Gardening in Waitaki February 22nd 2023

With Waitaki being soooo very dry, the rain we are getting as I write this will rejuvenate gardens and lawns, Helleluyah ! Gardens and plants are very tired now although the plants I cut back early this month are beginning to regrow with fresh growth so cut back border and rockery perennials as they finish flowering then top dress with compost and some blood and bone to give all a gentle boost for the growing they have yet to do. To get superior blooms on gerberas, dahlias, delphiniums and chrysanthemums dead head and give fortnightly feeds of liquid fertiliser, remove excess buds from large flowering chrysanthemums they will be putting on a show soon. Deadheading all plants will encourage flowering rather than seed producing. With rain and the now heavy dew's gardens should carry on producing new growth until the first frosts but as days shorten colouring and leaf fall will begin then the raking up season will begin! Wrenching: I would dearly love to shift shrubs but I know they would suffer being shifted at this time of the year even if water was kept up to them, best to wait until winter when the sap is down. But you can wrench trees and shrubs now and shift later. To wrench is to dig down on one side of the tree or shrub cutting roots as you go, once all feeder roots have been severed pack compost or peaty potting mix around them for new roots to grow into over autumn. Untouched roots on the other side will continue to feed the tree or shrub until lifting in winter when plants are dormant. Once planted, cut trees or shrubs back by a third. However if you have no option and have to shift trees or shrubs a root ball would need to be as wide as the plant, retaining as much of the tap root as possible, the planting hole should be twice as big as the root ball, compost or peat added then filled with water before planting and firming in with a secure stake to protect the transplant from wind movement. Remove a third off the top and side growth then stake and leave a hose dripping down into roots until you feel things have settled. Mulching has been so worth doing during these exceptionally hot months for shading roots, retaining moisture and keeping weeds down. Water deep for mulch to do its job, it will always look dry on top but the thicker it is, the more moisture will be absorbed and kept where needed. Those lucky enough to pile up garden trimmings in a stock paddock for burning, when fire restrictions are lifted be mindful of what is being left for stock to eat. There are a number of common plants that can poison animals and Children : Arum lilies, Calico bush ( Kalmia latifolia ), Daphne, English yew, foxglove, Hemlock, Holly berries, Iris, Ivy, Kowhai (especially seeds) Laburnum, Lily of the valley, Ngaio, Deadly nightshade, Privit, Rhododendron, Rhubarb (leaves) Spindle berry, Potato ( green berries and green tubers) to name a few. But all mentioned can be broken down by composting or shredding into a mulch. Lawns: Lawn weeds spot sprayed will wilt away very quickly, even Hydrocotyle which I had so much trouble with will succumb. I see where grass grubs are eating away at the roots of grass, mostly in the ground at the foot of trees night beetles strip leaves from, (Grass grubs turn into these beetles), granules can be applied from now until May during the a significant rainfall. I always hope worms will duck down deep away from any chemicals used on lawns as they are the most important component in a healthy lawn. Veg: New root veg can go in now, parsnips, beetroot, carrot and board beans, french beans, onions, spring onions and all brassicas. If planting out leaf veg it would pay to cover from white butterflies and birds that seem to go for the small newly planted. So much home grown produce will be picked and frozen or stored this month, so reassuring for gardeners to know their fresh veg is fresh and safe from chemicals. An easy planting guide to follow https://tuigarden.co.nz/media/3530/tui-planting-calendar-poster.pdf Fruit: Dig out old spent strawberry plants and discard, plants being kept for another season should have runners cut off now to preserve the strength of the main clumps. Transplant only strong runners close to the Mother plant and keep the water up to them until they make roots. Apples, late peaches, nectarines, quince and grapes are the next picking crops then walnuts will be falling, SUCH ABUNDANCE. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki February 14th 2023

What glorious weather we are getting as I write this, but with it comes the dry ground and work keeping moisture up to the whole garden and lawns. There is so much to do right now, dead heading roses and dahlias and cutting back everything that has flowered and getting rid of weeds before they run to seed. The one thing we can hold off from at this hot time of the year is planting, unless you are able to water new plantings daily. Lavenders can be topped now to encourage new flowers, it's just a matter of cutting off the old flowers unless the bush has become woody, if so take it right back to the ground and it will soon send up some nice new soft growth. Cut well established buddleias right back to the ground if they have grown taller than needed, new soft growth is much more attractive than new growth on old wood. Buddleias are such great gap fillers for big gardens with beautiful flowers that attract butterflies but it is not worth planting them if you are not prepared to cut them off at ground level every now and then. Roses are giving us a second batch of blooms right now. During dry conditions roses struggle and will not be the healthy specimens they were at the start of the growing season. I remove rust and black spot diseased leaves as I decided not to spray a few years ago. My trial at the beginning was to foliar feed as much as possible to keep roses healthy, remembering not to let wet rose leaves go into humid nights so as not to encourage mildew and fungus. Deep root watering at the end of a day works for me, there is no sign of the usual mildew and I don't mind having to remove the black spot and rust leaves by not spraying to let roses build up a stronger resistance. Ponds: Masses of oxygen and duckweed may be choking ponds because of heat, it was always a great mulch for the garden when taken from my ponds. When removing let piles lay by the pond overnight so pond creatures attached to weed can find their way back into the pond. Pond water can get a bit murky at this time of the year, if you think your pond is stagnant and producing lots of green slime add some non sprayed barley straw and weigh it down with rocks. This will soon neutralise the water and get the pond working the way it should. There is also a product available called barley essence that can be added to get the same results. Lawns are very thirsty, especially those with a lot of clay content, clay shrinks when very dry creating cracks. I have been leaving the hose running on the lawn and shifting to needed areas rather than using a sprinkler which tends to water only top root growth encouraging roots to remain shallow. Hopefully we will get a good downpour as the tail end of the tragic happenings up north. Fruit trees are taking center stage now as fruit ripens, I keep an eye on what birds tell me is ready then harvest before they get the lot. I missed the boat this year with elderberries, they beat me to it. Apricot trees I find are plentiful every second year, peach and plum trees need to be visited daily as birds will be waiting close by and apple tree branches are sagging with abundant crops ripening. Cover grape bunches from birds as they ripen, old net curtains or frost cloth work by still allowing needed light. Vegetables: Keep water up to the vegetables, don't leave veg past its best alongside healthy vegetables and always rotate plantings of leafy veg with root veg to eliminate disease being passed on. I have been checking brassica leaves for caterpillars and removing whole leaves if too infested. Mound soil up around the roots of corn ripening, and keep an eye on the pumpkin patch, leaves soon let you know when in need of water to help them grow into prize winners. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki February 8th 2023

What a week just past, severe heat, showers, strong wind then a cooling down but we cant say we are not getting a real summer and with it comes dry ground. It is so important to keep moisture around the roots of all plants, shrubs and trees right now because if plants are going to be lost because of the dry conditions it will be during this month and March. At the end of March we will get dews again to help parched plants along but for the next two months it is up to the gardener.  Rhododendron, azaleas, camellias, daphne shrubs and acer trees, (maples) are all shallow rooted and very susceptible to dry ground damage and can also be burned by excessive chemical feeding if not watered in well. A good deep drenching is what is needed during these hot months.  Dahlia's are taking center stage now, and will carry on flowering into autumn. They are making it into our flower borders more and more  looking  great mixed with summer perennials.  There are many dahlia styles and colours - cacti, singles, pompom to name just a few and so many shades. Dahlia tubers are a good investment for a large garden because they increase in size from year to year and in time can be broken up to plant as gap fillers. They can be left where planted in well draining ground all year round but if left in ground that holds water they will rot.  Perennial tall phlox is also putting on a fantastic show right now with frothy pinks and white and they are also a great investment for the garden because one plant will grow into a large clump in no time, will need staking but so worth the trouble because not only do they look beautiful the perfume from a clump of tall phlox can be intoxicating wafting about the garden. Sow annual winter flowering seeds now to give colour during winter, Iceland poppy, primula malacoidies, Virginian stock (a great plant for winter hanging baskets) wall flower, and flowering kale. Getting any of these plants to the budding stage before frosts arrive and they will push on and flower. This applies to coastal gardens only, not those further in land unless you have a frost free sheltered spot.  Lawns have really dried off and without regular soakings they will be more brown than green however grass is tough and will bounce back after a good rain.  Now is the time to deal with grass grubs, they are most active from now until May, birds will let you know by scratching grass out in different areas and leaving brown patches of dead grass. Have some grass grub granules ready to apply before the next lot of rain.  Vegetables: Many edibles are peaking in production to enjoy at the moment. Water in the morning or evening before or after the full heat of the sun, otherwise there’s too much evaporation for the plants to thrive. I swear my pumpkins grow every time I turn my back on them! We are all in for bumper crops this summer. I have been free flow, freezing veg when I have time, cauliflower, broccoli, beans, peas and corn all keep well after blanching and freezing in the free flow method.  This is the best time for planting above ground annual crops that produce their seeds outside the plants. Examples are lettuce, spinach, celery, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and grain crops. Cucumbers and tomatoes are ripening well now, keep an eye out for any rotting among plants and remove. Fruit trees will need a good drenching while fruit is swelling and ripening. Jams, sauces and pickles will be on the go to be bottled and stored for winter I am sure. Cheers, Linda.