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.