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.