Gardening in Waitaki May 20th 2026

Such a lovely, mellow time of the year, autumn’s softer days are ideal for tidying, shifting plants, improving soil, and preparing gardens for the colder months ahead. Compost always goes on first, spread thickly over cleared beds once autumn leaves and annual weeds have been removed. It feeds the soil and does a wonderful job of suppressing weeds. With my large, past garden, after compost, pea straw was spread over most gardens for added protection and warmth through winter. Be careful to keep mulch and compost away from bearded iris rhizomes and freesia bulbs, as they prefer to bake in the sun rather than remain covered and damp. This is an excellent time to reshape and reorganise gardens. Shrubs that have outgrown their allotted space can be lifted and shifted while the soil is still workable. Moving taller plants further back can completely open a garden, creating space for pathways, seating areas, pots, or statues. Reducing the height and width of trees and shrubs is often essential in smaller gardens, not only to maintain shape but also to allow more light onto lower-growing plants, encouraging healthier growth and better flowering. Perennial beds benefit greatly from attention now. Overgrown clumps can be lifted and divided, replanting only the younger, vigorous growth from the outer edges. Asters, phlox, aubretia, hostas, ornamental grasses, herbs such as sage, thyme and lemon balm, and many rockery plants all respond well to dividing at this time of year. Once replanted, cover the soil with compost to encourage fresh root growth and help insulate plants during winter. Some plants dislike disturbance, Peonies resent being moved, gerberas are best left until spring, and some South African shrubs and plants, leucodendrons, proteas, and banksia don't seem to do well after shifting. Cut back all the dahlias and dug out and divide some for planting in late spring, where summer colour is needed. Put labels with each clump to know the colours. Put in cardboard boxes and place in a dry shed, then fill the gaps with winter-flowering annual wallflowers, poppies, primulas, pansies, polyanthus, snapdragons, and forget-me-nots, which will slowly establish now and reward with cheerful blooms toward the end of winter. A highlight plant in a dull garden: A few years ago, I planted small clumps of the variegated iris. This iris is not grown for its insignificant blue flower but for its interesting green and white striped leaves. I had mine mass planted under standard iceberg roses, and they made a wonderful show. The clumps became large quickly, but are easy to divide and plant to break up dark green areas. Erica's are budding well, ready to burst into winter colour, the ground cover variety a wonderful ground covers for low maintenance gardens. Trim the spent flowers off erica's that flowered through the summer months to keep them compact. They will put out fresh new green growth through the winter and keep fertiliser away from erica's they do not like lime, dry soil, full sun is what the require. I shifted the trays of plant cuttings I have growing into a light, warm spot for them to continue growing well over winter. They will need dryer soil from now on so I will water them less often and always at the start of the day, then re-pot them in the Spring. Rose flowering is coming to an end, but spent blooms should be left on bushes for now, allowing hips to form and harden the wood before winter pruning in July. Container-grown buxus can also be repotted if pot-bound, as they tolerate root reduction well. Lawns remain green after autumn rain, although growth will soon slow. Lime can be applied before the first frosts while the soil is still warm and moist. Acid-loving moss and weeds are often a sign that soil pH is too low, and lime will improve growing conditions for spring growth. vegetables: With the damp ground allowing slugs to perform at their best, it's a struggle to grow small veg seedlings right now. Sharp gravel, crushed eggshells or dry sawdust will deter them a little, and they find sneaky places to hide until dark, when no birds are about. I find it best to grow seedlings in pots to promote growth before planting out, as slugs and snails seem to prefer small plants. Then try spraying with fish emulsion to fool them into thinking plants are protein rather than veg.Garlic planting can begin anytime from late May through August in warm, free-draining soil that has recently been limed. Plant large cloves around 5cm deep and 20cm apart. Fruit: Apples are ripening well after a good season. Pick fruit for storage before it becomes overripe. Continue planting strawberry runners into raised, well-drained beds enriched with compost. Bare-root fruit trees will soon begin arriving in garden centres, making now the perfect time to prepare planting sites with compost and manure. Winter planting allows roots to establish before spring growth begins and reduces planting stress. Cheers, Linda.

Time to plant out strawberry runners.