Gardening in North Otago 1st December 2017

North Otago is very dry while I write this, rain clouds gather but come to nothing, I do hope our quoter of rain was not a part of what fell in Central last week! how devastating for all that fruit growing region.
 Clean up here after all the hedge trimming has been on going, things look a little too neat and tidy but nature will do it's best to put that right!
I know you will be finding there is so much to be cut back in the garden, plants like tree peony which doubles in size each growing season and deciduous trees that persist in pushing out new growth wide and low, you be in charge as nature will always  want to push new growth out as far as the roots spread. I have been removing low branches from oak, prunus, ash, sorbus, maples and walnut to allow light onto gardens.

Dead heading of roses is here again, cut back to an outward facing bud on a strong lower section of the branch to encourage new budding and flowering. Feed often and keep water up for them free of disease.

Begonias are really pushing through now and I see that I have lost a few of what were left in the ground from last year, I am guessing all the rain we had rotted them. Fish fertiliser is what keep begonias happy.

Fuchsias and hydrangeas are making a lot of growth now,  a must for a summer flower garden and so many different varieties to choose from now. Both Fuchsias and hydrangeas prefer shade and will brighten a dull garden.

Tip cuttings from Hebe's, chrysanthemums and daisy bushes will root with no trouble now, a firm stem with budding new growth and some larger leaves removed. Use wet crusher dust or river sand to strike them, never beach sand.
If you are looking for something non invasive to make a show of colour against a wall why not try Abutilon (Chinese lantern ) it comes in a number of strong shades of yellow, orange, burgundy and red, as well as white. I have planted yellow, burgundy and white together in a large container with nice lime green grass's below them, being a rather spindly plant wanting to grow tall they can be spread out on wires. If trained against a wall leave some longer branches and shorten back others to get a good cover of flowers. I remove leaves that flowers want to hide behind.

What a wonderful addition to the flower garden peony roses are, they are fantastic this year or am I just seeing more in peoples gardens? The brilliant shades and very large blooms fill many vases I am sure. Remove seed pods once blooms have finished to stop plants putting too much effort into making seed.

Lawns
We need rain to get the fertiliser on!! Lawns get really stressed from now on as the heat of the day intensifies. If your lawns are inclined to crack when dry they have probably been planted on clay soil, apply gypsum ( soluble lime) and water in. After a couple of years of doing this your lawns will have a spring back in them.
If lawn weeds are a problem spray before cutting on a sunny day when weeds are thirsty, or remove flat weeds with a knife when noticed. I spot spray with lawn weed spray because I don't want to upset the balance of the work going on in the soil beneath the lawn by contaminating it with chemicals.
Vegetables
Perfect weather for vegetables and fruit this year, keep the hoe going because the weeds are doing well also. The days are warm and the nights a little cooler, just right for growing. still no white butterflies in our garden!  long may it last.

Tomatoes: Cool nights upset tomato plants, leaves can become bluish and tend to curl causing plants to become susceptible to blight, glass and tunnel houses need good ventilation, bee loving plants among tomato plants will encourage insects needed for pollination, one mignonette plant would do the job.
Fruit: Strawberries, raspberries  and all other berries need a lot of water as they plump up, strawberry plants need food as well as water to keep them producing. I am using worm and comfrey tea plus I have spread some more pig manure around. Gooseberries are ready to pick, black currents are plentiful on branches ready to ripen, blueberries need mulched to keep shallow blueberry roots moist, supply 1 -2 inches of water per week and protect all berries from birds scoffing the lot.

Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in North Otago November 21st 2017

Almost the last month now as we experience  overcast pre Christmas days. Because nights are still cool the night beetle and the big brown moths have not yet made an appearance, but the spittle bug is here frothing up plants. Spittle bug nymphs can turn a liquid secretion into bubbles by moving or pumping their bodies, once bubbles have formed, they use their hind legs to cover themselves with the froth that insulates  them from temperature extremes and protects them predators. Although spittle bug nymphs do feed on plant sap, the damage is minimal and populations are usually small, so no pesticide is necessary, a strong hose  blast should be enough to dislodge them. 

Roses: I am keeping up the fish emulsion to foliar feed roses and deter green fly plus have removed old hellebore leaves where I see green fly have populated on the under sides and wintered over.

orchid growers it is the time to re-pot now, use orchid mix for the best results, it takes the guess work out of wondering what to feed them. 

Dew's are still wetting so the ground is still holding some moisture, scatter grass clippings around as mulch if your lawns have not been sprayed, they become good humus. I empty the catcher, then rake it about. So much spent spring growth in our garden needs cut back now, aquilegia's, forget-me-not, pansies, viola's and catmint, plus I have dug out all the pollyanthus to replant in a shady damp spot until next winter. Gaps will be filled with cosmos, poppies, petunias, dahlias and statice.

vegetable garden: Early morning soaking keeps moisture up through the day and helps with the germination of seeds. Successive planting can be kept up right through the Summer. If you must use spray's on your vegetables try an organic option or make your own natural sprays,The following plant leaves can be simmered in water and the resulting liquid used on plants. Basil will eliminate aphids, Chives prevent mildew occurring on cucumbers, squash and pumpkins. Coriander also for aphids and spider mite. Eucalyptus is a good general purpose insecticide. Rhubarb has been found to help prevent black spot. These may be only plants but in liquid form they can be harmful to children so keep marked bottles high up. I found that it is not a good idea to breath in fumes when bringing to the boil, keep doors and window open.  

Companion planting is another option, some plants have been proven to help and enhance others so I will list what has worked. Carrots and onions together, celery and the brassica family, i.e.: cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli, marigolds and beans/brassicas.  

Get corn and pumpkins in as soon as possible because they need a long growing and ripening season. 

Fruit: Keep water up to currants an berries, lemons and fruit trees, it takes a lot out of a plant to fruit. There are specially prepared fertilisers for most plants with instructions for how much to apply and when. All fruiting trees and plants need a lot of water now to create juicy plump fruit, the amount of early spring rain we were lucky to get was perfect for a good start but it takes only a day of strong wind to zap moisture from the ground. Remember to cover your strawberries from birds, strawberry netting stretches out to cover a large area and does the job well, birds can strip gooseberries as well, thrown some frost cloth over them until you get a chance to pick them.  

 Keep food up to tomatoes as  they grow, be sure to remove laterals of the taller growing variety and stake them to keep them upright as fruits get heaver. They should be flowering now waiting for the bee's to pollinate them. If your bees are few and far between on these overcast days you may have to take a hair drier into the glass house to gently blow the pollen around while leaves are dry. 

Elder flower is blooming for the making of elder flower cordial, 25 elder flower heads zest and juice of 2 lemons and 1 orange

1.5 litres boiling water 1kg sugar 1 heaped teaspoon citric acid, leave sitting on paper for bugs to take off, place in large bowl with orange / lemon zest. Bring to boil, pour over flower heads and zest, cover, leave overnight. Strain, pour into a saucepan and add sugar, lemon /orange juice and citric acid. Heat gently to dissolve sugar then simmer for a couple of minutes, bottle (sterilized) and seal. Wonderful summer cocktail with fizzy water, ice and maybe a dash of gin.

Cheers, Linda

Gardening in North Otago November 15th 2017

As I write this North Otago is really in need of rain pleeeease! dragging hoses about with scruff pulling on the end and hose connections bursting often is testing my patience!  Nothing worse in a spring garden to see droopy leaves when all plants are pushing out new growth, a soak is more effective than a sprinkle on those shallow rooted plants like rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias and newly planted annuals.

I have had a couple of grueling days bent over trimming box hedge, mine are all established to the height and width required so I take them back to the last growth. Newly planted box will probably need only the tops straightened leaving the sides to thicken plus a boost with slow release fertiliser.

 After many years trying to grow plants regardless of conditions preferred, thinking as long as I kept the water up and protected them through the winter I could beat nature BUT I finally gave up, it's a waste of time and money nursing plants that need a warmer climate and more rain than we have here. Plants like hibiscus, banana, gardenia, palms, anything that requires a tropical seasonal rain is going to struggle. However bougainvillea is growing here on the coast, mine can be fine for a couple of years but other years the frost really knocks it back. Read plant labels and make sure that our conditions are right for the plants here, for example there are some lovely pelagoniums for sale now but I have yet to have one survive the winter in my garden, although I see them growing well on the south hill where the frosts are not so harsh so I guess it's a matter of looking at what is growing well in gardens close  to you and knowing that the same plants will do well in your garden. 

Roses: I have not needed to start spraying roses for green fly and disease yet, a systemic insect / fungus combined spray will take care of both green fly and fungus if you follow the instructions and spray every 10 days to get on top of infestation. Keep the food up as they flower, it's hungry roses that are more susceptible to disease. Fish emulsion is a wonderful folia feed as well as a deterrent to aphid and Slow release rose fertiliser will feed each time you water.

 I will once again sing the praises of raised gardens,advantages include: soil warms up faster in the spring, and doesn't cool as fast in the autumn. limited bending, better drainage,  soil is not walked on eliminating compaction,  can be a garden feature as it has a specified geometry and form. Studies have shown that a raised bed garden may be up to two times more productive per square foot compared to normal gardening techniques. The raised garden can be any length you want, but it shouldn't be more than 4ft wide so you can reach across comfortably from either side. It can be as high as you want it, but keep in mind that the higher you go, the more support you will need to build.  A raised vegetable garden must be built in a spot that gets all day sun. Raised beds for shade and moisture loving plants need to be closer to the damp ground, raised too high and the drainage is too great for these plants. Once you have constructed your raised bed fill with fresh soil, compost, and well aged manure.  Wood surround must be untreated timber, rocks are an economical option but they tend to loose soil with rain and watering.We are fortunate here in Oamaru to have our own versatile Oamaru stone and there is also the ready made wooden raised garden surrounds on offer.

 Vegetables: Keep mounding potatoes to give depth for them to produce, consistent watering is important for potatoes, this goes for all root vegetables. Leafy veg don't need any extra feeding at this time of the year it will just encourage them to bolt. Only plant as many plants as you think you would use when ready to pick, hold back the other small seedling plants from the same batch and keep in a semi shady place until required for planting. The small plants will hold if watered only when too dry, over watering will encourage rot . Keep pumpkin and squash plants mulched, roots are fragile until their large leaves grow to create the root shade needed. Corn seeds sown last month are now ready to plant out, planting corn in squares rather than rows will ensure pollination on the lower tassels and add support during strong winds.

 Well done Ardgowan School fund raising members for organising and holding your very successful Garden and new home visit day last Sunday. 

Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in North Otago November 7th 2017

Some settled spring days last week, warm sun and still a night chill to keep the garden fresh, until the nor-west wind arrived sapping moisture and stripping trees of blossom and leaves. So it was clean up and hosing as gardens, pots and hanging baskets gagged for water.  

Rhododendrons, azalea's, and peony roses are still putting on their show as we look forward to the expectation of something new happening every day in the garden. 

My roses are full of fat buds waiting to burst open, they still have no green fly or black spot attacking them as yet.  Roses will have used up most food in reserve to have reached this lush stage so will need feeding often to keep them in this peek condition. Folia feeding with fish emulsion will help keep green fly away while feeding through leaves. Spray on a dull day so sun will not burn through droplets and damage new soft leaves.  

Trim spent flowers from perennials and daisy bushes as they finish the first flush of flowering to keep them bushy and continuously in flower, if you let flower heads go to seed the bush or plants will become woody. 

Box hedge:  I will make a start on my buxus hedges this week , hopefully on an overcast morning. Take all new growth back to the the last cut on established hedges. On new plantings even up only the top growth leaving the sides to grow together. When planting a new buxus hedge 5 to 7 plants per metre for small plants.

All other hedges can be trimmed now as they have probably finished putting out spring growth. 

Lawns: We have had excellent results from grass seed sown, it struck in places with in a week from sowing which encourages me to rake out every bare patch, add sifted soil and plant grass seed like there is no tomorrow! 

Veg: A good no fuss way to grow veg is in a no dig garden. Making a no dig garden: Find a sunny spot on bare ground,( not concrete) surround with sleepers, logs, Oamaru stone or boards high enough to hold layers of manure, soil, compost and straw. Flood the dirt before you start to get dampness deep down but If you plan to create a no dig garden on top of grass or space that has been growing then you will need to cover the the ground with layers of saturated news paper or cardboard, overlapping to stop strong weeds pushing through. 

First layer manure, (soak) this will bring the worms up, then spread a thick layer of compost, old leaf mulch and dried grass clippings, (soak.) Next add a layer of soil, (clay soil is fine in this layer), water well after each layer leaving no dry spots. Next add a layer of straw, (soak) then add more layers of compost and old leaf mulch and dried grass clippings, (soak) and top that with more soil, (soak). River sand, a little lime and an all purpose fertiliser can be added as you build the layers. Lastly add a top layer of straw to suppresses weeds, also a great deterrent to slugs. When you think the garden is high enough start planting and you should be eating your own produce with in six weeks at this time of the year.

Fruit: With the warmth experienced this spring and bee's doing their job berry fruits are romping along. Water is important while fruit is forming especially after the wind, a good soak from time to time if rain is scarce will ensure full juicy fruit. My grapes are flowering and so far there is no sign of the dreaded botrytis, I give only the vines I think could do with a boost fertiliser in early spring. Feeding established vines that are doing ok will only encourage more leaves and leaders. A little potash from time to time will help with fruiting.  

I have come across another method of dealing with coddling moth which is said to have worked well for some. Use a plastic milk container, and place in it 1 banana peel, 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup sugar. Fill the container almost full of water, replace the cap and shake it well to mix and dissolve the contents. Remove the cap and firmly secure one container into each apple tree. The moths are attracted to the scent of the concoction, becoming trapped and drowned when they investigate. Refill with water as needed throughout the summer.  

Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in North Otago November 7th 2017

The start of a new busy growing month !

Still cutting back spring flowering perennials and cleaning up after more hedge trimming here, things always look a little too neat and tidy but nature will do it's best to soften things again within a couple of weeks. Roses: No flowers on my roses as yet but buds are forming, thank goodness for all the rain to get them off to a good start. Some bushes have rust on leaves which I have pulled off and destroyed to stop the spread to other bushes.

The spittle bug is back, which looks worse than the minimal damage caused to plants as they cleverly surround themselves with spittle as a protection against predators and is also a deterrent to sprays. A strong hosing will wash them off. n

Dahlias are pushing through now as spring bulbs are finishing, I discovered some in shade as tree branches spread wider. While dahlia leaves are still low I have shifted clumps into a sunnier position. Hydrangeas are starting to produce flower heads now so it is important to keep the water and food up to them, old stable manure, blood and bone, liquid or slow release fertiliser will keep them happy and flowering well. It's lime for pink and Epsom salts or aluminum sulphate to keep them blue.

Fuchsias are making a lot of growth now as well, if you missed cutting any back do it now, they will flower later but will soon catch up. Fuchsias are on sale right now and are wonderful in pots or a shady spot. Tip cuttings can be taken from fuchsias now, if you spot some you like in a friends garden ask for some cuttings. I break a cutting off at a heel or a nodule section, remove some of the top growth and push into firm wet river sand.Tip cuttings from Hebe's will also root with no trouble in river sand . 

Abutilon (Chinese lantern: If you are looking for something non invasive to make a show of colour against a wall why not try Abutilon they come in strong colours of, yellow, orange, burgundy and white. I planted yellow, burgundy and white together in a large container under planted with a lime green grass. Being a rather spindly plant I intertwined them and they now look like one bush. 

Peony roses: What a wonderful addition to the flower garden peony roses are, wonderful fillers in a sunny spot. 

The weight of rain on deciduous tree branches makes it easy to see those needing to be lifted, if left they cast shade over surrounding plants. Any branch growing downwards with a canopy branch directly above it can be cut back or removed altogether. 

Lawns: Still getting heavy dews on lawns which helps to keep them lush, but hot days will soon put grass under stress, have lawn food on hand for the next good rain. If your lawns are inclined to crack when dry they have probably been planted on soil with high clay content. Apply gypsum ( soluble lime) and water in, after a couple of years of doing this your lawns will have a spring in them as gypsum works it's way through the clay to break up clay pans. 

Vegetables: The rain this spring has been a treat to veg gardens as hosing does not give the same results as a good rain, but of course with all lush growth weeds will take over if left unattended. Hoeing while small is still the best weeding method I know. The carrots, runner beans, yams, lettuce and peas I planted a couple of weeks ago have all popped up with growing conditions being so perfect. 

Tomatoes; will be getting taller and flowering now and with the heat of last week should be forming fruit, folia feed and water early in the day to allow time for soil to warm again before the evening. 

Rockvale Garden is bursting with new growth and wonderful fragrances, come wander and enjoy, open daily.

Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in North Otago Octber 25th 2017

November already, and still a lot of spring about with weather still unsettled as we experienced a Labour weekend drenching rather than the usual wind to blow away the blossom, no complaints from me. 

This is proving a great spring for rhododendrons, azalea's and dogwoods and roses are putting out fat buds in readiness for their grand display. Remove green fly with finger and thumb and rust effected leaves can been removed and bagged to stop spread. Once leaves have firmed up spray roses with fish emulsion and an organic fungicide. Always best to spray on a dull day with less bees around, rose leaves should be dry going into warm nights to prevent mildew growing.  Fat buds on those wonderful peony roses as well, make sure they have nothing over hanging shading them from the sun, peony's prefer to take the stage alone.

Spring is the best time for transplanting seedlings popping up from existing plants, like hellebore ( Winter rose), last years hellebore seedlings should be strong, small plants now, I have been potting some up in root trainer pots, once pots are full of roots I will plant out in groups under deciduous trees, and around rhododendrons, camellias, hydrangeas and fuchsias, they all like the same shady conditions.  

Spring bulbs and tulips have finished and look messy at this stage but don't be tempted to cut them back because the bulbs need green tops to die back naturally, twist them and push them out off site under shrubbery if you can until they have lost vigor before pulling them from the bulb.

Box hedge: I am waiting for the new growth to firm up a little before trimming the box hedging, If trimmed too soon it will be a wasted effort because while foliage is very soft they are still putting out growth. When you feel spring new growth is done choose an overcast day to trim, this allows under growth a little time to recover before being subjected to our harsh sun, however some sunburn on new buxus growth is unavoidable and thankfully hedges will soon grow through the burning. Our hedge trimmer has been on the go on some other hedges like viburnum and lonicera. If a hedge has reached the height and width required trim back to the last cut, all soft trimmings can go on the garden or into the compost.

Planting on a slope: Spring is the best time to plant out a slope or bank, the ground is moist and plant roots are growing fast which means they will get a good hold before the heat of summer and while small should not be whipped out by wind. Prepare the bank first by spraying out all weeds and grass, they will compete with moisture, if it is possible terracing a steep slope with rocks or sleepers would be beneficial to hold moisture around plant roots. If this cannot be done try not to disturbed soil / clay in areas that are not being planted. If the soil is disturbed and broken up it will wash away with rain and watering. Planting: Dig a hole deep into the bank but shallow at the front, (an angle hole) this will create a hollow reserve for water. Use stones around each plant to prevent wind blowing soil away from roots. Choose plants that grow in dry conditions, like South African plants; grevillea, leucodendron, Proteas, ask the Garden center assistant which plants survive well in a pot without a lot of watering,  I mass plant lupines to fill the gaps on a bank until all the other plants get bigger, they give a spectacular show in the second year of planting and have the added advantage of fixing nitrogen into the soil.

Grass, Grass. Grass...So much mowing! If lawn weeds have not been sprayed sprinkle clippings around the garden, wonderful humus, but don't leave thick piles, spread it out to break down fast. Now the ground is warm your garden can take as much fresh green growth that you can throw at it. Leave the catcher off from time to time and rake cuttings evenly over the lawn. We have had a good strike on a new area sown this week and in bare patches left after moss removal. Moss grows  because off pour drainage or mowing grass too short either results in soil compacting. Keeping the ground firm (don't dig) just rough the top soil up before raking the seed in, covering well so the birds don't notice then keep the moisture up until seed germinates. Hydrocotyle weed is a problem on damp shaded lawns, bright green flat and round once it becomes established it is hard to eradicate. Frost will kill but once the ground warms it appares again. The only product I have had success with is a spray specifically for Hydrocotyle which will eradicate many other lawn weeds as well without killing the grass. I am prefer to spot spray just where required because what ever kills weeds will also kill all good bacteria in soil and give worms a hard time. 

Vegetables/fruit

All veg should be doing well after the rain, get corn and pumpkin in, they need a long ripening season.  

Strawberry's, black currants, gooseberries and raspberries have all had a visit from bee's here, mulch with fresh grass clippings to keep the moisture from evaporating. Strawberries like soil to be on the acid side so the addition of pine needles or coffee grinds will help. A little potash  watered in around the drip line of all fruit will encourage fruiting. With grapes, advice given in the past was to bury road kill under a grapevine. I have made our small vineyard a burial ground for whatever out lives it's time in our garden, gold fish, budgies,hedgehogs, bantams and doves plus, this year the addition of pig manure, fingers crossed for a good season.

Rockvale Gardens are looking wonderful right now, come out for for a visit, open daily.

Cheers, Linda

Gardening in North Otago October 17th 2017

What a wonderful rain last Saturday afternoon and evening,  spring in North Otago is always so much better for a rain like that. 

Our Kanzan cherry trees are creating pink lawns and drive way here, so pretty and now the beautiful Shimadzu sakura low spreading pale pink flowering prunus are in full bloom. These are truly beautiful and deserve a spot in every garden big enough to cope with them. Lilac and lily of the valley are blooming here, both with their old fashioned perfume that evoke Childhood memories in me.

 " The smell of moist earth and lilacs hung in the air like wisp's of the past and hints of the future" Margaret Millar.

Removing weeds, lawn seed sowing and mowing has been keeping us pretty busy out here, warmer ground and weeds grow before your eyes, still time to pull out or hoe. From one smallish patch of garden I managed to fill a wheelbarrow with convolulous roots! previous years I have just pulled it out when spotted so I felt it was time to address the problem at the root level and found it was like the London underground all growing strong with the compost I had spread over the years. Convolulous is one weed that should not go into the compost until it has been left in the sun to completely dry out and become straw like. 

Roses are doing well now that the nights are milder, keep the food and deep root watering up to them as they bud up, foliar feeding on fresh new leaves works well now along with slow release fertiliser which ensures they are feed with each water. healthy well fed roses are less likely to become diseased.
Cut back Erica's, callunas that have flowered during winter, and aubrietia the purple rockery plant will give you another flowering if you do.

Cut spent flowers from hellebore's before they drop seed then get the full effect of their wonderful leaves

Polanthus have been wonderful over late Winter and early spring but now it's time to cut them back and shift to a shady spot. They can be planted in a sunny spot again early next Winter.

PLANT, PLANT, PLANT flower plants and seeds, fill gardens leaving no room for weeds.

Lawns:  Feed lawns when rain is about, with all the rain we have had over past months nutrients will have washed out. Powdered fertilisers need to be watered well in to stop burning during the heat of the day. 


Vegetables:
Pumpkin and squash plants are almost ready to plant, prepared area for them to ramble with a lot of compost and old stable manure dug in. The leaves will always let you know when they need water as they grow.

If you have a glass or tunnel house why not plant some peppers, they grow high so when their stems are strong enough bang in a stake and attach a string from the stake to the roof to support them as they grow up.

Fruit: Raspberry Kane's and strawberries are doing a lot of growing now, They both flower and fruit up really quickly as long as they get all day sun they will ripen fast.  Berries and new seasons peas are perfect for encouraging Children into the garden. 

Coddling moth traps now need to be in place in apple trees, some trees never attract the moth that will lay the eggs of the small grubs that eat through apples, but if a tree does you can be sure others will be chosen close by.

Eradication of codling moth, quarter fill a plastic milk container with treacle and hang in the tree to attract male grubs, the treacle is said to smell like the female codling moths pheromone which will attract the male grub into the container to reach a sticky end. A double bonus is that the treacle will attract grub eating birds.

Rhubarb: Keep manure enriched compost up, if the soil gets hard and dry around rhubarb it will grow stringy.

Herbs: are growing well now pick a few batches while fresh and to stop them going to seed, Drying herbs :Pick in the full heat of the day, lay out on news paper or bunch and hang in a dry airy place until crisp, (all moisture must be gone). Then rub together into sprinkle sized bits and store in brown paper bags or glass jars to use in the months when they are not available. 

Cheers, Linda.

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