Gardening in Waitaki 30th August 2023

Urban rewilding brings nature to town.

A good frost early this morning as I walked Scruff but Soil is warming on the coast so planting begins in Veg and flower gardens.  Have you considered contributing to Native green corridors? More native planting is thought to be needed here in Waitaki to Increase biodiversity. Green corridors bring birdsong, wildlife and remove starkness from urban streetscapes. Many native plant roots do not cause a problem with paving if this is the reluctance to soften a fence line with much needed fauna & flora.The cycle track between Oamaru and Weston is a good example, being added to constantly by enthusiastic volunteer plants people. The same planting and wonderful biodiversity has been achieved at Cape Wynbrow, now a special place for wildlife and walkers. There are many roadside fence lines with grass verges that could be incorporated in a green corridor.  Sap is on the way up again so unwanted growth from prunus trees  (flowering cherry) can be removed, this is the time to make cuts in prunus to avoid the spread of silver leaf which can spread from tree to tree while in the dormant stage. Cut out  any weak growth and cross over branches before they grow thick.  Sow seeds for late spring and summer flowering into seed trays, raise trays up off the cold ground and cover with glass or clear plastic to get good germination and water when dry with a mist spray early in the day. Cuttings pushed into river sand in autumn should have made roots. Pot into small pots in a heavy potting mix then store in a warm location until roots fill pots. Only water when the mix is dry on top, roots will be too small to take up excess moisture. Foliar feeding spring flowering plants (other than bulbs ) with liquid plant food to encourage strong growth. When weeds are growing strongly it will be safe to plant all the pretty spring seedlings on offer now.  Cleaning out ponds is a must in early spring before pondweed and plants  really take off,  if  oxygen weed is choking the pond, reduce it now because as water loses its chill fish will soon begin to notice each other and eggs will be  blown into the weed. I overflow ponds, clean out leaves and dead iris leaves leaving a good amount of sludge on the pond bottom. Leave what you remove on the side of the pond overnight to give pond life a chance to make it back into the water. Don't plant yellow bog iris in a domestic pond) The place for this iris is along the banks of a creek, the fibrous roots are fantastic at holding the sides back from erosion. Don't be tempted to add bull rushes to a domestic pond either, they also spread too quickly. Lawns benefit greatly from an early spring feed of lawn fertilizer, working best with rain to wash it in. If moss is a problem, sulphate of iron watered on from a watering can will deal with it. Rake it out once it has turned black.  Unfortunately too much soil is removed from new sections which means clay will be creating a solid, moisture holding pan. Gypsum ( soluble lime) will work on opening up clay without changing the ph of soil. Vegetables: Heaps to do in the veg garden as you ready it for planting. Spread old stable or pig manure and dig in if you turn soil over. If you don't leave on top for worms to take in. A metal rake will soon break up winter clods to fine soil down for direct seed sowing. Get pumpkin, butternut and squash and corn seeds started now under protection, they need a long warm growing season to grow and ripen. It's so good to be planting salad veg again especially while there are no white butterflies or aphids about. ( cover new veg with fine net if you spot them)Get seed potatoes in the ground, when leaves appear through the soil start mounding soil up over most of the leaves to add soil depth which encourages more potatoes. Cheers, Linda.