Gardening in Waitaki March 19th 2024

My autumn perennial garden.

What wonderful rain yesterday which will probably keep autumn growth greener when ripening and drying is what is required in autumn, I am sure Farmers loved it, moisture down deep before winter. Cut back everything that has finished flowering, I need no encouragement in this area so the wheelbarrow has been getting good use. Once I start chopping back at this time of the year there is no stopping me from leaving destruction in my wake. Plants that get the chop: Acanthus mollis (bears britches), agapanthus, tall phlox, daylilies, damaged hellebore, hosta leaves, buddleia, honeysuckle, jasmine, abutilon, evergreen viburnum, alstroemeria, hebe's, iris and all leggy, gone to seed herbs. Iris: While working my way around I dealt with all the bearded iris by cutting leaves back by two-thirds and making sure the top of rhizomes were above ground to bake in the autumn sun. Shift any in shade to a sunny position. Iris's are well worth the trouble of growing and look wonderful planted together enabling them to put on a grand display on their own. Propagation is usually 6-8 weeks after blooming rhizomes can be divided, leaving a chunk of rhizomes and roots to every new division. Bulbs, Bulbs, Bulbs: To create a spring explosion in your garden plant them now, bluebells and snowdrops can cope with dappled shade, the daffodil family needs sun, hyacinths look great in either pots or garden, ranunculus and anemones are vibrant after a long dull winter and freesia's love a sunny warm spot as do all the other spring bulbs on offer, Tulips are planted in May. Over years of multiplying bulbs can take over garden beds so If your bulb clumps are getting too big offer some to other gardeners who I am sure would gladly dig them up and find the perfect spot in their garden for them or take them to our resource recovery park and from there they will find a good home. It's time to cut back ornamental grass, pull seed heads away with a rake leaving grass clumps a lot tidier. Clumps can be trimmed back if getting too big or divided by putting a spade through the middle and removing half. Sometimes I have to dig the whole grass out to do this, then put the spade through and pull it apart while standing on half. If you are thinking of adding roses or more roses to your garden I suggest looking at rose variety books or going online to make your choices and then getting your order into Garden centers. New season roses will begin arriving in June and by ordering now you will be sure not to miss out. Herbs: Perennial herbs, chives, mint, thyme, sage, and marjoram can be divided and replanted. Basil, a summer annual, should be harvested before cold weather, it can be dried or frozen. Parsley can be grown from seed if sown now. Lawns would benefit from a dressing of fertilizer during the next heavy rain to wash it in to boost lawns before winter. Fruit: Late peaches should be ready to pick now and nectarine trees can have a summer prune. Citrus trees should be putting out new growth after heavy cropping, and feed with citrus fertilizer before winter. All fruit trees benefit from a dressing of potash around the drip line in autumn. Vegetables. March is an important month for planting winter veg, prepare before planting with compost, general garden fertiliser, and lime if needed, (I add lime to my compost) beetroot, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, spinach, and silverbeet seedlings can be planted but will need to be protected from the white butterfly. A framework to hold strawberry net stretched over plants would do the trick. Any areas of the vegetable garden not being used for vegetables can be planted with a green manure cover crop to be dug in before it flowers to enrich the soil for spring and summer crops. Oats, blue lupin, and mustard are good options.