Gardening in Waitaki June 10th 2025

As we approach the shortest day of the year, there’s still a surprising warmth in the June sun that takes the edge off the morning chill. But once the sun dips below the horizon, there’s no mistaking—we’re deep in winter. https://bestinzealand.co.nz/good-sorts-oamaru-couples-monarch-butterfly-mission-takes-flight/ What a wonderful feature Gordon and Joan Martin received on TV One last week, highlighting their inspiring efforts to support and protect Monarch butterflies here in North Otago. Their dedication is a reminder of the vital role each of us can play in preserving these beautiful creatures. As a community, it's up to us not only to enjoy their presence but also to actively contribute by planting butterfly-friendly flowers and saving local seeds to help sustain their habitat. If you're a seed collector with more seeds than you need, consider sharing them with the community by dropping them off to Robyn at the Garden Corner, located at our Resource Recovery Park. For several years now, Gordon’s Swan plants have been available there, and we're pleased to say this will continue into the next growing season. Rogue Trees and Shrubs: Now that deciduous trees and shrubs have lost their leaves, gardeners may begin to notice rogue trees that birds have introduced to the garden. Some of these may have taken root among established shrubs like rhododendrons and camellias, becoming quite entrenched and difficult to remove. It’s best to remove these unwanted trees completely if possible, as they grow stronger each year and can interfere with the roots of your desired plants. In coastal areas, it’s often possible to transplant these rogue trees and shrubs at this time of year, provided their root systems aren’t too disturbed. This is also a great time to lift and replant many self-seeded plants such as hellebores, lupins, poppies, pansies, violas, forget-me-nots, and primulas. If you have polyanthas left in the ground from last year, you’ll likely find that they’ve multiplied. These can be easily divided and replanted. After transplanting, a light dressing of dried blood will help green up both polyanthas and primroses, giving them a strong start for the season. Roses: New seasons roses are in Garden centers now, if planting make sure it is in a place that has a full days sun with good drainage and clay free soil, if you do strike clay dig well down breaking the clay, deep enough to add a shovel or two of stones or gravel to act as a sump where there would have been a clay pan holding water.This applies to any hole dug for a tree or shrub planted in soil with a clay base. Dahlias will be frost affected now, if remaining in the ground cut back and mulch with compost or straw to protect tubers. If clumps have increased and need to be reduced, do it now by digging up and pulling apart or putting a sharp spade through large clumps removing tubers not needed to be planted somewhere else or given away. Birds in Winter: Winter can be a tough time for birds. I like to scatter a couple of handfuls of wild bird seed on the lawn—once they discover the routine, they quickly return each day. Offering sugar water in a raised spot, ideally sheltered by surrounding foliage, gives birds a sense of safety while they feed. Once they find it, you’ll notice they return regularly for the energy boost. Vegetables: In the vegetable garden where green leafy vegetables and onions will be growing next summer give a dressing of 250 grams per square metre of dolomite lime. If you follow a regular rotation this will ensure that most of the garden receives lime once in three years, permanent crops like rhubarb should be limed every three years as well. Gardens fed annually with compost rather than chemical fertilisers tend to gradually rise the PH level eventually making regular liming unnecessary. Have garlic ready to plant on the shortest day Saturday 21st June. Fruit: New season's bare rooted trees will be in Garden centers this month, preparing the ground in an all day, full sun location to get the best fruiting results. Fruit trees need room to spread so as not to be shaded by neighboring trees then everything depends on the season to bring bee's out to pollinate when in blossom. Cheers Linda.