Gardening in Waitaki December 4th 2024

Drying Herbs:

Wow the last month of the year already and so hot for the start of summer. If you are playing catch up before the Christmas break you can be assured gardens just keep on doing what they are supposed to regardless of weather conditions or people intervention. Endless cutting back will be going on as late spring flowering ends, It is disposing of everything that creates a problem for most, however, at this time of the year the cut-back growth is soft and with the help of daily heat it will break down in heaps or on the compost, so pile it up and leave until all moisture has gone and this will drastically reduce the green waste. Gaps left can be replenished with fresh compost and planted out in summer annuals. Catmint edging can be cut right back now, it will grow back and flower again if left clumps will make seed and collapse and flatten. English lavender will need cutting back now, it is worth, bunching and hanging once stems have firmed. Dried lavender will continue to give off that lovely fresh lavender fragrance for months if kept inside. Rhododendrons need spent flowers and seed heads removed, it will be impossible to do on very large bushes but beneficial to smaller bushes as you want them to put growth into the bush, not seeds. There is a point on a spent rhododendron flower /seed head when bent will break cleanly without damaging new growth. Roses: Keep moisture up to roses, deadhead to encourage new buds, and remove and destroy leaves showing rust or black spot. Lilies also need moisture kept up as the heat we are now experiencing dries the soil. Lilies prefer moist roots but like most bulbs will rot if water-logged. Hedge trimming will be ongoing, trim hedges if you feel they have put out all the spring growth they are going to. Buxus (box hedges) can be trimmed as soon as stalks snap cleanly when bent. Herbs are beginning to flower so if trimmed back now you will prevent them from running to seed and becoming woody. Herbs should be harvested before they flower when flavor and aroma oils are at their peak. Harvest early in the morning after the dew dries and before the heat of the day. Culinary herbs to pick and dry: rosemary, thyme, sage, dill, basil, chives, parsley, oregano, tarragon, and nasturtium (leaves and flowers) Once dried and rubbed glass jars can be filled. Fruit: black currants, raspberries, and gooseberries all need continuous sunny days to ripen. Large top leaves on strawberries can be removed to let more air and light in but will need to have a net cover if exposed to birds. Elder flowers are blooming so elderflower cordial is on the go again for me. It is so refreshing after a hot day in the garden, Gin, tonic, ice, and a splash of elderflower cordial. Make enough to give as a gift at Christmas along with a jar of dried mixed herbs, Elderflower cordial, 25 elderflower heads, zest and juice of 2 lemons and 1 orange, 1.5 litres boiling water 1kg sugar 1 heaped teaspoon citric acid. Method: Wash flower heads to remove any bugs, and place in a large bowl with orange/lemon zest. Bring water to boil, pour over flower heads and zest, cover, and leave overnight. Strain, pour into a saucepan, and add sugar, lemon /orange juice, and citric acid. Heat gently to dissolve sugar then simmer for a couple of minutes, bottle (sterilized), and seal. Vegetable garden: Weeds, as well as veg, are romping away but easy to pull while young. Keep potatoes mounded, not long now to harvest for Christmas dinner. Corn will be well up, add compost over roots as they need a good hold in the soil when windy. I find they get support from each other if planted in squares rather than a row. Pumpkins, zucchinis, and the like will not be coping with the early heat. The large leaves dehydrate quickly, covering them with shade cloth would be beneficial on very hot days. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki November 26th 2024

So much growth is happening now and roses are early to bloom but we should still have picking to do at Christmas before the need to do a summer prune. As the blooms die off, head back to a strong out-facing bud. For those with box hedging it is now time to trim as regrowth will be limited now, choose an overcast day or two to hold back the sun -fade on the new undergrowth. Young box hedging will only need the top evened up to encourage more side growth. A dressing of compost and blood & bone will give hedges what is needed to take them through a hot summer & autumn. Viola clumps can be cut back and divided now, I just dig up part of a large clump and basically pull it to bits planting sections with roots into pots and sitting them in a shaded spot over summer & autumn. By the start of next winter, the small pots will be filled with roots, new leaves, and buds ready to be planted. The same for polyanthus and primulas, break up clumps; plant out only fresh new growth, and throw away knotted old spent roots. There is still time to divide agapanthus, large and dwarf varieties. They can get a bit rootbound which reduces their flowering, dig out the whole clump (if it is still manageable enough to do this), then pull off smaller root clumps and plant them out on their own using fresh compost to get the roots going again. Agapanthus are great gap fillers in new gardens, they can always be removed as you fill your garden with permanent plants. If you have, or can get hold of some aged compost that has finished working and is ready to put in the garden you will be able to make compost tea.Compost Tea is a nutritionally rich, well-balanced, organic plant food made by steeping aged compost in water. The water is then diluted and used as a root / or foliar feed. It is also noted for its ability to control various plant diseases (blights, molds, wilts, etc. when used as a foliar spray), to repel and control insect pests and their damage when used regularly, and to encourage the growth of beneficial soil bacteria which results in healthier, more stress-tolerant plants. The basic recipe most often recommended is as follows:1 large container with lid (plastic rubbish bin works well) enough aged, completed compost to fill an old pillow case 1/2-3/4 full. Fill the container with water, place the compost-filled pillowcase (cheesecloth bag or pantyhose also work well), tie off the top, and submerge in the container of water. Cover (to prevent odor and insect problems) and let steep for a MINIMUM of 2 weeks. This steeping time is crucial to the formation of beneficial bacteria and the required fermentation process. When finished, dip out the tea and dilute it (3 parts water to 1 part tea) and use it weekly as root food for all plants.  (It is important to note that COMPOST TEA AND MANURE TEA ARE NOT THE SAME THING. Manure tea can be made in the same way but is not generally recommended as a foliar spray and is not as nutritionally well-balanced, I found that roses do well when liquid manure is applied around roots. Roses:If you are having trouble with aphids, black spots or mildew on roses, spraying now will keep them in check. Shield takes care of all, follow the instructions, and spray at the suggested intervals but not on a sunny day when bees are about, Keep food up to roses, it's hungry roses that are more susceptible to disease. Slow-release rose fertiliser will feed each time you water.  Weeds are starting to mature and make seeds, get them out before they do, most are easy to pull when they have grown a bit. Convolvulus will need to be dug out, making sure to remove every root.  I find it too risky to spray around the plants Convolvulus is clambering over so a ground-level zap on new growth is a much shorter distance for the spray to be effective.  Lawns are lush as we seem to have missed the October drying winds this spring, I am keeping the catcher up and mowing every second mow without it on to help retain the growth and ad humus as we head into the hottest seasons.  Fruit: Gooseberries, currants, raspberries, and strawberries should be plumping up nicely, nice sun-filled days are needed now for them to ripen. Vegetables: Keep mounding potato rows to keep light out as they grow bigger, consistent watering is important for potatoes now, this goes for all root vegetables. Leafy veg doesn't need any extra feeding at this time of the year, it will just encourage them to bolt. Plant only as many seedling plants as you think you would use when ready and hold back in shade other small seedling plants from the same batch until needed. Keep pumpkin and squash plants mulched, their roots are fragile until large leaves grow to create the root shade needed. All new small plants can be over-watered to the point where their roots cannot cope and then collapse, the soil should be dry on top between watering and good drainage is essential. Corn requires a long ripening season so should be well on now.  Cheers, Linda

Gardening in Waitaki November 19th 2024

Beautiful November peony blooms.

Still so much change in the weather but we get some lovely days leading us into summer. Growth is full-on now and the first flush of weeds will need removal or a cut-back before they go to seed and spread. Dahlias are pushing out new growth fast now. They need to be positioned in full sun and with at least 10 cm of soil cover above the tubers. If dahlias remain in the ground through winter, tubers tend to push up from the soil so if needed, top up over the tubers before full growth. Daisies bushes: Prune where needed to encourage summer flowering, and prune spring-flowering shrubs as well now if they are taking up too much room in the spot they are planted, take back to the past growth now before the flower seed is set and new growth hardens. Summer bedding annuals: will thrive if planted now in the warm soil. Petunias, lobelia, nemesia, nasturtium, saliva, marigolds and many more to choose from in retail outlets now. For pots, and hanging baskets choose annuals that make minimum roots. Geraniums are now available, plant in a sunny, dry spot and deadhead often to keep them flowering. Fuchsias are also available for planting now, they prefer semi-shaded areas as do hydrangeas. They take over from the spring flowering of rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas, and peony roses. Tuberous begonias: Those who store tubers over winter will be seeing leaves are starting. If new to tuberous begonias choose a well-drained site that is protected from wind in a semi-shaded spot. Early morning and late afternoon sun is ok. Plant tubers with soil just barely covering them at 20-30cm apart with the indented side facing up, and water well, roots and sprouts will form in a few weeks. Keep watered enough to keep the soil around the plants very slightly damp, never enough for it to be soggy, avoid watering on top of the plants, this encourages mildew. At the first sign of a white patch on any of the leaves apply a fungicide. Feed Begonias with a well-balanced (fish-based) plant food every 2 to 3 weeks. Buxus hedging is still too soft to be trimmed, when you can bend new growth and it snaps cleanly then it will trim cleanly, if too soft the hedge will still be growing and you will not get a sharp cut. Lawns: Have some lawn fertiliser on hand for the next rain (which never seems far away this month) to encourage strong roots able to withstand the hot months ahead. Vegetables: Changeable weather is affecting tomatoes, leaves curl and can turn bluish in colour when affected by a cold snap but soon recover once the heat returns, best not to water late in the day while the days are swinging from hot to cold. The odd chill keeps leaf veg from bolting to seed so it's not all bad. Fruit: All fruit seems to be doing well, nutrients and moisture are the important elements while fruit is forming. Berries and plums mature first and birds have it all worked out! Berry bushes and strawberries will need a covering to keep birds off, if they see them they will eat them. Cheers, Linda.

Summer bloom to come.

Gardening in Waitaki November 13th 2024

It is time once again to cut back plants that have finished flowering, alyssum, ground cover phlox, aubrietia, aquilegia, and forget-me-not. if you cut them back now they will green up and look good over summer. The same goes for Erica's, cut all the brown spent flower stems back and they will green up again in no time.After spreading compost, I fill every gap with flower seedlings such as cosmos, petunias, static, blue salvia, nasturtiums, lavatera, and lobelia, not leaving any room for weeds to grow, now some more gentle rain, please.  All deciduous trees have leafed up now. Don't be afraid to cut out overcrowding branches to let light into the plantings underneath. If two branches fill the same spot, take the lower one out. Maples and Oak trees tend to grow thick canopies; thin them out as required. I used to remove heaps at this time in my past garden, but when I stood back and looked, it was not noticeable, and dappled light was coming through. Dahlias are now showing leaf, once in bud they can be pinched out like chrysanthemums to encourage bushiness' but if the larger growing type they will still get tall so put stakes in now before they get up too far and begin to bend and fall. If your daffodils did not flower well this spring, It's a good time to break up large clumps while you can still see where they have been, flowering gets restricted when the clumps get overcrowded. Plant into about 20 cm of compost in small groups and feed with blood and bone then mulch so they don't dry out over summer. Thinking ahead, there are autumn flowering bulbs in Garden centers now, belladonnas, crocuses, and nerines, plant in full sun where they will not be disturbed. Water lilies can be added to ponds now as pond water is warming, if buying one make sure it is showing leaf, plant it into a plastic basket lined with thick newspaper or woven cloths like chux, then some aged manure and garden soil, plant the lily in the soil and top with a thick layer of stones or gravel. It is important not to let any fertiliser or manure leach out into the pond water because it will encourage the water to go green with slime which is harmful to fish when caught in gills.If your pond is stagnating it means that it is not working as it should. To correct this add some un-sprayed barley straw weighed down with a rock to stop it floating about. There is also  a product called Barley Clear https://www.gardensalive.co.nz/product/Ecopond_Extract_of_Barley_Straw, At first the pond water will not look too healthy but soon you will be amazed at how fast it will clear and stay clear once things start working naturally. To work naturally the bottom of the pond can and should be a little muddy, but the top should be clear, so you can easily tell when it is. If you would like to introduce baby fish to your new pond, acquire some oxygen weed from a pond already filled with fish because at this time of the year, fish blow eggs into oxygen weed so there is sure to be eggs that will hatch out in your pond with no big fish around to eat them. Fish do not need to be fed as the warmer months attract plenty of bugs to the pond.   Lawns: Keep mowers up a notch and try mowing without the catcher now and then, rake the clippings out over the lawn to add humus and feed regularly through the growing and cutting seasons. Have some fertiliser on hand for the next rain. Lawn seed sown now should germinate quickly in damp warm soil. Pop-out daisies, clover, and flat weeds with a blade if not too many, or spot spray with a lawn weed spray. Fruit: Check your fruit trees now for overcrowded bunches, thin bunches out by snipping small fruits off with sharp scissors if winds do not do it for you.   Vegetables: Potatoes are well up, and corn and pumpkins should be going well now. Snails and slugs are on the hunt for newly planted seedlings to chew on, once planted have a look about for these munchers and sprinkle some crushed egg shells or coarse grit around each seedling. Keep planting all vegetables but not too many of the same at one time.    Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki November 5th 2024

As we near the end of the blossom season, the Rhododendrons and deciduous azaleas are taking the spotlight, displaying blooms as stunning as any tropical flower. A few roses have also begun flowering, the evening chill and intermittent rain should help maintain their vigor. However, aphids may have begun colonizing new rose buds, these can be removed by gently pinching them off with your fingers. Look beneath hellebore leaves and no doubt you will find green flies living a good reproductive life, cut the leaves back and destroy them before the aphids fly off into your garden. If you don’t want hellebore seedlings throughout the garden, trim back seed pods. Peonies are budding now, so adding supports can help manage the weight of the blooms. Tall wire supports shaped like a “U” are ideal for keeping the stems upright. For newly planted crowns, it’s best to limit flowering to just one bloom for now to allow the plant’s energy to focus on root development. Avoid letting them bloom during the first couple of years for better long-term growth. Peonies thrive in full sun, without competing plants nearby, and need plenty of water, especially before and during blooming. Lavender is budding as well. If spittlebugs become an issue, note that spraying won’t be effective due to the spittle barrier. Instead, a forceful hose spray should dislodge them. Hybrid Clematis look lovely in garden centers, these large-flowered varieties (not the invasive Montana type) need early training while the stems are still pliable. For successful growth, clematis benefits from rich, well-manured soil with a bit of lime. Don’t worry if your hybrid has no buds yet, as flowering times vary. If planted recently, let it flower before cutting it to the ground to encourage bushier growth. If a hybrid wilts, cut it down instead of digging it out—many come back strong the following year. Filling Gaps: To fill garden spaces, consider planting cottage-style flowers such as cosmos, love-in-a-mist, blue bedder salvia, Clary sage, and lavatera. These taller annuals can be planted densely to support each other and crowd out weeds. Regular deadheadings will keep them blooming through Christmas and beyond. Lawns have enjoyed the rain as have worms getting busy in the soft soil aerating as they go and with them rising up to the top layers in saturated lawns birds are happy with their easy meals I'm sure. There will be lush grass growth now but don't be tempted to lower the mower blades, leave a little length to shade roots as lawns dry, and use the lush clippings as thin layers of mulch around your gardens. Fruit Trees: Night beetles have not appeared yet, but they’re expected soon and may target young trees. While mature trees will show minimal damage, newly planted fruit trees, and prunus varieties may lose leaves to beetles. Don’t worry—leaves will regrow, and the trees will continue developing. Vegetables: Spring weather is perfect for growing vegetables, with warm, moist soil benefiting beans, peas, corn, pumpkins, courgettes, and cucumbers. Staggering seed planting will ensure a continuous harvest. Sticky traps for whiteflies can help detect early infestations in greenhouses. Make DIY sticky traps by coloring cards yellow and coating them with petroleum jelly mixed with a bit of dishwashing liquid. If whiteflies appear, start with a strong water spray, focusing on the undersides of leaves. Follow up with organic insecticidal soap (like Neem soap), spray at a cool time of day, and repeat a few days later. Attract whitefly predators, like hoverflies and ladybirds, by planting calendula, oregano, fennel, parsley, and even thistles near your greenhouse. Cheers, Linda

Keep lawn mower blades up a little so as not to scalp the lawn.

Gardening in Waitaki November 1st 2024

And now it is almost November and this spring weather is proving to be a challenge with all the rain but here in North Otago we cannot turn down spring rain.  The spring blossom is still lasting without the usual strong October winds.  Roses are ready to take over from the camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas, Iris's are also pushing through fat buds. Remove mulch from iris rhizomes, they push themselves out of the ground now to be exposed to the sun,  I love to see iris planted in large drifts to make an impact but most town gardens do not have the room for this. If you have a display of forget-me-nots putting on a show now, don't pull them out when finished but cut them back, they will soon green up for summer and then flower again next spring.Some suggestions for planting garden colour are cosmos, marigolds, petunias, bedding dahlia, and blue salvia. Cat-mint edging is starting to show colour,  cat-mint is such a pretty edging that can be cut back after the first flowering to flower again. While this is happening sections with roots can be pulled from the main clump and potted up to grow a root ball, then planted out as edging in another part of the garden. Trim spent blooms from flowering perennials and daisy bushes often to keep them bushy and continuously in flower, if you let flower heads go to seed the bush or plants will become woody.Chrysanthemums and tall perennial asters flowering time is not until the end of summer, if cut back now they will grow up a second time but hopefully not so tall and fall all over the place.  Chrysanthemum tips can be put into river sand to make roots for new plants.  Planting on a slope: Spring is a good time to plant out a slope or bank, the ground is moist and plant roots are growing fast which means they will get a good hold before the dreaded winds arrive. Spray out all competing weeds. If it is possible terracing a steep slope with rocks or sleepers would be beneficial to hold moisture around the roots. If this cannot be done try not to disturb soil/clay in areas that are not being planted. If the soil is disturbed and broken up it will wash away with rain and watering.  Planting; Dig a hole that is deep into the bank and shallow at the front, (an angle hole) this will create a hollow reserve for water. Make sure it dips down at the back for water to pool. Use stones around each plant, this will help prevent wind from blowing soil away from the roots. Choose plants that grow in dry conditions. South African plants grevillea, leucadendron, and Proteas would work.  Ask at a Garden center what survives well in a pot without a lot of watering,  plants that can be left for a while without water and they still look good.    Lawns:  Grass, Grass. Grass...So much mowing! If like me you have not had to spray lawn weeds you can sprinkle your clippings around the garden as humus but not in thick piles, spread it out so it can break down fast. Your garden can take as much fresh green growth as you throw at it now the warmth is here. Resown patches left from grass grub and moss removal damage will repair fast now if birds are kept off, try covering them with shade cloth until the seed has germinated, works for me.  Fruit bushes and trees are responding to spring as they should, the bees have done a wonderful pollinating job and we should all get bumper crops with the right amount of sun and moisture. Mulch around the drip line of all fruiting trees and shrubs to keep moisture from evaporating while the fruit is forming.....it's all on now for growing our own food.  Veg Garden Growth is amazing this spring with the warmth and moisture, potatoes are up for mounding, root veg is ready for thinning, leaf veg is heartening up and no white butterflies here to annoy them yet, young broad beans are ready for picking, no rust nor an aphid to be seen yet! Corn, runner and French beans have popped through and the snails were waiting so they have been covered and it is warm enough to plant tomatoes, cucumber, and all from the pumpkin family.  Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki October 23rd 2024

A  couple of lovely summer days snuck in last weekend to give us a taste of what is to come, followed by a soft drizzle, perfect growing weather.Weeds are in full growing force now! but the soft damp ground makes them easy to hoe and pull out. Weeds need to be removed before they make seed or, you will be chasing them through the months to come. I have been potting up seedlings I have grown from seed, lupins, Oriental poppies, delphiniums, penstemons, and nasturtiums. To give small seedlings the best chance to survive chewing pests it i best to pot seedlings into punnets or individual pots for roots to become established and top growth to become less tasty before planting out. Strong growing plants like sunflowers and delphinium seeds need to be planted straight into peat pots and once the pot is filled with new roots plant pot and all into the ground, the strong roots will grow out through the pot as it breaks down. Planting wildflowers can be a waste of time if the patch of ground becomes full of weeds before the wildflower seeds germinate. This year I am using the method of clearing the soil of weeds, then laying out sheets of newspaper soaked with a hose before piling potting mix on top to sow a wildflower mix into. The wet newspaper should suppress weed seeds from germinating, giving the wildflowers a chance to grow thickly. Hostas are pushing fresh new leaves up for waiting slugs! put sharp gravel under hostas and spray with fish emulsion to deter them. In our past garden I had 6 little Pekin bantams who took care of snails and slugs, they are very short in the leg and their scratching is minimal compared to long-legged hens Compost: The compost I have been cultivating over winter has lately been getting the heat needed to start working again, I was able to use bottom layers for adding to pots and the garden, it was full of worms and beneficial invertebrates. Start now to layer on the ground so worms can be drawn up (not on concrete). Layer soft growth, seedless weeds and brown stalky growth, aged manure, kitchen scraps (no meat) soil and old compost. Keep water up to the layers as you build and you will have ready compost for autumn. Lawns: Gypsum went on my lawn this week to help break down the clay, so far I have aerated, spread fine compost and fed with lawn fertiliser during rain and popped out many weeds with the blade of my secateurs, now I wait to see how it performs during summer. Vegetables: This is a good time to consider companion planting in the veg garden now all herbs are clumping up again. Nasturtium attracts caterpillars, so planting it alongside or around vegetables such as lettuces, broccoli, and cabbages should mean the nasturtium will get attacked rather than your edible crop. Marigolds have a scent that repels aphids and attracts hoverflies, which are predator insects, the lovely little tagetes, or French marigolds, are invaluable in companion planting. Cabbage white butterflies are attracted to their host plant by smell and planting rows of targets is effective in masking the smell and reducing cabbage moth damage. Secretion from the roots of Mexican tagetes deters eelworms and your potatoes and tomatoes are left alone. Tagetes and calendula marigolds planted near tomatoes will attract hoverflies to feast on pests. Basil and tomatoes are a well-known combination. Dill is popular with bees so attracts them into the garden,  dill planted with corn will ensure a bumper crop with more bees to pollinate the corn strings. Sage is a herb to plant around a celery crop, Hyssop repels white butterflies from all brassica crops. Carrots and leeks work well planted together, they both have strong aromas, which repel pests. Fruit: With all fruit trees in blossom, it's sunny days we need to keep the bees busy working along with the help of windy days for pollination.  Keep the water up to them and mulch with un-sprayed grass clippings right out to their drip line, they have a lot of work ahead of them growing plump, juicy fruit. Cheers, Linda.

Wonderful Hostas.

Gardening in Waitaki October 15th 2024

Flamboyant begonias.

A chill in the air this week which keeps spring fresh and crisp as it should be. Town gardens are filled with spring prettiness which I enjoy viewing as I walk Scruff each morning.  I have been weeding and composting my small town gardens and watching as they fill with perennials that have been waiting to come back from the winter dieback. Hydrangeas are also pushing out new growth with buds forming, hydrangeas have a long blooming season so will benefit from a good thick layer of manure-enriched compost and moisture to keep strong growth up.  I see shoots on my flamboyant Begonias now and some tubers have become big enough to cut into several shooting sections to become plants on their own. Flamboyant begonias make a wonderful show as a boarder or in pots and hanging baskets and they flower on and on through the summer. Once they send up leaves I start feeding them fish fertilisers to keep them going strong, all begonias do well when fed with fish fertiliser.Keep the food up to your roses now, they are making their buds and it's hungry roses that get diseased. Nitrophosca is good right now on any summer flowering plants and shrubs for a quick result, used every fortnight to keep the food supply up, especially in pots & hanging baskets. Geraniums and pelargoniums are available now and should be planted in sunny positions. Fuchsias are also on offer, they benefit from afternoon shade. If you are concerned about a hot dry Summer having a disastrous effect on your garden? Plenty of Mulch breaking down in your soil will help retain water as well as improve the structure of your soil While suppressing weed growth. Mulch as straw, grass clippings, and weed-free compost are also excellent for breaking down clay or poor-draining soil. I do not like using sprays but found I needed to spot spray in my past large garden to keep those tough weeds convolvulus, couch grass, biddy- bid and clover under control but here in my smaller garden, I pull or dig them out before any seeds ripen and fall. Seeds are forming now on plants and weeds that have flowered so whack them off if you don't want them to spread. I planted Cosmos, larkspur, nasturtium, and marigold seeds that are now up and ready to prick out into punnets along with sunflower seeds I planted into trays a few weeks ago which are now large enough to plant out. With summer just around the corner, I look forward to the show of those huge sunny flower heads following the sun around the garden. Sunflowers are a perfect fast-growing plant for Children to grow and be amazed by the height they reach.    Lawns:So much lawn growth after that heavy rain, my lawn is struggling having been sown on clay soil so for the last 3 mows I have left the catcher off and raked the clippings over as mulch and spread gypsum to help with the clay compaction. Vegetables: Keep an eye on potatoes that are through the ground, mound the soil up around them, and frost cloth may be needed at night just to be sure if your garden is inland or low-lying. Seeds are popping up in no time now so get veg seeds in for them to be ready for salad time. Because of the cold snap, I have started Pumpkin, squash, corn, and courgette seeds in a glasshouse, if buying plants, be sure to harden them outside in a protected place for a while before planting out.The cold snaps have been good for keeping the white butterfly and aphids away but aphids will no doubt soon start to become a problem so keep an eye out for infestation and if necessary wash off with a forceful hose.  Cheers, Linda

Gardening in Waitaki October 1st 2024

October already and Waitaki gardens are in full spring bloom. This month is when chasing weeds becomes a full-time job - Hoeing and hand pulling weeds is still the best option while weeds are new and small in planted areas especially if you are clearing a garden to plant out for a summer show. Couch grass and convolvulus need to be taken right out if you can, remove each long runner under the ground and any little pieces that may have been chopped with the spade because they will grow and spread very fast if left. I spot-sprayed couch grass and convolvulus in badly affected areas, trying hard not to bring the spray into contact with plants. Once all obvious weeds are gone, cover the area with compost /mulch, thick enough to keep the light from allowing any weed seeds left behind to germinate. NOW plant, plant, plant! as many annuals and perennials as you can get into the prepared areas, they will grow fast from now on to beat the weeds. If you have not fed plants, roses, or shrubs do it now, powered plant food should always be watered in, If you have homemade compost ready to use add blood & bone; and some sulphate of potash this will add food and a flowering/fruiting component. Watering and liquid feeding for new plantings is the key to success as plants settle in and make new feeding roots. First thing in the morning is the best time to water, giving plants and dirt time to dry before night as fungus thrives in damp ground on mild nights. Roses: Old stable manure along with compost can be spread around the drip line of rose bushes to keep them going over their long flowering period, watering & rain will take it to the roots as required. Once rose leaves have hardened a little green fly can be removed with a finger and thumb on new growth or left for birds to remove. If too infested why not try a homemade organic spray as a deterrent once aphids have been blasted off with a hose? My homemade deterrent spray is as follows. 3 or 4 rhubarb leaves roughly chopped, into 4 cups of boiling water, simmer for 20 mins then allow to cool. Strain, pressing rhubarb leaves in the strainer to get full leaf infusion. Spray: mix 1 teaspoon of detergent or (baby shampoo if you have) to 2 1/2 cups of cold water, then add the leaf infusion into a spray bottle. Spray onto roses and any other ornamental plants that succumb to green flies. Store leftover leaf infusion by freezing as each application works best when fresh. ( but do not use on edible plants.) Hostas are starting to leaf now, so watch when working around them in the garden, it will not take much to knock the point off the new leaves, keep them well watered, and give them a dressing of compost and blood & bone. Slugs come in droves if they get a sniff of hostas, they slide down into the center of clumps to lay eggs, and the young then feast. Slugs can’t cross copper, so copper tape acts as a barrier. Lillies have pushed up, put in stakes to support them before they get higher, and never let them dry out, same for peony roses they do so much better growing up through holding stakes. Lawns are going for it now which means the ground has warmed enough to sow grass seed, sow thickly to beat weeds and birds, keep moist and you should have a strike in no time. Don't fertilise newly struck grass, all fertilisers will be too strong. Fruit: Raspberry canes and gooseberry bushes are flowering along with all fruiting trees so now we need sun to bring the bees and pollinating insects out. Herbs: If it's a Herb garden you are keen to make and have chosen a sunny spot, dig in some old stable manure and lime before planting, all herbs like both. Why not plant up some mixed herb pots now and they will be ready to give as Christmas presents. Vegetables: It is so easy to grow your food and from this month garden centers are full of veg, herbs, tomato plants, and seed potatoes. If you do not have an existing vegetable garden but you do have a patch of vacant ground, clear it, dig or rotary hoe it, and edge it with whatever you have on hand, limestone, bricks, tree branches, sleepers or wood lengths. Spray weeds around the outside of your edging so they will not encroach on your planting space then go for it, get planting at this time of the year everything will grow fast and well as long as you keep water up and hoe the weeds away. Corn and pumpkin seeds need to be planted now and plants planted out when all threats of frost have passed to ensure a long growing season. Carrot seeds planted now. If carrot fly has been a problem for you in the past I would cover rows with an insect net once seeds have germinated, from October until April as this period includes the three generational life cycle of the carrot fly. I have been told that Resistafly F1 hybrid Egmont seeds are less likely to be infested. Carrot flies are attracted to the carrot smell while flying low to lay her eggs so thinning carrots is almost like calling the flies. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki October 8th 2024

Our lovely Botanical Gardens:

How pretty Waitaki is looking after all the rain, growth is rampant now and we should have moisture deep down for trees and plants to cope well during the strong winds that we wait for at this time of the year. Rhododendrons, tulips, and late blossoms are taking center stage now. Tulips are best left until all green has been absorbed by the bulb. A main display of tulips can take up garden space restricting room to get other plants in, they can be dug up with all still attached to the bulb and bedded into a spot in the garden where not noticed until the die back is finished then stored away where rats can not get at them. Deadhead all spring bulbs as they finish flowering, leaving them to make seed will weaken bulbs but as with tulips leaves are left on to die back into bulbs. Dressing the garden: At this time of year Gardeners get busy planning a summer display, the ground is damp and warm and just right for planting the abundance of plants on offer plus planting seeds to be ready for summer flowering and eating. Preparing the garden: The trick is to get rid of surface weeds and past flowering annuals, water the bed well then put a thick layer of compost on top of the wet soil, it must be a thick layer, don't dig it in leave it on top and plant your new season's plants into it. Bagged compost will have been heated to a temperature that destroyed any weed seeds it contained. Fill all spaces with plants you love leaving no room for introduced weeds. Seeds I planted in late winter are ready to be planted out or potted on, I see them out the corner of my eye beginning to climb out off trays as I rush past, I have even been known to comment SOON to them while keeping the water up when I really should be potting up!! Nitrophosca will work now on flowering plants and shrubs for a quick result, used every fortnight will keep the food supply up. Pansies and polyanthus will keep flowering if dead-headed, they will bud up again if fed but flowering will not be as strong as it has been, Polyanthus soon let you know when it is too hot for them if you feel they have done all they are going to do dig them out, cut back and plant in a cool shady place where they can be left until planted out again next year. Sunflower seeds can go in now, they do best being planted straight into the ground, Sunflowers are a quick result for Children to plant and watch grow taller than themselves. If you have room plant cosmos, larkspur, nasturtium, marigolds, delphiniums, and alyssum. I would love to attract monarch butterflies to the garden but can never get the swan plants to stay alive through the winter. Plant them now in the hope of attracting monarchs into your garden but keep young swan plants covered to allow them to become bushy before a monarch can lay eggs. Compost piles and bins will start heating up and working well with the layering of new grass clippings, soft hedge clippings, manure, soil, and seedless weeds. In closed compost bins watering will be needed from time to time to get warm moisture working right through the middle to create the heat needed. Too early yet to trim box hedges, wait until the new growth firms up a little. The perfect time to trim buxus in late spring is during overcast days, the hot sun burns new undergrowth, dull days give them time to recover. I notice that dreaded convolvulus, couch grass, and clover thriving once again as it pops through the ground, spot spraying where it will not affect other plants is the only way I can get on top of it. Fruit: Apple and crabapple blossoms are bursting from buds and with the sunny days bringing the bees out we should get good crops, black currants, strawberries, and raspberries are looking to crop well also. Keep the water up to all fruiting trees and plants, especially after strong winds. Vegetables Potatoes love warm ground, I put mine in later than I usually do so I am still waiting for leaves to show so mounding can begin but the broad beans are well up, corn seeds have popped through and pumpkin, squash, and courgette seeds can go in now. If you prefer to buy plants be sure to harden them outside in a protected place for a while before planting them out. Cheers, Linda

Bee in the apple blossom

Gardening in Waitaki September 24th 2024

It's that time again, leave the catcher off now and then to add lush humus to your lawn.

What a changeable week, it caused browning to magnolias and camellias, and new growth blackening on some tender new growth that will soon recover. This is a good time to work at tidying up gravel paths and driveways, They pack down hard over winter. A good raking will sort that out, lift weeds and moss, and get them looking fresh again. If you have a moss problem on a shady path or drive try sprinkling some inexpensive laundry powder over the moss, it will soon die then it can be raked out. Spot spraying will work now on rough-growing areas and hoeing where annual weeds are still small among plants that will soon become large. If you do not want to use chemical sprays on annual weeds why not try some of the natural alternatives on sale, these work on hot sunny days when plants are very thirsty. The leaf of the plant collapses which means there is nothing left to support the roots causing the plant to die. Perennial weeds, convolvulus, and couch grass are not so easy to kill with alternative weed spray because roots are long and strong but if you are prepared to keep spraying what they send up you will beat them.The most economical weed control is common table salt, but is toxic on soil if not used the right way. Use it at the rate of 240 grams (about 12 heaped tablespoons) to a litre of warm or hot water to dissolve it, and then spray it on the foliage of the weeds during sunny dry conditions only but only in garden areas where salt can be regualy dissolved by rain and watering. This works very fast on annual weeds but perennials probably need a stronger organic herbiside. If spraying a salt silution only on foliage, at the above rate, there will be little residual damage done to the soil. To make sure, give the area a good drenching once weeds have collapsed. Trim shrubs that flowered in late winter now before they put out new growth on past growth and get leggy, this partially applies to ericas, callunas, and hebes which should not have old flowers left on to make seed. All of this month is the time to layer azaleas and rhododendrons by pinning low-growing slim branches down into the soil, hopefully, by the end of this growing season these branches will have developed strong roots allowing them to be cut free from the mother plant, and potted up to grow on as a new bush. Strong winds put stress on plants, trees & shrubs where roots are working hard to take hold, deep root watering is a must on newly planted shrubs and trees and firm stakes, if trunks and roots are moving growth will be slow and stunted or not at all. With the days warming softwood cuttings can be taken from plants and shrubs this month. Dipping in a hormone powder is beneficial to encourage roots quickly. Cuttings can be taken from new wood shrub and plant growth, and many perennial herbs.  Herbs If you have not cut your herbs back yet, do it as soon as possible because they are starting to grow now, feed manure-rich compost with lime added, and keep picking often to encourage continual new growth all season for your salads and cooking. Fruit trees begin again with blossom so it is the sun and bees that are most needed now. Vegetables: Still, no white butterflies keep planting out, but deep watering is required during strong winds. Keep mounding up potatoes as they push leaf through and cover at night should there be another cold snap which will blacken off new growth. Early showings of peas should be well up and starting to climb. Like climbing beans, they need to be planted in an open sunny place and firm supports need to go in when planting so they are not disturbed once they start growing, if well supported you will not have to keep propping them up when the crop becomes heavy. I have just sown corn, tomato, cucumber, and pumpkin seeds undercover to germinate and then they will be nursed well. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki September 18th 2024

Rain and wind chill again in North Otago as new spring growth wants to retreat back into bud, but spring rain is always welcome here.The hum of bees is back when the sun shines on all the flowering cherries in blossom and what a magnificent display magnolias are making. Now is the perfect time to sow seeds for summer flowering, I am sure every gardener enjoys trying new plants and colour combinations but keep an eye on seedlings with late frosts. Some I planted 3 weeks ago have germinated so I have been protecting them. Birds will be scratching about in gardens looking for worms and grubs to feed their young, they usually concentrate on the front edge of a garden making a mess on paths and lawns, if you have a problem with this, growing a mat forming a border will deter them. Some border plants to consider are catmint, lambs ear, alyssum, alchemilla mollis, dwarf agapanthus, armeria maritim (thrift), mondo grass, any low growing perennial plant that mats over soil. Baskets and pots need to be thought about now, use only shallow rooted plants for baskets like pansies, lobelia, small type petunias, nemesia, and trailers like dwarf sweet pea, with the addition of slow release fertiliser and water Chrystal's to keep them going. The roots of what you want to plant will determine the size and depth of a pot. Place a deep saucer on the basket bottom to catch and hold water before filling with planting mix.Time to address root-bound pots, most established potted shrubs respond well to being removed and having half the roots removed with a sharp spade, then re-potted in fresh mix with a good amount of plant food to suit the plant, repot spring flowering shrubs after flowering. Potted roses and hydrangeas need a deep pot that will not heat up and cook roots during summer. Tin foil around the inside of a pot before filling,( shiny side facing out) will help keep roots cooler for roses, camellias, azaleas, hydrangeas, and small trees and shrubs. All potted plants need excellent drainage and a consistent food and water supply. If a potted plant is left too dry for too long between watering it will never thrive.Roses are leafing up now and the warmer it becomes the more aphids (greenflies) will be about, aphids settle on the top new growth of rose bushes and are easily visible for you to dispose of by removing with your finger and thumb. If you feel you need to spray, wait until the leaves are well-grown and have hardened up a little, or leave to encourage birds and predators to take the bugs. Lawns: New lawns sown on the coast should result in a once the cold snap is over, as I have mentioned before seed must be sown thickly in spring to beat most annual weeds although annual weeds will be mowed out with the first mow. Keep the mower blades up when cutting spring grass to allow it to thicken and feed established lawns just before or during rain and they will stay lush, no feeding is required on very new lawns as they need to push roots down deep looking for moisture and nourishment to become strong. Fruit: Strawberries and rhubarb are starting to move, they need to be fed, watered, and mulched, manure enriched compost then straw, pine needles, or un sprayed grass clippings will do the trick around both. Vegetables: Here on the coast Plant lettuce plants at two-week intervals and any spare ground could be planted in seed potatoes. Plant corn and pumpkin seeds early and protect once through the soil until frosts have passed, they both need a long ripening season.  Enjoy watching the glory of spring gardens as the beauty unfolds before our eyes. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki September 12th 2024

North Otago looks so spring-pretty after some nice sunny days, with masses of lovely blossoms and daffodils everywhere and the magnolias, rhododendrons and azaleas taking centre stage. Now that it's planting time and there is a lot on offer it's a good time to talk about plants for the right place. starting with dry areas of the garden, under hungry trees or areas that drain too readily. You will be wasting your time and money planting shallow-rooted plants like rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas or hellebores in these areas. Grouping with plants that will work their roots down to look for moisture is the way to go, like euphorbias in all their varieties, colours and sizes, agapanthus, large and small varieties are great on a slope. Grasses grouped as they are in nature do well in the dry and add movement to the garden as they waft in the wind, geraniums like it dry but need water until their roots get down and need to be cut back after flowering. Lupins are wonderful in big groups but also need water until they become established, after the first flowering they will self-seed and make their groups larger. All these plants once established will not need watering. (Shady areas next week.) Hydrangeas are a popular shrub, grouped or as a gap filler, they are leafing now and will need fed ready for their long flowering season, animal manure is a good food source for them ( not fresh) Hydrangeas are shallow-rooted so need to be mulched and watered often. To keep pink use a little lime around the drip line and for blue use aliumn sulphate or Epsom salts, these must be watered in and not just left on top of the roots. Lawns, Lawns benefit greatly from an early spring feed of lawn fertiliser, this works best with rain to wash it in. I have been spreading pig manure over my clay-based new lawn because it needs humus to build up to help with drainage. Vegetables: The soil is warming and days are longer, everything is now coming to life for spring so this is a busy time for gardeners who will be sowing, planting and fertilising edible gardens. Get pumpkin, butternut, squash and corn seeds started now under protection, they need a long warm growing season to grow and ripen. It is good to be planting salad veg again with still no white butterflies or aphids but new seedlings should be covered from nesting birds. Fruit: All deciduous fruit trees can still be planted in September while they are just coming out of dormancy. The widest selection will be available in garden stores now. All fruits require a position in full sun and shelter from prevailing winds is preferable. Codling moth Spring flowers are the trigger for codling moth grub to become active, as soon as the petals start to fall, it’s time to act to prevent infestation. I have come across a method of dealing with codling moth which is said to have worked well for some. Use a plastic milk container, and place 1 banana peel, 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup sugar in it. Fill the container almost full of water, replace the cap and shake it well to mix and dissolve the contents. Remove the cap and firmly secure one container onto the apple tree. The moths are attracted to the scent of the concoction, becoming trapped and drowned when they investigate. Refill with water as needed throughout the summer. Strawberries: will do well with a dressing of fertiliser specifically formulated with extra potassium, I am sure there will be one on offer, especially for strawberries. All other berries on offer should be planted now to settle into a season of fruiting. Mound up potatoes as they show leaves, this keeps them cooler and the light from them. If you are still to sprout and plant potatoes here are a few FIRST EARLY VARIETIES: Cliffs Kidney, Jersey Bennes, Maris Anchor, Rocket. SECOND EARLY Ilam Hardy, Karaka, Red King. MAINCROP VARIETIES: Desiree, Mondial, Nadine, Pentland Dell, Red Rascal and Rua. I have sown mixed lettuce seeds in a tray and plan to transplant them into the garden as I need them, lettuce seedlings will hold in a tray for a long time and then really start growing when they are planted. Garden design: If creating a new garden or revamping an existing garden I can steer you in the right direction with a concept garden plan. I have been creating concept garden plans for many years with local plant and design knowledge. Message me for a consultation. email:linda.lsw@gmail.com

Mounded potatoes

Gardening in Waitaki September 3rd 2024

"Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer."~ G. B  Charlesworth. A blustery start to our new growing season to dry soil out after winter rains, the trouble with such strong winds is that soil will dry too much on top where new shallow spring roots are beginning to push up new growth. Plants such as delphiniums, iris, peony roses, and any perennials making a comeback will need moisture to help roots push deeper down into damper soil.Cleaning out ponds should be on the gardening list now, leaves and old growth from pond plants need to be removed, and overflowing the pond will freshen it. Water Lilies, oxygen weed, and water iris are starting to make a move. While water lilies are not fully in leaf sections can be cut and re-potted. If you do not have a mesh pot specifically for aquatic plants, create holes in the sides of a plastic pot and use that. Line the pot with sacking or woven fabric and 3/4 fill with garden soil and a small amount of slow-release fertiliser in the center. Plant a water lily section then add stones or gravel to the top of the pot and submerge to the bottom of the pond.  Now that sap is rising, remove unwanted growth from prunus trees, (flowering cherry) this is said to be the best 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. Always on a warm dry day cut out any weak growth and cross over branches before they grow thick. A tree that can be difficult to prune is a silver pear (Pyrus Salviifolla pendula, best to prune out the center now while not in leaf. Remove branches that are clogging up the center and work to encourage the new outfacing growth which will give your tree the pendula look required.  Foliar feed new spring-growing plants (not bulbs, they store food in the bulb), and liquid plant food will encourage strong growth. Now is the time to plant, plant, plant all the pretty spring seedlings on offer, and sow seeds for summer flowering to save on buying seedlings later in the year.  Lawns, benefit greatly from an early spring feed of lawn fertiliser or a dressing of manure-enriched compost to build up humus on clay-based lawns. Unfortunately, too much soil is removed from new building sites these days which means the clay is not as far down creating a solid moisture-holding pan under the soil. Gypsum ( soluble lime) along with the compost will work on opening up clay without changing the ph of soil. Frosts will soon be over allowing new lawns to be sown, remember to sow seed thickly as annual weed seeds will be competing.  Fruit: All deciduous fruit trees can still be planted during  September. All fruits require a position in full sun, shelter from prevailing winds is preferable, or a stake added for a couple of years until roots are well anchored. If leaf curl is a problem on young stone fruit trees, pull affected leaves off and destroy them, and new leaves take their place. Strawberries are easy to grow in a home garden, as little as 25 plants can yield more than 50 pounds. Strawberries need at least six hours of direct sun daily and will do well with a dressing of fertiliser specifically formulated with extra potassium, regular irrigation, and slightly acidic soil covering the bed in straw or pine needles will keep the weeds down and the fruit clean. All other berries on offer should be planted now to settle into a season of fruiting. Vegetables: With soil warming every plant is now coming to life for spring so there is a lot to do in the vegetable garden as you ready it for planting. Break up and rake clods to fine soil down for direct seed sowing. Get pumpkin, butternut squash and corn seeds started now under protection until frosts finish, they need a long warm growing season to grow and ripen. It's great to be planting salad veg again especially while there are still no white butterflies or aphids about. As an early season deterrent by spraying fish emulsion on both veg and flowering seedlings, will feed the plants and repel pests by fooling them into thinking their favorite food is now protein, repeat after rain. Get sprouted potatoes in the ground, when leaves appear mound over them to keep all light out as potatoes increase in size. Keep water up to rows during dry spells.  Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki August 27th 2024

Pruned hydrangea.

Wow wet again over the weekend and Monday, which is not a bad thing going into spring growing happens in warm moist soil. Get seeds sown now for whatever you would like to grow, be it food or flowers. I have seed germination from sowing seeds 2 weeks ago in trays with a plastic cloche covering and plenty of ventilation. I have also noticed germination from seeds falling directly onto soil in Autumn so here on the coast, the new growing season begins. It can be a costly time stocking a garden but the rewards make it all worthwhile. I make potting mix go further by adding sifted soil after all soil is the original growing medium and with Garden centers loaded up with so many different mix options soil is now being overlooked. Those who have a soil sieve can fill a wheelbarrow with finely sifted soil in no time. Seed-raising mix can be used sparingly by filling a container with sifted soil and then only a layer of seed-raising mix on the top. Science tells us that a teaspoon of productive soil contains more living organisms than there are people in the World. Baskets and pots can be thought about now, use only shallow-rooted plants for baskets, pansies, violas, primulas, and trailers like Virginia stock and dwarf sweet peas until it is warm enough to plant petunias, lobelia, and begonia. Pots and baskets benefit from the addition of extra slow-release fertilizer and water Chrystal's to keep them going, The method of burying a hole-punched plastic bottle down into a pot or basket allows moisture to seep among plant roots each time it is filled. Potted roses need a deep solid pot to help with the heat of summer cooking roots, Placing a shorter plastic pot inside a terra cotta or concrete pot will help keep roots cooler, interior plastic pots should have wide drainage holes and sit on a layer of gravel inside the bigger pot leaving a three-inch gap at the top to spread mulch which can be a thick layer of gravel, stones, bark or even sheep wool. Potted, camellias, azaleas, and rhododendrons can be shifted to the shade once flowered. Hydrangeas can now be pruned at the second new growth from the bottom on stalks that flowered last summer, leaving the unflowered stalks unpruned as these will carry the flowers for this summer. Fuchsias can be pruned once they start showing new leaf, they flower on new growth that's why growers cut them right back to encourage new fresh growth and flowers for retail. Cut back all scraggly old wood. Dahlias can be planted when the soil is drier, I keep a cover of pea straw on top the dahlia clumps until they show signs of new growth. Rose growth is well on now and we don't have to worry about aphids (greenfly) yet but they will be about soon to settle on the top new growth, easily visible for you to dispose of by removing with your finger and thumb. Leave spraying (if needed) until leaves are well-grown and hardened up a little. Lawns: Prepare the ground for sowing new lawns here on the coast, when the chill has left the ground, spring sowing should be spread thickly to beat annual weeds. Once spring mowing starts again on existing lawns, keep the mower blades up to allow grass to thicken as it comes back from dormancy and feed lawns just before or during rain and they will stay lush. Vegetables: Here on the coast sow lettuce seed and plant lettuce plants and other leaf veg on offer now at two-week intervals but protect from frost and birds while small. Carrots and peas can go in but the ground is still too cold for parsnips, beans, corn, and the pumpkin family, they all need warmer soil. Broad beans sown in March should be in flower looking for bees. Prepare the ground for planting seed potatoes, if the soil is too wet, fork over adding compost to get air in to aid drying. Potatoes can rot if the soil is cold and wet. Fruit: Buds are swelling to blossom burst as sap rises, what's needed now are sunny days to bring bees out. Work on gooseberry bushes now before leaves arrive, thin out middle branches and cut bottom skirt branches up to raise bush height making it so much easier to pick the fruit from underneath. Strawberries are starting to move towards budding so will be looking for food, they need to be mulched with compost, old animal manure, then straw or pine needles as a cover will do the trick. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki August 20th 2024

Magnolia Starwars:

Almost the end of August means we should be leaving winter behind, but we had a cold snap last week which had my small seedlings all a-quiver. Unfortunately, weed growth is never checked by cold snaps, chickweed and bidibid are romping away but at this stage are very easy to pull out or hoe in before they produce seed.  Magnificent magnolias will be center stage right now, very worthwhile trees to grace any medium-sized garden. Beautiful bare branching through winter, stunning blooms then large attractive leaves. Azaleas, rhododendrons, and camellias grow well with magnolias because they all prefer an acid soil. There are many different choices in tree size and blooms, for the smaller garden Magnolia billowing cloud is White / Pink Upright habit- Hgt / width 3m x 2,5m, for a larger garden Magnolia Charles Raffill soft Pink upright habit, Hgt/width 7m x 5m and magnolia star wars never lets me down. Lavenders can be cut back now as they begin to put out new growth, really old woody bushes can be cut back hard to encourage new lower growth, if they do not respond it will be time to replace them. Young lavender plants just need a slight trim and fed manure-enriched compost plus a little lime. Climbers are in bud now ready to do their spring thing so when trimming watch you are not cutting off new buds, Jasmines may still get knocked by frosts, leave  a bit longer until sure frosts are over before trimming them. Roses: Feed roses as they are moving fast now, well worth the effort to minimize spaying that may be needed later on.  Sow seeds under cover, seed packs that recommend spring sowing should germinate now. I sow seeds in trays of peat, potting mix, and compost combined with a top layer of seed-raising mix. Once planted, cover trays with plastic or glass, using spacers to let air circulate. Lawnswill be greening up now and will need some attention after Winter dormancy.To eradicate moss use a water watering can to apply sulphate of iron, once moss has turned black rake it out. Moss takes hold on Nutrient-poor soil, soil with high acidity, soil that is compacted or drains poorly or where there is excessive shade or thatch accumulation. Give older lawns a good rake to lift any thick thatch and apply lawn fertiliser during rain to give them a good boost.Vegetables: If you are planting out a vegetable garden seedlings are best planted later in the day when the heat is out of the sun, watering however is best done at the start of the day allowing time for the soil to warm before the night chill. In areas you plan not to plant for a while sow a green crop to add humus to the soil, Mustard, lupine, barley, or wheat will germinate in no time then dig in when still soft and green, don't let it get to the flowering, stalky stage because it takes too long to break down. Seed potatoes are on offer now for you to get later crops sprouting, early varieties can be planted, and they should show leaves in about a month when frosts are over. Keep frost protected if early leaf is showing now. Fruit: Give fruiting shrubs and trees a dressing of potash-enriched fertiliser to encourage fruiting. Deciduous fruit trees and everything in the way of small fruit should be planted in August / early September at the latest. Keep an eye on peach and nectarine tree buds, spraying with copper for leaf curl should be done just on bud burst. Cheers, Linda.

Chitting potatoes:

Gardening in Waitaki August 13th 2024

Even though it is not officially spring, here on the coast nature is saying it is as blossom buds burst and spring bulbs flower.  Unpredictable days will continue with heat in the still-low sun while gardeners pay full attention to forecasts. Keep an eye on trees and shrubs shifted over the winter, they will need the water kept up and stakes firmed to allow new roots to take hold. Folia feeding is beneficial now as the ground warms and plants are looking for nutrients. I have worm and comfrey tea as an inexpensive folia or root food but there are plenty of chemically formulated products on offer for specific plants and now is the time to start using them. At this time of the year, I notice the yellowing of some plants, the ground gets depleted of nitrogen during winter especially are shallow-rooted plants like camellias, azaleas, and rhododendrons, giving them a feed with an acid fertilizer specially formulated for them. ( If powder water in) Outdoor potted plants that make a lot of roots and have outgrown their containers will soon show poor growth if not repotted into a larger pot or the root mass reduced by half then re-potting back into the same pot. I remove excess roots by removing the root-bound plant from the pot, and laying it on the ground I use a sharp spade to chop the root ball in half. Once potted up again I apply slow-release fertilizer and compost to either soil or a heavy tree and shrub mix and hope for rain to add more nutrients.With all the slow-release fertilisers on offer now it makes it easy to choose the right one for all plants I have been sowing seeds in trays with clear covering to let maximum light and warmth in, sitting trays up off the cold ground helps with germination as well.  Lawns Start the new growing season with fertilizing lawns to help them recover from winter dormancy, I have that noted for the next time it rains to wash it in. Generally, lawns that are well maintained - which includes being well fed, cut properly, aerated, and de-thatched (if needed) problems that result in moss will not occur.  Treating small areas of moss in lawns can be carried out with sulphate of iron watered on at the strength displayed on the pack per sq meter, the moss will turn black, and after a couple of weeks, you can rake out the dead moss, and re-seed. Vegetables: Pick winter crops while still at their best, Asparagus should be available for planting now, asparagus is a vegetable that repays you the planting of it over many years. To prepare beds cultivate deeply and add generous amounts of compost. Existing asparagus beds should be cultivated carefully to avoid damaging the crowns that lie just below the surface, add a new layer of mulch. Here on the coast get spring sowings off to an early start now, use a row of cloches to protect from late frosts, or a stretch of clear polythene to warm and dry the soil in colder gardens to prepare for early plantings as further inland soil will take a bit of thawing before any planting Can be done but the garden can be prepared by spreading compost/humus for rain and worms to take in. Early sprouted potatoes can go in now for an early crop, people have been telling me of the benefits gained from planting potatoes on a bed of pine needles, I lay them on comfrey leaves but will use some pine needles as well this year. Fruit Peach trees should be bud burst in about now so spray with a copper spray for leaf curl, once in blossom it is too late. If you have not already pruned your peach or nectarine tree I will run through how to go about it, recovery will be quicker now the sap has risen.Peach trees need to be pruned into an open “V” or vase shape for the optimum outcome. Early spring is the best time to prune backyard peach trees.1. For the v shape pick four main scaffold branches and simplify, cut larger branches needing to be removed close to the trunk but leave a collar.  2. Remove small weak upright branches on the trunk or main branches. 3. Leave 50 to 75% pencil-thick shooting wood per tree. Both peach and nectarine fruit on wood developed last summer. Inspect the buds on newer wood, single buds are leaf buds, double buds are immature fruit buds and triple buds are mature fruit buds. Cut to an outward-facing double bud, and leave triples. Cheers, Linda

Gardening in Waitaki August 7th 2024

Winter sweet.

Early Spring is showing now in gardens on the coast, blossoms, bulbs flowering, swelling of buds, fragrance from winter sweet, witch hazel, Daphne, boronia, and violets wafting perfume about, and birds are beginning to nest. We are coming to the end of pruning time, humping straw bales and barrows of compost/mulch. It is now time to create and dress gardens by planting, shifting, and feeding. I have been liquid feeding with worm and comfrey tea, adding at the strength of black tea to a full watering can, then applying generously to all new leaf, budding and flowering plants like polyanthus, forget-me-nots, dianthus, sweet peas, pansy, and, viola. Any new plantings can be Helped along by feeding now to get roots going and to keep them green and strong through any cold snaps yet to come. Slow-release fertiliser is a great idea now as well, sprinkle around established ornamental and newly planted trees and shrubs to be ready when the plants need food as they awaken. This week I noticed nice fat buds swelling on the stems of my hydrangeas, I started pruning the more sheltered bushes a couple of weeks back but left the more exposed a little longer. I have found I can pull rooted branches from the base of big old gnarly hydrangea bushes, these take a few years to bush up but it is a sure way to replicate a special variety that has become too large and old for the spot it is planted in. I am forever taking cuttings from geraniums, they are so easy to grow from cuttings. Take short Semi-hardwood cuttings from hardened geraniums, (not new green steams), and let them dry out a little before planting, this means you don't have to deal with them straight away. Plant firmly into a soil and river sand mix, Potting mix is too light to get a tight seal around cuttings. I like it when I come across geraniums in friends' gardens to swap cuttings from mine. Trim dentata lavender now if you haven't already. Dentata is a tall growing lavender with serrated leaves and pale lavender bumblebee flowers. Dentata will recover quickly from a cutback because it is continually budding up. Leave trimming other lavenders until it is warmer, All lavenders like sweetening up with a dressing of lime now. Once wet ground dries dahlia tubers can be planted along with gladioli bulbs, planting can be done from now until September. With roses making a move to budding up they will need food to draw on, powdered rose food needs watered in around the drip line, slow slow-release fertiliser will work each time it rains. Trees and Roses are still available in Garden Centres and now is the last time to plant bare rooted trees and shrubs before roots get going. Lawns: I had the lawn mower out this week as the warm weather after the rain pushed out nice lush growth, next rain would be the time to feed lawns to give them a good spring boost. Vegetables: Vegetable gardens will have enjoyed the rain and it is so good not to have to worry about the bugs during these colder months when planting out leaf veg. Cold and frosty areas inland can make a start now by adding some compost and a little lime in readiness for when you plant out later this month. Let's hope we don't get too many overcast days during the time fruit trees are in blossom so the bees will come out and set to work pollinating. Keep an eye on peach and nectarine trees, if they are just at bud burst it will be time to spray a copper fungicide to prevent leaf curl. When they are in flower it is too late to spray. Cheers, Linda