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
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