Gardening in Waitaki July 19th 2023

Mild weather for North Otago this week nudging spring on before its time.  Plants will be pushing out new growth that may be in danger of getting a knock back should temperatures plummet as they could, and should during August or even September putting Gardeners at the mercy of nature and weather forecasters. With soil warming and days lengthening seed germination begins but don't be tempted to sow seeds outdoors because spring is still a way off. I have early flower and veg sown seeds germinating in a tunnel house but if a temperature freeze does occur I will put a duvet of frost cloth over them even though they are under cover. Mild days start compost working, I emptied my bins this week and found worms in abundance. My clay / soil raised veg gardens will  benefit from the worm filled compost, it took no time at all for the worms to disappear down into the soil leaving the compost on top to suppress weeds. Hydrangeas will be budding, protected hydrangea bushes can be pruned but those exposed to the are best left until nearer spring, however you can give pink hydrangeas a dressing of lime now to keep them pink and blue hydrangeas a dressing of sulphate of allium or the specially prepared blue hydrangea mix that can be bought from garden centres. Soil determines the shade of hydrangeas so with having neutral to alkaline soil (pH 6.5 and higher the only way I could keep blue hydrangeas blue was to plant them in a pot with an acid potting mix which needs topped up during the growing season with an acid fertiliser because potting mix becomes depleted in food. Large leggy rhododendrons can be reduced in height now and they will then push out new growth in spring, cut back to a healthy bulging nodule and then mulch with a good compost. It will take a few years for them to build up good top growth again but they will. Rose pruning should be still happening here on the coast, don't worry if you see your roses beginning to leaf, a cold snap will burn this new growth back but they will recover and bud up again. Invest in some good secateurs to cut clean, rips on a rose prune will not allow the cut to seal which will result in dieback and can sometimes claim a whole branch. Roses are best planted during dormancy, new varieties are available from garden centres this month. If winter has left your garden looking a little too bleak, the local garden centres will also have nice potted colour to brighten things up. I have noticed pansies, wallflowers, polyanthus and primula malacoides which look fresh and bright planted in groups or as a border. Vegetables: Time to start preparing the soil for spring planting. Cultivate vacant spaces, digging in green crops sown earlier. Add compost, and lime if you feel the garden needs humus and sweetening. Garlic planting time, the list of facts, benefits and legends surrounding Garlic are so many and varied, garlic has been a staple in both the pantry and the medicine cupboard for centuries.The shortest day is traditionally garlic planting time but it is still ok to plant it now. Plants can be grown from the small, separate cloves which need to be planted pointed end up, five to seven cm below the soil surface and about 10 to 15 cm apart in a sunny, well-drained location and well-prepared soil with plenty of organic matter worked through. Garlic will also grow well in containers or pots. Plants grow to about 60-90cm tall during winter and spring, and flower before the top growth dies off over summer. Water regularly during summer when bulbs are forming and add liquid fertiliser to encourage bulb growth. Source bulbs from a garden centre as garlic bought from a supermarket may have been sprayed to inhibit sprouting. Fruit Winter is the time you will find the best selection of fruit trees in garden centres. It may be cold and miserable outside but it's the best time to buy your trees for planting. They are usually grafted and tall growing so keep the soil below the graft, plant up to where they were planted in the bag then stake well to protect against the wind. A tip I read the other day that could work to eradicate codling moth attacking apple trees. Quarter fill a tin or plastic milk container with treacle and hang it in the tree to attract male grubs because the treacle is said to smell like the female codling moth pheromone attracting the male grub into the container to reach a sticky end. A double bonus is that the treacle will attract grub-eating birds. Cheers, Linda