plant all the pretty spring seedlings on offer now.  Cleaning out ponds is a must in early spring before pondweed and plants  really take off,  if  oxygen weed is choking the pond, reduce it now because as water loses its chill fish will soon begin to notice each other and eggs will be  blown into the weed. I overflow ponds, clean out leaves and dead iris leaves leaving a good amount of sludge on the pond bottom. Leave what you remove on the side of the pond overnight to give pond life a chance to make it back into the water. Don't plant yellow bog iris in a domestic pond) The place for this iris is along the banks of a creek, the fibrous roots are fantastic at holding the sides back from erosion. Don't be tempted to add bull rushes to a domestic pond either, they also spread too quickly. Lawns benefit greatly from an early spring feed of lawn fertilizer, working best with rain to wash it in. If moss is a problem, sulphate of iron watered on from a watering can will deal with it. Rake it out once it has turned black.  Unfortunately too much soil is removed from new sections which means clay will be creating a solid, moisture holding pan. Gypsum ( soluble lime) will work on opening up clay without changing the ph of soil. Vegetables: Heaps to do in the veg garden as you ready it for planting. Spread old stable or pig manure and dig in if you turn soil over. If you don't leave on top for worms to take in. A metal rake will soon break up winter clods to fine soil down for direct seed sowing. Get pumpkin, butternut and squash and corn seeds started now under protection, they need a long warm growing season to grow and ripen. It's so good to be planting salad veg again especially while there are no white butterflies or aphids about. ( cover new veg with fine net if you spot them)Get seed potatoes in the ground, when leaves appear through the soil start mounding soil up over most of the leaves to add soil depth which encourages more potatoes. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki August 23rd 2023

Blossoms, and magnolias are throwing off their woolly blankets, winter sweet and violets are wafting nature's perfume about gardens, Spring has arrived. Keep the frost cloth handy for seedlings and protected plants for a while yet. I have been re-potting plants held over winter and planting dahlia tubers in sunny places where drainage is good. Tubers will sit until the soil is warm enough for them to start moving. With new spring growth starting it is time for shrub height and width control. Soft shrubs encroaching on drive and walkways can be trimmed back, they will soon recover with new spring growth. You can do this if height is a problem without spoiling the shape of shrubs like pittosporums. What I do is cut out the center top leader down to where the side branches bush out, sometimes height reduction can be up to 2 or more meters. Shrubs will soon send up a new leader but will also increase growth into the sides. A lot of climbers are in bud now ready to do their spring flowering so when trimming watch you are not cutting off new buds, Jasmines may have been knocked by frosts, if so leave them a bit longer until sure frosts are over before trimming them. If you have still not fed your roses do it as soon as possible! they are moving fast now and need food kept up for good health.This goes for most plants now, If you have no time to do anything else in the garden feeding plants is a must while roots are searching. It is well worth the effort and will minimize the spaying needed later on. Now would be a good time to mention plants that resent being fed, many South African and Australian natives, proteas, leucadendrons, banksias and all grevilleas do not need feeding. I have lost some of these because they had absorbed fertiliser from neighbouring plants. There is still time to divide hostas before they start moving into leaf. these dramatic shade loving perennials can really highlight a shaded spot with their fresh greens and variegated shades. Simply lift established clumps and use a sharp spade to slice them into a few good size pieces, then replant. Slugs will be waiting so try epsom salts sprinkled on the soil, supposedly known to deter slugs and also helps prevent Magnesium deficiency. Magnesium helps to deepen color, thickens petals and increases root structure. Other deterrents are builders Sand, Nut Shells, Sprigs of rosemary scattered around are said to repel slugs. Continue to sow seeds under cover, seeds I planted two weeks ago are up already and getting a weekly liquid feed of diluted worm tea. Any seed packs that recommend spring sowing will pop up now. I sow my seeds in trays of compost and soil with a layer of seed raising mix on the top, this way your seed raising mix will go further. Once planted cover the trays with plastic or glass, but use spacers to let air circulate between the plastic / glass and tray. Lawns will be making a move soon so they can have the first feed from now on, we have too much clay content in ours so I intend to spread compost and water in. Vegetables: If you plan to grow vegetables this summer get the garden ready now by digging in some weed free compost, then let the soil settle a bit before planting. In area's you do not plan to plant out for a while why not do tired soil a favor and sow a green crop to add humus. Mustard, lupine, barley or wheat will germinate in no time. If you do decide to do this, dig it in when lush, soft and green, don't let it get stalky because it takes too long to break down. Plenty of seed potatoes on offer now for you to get sprouting, early varieties can go in and should show leaf in about a month when frosts are over. Fruit This is the time to give fruiting shrubs and trees a dressing of potash to help with fruiting. Deciduous fruit trees and small fruit shrubs should be planted in August at the latest. I have been thinning and arranging raspberry canes this week, taking out old canes that have fruited and removing all spindly canes and excess runners. If you have canes in a row why not hoop them together for easier picking.. Now is a good time to trim, feed and shift citrus trees. Cheers, Linda.

Hooping raspberries.

Gardening in Waitaki August 15th 2023

Insects need flowers.

Winter chill is still with us as Nature pushes on towards Spring. Treat your garden to a late-winter pep-up by removing weeds while they are still small then digging in compost or just spread and let worms take it down into soil.  Lift and divide perennials such as delphiniums, chrysanthemums, hostas, asters and astilbes.  Sow flower seeds with spring sowing instructions on the packet.  I have just sown, nigella, alyssum, cosmos, dahlia, delphinium, dianthus, nemesia, viola, phlox, salvia, snapdragon, viscaria, and linaria. Most of these seeds I saved from last growing seasons flowers which then makes them locally grown and when germinated should do well. With life being so very busy a good number of gardens now are planted as easy care, ornamental grass and evergreen shrubs requiring less attention than flowering shrubs, perennials and annuals. Bees and butterflies rely on flower filled gardens which I know is a big ask for busy people but why not introduce some flower filled pots and hanging baskets that would also bring necessary insects into the garden.  Roses  are now absent from many new garden plantings  because of the attention needed to keep them healthy and looking good. However, there are the flower carpet type roses that can be trimmed as a shrub and flower right through late spring, summer and autumn and need only manure enriched compost applied to keep them happy. Those gardeners who enjoy the magic roses bring to a garden will be watching new buds swell and applying the food needed to give them a good boost for the start of the busy flowering seasons ahead. There is still time to prune roses during this month but by September pruning should be done and dusted.                     Fairy magnolia blush is proving to be a winner for a pretty hedge or tree for a small garden and also looks great in a large pot. This magnolia / michelia cross grows 4m high and 3m wide after 10 years and likes full sun or semi shade.  Lawns: August can be a tricky time of the year for lawns because the weather is so unpredictable, fertilize if we get a good shower for nutrients to be available when needed. You may find the growth rate of grass increase from now on, if you feel it necessary to start mowing, keep the blades high and  remove any perennial weeds by hand before they flower and seed.   Fruit: Get all fruit bushes and grapes pruned as soon as possible because sap is rising which means branches will bleed sap when cut. remove some old grape leaders, replacing them with new growth leaders, the result of this will be vertical budding then fruiting next year.  Meyer lemon bushes have been happy with our winter conditions with all the fruit covered bushes I am seeing about, now I am waiting on the elderflowers to go with them to make elderflower cordial. Vegetables: Raised gardens in  sunny locations probably have not had enough hard frosts this winter to break up the soil, spreading compost now will get worms going before planting.  Early potatoes planted now will not take long to pop leaves up, as they grow mound soil up over and around them to keep light off. Onions can be planted into seed trays, they don't have to be in a greenhouse in 4 - 6 weeks they can be planted out. When planting, space plants 5-10 cm apart, onions prefer a sunny position with a rich but light soil, they will do well in most soils as long as it is firm.  Downy mildew, neck rot and white rot are the most common diseases that attack onions. To avoid these, plant disease-resistant varieties and keep the garden clean of diseased debris. If your veg garden is further inland start adding some compost and a little lime now in readiness for when you plant out later this month.   Cheers, Linda.

Nursed seedlings.

Gardening in Waitaki August 9th 2023

Pussy willow buds,

We are a little closer towards Spring as I see fluffy pussy willow and magnolia buds ahowing colour, a few rhododendrons bursting buds, early blossoms, flowering currant and viburnum flowering but it still feels very much like winter. Soil is wet and cold but as days lengthen ground temperature starts to rise gradually. It is the plants that let us know when Spring is here and they are happy to push out new growth. This is the time of the year I notice the yellowing of some plants, with the winter rain we have had ground gets depleted of nitrogen affecting shallow rooted camellias, azaleas and rhododendron, acid fertiliser especially formulated for them is available, ( If powder water in well) folia feeding is also beneficial now as roots are forming and looking for nutrients, I used a watering can to apply liquid comfrey feed made last summer as a boost to spring flowering plants that are showing movement. Worm tea diluted to (weak tea colour) horse / cow manure is an inexpensive folia / root food for newly planted annuals, perennials, roses and shrubs as new buds swell. Potted plants out growing their containers will soon show poor growth, these plants can be revived by reducing the root mass by half then re-potting back into the same pot or potting on into a larger pot. Remove the root bound plant from the pot and lay it on the ground, I use a sharp spade to chop the root ball in half. Then using tin foil, (shiny side against the inside of the pot ) will help with roots sunbaking, the use of a heavy tree and shrub mix is best for moisture retention. With all the slow release fertilisers on offer now it makes it easy to choose the right one for all plants. Keep planting roses, peony roses and gladioli from now until September if dividing or planting lilies get them planted straight away, they never stop making roots and should never dry out. Cut back : leggy, bush lavatera and buddleas they will bush up fresh new growth again in no time. Lawns Moss will be noticeable in lawns after a damp winter, there are a lot of products out there to deal with moss but killing the moss in lawns is simply a short term measure, it does not address the basic problem. If you really want to eradicate moss from your lawn, then you have to find the problem causing it. The reasons are varied, but not too difficult to isolate. Things that would be causing moss in your lawn could be: Water logging, Poor feeding regime, soil too acidic, shaded lawns and mowing lawns too close. Drought - not to be confused with a bit of summer-browning and compaction. Treating areas of moss in lawns can be carried out with sulphate of iron watered on at the strength displayed on the pack per sq meter, the moss will turn black and after a couple of weeks rake out the dead moss and re-seed. Moss rarely competes with strong growing lawns, the first lawn feed can be as soon as new growth is noticed. Slow release grass fertliser is ideal when the ground is wet and rain is about to happen, powdered grass fertiliser must be watered in either by rain or hose, if left to sit it will burn new growth. Vegetables Here on the coast get spring sowing off to an early start, plant peas and broad beans and veg seedlings on offer in garden centers. Further inland the soil will take a bit of thawing before any planting but an early start may be achieved by using a row of cloches or a stretch of clear polythene to warm and dry out the soil. Plenty to do preparing veg gardens by digging in humus/compost in readiness for the big plant out. I see seed potatoes are available for sprouting, then into the ground for early crop on the coast, people have been telling me of the benefits gained from planting potatoes on a bed of pine needles, I lay them on comfrey leaves but will use some pine needles as well this year, I am sure there will be many other potato planting traditions out there. Fruit Peach trees should be just about at bud burst so spray with a copper spray for leaf curl, once in blossom it is too late to spray. If you have not already pruned your peach or nectarine tree that's ok, they are best left until after the coldest weather. I will run through how to go about it. 1. Standard type trees are easily trained to an open center or vase shape with 3 or 4 primary scaffold branches or they can be trained to V-shaped trees with just 2 scaffold branches, cut larger branches needing removal close to the trunk leaving only a small collar to prevent decay in branches. 2. Remove small weak upright branches on trunk or main branches. 3. Leave 50 to 75% pencil thick shooting wood per tree. Both peach and nectarine trees fruit on wood developed last summer. Inspect the buds on newer wood, single buds are leaf buds, double buds are immature fruit buds and triple buds are mature fruit buds. Cut to an outward facing double bud, leave triples. Cheers, Linda

Peach bud swell.

Gardening in Waitaki August 2nd 2023

Hydrangea cuttings.

What will August weather hold for Gardens? going by my past notes we still have proper winter weather ahead before we can leap fully into spring, soil along with plant's need a continual cold spell to grow at peak performance. The down side to a late old snap is the damage that is done to new growth and fruit blossom. We need milder sun filled days for pollinators to do their job during the short blossom blooming period. Cold or not August is the time to think about creative ways to dress ornamental gardens by planning, planting out, shifting and feeding. Liquid feed annuals and perennials that have been nursed through winter, roots are starting to take in nutrients to plump up buds. Roses and hydrangeas will be still getting the winter prune, roses like flower carpet if well established can be trimmed with a hedge trimmer Hydrangeas will be showing fat green shoots, take hardened branches that flowered down to the second bud from the bottom and leave all non flowering growth as these will carry the new blooms. Hydrangea cuttings can be taken now, thick rather than thin cuttings are best about 12" long on a slant, dip cuttings in rooting hormone (this is optional), insert the slanted end into damp river sand, around the edge of a well draining pot rather than the middle, water well and sit in a sheltered place. Staking Trees: I have been noticing newly planted tall grafted trees planted in gardens without stakes, while the ground is firm and winds are usually few during winter come spring with unpredictable weather these trees will be whipped about moving roots that should be firm in the ground. Tree's left un-staked take much longer to make the roots needed to anchor them so grow slower, sometimes not at all. Seed sowing for me is under way, cottage annuals, cosmos, cornflowers, love in the mist, snapdragon and alyssum, plus, plus, plus can be sown under glass in trays to germinate in a warm place up off the cold ground. More tender annuals need to wait until it is warmer unless you have a heated glass house. Perennials and annuals already putting out growth need to be protected from any sudden freezing. Vegetable gardens: This month is the time for sowing veg seeds that should then be ready for pricking out into punnets to grow on ready for planting into a warm spring garden. Veg gardens will be enjoying the sunny days with frosts helping to break down soil. Birds will be hungry and starting to nest so cover leaf veg with netting or frost cloth to keep them off. Fruit Trees are available in Garden Centres, each fruit tree is grafted onto rootstock that will determine how large the tree will grow and should have the following codes on labels, M26 is ideal for espaliers and cordons. M27 is good for stepovers ( the smallest of fruit trees) or trees in pots. If in doubt, ask for advice from the seller. Grape pruning needs to finish soon before sap rises, to prune a fruiting leader remove all new long growth on the vine other than the fruiting leader, on leaders prune each new growth back to the second bud. These fruiting buds should be around a hand space apart to ensure adequate sized fruit, this means removing some of the new bud growth along the top of the leader and all new bud growth growing underneath. Some of these new budding top growths will throw two lots of bud branches, remove the least stronger one leaving only one lot of double buds to produce fruit. Keep an eye on peach budburst, in milder gardens it will happen early. A copper spray right at the bud burst will help with leaf curl. Scruff update: Since moving into a new subdivision Scruff our dog has had to settle for an average sized section, BUT feels he neededs to claim the whole of the area! no cat, bird, dog or person is allowed anywhere near. I was able, in our past large garden, to quiet him very vocally with no one in earshot. But now with Neighbours all around it is me that has been quietened and Scruff is happy in his defending the Subdivision.! Cheers, Linda

Scruff.