Gardening in Waitaki May 2nd 2023

Ranuculus grouped

Leaves, leaves, leaves so many on the ground and yet to fall, right now gardens will be on fire with yellow, red and orange displays . Most of the leaves turn into good compost but limit composting of oak or walnut leaves, they take too long to break down in heaps, you can burn them then add the ash to compost.The addition of hen manure while building autumn compost will aid in the heating process. Dried Blood is an easy way to replenish the nitrogen content in the soil for plants needing to perform through winter, Polyanthus, Primulas, Pansies and Cyclamen love it and will flourish when you add dried blood to their diet. Ranunculus and anemone will be on offer in Garden centers now, They are so worthwhile and a good investment because they multiply well and give vibrant or soft mid height colour to early spring gardens. Ranunculus and anemone corms look very dried up and brittle in the packet when bought, soak them overnight and they will become nice and plump before planting, plant at least five together in groups to get the best effect. With lilies becoming available for sale this month, established clumps can be lifted if necessary but do not disturb them unless they are very crowded or unsuitably sited. Be sure to keep lily bulbs moist while they are out of the ground, roots must never dry out. If lifting is not required, top dress lilies with a mixture of compost and blood and bone. (A cup full of blood and bone to each bucket of compost. Almost all lilies need to be planted as deep as three times the height of the bulb.The only exception to this deep planting is the Madonna lily which is planted just below the surface and prefers to be shifted in midsummer straight after flowering. This is also one of the few lilies which also prefers limey soil. Feed rhododendron and camellias with fertiliser mixed especially for them and water in to give a boost for spring flowering. Break up primula >and viola clumps, pot up or plant to fill gaps in front borders. On the coast, give evergreen hedges a last light tidy up during this month. further inland I would leave top growth as frost protection and trim after spring growth. Lawns are still putting on strong growth after autumn rain but they will slow growth down when frosts are frequent. One last boost with fertilizer needs to be done this month or not at all as fertilizer will be wasted when roots stop feeding. Vegetables / fruit I have broccoli, silver beet, spinach, cabbage, kale and parsley seeds up and potted into punnets. Seeds of beetroot, broad beans, onions, swedes and turnips can be sown directly into garden beds with soil still holding warmth. I am sure there will be wonderful pumpkin crops ripening on beautiful sunny Autumn days. I put another crop of runner beans in after the first sowing had finished and what a great crop of fresh beans I am now picking. Tomatoes, and corn will be coming to an end, if you still have them producing reduced moisture now will encourage ripening and stop new growth. Still plenty of apples, quince, late peaches and walnuts to pick and I see tamarillos are starting to make fruit. Cheers, Linda.