Gardening in Waitaki October 1st 2025

Oamaru public Gardens.

October and Spring is in full windy swing here in Waitaki, with later blossoms now out, the bright pink upright Prunus Kanzan and the soft white-pink spreading Prunus Shimidsu Sakura, always looked great underplanted with a sea of forget-me-nots or deep blue “match heads” in my past large garden. Watch for Prunus trees sending shoots from below the graft, remove these promptly.  Rhododendrons and azaleas are bursting with colour as spring bulbs are finishing. Leave bulb foliage to die back naturally so it can store energy for next year. Large clumps can be lifted and divided to share.Shrubs & Perennials Trim winter-flowering ericas once flowers brown to encourage fresh green summer growth. Pinch back tall chrysanthemums now for sturdier autumn plants. Prune fuchsias because they bloom on new wood. Support lilies as they push up, mulch to keep soil moist but free-draining.                                       Feeding & Mulching:Weeding will be a full-time job this month. Clear annual weeds thoroughly, especially couch grass, which must be removed completely. After weeding, cover the soil with organic compost to suppress regrowth before planting annuals and perennials. Water new plantings in the morning to avoid fungal problems, and mulch to conserve moisture — pea straw works well around trees and shrubs. Feed roses, shrubs, and perennials now. Use a balanced fertiliser watered in, or mix homemade compost with blood & bone and a little potash. Old stable manure spread around (but not dug in) is excellent for roses. Keep fertiliser away from trunks and apply just beyond the dripline where feeding roots are most active.Delay hedge trimming until new growth firms up, including box hedging. Trim on overcast days to avoid sun scorch. Camellias can be shaped once flowering finishes; open the middle for light and airflow enough for a bird to fly through.. Lawns are lush and growing fast now but the strong winds will have dried them, soak, mow regularly and scatter unsprayed clippings lightly as mulch about the garden. Apply fertiliser just before rain, never on dry sunny days. New patches can be resown now — soil is warm enough for germination. Avoid fertilising new grass until well established. Vegetables & Herbs Direct sow veg seeds now, but thinly. Mix seeds with fine soil for even sowing. Protect seedlings from birds with shade cloth. Corn and pumpkins can be planted now with protection to allow for their long ripening season. Tomatoes can be planted closer to Labor weekend, those in tunnel or glasshouses thrive during our cooler nights, ensure good airflow and never leave leaves wet overnight. Cherry tomatoes do well in pots on sunny porches. Herbs will be flourishing:  Harvest often for fresh use or dry for winter. Most enjoy lime and aged stable manure. Mixed herb pots planted now make great Christmas gifts. Cheers Linda.

Tomato plants staked and protected.