Gardening in Waitaki 9th April 2024

Peony ready for cutting back.

Lovely autumn days over the last week with a noticeable drop in temperature morning and night now daylight saving has changed. If shrubs and climbers need to be cut back it should be done now while there is still time for plants to recover, and bud up again before June.  Peony roses: If you are planning to move a peony this is the best time when peonies are nearing or in dormancy. Peonies start to become dormant when foliage is rapidly losing colour, leaf dieback adds strength to tubas so foliage needs to be left on and then cut down to the ground level when completely dried back. Dispose of what has been cut off to prevent carry-over of fungal infections. If planting a planting site should be sunny and well-drained, deep fertile soil is best but they can still do ok in quite poor soils as long as they never become waterlogged (especially over winter). Planting depth is important, too deep means they will spend time pushing up to the right depth, find the uppermost bud on the crown, and plant so that the base of the bud is 5 cm (2") from the soil surface. Don't expect much growth in the first year.  Tree peony stems remain alive, only remove diseased leaves and wait until spring to cut out dead wood stems.   This is the best time to shift small evergreen shrubs and conifers, as long as the root ball is not too well spread they should transplant well. Rhododendrons, camellias, and azaleas can be shifted now as well.  There is still time on the coast to divide border plants, perennials, and rock plants, new roots will be made before growth stops. In very cold districts leave the dead top growth on, safer to remove in spring but If you are mulching with straw this will do the same job.  Hellebores will benefit from fortnightly feeding now to encourage better blooms. Remove old foliage, but in colder areas, it is best to leave some top growth on to protect new growth, flowers will soon shoot up past the old leaves. Destroy all removed old leaves because greenflies winter over on the underside of hellebore leaves. Only feed bulbs and plants that are due to flower now, all other plants will be slowing their growth right down to sleep through winter. Plants like camellia, azaleas, and rhododendrons that have been tucked away in a shady spot over the hot months should be moved into a sunny spot now. Shrubs in pots get root-bound and hungry, If you feed them when flowering finished they should be fine. If not then give them a little fertiliser and water well to give them a boost.  Compost: Keep layering fallen leaves on the compost along with animal manure, soft garden green waste, hedge trimmings, and un-sprayed grass clippings. Add some leftover compost from your last lot to the layers. Give heaps and bins a good watering from time to time to get things started. With the very warm days we have had, compost heaps should be building up heat which should remain working well into the coldest months, then they will just sit until days get longer and the ground warms again.  Lawns have picked up since the nights have cooled and dew is back. Spot spraying clover and flat weeds works best in the heat of the day when plants are thirsty, I only spot spray where needed because I would hate to kill hard-working worms. Grass grub-damaged areas can be raked out and resown now, thankfully germination of grass seed is very fast during autumn. Next time we get rain gypsum and fine compost can be spread over compacted lawns to soften and add humus.  Vegetables I have planted broad beans, carrots, celery, and leek seeds and have had to have the hose out to give the vegetable gardens a good soak.  Leek seedlings should be available now for planting, they are planted lying down in a trench that will hold water to get them going, they will soon sit up and grow fast. Remove shading from glass and tunnel houses now and reduce watering. Fruit If you have apple trees laden, some can be picked unripe and stored in a cool dry place, but leave as many as you intend to eat on the tree to ripen naturally. Some will still be picking those delicious late peaches.  Cheers, Linda.

Leek seedlings ready to plant in a wet trench.