Gardening in Waitaki August 20th 2025

As August nears drawing to a close, winter loosens its grip—though recent frosts remind us to stay cautious. Seedlings are quivering in the cold but, with frost cloth protection, are hanging on and soon ready to pot on. Growth has been slow, but weeds such as chickweed and bidibid are thriving—pull them now before they set seed. Elsewhere, violets are filling gardens with fragrance. Camellias, rhododendrons, and shallow-rooted shrubs may show yellowing from nitrogen deficiency after winter—correct with slow-release fertiliser and compost. Keep frost cloth handy for tender plants, mulch after spring rains to lock in moisture, and feed generously. Plants are pouring energy into new growth. The work you put in now with feeding, mulching, and tidying will carry your garden strongly into the season ahead. Magnolias take centre stage, their sculptural bare branches covered in stunning blooms. They thrive in acid soils alongside azaleas, rhododendrons, and camellias. Garden centres are full of choices: compact Magnolia Billowing Cloud (3m × 2.5m) for small gardens, or the taller Charles Raffill (7m × 5m) for larger spaces. Lavenders can be cut back as new growth appears. Old, woody bushes can be trimmed hard to encourage fresh shoots—if they don’t respond, replace them. New plants just need a light haircut, compost, and lime. Climbers are in bud now, so trim carefully. Delay pruning jasmines until frosts are over. Roses are moving fast—feed now to set them up strongly and reduce the need for spraying later. Many other perennials and shrubs benefit from feeding too, but avoid heavy fertiliser on South African and Australian natives. Hostas can still be divided before leaves emerge, while dahlias can be planted in sunny, free-draining spots. Ornamental grasses should be cut back now, and shrubs tidied, though take care with climbers and spring-flowering plants already in bud. Lawns are greening up and need attention after winter. Moss thrives in shaded, compacted, or acidic soils—apply sulphate of iron, rake out once blackened, then aerate and feed. A good spring start will help lawns withstand the predicted dry summer. Vegetable beds are waking up too. Plant seedlings later in the day when sun is softer, but water in the morning so soil warms before night. Sow green crops (mustard, lupine, barley, wheat) in unused areas, and dig them in while still lush and soft. Early seed potatoes can be planted now—protect against late frosts. Continue sowing seeds under cover, using soil, compost, and seed-raising mix. Cover trays with glass or plastic, allowing airflow, and feed seedlings weekly with diluted worm tea. Fruit trees and shrubs need a boost—apply potash-rich fertiliser to encourage strong crops. Plant deciduous trees and berry canes by early September. Thin raspberries by removing old and weak canes. Citrus, especially lemons, will appreciate a feed of citrus fertiliser and a good soak. Keep trunks free of grass and weeds, mulch well, and time spraying for dull days when bees aren’t active.

Cheers, Linda

Gardening in Waitaki August 13th 2015

Early spring is peeping out from winter, despite the harsh frosts. Snowdrops are always the first to push through the frost, followed by winter roses, early camellias, daffodils, and now plum blossom. If we don’t get a good dollop of rain soon, shallow-rooted shrubs and trees—such as rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas, and maples—will need watering to support their new growth. On mild days, it’s tempting to get planting and sowing. Remember that seeds need warmth to germinate, so protect them until the soil reaches a suitable temperature. Outdoors, sowing is best left until frosts are ending and bees are active. Plants budding up for flowers can be given a gentle liquid feed now to keep root growth strong. Diluted worm or comfrey tea is ideal for soft new growth, but any liquid food at a weak dilution will help. Roses benefit from liquid manure diluted to the colour of weak tea, applied around the roots. Finish all rose pruning by month’s end. Weeds & Invasive Plants: Weeds are on the move. With the ground still soft, hand-pulling or hoeing is easy—remove them before they seed. Now is the time to deal with invasives such as ivy, aluminium plant (Lamium), couch grass, convolvulus, and bindweed. Hydrangeas: New green growth at the base means pruning time. Cut all woody stems that flowered last summer back to the second bud from the bottom. Leave all other stems, as they will carry the new flowers. Pink hydrangeas prefer alkaline soils (pH > 8.5), while blue ones need acidic soil. To maintain strong blue blooms, grow in a large pot with acid potting mix if your garden soil produces pink flowers. Planting & Pruning: Keep planting roses, peony roses, and gladioli until September. Plant lilies immediately; they must not dry out as they make roots year-round. Cut back leggy lavatera and buddleia, they will bounce back quickly. Comfrey – A Garden Powerhouse: Comfrey’s deep roots draw nutrients from well below the soil’s surface, storing them in the leaves. These nutrients, especially potassium, promote flowering and fruiting. To make comfrey tea, harvest leaves (removing flowers and tough stems), chop them, and pack them tightly into a lidded, watertight container. Weigh them down with a brick or stone, then check every few weeks. The breakdown process produces a strong-smelling brown liquid—collect and store it in bottles in a cool, dark place. Refill the bucket with fresh leaves. Plant comfrey where it can spread freely, away from main garden beds, as it can become invasive. Lawns & Moss Control: Moss killers are a short-term fix—address the cause for lasting results. Common issues include: Waterlogging , Poor feeding (light green grass), Acidic soil (test and lime if needed). Shade from trees or shrubs, mowing too close. Sandy soil (improve with compost/humus) , Compaction from heavy use (aerate in autumn), DIY soil test. Pouring white vinegar over soil (fizz = alkaline). If no fizz, mix soil with water, then add baking soda (fizz = acidic). Small patches can be treated with sulphate of iron—moss will blacken, then rake out and re-seed. Apply your first spring lawn feed before rain is due. Vegetables: Harvest winter crops while they’re still at their best. Fold cauliflower leaves over and tie to protect from frost and keep florets tight. Prepare asparagus beds deeply with compost and good drainage; existing beds should be weeded carefully to avoid damaging crowns. Plant sprouted potatoes now for an early crop—try laying them on pine needles or comfrey leaves for extra nutrients as they decompose. Inland gardens may still be frozen, but you can prepare beds by digging in compost or humus. Fruit: Soak and mulch fruit trees and berry bushes—they have a lot of growing ahead. Cheers, Linda.

Asparagus popping through.