Gardening in Waitaki June 7th 2023

Hello winter here on the coast in Waitaki, it was late in getting here but the frost cloth and winter woolies are now out and on. Pruning: Now trees and shrubs have shed leaves they are open for inspection, many ornamental trees need attention, branches crossing, too many branches blocking light from buds once in leaf, height and width reduction. Most trees are pruned in winter while sap is down and insects / diseases that can potentially invade pruning cuts are dormant as well as trees. In winter the worst disease is silver leaf, which attacks stone and pip fruit, roses, poplar, willows and escallonia hedges. It is during cold wet weather that spores are released which can then enter the pruning cuts, a reason to avoid pruning on cool wet days. Spores are not released during dry weather, this is the reason that some prefer a summer prune on susceptible trees, Thinning: is the removal of an entire branch if two branches are doing the same job, this technique rids the tree of weak and diseased branches and increases light penetration and air movement. I have included diagrams of where and where not to cut for best healing practice. Heading back: is shortening the length of a branch back to a bud or the next side branch. Rose pruning: is done once rosewood has had enough time to harden, end of June, July even August is not too late. Hellebores: I have cut the leaves from all my hellebores, they were infested with greenfly wintering over, new fresh leaves will soon appear after the beautiful flowers have popped up and flowered on their own. Erica's are flowering now, these are very hardy plants that are perfect ground covers, over wall spillers and great as a wide border. They usually grow only 6 - 12 inches high and spread 2 - 3 feet. Upright erica melanthera improved is one of the prettiest winter flowering small shrubs, bright pink 60cm high by 1m wide fully grown. Leucadendrons are looking wonderful now, perfect for picking and will last for weeks in a vase. Remember not to give them rich compost or fertiliser, they prefer poor soil conditions. Even though we are now in winter there is plenty on offer to plant, deciduous trees will settle in with a firm stake, roses do best planted now. If planting evergreen shrubs that look like they have been nursed get them used to the outside temperatures before planting then protect with frost cloth. Plant labels should tell you their hardiness. Mulching: If you have a bare garden over winter, opportunistic weeds will germinate during fine days, mulching will prevent this, plus protect not only plant roots but soil as well. If you haven't got a green cover crop in, or you've just run out of time to get winter food crops, put your garden to bed by mulching. Sawdust can be used on wet gardens, straw, shredded garden cut back or autumn leaves shredded with the lawn mower on dry gardens after a good watering. Vegetables: On the coast in gardens getting winter sun sow broad beans, garlic, shallots and rhubarb.