Gardening in Waitaki April 26th 2023

Autumn leaves are blowing around this week but gardens should still be holding green and should continue to do so a little longer if moisture is kept up. Summer potted annuals will be looking tired now but deadheading and foliar feeding will keep them flowering through autumn. Here on the coast we can still enjoy colour during winter if bedding plants are prepared now. The idea is to utilize the warmth from now on to encourage individually potted plants to bush, bud and harden for planting before frosts get heavy. Bedding plants that respond well to this method are pansy, viola, polyanthus wallflower, stock, calendula and primula malacoides. It is so worth taking the time to pot individual young seedlings into single pots for root development and become acclimatized to early winter conditions rather than buying plants that have been forced into flower. I place these pots on trays and store them in a cool shady place until frosts begin, then the trays are put in a sunny spot to bud up. Keep dahlia deadheading up to encourage a last vibrant show but leave roses to make seed heads now. Rust is always a problem on roses in autumn because all resistance will be going into seed heads and hardening wood. Strip affected leaves from bushes as well as those on the ground and burn them. Carnations can be layered now, pin the center of a stem down under the soil while still attached to the mother plant with the flower end still exposed, roots should form along the buried stem. Once rooted, cut from the mother plant and pot up to grow on before planting out in lime sweetened soil. This layering method can be applied to many herbs, plants and shrubs. Lawns.There should be a lot of new lawns being sown, don't worry about annual weeds appearing as the grass germinates most will disappear after the first mow. All lawn weed sprays are too strong for new grass. Birds are after grass grub in lawns now while the grubs are feeding on grass roots, you have until the end of May to deal with grass grub should they be a problem. Fruit: This is proving a good season for apples, quince, pears and walnuts. The more I read about the health benefits from eating walnuts I feel we should all have access to a tree or maybe good crop to think about for future generations. The east coast is said to be the preferred place for growing walnuts, they need a dry climate, with a high summer temperature and winter chilling (down to -10ºC). Walnuts are self-pollinating but the more trees you have, the better the pollination rate. Young walnut trees won’t be producing at economic levels until about Year 8. Vegetable Gardens will be ready to plant out new crops for the cooler seasons, root veg seeds will only germinate well while the ground is still warm. Corn and pumpkins should be ready to harvest now and tomato crops almost exhausted, water early in the day to ensure produce is dry going into the night. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki April 18th 2023

More rain during this, usually known as the dry and settled time of the year and School holidays as well making it hard for Kids to be entertained outside.  Autumn colours are really happening now brightening dull days.  As all the vibrant leaf colours fade we are knee deep in leaves so much raking with the promise of mulch to go back to the garden in the form of compost and leaf mulch. Don't be too worried about raking every leaf from the garden when adding compost, leaves soon break down. However too many leaves left piled on gardens will be offering homes for garden pests to winter over while also creating a shield to stop rain soaking in. Snails and slugs will be searching for damp hidden places for winter protection from birds so plants like geraniums, hellebore, heuchera, hostas and low leafy perennials need to have the ground cleared around them. Gardeners will still be cutting back summer flowering perennials, piles of soft plant matter go onto the compost but the stringy hard wood trimmings are better shredded or put in a slow composting pile, the more we can put back on the garden the more the garden benefits. I am leaving hydrangeas alone to finish the wonderful autumn show they are offering right now, but have been taking some semi hardwood cuttings as I cannot get enough of these wonderful plants and it takes a few seasons for cuttings to grow into a good sized bush. Semi / hardwood  cuttings need to be taken from close to the base of the bush. Cut at a leaf junction, remove bottom leaves ( not too close to the stem) leaving a set of two leaves and the tip growth, remove the soft tip growth. Use a good nutrient free medium, I use river sand. Dip cuttings in rooting hormone to stimulate root growth then firm in and water, place in a shaded area over winter and Spring.  Still time for sowing seed under cover here on the coast and getting them to prick out size before the days become really cold and growing stops. Once they are pricked out into punnets or pots they will need to be nursed through until spring. Sowing seed now gives you a head start and the seedlings carried through are much stronger and will do better than the new punnets of seedlings offered in Garden centers come spring. Seeds to sow under cover: Antirrhinum (snapdragon), dianthus, pansy, viola, poppy, scabious, sweet William, polyanthus, primrose and primulas.  Seeds to sow straight into the garden now Alyssum, aquilegia, calendula, cornflower, lupins and sweet peas. Lift gladioli and clean corms, after drying dust with flowers of sulphur before storing in paper bags, never plastic.  Winter roses: will benefit from feeding now, take most shabby old leaves off because they harbour green fly over the cold months, but leave enough to protect the new growth then remove when the flowers come up.  Tall asters: Any one growing tall asters should have had them flowering for a while. If they are falling all over the place and need support you need to remember to trim back the new growth by half at the end of next September, this will make them grow bushier rather than tall, I must remember to remind you then. Asters exhaust the soil as the clumps get bigger so divide often when finished flowering.  Lawns are slowing down now, I have given mine a dressing of dolomite lime to keep them sweet over winter, lime takes a season to work down to do its job so if put on now the benefits will be had in spring. Lawn lime application corrects the PH balance in soil by neutralizing acidity and alkalinity. Fertilization of lawns causes the PH to become acidic, limestone will bring the Ph level back down to a natural balance. This has been the perfect Autumn for sowing a new lawn and rain to water. If you notice patches of established lawn browning off and the birds showing interest and scratching grass out, you will probably have grass grubs eating the grass roots, Grass grubs start hibernating in May so this month is the very last chance you will have to deal with them. Grass grub granules need to be watered in.  Vegetables: Watch pumpkins don't get frosted from now on, if they are big and sound hollow when you knock on them they can be picked (leaving the stout stalk attach), sit them in a sunny place to ripen more,  Anzac day is traditionally the time to plant broad beans, if you missed that day any time now is good. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki April 11th 2023

Well we are still getting rain as I write this so gutters filled with autumn leaves will be overflowing, seed ripening and produce harvesting will be put on hold until hopefully a stretch of baking autumn weather. April into early May offer us the last mild pleasureable days to be working in gardens before we slip into winter. BUT until then, light hedge trimming, cutting back of all that has finished flowering, clearing gardens and pots of summer annuals to allow replanting, dressing cleared gardens with compost / mulch, and yes all those leaves need to be raked, composted, leaf mulch started or burnt......sorry to point out such a list of to do's. Cuttings: Growth starts slowing as days shorten, tree and shrub wood begins to harden as seeds are produced and ripen. Semi-ripe cuttings can be taken from this year's growth, woody at the base and soft at the tip. I have taken cuttings from buddleia, fuchsia, lavender, hebe, geranium, pelargonium, felicia daisy, salvia, rosemary, sage and lemon verbena. Take cuttings at a node, where a leaf is on the stem of a plant, because this is where most of the plant's natural hormones are concentrated. Depending on the plant, make cuttings approx 10 -15cm long. Remove leaves from the bottom half of the cutting and also reduce some top leaves and reduce those left by half. I push cuttings into river sand, moist river sand stays tight around cuttings until roots develop. Cuttings can stay outside in a protected, semi shaded position with good overhead light. Seed raising: Winter and spring annuals will successfully germinate now before days become colder and shorter. Sow into trays of potting mix with a layer of seed raising mix on top. Place sown seed trays in a well lit protected place outside, Once germinated pot on into punnets before seedlings become leggy and cover with a layer of frost cloth to get them through winter. Germinating for me are pansies, violas, primula malacoides and wall flowers. Peony roses do not have to be divided every year, if clumps have not been producing as many flowers as usual then that is a sign to divide. Once finished flowering cut back the dead stalks and leaves and destroy, if left near new growth diseases will be passed on. If a clump does need divideding now is the time. Bulbs: Only feed bulbs and plants that are due to flower now, all other plants will be slowing their growth right down to sleep through winter. Don't waste good fertiliser on plants that won't use it. Move all spring flowering plants in pots into a sunny spot now, plants like camellia, azaleas and rhododendrons that have been tucked away in a shady spot over the hot months. If shrubs were fed with acid fertiliser when they finished flowering, they should be fine. If not, give them a little and water in well to give them a boost. Compost: Damp compost heaps after the rain still have time to build up heat now until the very coldest months. Layer leaves on compost along with animal manure, soft garden waste, un-sprayed grass clippings and left over compost from your last lot. Lawns will have enjoyed the rain, let's hope it drowned the grass grub! If grubs are a problem in your lawns, (birds hunting them will let you know you have a problem) you have until the end of May to treat lawns for grass grub, after May they stop feeding and burrow deep. Grass seed sown now should strike but once frosts start you will need to wait for a spring sowing. Fruit: If you have laden apple trees, pick as many as you need and store in a cool dry place and leave the rest for birds. Quince paste with cheese and quince added to apple jelly is a wonderful taste from the past. Vegetables: Time to clear and add compost to veg gardens for replanting beetroot, spinach, and all brassica. Sow seeds of carrots, swedes and broad beans. The ground is still warm and perfect for getting seeds and seedlings well on their way before the frosts cool things down. Concept Garden Design: Now that I am not maintaining the big garden I am putting more time into Garden Design. If in need of direction in this area I can help with a concept design for existing gardens or new builds. Contact me on 0274430256 and I will explain what I offer. Cheers, Linda. Concept Landscape before

Concept landscape ideas after

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Gardening in Waitaki April 5th 2023

Easter is almost upon us again and trees are now showing autumn colour after a slow start because of autumn rains.  Our Easter egg hunters are reducing as they become teenages but there are still a few expecting Nanas Easter eggs.  Normally at this time of the year new growth is not encouraged as all growth starts to wind down preparing for the dormant months but here on the coast we like to continue to have colour in the garden with polyanthus, primulas, pansy and cyclamen, these plants get a boost when dried blood is used around them. Dried blood is high in nitrogen and an easy way to replenish tired soil before planting. Compost will be working well with moisture in the ground and warmth. Generally speaking, stable and poultry manure contain practically all the elements required, particularly nitrogen, phosphate, and potash in a natural organic form. However not all plants require the same proportions, animal manure that is too fresh can cause rank growth with leguminous like peas, beans, lupins etc because of excess nitrogen but left to break down in a compost heap, then used in conjunction with a general fertiliser when planting will ensure plants get all they require in the growing season.  Plants that will not tolerate phosphate garden fertiliser are leucadendrons, Proteas, Banksia and Erica's/ callunas; just a good organic leaf mulch will keep them happy. Primula and viola clumps can be broken up now and planted out to create borders or fill gaps in front borders. Feed rhododendron, azaleas and camellias with an acid fertiliser mixed especially for them which will boost them for budding and spring flowering. Keep deadheading dahlias until frost collapses them, when this happens cut back ensuring large thick stems are not left open to allow rain in and make its way down to rot tubers. If dahlia tubers are sitting in water too long after heavy rain they will rot. Dahlias can be dug out at the end of the season and stored away in a dry place to be planted out after frosts in late spring / early summer. A topping of pea straw is good protection for dahlias over winter. Roses, Rain has spoiled autumn roses this year, remove rotting blooms and resist cutting back, roses need to start making seed and harden wood before the cold months but If growing in a warm sheltered sunny spot one last deadheading will produce late blooms. Lawns are still growing strongly, giving good full catchers to spread about the garden as mulch. New lawns will get good germination results if sown now. Patching up sown areas can be covered with net or frost cloth to keep birds off. Vegetables / fruit Time to dig up and divide Rhubarb crowns, mixing in heaps of compost before replanting. A good time for sowing Spinach and Snap Peas. Harvest Pumpkins now, remember not to remove the stalk from the pumpkin, this stops rotting. So much fruit is still dropping from trees. I have been harvesting apples and quince this week and after all the rain it is a good time to repay your fruit trees by applying any or all of the following lime, manure, rock phosphate, liquid seaweed and vermi liquid around trees. Prune tamarillo trees hard after last fruit comes off, staggered pruning will stagger next year's crop. Prepare strawberry beds, build up ground with compost/mulch, cut old leaves from plants and destroy, remove runners, pot up only those growing close to the Mother plant for new fruiting plants or fill in gaps. Cheers, Linda.