Gardening in Waitaki October 23rd 2026

Labour Weekend weather usually brings on wonderful garden growth, with the last of the blossom trees in full bloom. The beautiful spreading prunus shimidsu sakura and upright Prunus Kanzan, with its bright pink flowers, are gracing many North Otago gardens. As usual, strong winds can turn the Kanzan blossom into pink snow, and the much-needed spring rain has helped soak our dry ground. Plant, plant, plant! There will never be a better time in nature to plant shrubs, evergreen trees, flowers and seeds. Seedlings grown from seed, lupins, Oriental poppies, delphiniums, penstemons and nasturtiums, benefit from being potted individually until their roots are established and the plants are stronger. Sunflowers and other strong-rooted plants can be started in peat pots and planted out pot, and all once roots have developed. Wildflower patches can become overrun with weeds before seeds germinate. Try clearing the ground, laying down well-soaked newspaper and covering it with potting mix before sowing. This helps suppress weed growth while giving wildflowers a chance to establish. Cut back spring-flowering shrubs once flowering finishes, and trim spent growth from ericas and callunas to encourage fresh growth and prevent them becoming woody. Cut back aubrieta for another flowering and remove spent hellebore flowers to show off their attractive foliage. Polyanthus have provided wonderful winter colour; cut them back and move them to a shady spot until they can be planted out again next late winter. Roses are budding up nicely now that nights are warmer. Keep up deep watering and feeding, using slow-release fertiliser to supply nutrients as plants are watered. Greenfly on new bud tips can often be washed away with a strong hose. Compost: My compost is warming up again after winter; it will provide wonderful material full of worms and beneficial invertebrates. Start building new compost heaps now, layering soft growth, seedless weeds, brown stalks, aged manure, kitchen scraps ( no meat), soil and old compost. Keep the layers moist and build directly on the ground so worms can work their way up. By autumn, you should have useful compost ready for a tired garden. Ponds: Water lilies can be planted in baskets lined with sphagnum moss or a suitable soft liner, using garden soil and slow-release fertiliser. Cover the surface with a thick layer of shingle to hold the soil in place and reduce nutrients leaching into the pond. As water warms, goldfish begin breeding by depositing eggs among oxygen weed. Moving larger fish temporarily can give the tiny fish a better chance of surviving. Lawns: Aerate, feed and sow seed where needed. Apply powdered fertiliser when rain is expected or water it in well to prevent scorching. Gypsum may help improve clay soil, while adding fine compost helps build soil structure. Vegetables: Plant pumpkins, squash and corn, preparing generous amounts of compost and aged manure for pumpkins to ramble through. Peppers, tomatoes and cucumber plants can be planted in glasshouses or tunnel houses, with support provided as they grow. Tomatoes will grow quickly; early plants affected by cold snaps should recover as temperatures rise. Flowers that attract bees and other beneficial insects are valuable companions in the vegetable garden. Carrots and leeks are a worthwhile combination. Herbs: Harvest herbs before flowering to prevent them from going to seed. I dry surplus herbs laid between sheets of news paper with saliotaped edges and leave in a warm, airy place until completely crisp before storing in paper bags or glass jars. Fruit: Raspberries and strawberries need plenty of sunshine and water to produce sweet fruit. Keep manure-enriched compost around rhubarb, as dry, hard soil can result in stringy, tough stems. Watch fruit trees and grapes for fungal diseases and treat when necessary. Last chance to put codling moth traps in place. Mulch fruit trees with unsprayed grass clippings, extending out towards the drip line, to help retain moisture while the fruit develops. A lot of springtime happenings are taking place in Waitaki: Community Garden courses, Garden tours and even a pop-up Art Gallery in our recreation centre as a fun raiser on the 1st of November. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki 13th October 2026

Cut back winter growth on gaura plants.

Unpredictable, changing spring weather in Waitaki, but every day brings something new and beautiful in the garden. Fragrant lilacs, peony roses, and sweet peas provide colour and scent, while kōwhai flowers are delighting the birds. Shrubs and flowers: If rhododendrons, azaleas or camellias need moving, do so immediately after flowering, before new season growth begins. Prune spring-flowering shrubs once they have finished flowering, removing up to a third of the growth if they need reshaping. Cut back ericas and callunas after flowering to encourage fresh growth and prevent them becoming woody. Trim aubretia to encourage another flush of flowers, and remove spent hellebore flowers to prevent unwanted seedlings. Leave a few seed heads if you wish to raise more plants. Cut winter growth back on gaura plants to obtain fresh new growth. Plant now while so much is on offer: Geraniums and pelargoniums thrive in sunny positions, while fuchsias, hydrangeas and many native plants appreciate afternoon shade. Sun-loving summer annuals provide colourful gap-fillers. Nature never leaves bare ground for long, so get in first! The spring soil is warming, making this an ideal time to plant what you love and enjoy a garden full of colour through summer. Mulch and Feed roses with compost and slow-release fertiliser, and maintain deep watering. Foliar feeding on fresh leaves is also beneficial. Watch for aphids on new rose growth and remove them by hand when practical, before numbers build up. I have been potting seedlings into individual containers to establish strong roots before planting out. Sunflowers and delphiniums are best sown and planted in peat pots, so roots can grow undisturbed when planted out. Keep an eye on hostas, as slugs and snails love their tender new leaves. Slugs will find damp homes nearby under garden waste. Remove lower leaves to make it harder for them to climb up them, and water when needed in the morning, leaving the ground and leaves dry at night when slugs are about. Repot container plants that have been in the same mix for three or four years, replacing old potting mix and checking their roots. Root-bound ornamental buxus can be root-pruned and replanted in fresh mix; I reduce the compacted roots with a sharp spade. Lawns, mulching, and feeding: With a potentially hot, dry summer ahead, mulching now is one of the best things you can do for a struggling lawn. Weed-free compost helps retain moisture, shade roots, and improves soil structure as it breaks down. Gypsum also helps improve clay soils, although it is not a substitute for organic matter or good drainage. Leave the catcher off now and then to add humus. Feed lawns when rain is expected to wash fertiliser in. When sowing a new lawn, sow thickly to help crowd out annual weeds. Many annual weeds in new grass will eventually disappear with regular mowing Vegetables: This is the time to plant, plant, plant! Sow beans, peas, corn, beetroot, radishes, lettuce, courgettes, cucumbers and other summer vegetables. Pumpkins and squash need plenty of space to ramble, so prepare a generous area with compost and well-rotted manure. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and basil benefit from the warmth of a glasshouse or tunnel house. Support tomatoes with strings or stakes as they grow. Mound soil around potato plants as they grow to encourage good crops. No-dig gardens will need new layers of compost and straw. Companion planting can help attract beneficial insects and discourage some pests. Nasturtiums may draw caterpillars away from vegetables, while marigolds and tagetes attract hoverflies that feed on aphids. Mexican tagetes are traditionally used around brassicas to help deter some pests. Basil grows well alongside tomatoes, and garlic, chives and parsley can be planted near roses. Dill attracts bees and other beneficial insects, while carrots and leeks make useful companions because of their differing aromas. Carrot fly is active when carrots are thinned. Avoid leaving pulled seedlings near the rows, as their scent will attract them. Fruit trees and berries: Watch fruit trees and grapes for fungal diseases, treating affected plants early with a suitable organic fungicide. If codling moth has been a problem, put traps in place before fruit develops. The moth attacks apples, pears, quinces, crab apples and some stone fruit. Once the caterpillar enters the fruit, it is difficult to control. Remove fallen and damaged fruit, and check traps regularly. (Codling moth traps can now be purchased if not familiar with making them.) Check apple trees for woolly aphid and feijoas, apples and pears for bronze beetles that are associated with dry conditions. Water and Mulch beneath fruit trees, extending towards the drip line, to conserve moisture. Strawberries and berry canes will flower and fruit quickly in sunny positions; gooseberries tolerate some shade, while blueberries need acidic, well-drained soil free of lime. If your garden soil is unsuitable, grow them in large pots using an appropriate acidic potting mix. Keep rhubarb well supplied with moisture and compost to prevent dry, stringy stalks. Cheers, Linda

Gardening in Waitaki October 6th 2026

October is bringing plenty of spring colour to Waitaki gardens. Despite strong winds and the occasional cold snap, growth is staying fresh with warm ground and heavy dews. Rhododendrons, tulips and the beautiful bright pink Prunus Kanzan are taking centre stage. Weeds are growing strongly now, particularly convolvulus, couch, biddy-bid and clover. Remove or dig them out before they set seed. If spraying is unavoidable, be extremely careful around roses, as hormone sprays will severely deform their foliage. Never spray on a windy day. The ground is now warm and damp, making it an ideal time for planting. Seeds sown in late winter will be ready to prick out, pot on or plant into the garden. Continue sowing seeds for summer flowers, including sunflowers, cosmos, larkspur, nasturtiums, marigolds, delphiniums and alyssum. Sunflowers are particularly rewarding for children, quickly growing into impressive plants. Swan plants can also be planted now in the hope of attracting monarch butterflies. Pansies and violas will continue flowering while the weather remains cool. Deadhead them regularly, and they can be cut back and fed with liquid fertiliser for another flush of flowers. Polyanthus can be lifted once they have finished, cut back and planted in a cool, shady position until next season.Roses are making buds now, so keep food and moisture up to them. Fortnightly foliar feeding and slow-release fertiliser can benefit flowering plants and shrubs. Coastal gardens are generally ahead of inland areas, although late frosts may damage new rose growth. Fortunately, roses recover quickly.Avoid letting rose foliage stay wet overnight, particularly in mild weather, as this encourages mildew. This is a good time to look critically at overgrown front shrub plantings. Removing one or two large shrubs can completely transform a space and create room for new planting, perhaps a maple surrounded by spring bulbs and hydrangeas for summer colour. Lavenders: take tip cuttings now from firm new growth with a little older wood at the base and place the cuttings in damp, sharp crusher dust. Shrub cuttings can be treated in the same way. Prune woody fuchsias back now as they flower on new growth. Tall chrysanthemums benefit from having their first new growth cut back so they remain shorter and more manageable. It is still a little early to trim box hedges; wait until the new growth has firmed. Hydrangeas are pushing out new growth and forming buds, a thick layer of manure-enriched compost and regular moisture will encourage strong growth and a long flowering season. Begonia tubers are beginning to shoot and can be divided into several plants. Because they are hybrids, they cannot be reliably grown from the seeds. To get a plant that looks exactly like the parent, you must use vegetative propagation, such as division or cuttings; each section must be showing active shoots. Fish fertiliser will help keep begonias growing strongly. Geraniums, pelargoniums and fuchsias are now available in retail outlets for planting. Mulching remains one of the best ways to prepare for a potentially dry summer. Straw, spray-free grass clippings and compost help retain moisture, suppress weeds and improve soil structure. On heavy clay, organic matter helps build new soil and hard-working worms. Keep compost heaps working by layering grass clippings, soft hedge clippings, manure, soil and seed-free garden waste. Moisture is important; water heaps and bins occasionally to encourage the heat needed for good decomposition. Lawns are growing lush as are lawn weeds, I have been busy popping them out with my secature blade before they seed. Keep lawn food handy for the next heavy rain, thick growth leaves no gaps for weeds. Vegetables: Potatoes are growing strongly and should be mounded as they come through the soil; frost cloth may still be needed in colder or low-lying areas. After the recent cold snap, tender crops can be started under glass and hardened off before planting outside. For glasshouse tomatoes, prepare the soil with well-rotted compost. Tomatoes need plenty of sunshine, around six to eight hours a day, and good ventilation. Never allow tomato foliage to remain wet overnight, as the glasshouse can become an ideal environment for fungal disease. Fruit: Apple and crab apple blossom is providing plenty of food for bees, and blackcurrants, strawberries and raspberries are looking promising. Keep fruiting plants watered until we receive some decent rain. Cheers, Linda.

Tomatoe plants.