Gardening in Waitaki May 31st 2023

Autumn in our Oamaru public gardens

As we slip into June the days are still milder here on the coast than they have been at this time of the year, nature is in charge of when winter starts and we need to take notice of changes as they occur to be one step ahead for plants that require protection. With warmth still in the soil any shrub or tree planted now will settle in and make good root growth until we get an intense ground freeze. Dry gardens need water kept up, when shrubs, trees and plants let us know by leaf droop and bark stress a good soak is needed while roots are still active. I have lost well grown maples due to dryness going into winter and results not showing until spring. Soak rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and hydrangeas as they are susceptible to dryness deep down. Top Ground moisture will be drawn out  during cold nights, if there are dry spots in your garden soak around roots in the morning and mulch to keep moisture there. Moist soil holds more heat than dry soil, so frost penetration will be deeper and soil temperatures colder for sandy or dry soils.  Compost: needs to be left alone now to do its magic for when needed around gardens in spring, plants are ready to use it then. Using precious compost now would be wasting it as winter weather will leach all the goodness out, it is important not to leave soil bare through the winter. Autumn leaf cover ( chopped up with the mower ) to stop the wind lifting them off, straw or summer cut back material laid over bare soil will work and can be removed to the compost heap in spring.  Winter colour: Plant polyanthus, pansies, primulas, snapdragons, wall flower and calandulas for colour, a few poly's in a pot is all that's needed to brighten up any doorway. Wisterias: Once wisterias have lost leaves prune off all long and unruly canes not required because if you don't they will entwine themselves around established branches and keep growing thicker each year. Lawns will be storing energy now for winter so mowing frequency should be decreased to allow growth. Before lawns slow down and become tufty  you could rent a core aerator to improve drainage during winter. Irrigate the lawn a couple of days before your aerate and after aerating the lawn fine soil can be spread over to fill in the holes.   Vegetables:  On the coast Sow broad beans, garlic, shallots and rhubarb. Colder areas nothing much can be planted without protection. Fruit tree pruning:  Apple Trees, after initial shaping of apple trees, the only pruning necessary is the removal of excess twiggy growth. Apple trees produce fruit on spurs, short stubby growths attached to main branches. They continue producing on the same spurs for a number of years. Pears and cherry fruit also grow on spurs and require similar treatment. Removal of all tall new growth will keep apple trees in good shape with fruit being produced at picking height. Peach & Nectarine Trees: These trees flower on new wood made the previous summer,  prune hard to encourage new growth otherwise, fruit will be produced further and further out on the branches each year. Flower buds are plump while growth buds are flatter. Plum trees produce fruit on the same spurs for several years. Once shape has been established, they require little pruning because excessive pruning can over stimulate tree growth at the expense of fruit. Remove vertical branching and water sprouts’ regularly. Look at a tree and it is easy to distinguish the water sprouts from the regular growth they grow straight up from the canopy branches and trunk and are thin and scraggly in appearance. A heavy hand when pruning may increase the number of water sprouts on the tree. When pruning plum trees in the winter only remove 20 percent of the growth from the previous year.

Cover bare soil during winter with whatever is at hand.

Gardening in Waitaki May 23rd 2023

Roses last flowering

Nearing the end of mellow May leads us into a new month bringing different gardening challenges with the start of winter chills. Leaf drop is coming to an end as trees and shrubs prepare for winter and frost will be playing a part in robbing soil of moisture so give rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and hydrangeas a good soak if they look dry. Also keep an eye on maples, if leaves shriveled too quickly during colour change it's an indication of root dryness.  Rose flowering is coming to an end but don't cut spent flower heads off, leave all types of roses to make seed which will harden wood before the big prune in July / August. New seasons bare rooted roses are on offer in Garden centers, if you want to plant roses, prepare ground by digging in old stable manure or bagged rose mix. Bare rooted, winter planted roses are less likely to suffer from planting stress than those planted during the growing season.  If replacing a rose you will need to remove most of the old soil that rose was growing in and fill with soil from another part of the garden to avoid the new rose contracting any disease left in the ground.  Re-pot container grown buxus  if they look pot bound.  Buxus  root growth is prolific and they don't seem to suffer from the removal of half a root ball, I replace the old growing medium with half potting mix and sifted soil. Winter colour in pots, plant polyanthus, pansies, primulas, snapdragons and wall flowers. The combination of  wall flowers and forget- me- not, work and both will fill out from now on and should be in full bloom towards the end of winter.  Lawns: The unusual autumn rain we have had has kept lawns green but growth should now be slowing down, however lawn mowers will still be on the go until the last of the leaves have been picked up. Next time it rains, sprinkle some lime over lawns for a boost before they stop growing. Gardeners in the past prefered to lime just before the first frost because the soil then has all winter to absorb the lime and lime was never spread on a dry wilted lawn or a soggy, wet lawn, nor did they lime during frosty weather. I like to follow the old, tried and tested ways that get results. Any sign of moss in a lawn in a sunny lawn is a sign that a lawn would benefit from sweetening with lime.  Vegetables:  On the coast Sow broad beans, garlic, shallots and rhubarb. Colder areas nothing much can be planted without protection. Fruit: Bare rooted fruit trees will be arriving in garden centers soon, ask now if they will be stocking required trees and have them put aside on arrival.Ground can be prepared now for planting fruit trees, choose an open, sunny position, sheltered from strong winds. Fruit trees will grow in a wide range of soil types as long as there is good drainage. Plums and pear rootstock tolerate heavier soils than most other fruit trees. Using good quality compost will improve water retention in lighter soils and improve drainage in heavier soils as well as improving fertility. Pruning fruit trees:  Pruning of newly planted fruit trees will not take place until trees have branched. During early stages of tree development, the main goal is to develop the shape and framework which will support heavy crops of fruit.   Pruning fruit trees can be a confusing subject, when explained with too much information people seem to glaze over, below I have tried to make it straight forward. Pruning of apple trees, the only pruning necessary is the removal of excess twiggy growth. I have found doing this pruning during winter will only stimulate wood growth causing much unwanted growth the following season, a summer pruning will cause the tree to grow less during that growing season.  Apple trees produce fruit on spurs, (short stubby growths attached to main branches). They continue producing on the same spurs for a number of years.  Pears and cherry fruit also grow on spurs and require similar treatment. Apricot: Prune apricot trees in late winter or early spring as the new leaves and flowers begin to open. During this period of time the tree is actively growing and the pruning cuts heal quickly. Newly planted apricots can be pruned soon after planting. Remove all damaged or broken shoots and limbs and all branches with a narrow crotch (those that grow up more than out) and all branches that are within 18 inches of the ground, Shorten last year’s main branches to about 30 inches. Peach and nectarine: These trees flower on new wood made the previous summer,  prune hard to encourage new growth otherwise, fruit will be produced further and further out on the branches each year. Flower buds are plump while growth buds are flatter.  Plum trees produce fruit on the same spurs for several years. Once shape has been established, they require little pruning because excessive pruning can over stimulate tree growth at the expense of fruit. Remove vertical branching and water sprouts regularly. Look at a tree and it is easy to distinguish the water sprouts from the regular growth they grow straight up from the canopy branches and trunk and are thin and scraggly in appearance. A heavy hand when pruning in winter will increase the number of water sprouts on the tree. When pruning plum trees in the winter only remove 20 percent of the growth from the previous year.  Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki May 17th 2023

Having experienced only a couple of frosts yet here on the coast this lovely, mellow time of the year is such a treat for us Gardeners who are outside and busy. Ready compost will be going on as autumn leaves and annual weeds are removed from gardens as Gardeners work to put gardens to bed for winter. Compost can be shoveled thickly over beds, but there will still be a lot of leaf drop to come before pea straw or forest floor covering can be spread. If you are planning to add a straw or other weed suppressant and the soil is dry a good watering beforehand will be needed if rain hasn't done it for you. Cleaning up garden areas that have been flowering all summer will leave gaps so why not visit garden centres to choose annuals on offer, plant and get them into bud while there is still enough warmth in the sun and soil to get roots going. They should continue to get enough winter sun to carry on and bloom here on the coast. Suggestions are, Viola, snapdragon, pansy, polyantha's, stock, calendula, wall flowers, sweet William and good old primula malacoides. Seeds of all mentioned above can be sown now and they will pop up very quickly to be pricked out, potted on into punnets and held over with frost cloth protection until spring ready for your garden, pots or hanging baskets. Dahlias: If your dahlias have been affected by frost , leave them to die back into tubers for a good while before cutting back. Removing the old leaves from hellebores as they are budding up for a winter display, a fortnightly liquid feed can be given now if you feel they need boosting. The underside of hellebore leaves are a chosen place for aphids to winter over. Further in land it would be advisable to leave some top growth on to give frost protection to clumps. Time is running out for the last hedge trim before winter really sets in, just a light tidy up trim leave hard cut backs until the end of spring when new growth has finished. Planting shrubs: If you want to plant evergreen shrubs other than conifers do it now or wait until the frosts are over. They will just sit once hard frosts start, it is only deciduous trees / shrubs and conifers that will cope with the really cold nights ahead. Lilies: I will mention this again, this is the main time to shift or divide overgrown clumps of lilies. Be careful not to break the fleshy scales and to retain all the basal roots. Don't pull the old stems away from the bulb as it leaves a hole where water can enter and cause rot, just cut old stems short and bend, never allow Lily bulbs to dry out while out of the ground. I plant lilies on a little river sand and cover with compost which has had blood and bone added. Gardening professionals suggest gardeners apply potash to their plants as winter starts, Potassium hardens up plant growth and helps prevent damage from winter chills, it also encourages fruiting. Vegetables and fruit Get garlic plots ready for planting out around the shortest day, garlic enjoy a rich fertile loam soil or a silty loam soil. Avoid planting in poor draining soil because cloves can rot if sitting in wet ground too long. Continue planting strawberry plants, raising the beds where drainage is suspect and adding manure rich compost to the beds. Start pruning pip fruit trees any time after the leaves have fallen, remove dead or damaged wood, crossing or inward turning branches, excess leaders or sucker growth developing on the main trunks. Shorten back vigorous leaders by about a 1/3 to promote branching rather than growing too tall for you to reach the fruit. Prune long side branches back to a weak twig to discourage further spread. Cheers, Linda

Putting the garden to bed.

Gardening in Waitaki 9th May 2023

How lovely the summer-like May days have been in the past week. A heap of work will be going on in gardens with compost going down, leaves racked and annual weeds being removed. If you have a good supply of compost, shovel it thickly around plants for worms to do the work of taking it down to spring hungry roots. If compost is not made at your place, bagged compost for small gardens and maybe a trailer or truck load from Pukeuri compost is an option. Contact: George 0272285108, pea straw on top really puts the garden to bed for winter. For orchards, establishing native blocks and rough garden areas the coarser mulch offered by the Waitaki resource recovery park is a perfect cover and weed suppressant. Contact: 03 4340999. Bearded Iris rhizomes and freesia bulbs will have pushed up, exposed to bake in autumn sun so compost and mulch should be kept off. Gardens tend to get carried away from time to time and outgrow the size allotted. I have planted large growing shrubs thinking at the time I could keep shaped to fit a space but Nature beat me every time, I got fed up with trying to keep them the right size, they were either dug out or dug up if manageable and given a ride in the wheelbarrow. New garden rooms can be created by shifting tall front plantings to the back which opens a space allowing room in the front to be edged and graveled or tiled for the placing of a seat or maybe a statue or large ornate pot. Don't hesitate in reducing the height and width of trees and shrubs if only to let more light on to lower growing plants, stopping leggy growth and encouraging optimum flowering. If shrubs have been wrenched to be shifted, height and width needs to be reduced to compensate for damaged roots. I continue to divide overgrown perennial clumps, some to fill gaps and some to pot up and grow on until strong roots develop before planting. Once plants have been sectioned and planted cover beds and around plants with compost which will encourage new root growth and help keep perennial beds warmer through the colder months. Lilies and Peony roses can be planted or shifted this month, be careful not to break the fleshy scales on Lily bulbs and new shoots on peony tubers. Fruit and Veg. Strawberries: Remove exhausted clumps, replace with a runner closest to the removed Mother plant. Raise the beds where drainage is suspect and add manure rich compost to beds. Raspberries: When fruiting is finished, cut the stems back by half, the new tip growth will bear fruit, cut two year old canes back to the ground. Apples: are still dripping from trees, best to pick for storing now before birds enjoy the lot. Leave pruning pip fruit until next month. Veg: Continue planting winter veg before soil gets too cold. Snow peas, Pak choi, Kale, broccoli, cauliflower and beetroot. Baby spinach and micro greens in a kitchen window container and picked often will supply needed greens over winter. This is the last month to sow carrot seed, onion sets ( in punnets already at bulb stage) achieve better results now than planting seeds. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki May 2nd 2023

Ranuculus grouped

Leaves, leaves, leaves so many on the ground and yet to fall, right now gardens will be on fire with yellow, red and orange displays . Most of the leaves turn into good compost but limit composting of oak or walnut leaves, they take too long to break down in heaps, you can burn them then add the ash to compost.The addition of hen manure while building autumn compost will aid in the heating process. Dried Blood is an easy way to replenish the nitrogen content in the soil for plants needing to perform through winter, Polyanthus, Primulas, Pansies and Cyclamen love it and will flourish when you add dried blood to their diet. Ranunculus and anemone will be on offer in Garden centers now, They are so worthwhile and a good investment because they multiply well and give vibrant or soft mid height colour to early spring gardens. Ranunculus and anemone corms look very dried up and brittle in the packet when bought, soak them overnight and they will become nice and plump before planting, plant at least five together in groups to get the best effect. With lilies becoming available for sale this month, established clumps can be lifted if necessary but do not disturb them unless they are very crowded or unsuitably sited. Be sure to keep lily bulbs moist while they are out of the ground, roots must never dry out. If lifting is not required, top dress lilies with a mixture of compost and blood and bone. (A cup full of blood and bone to each bucket of compost. Almost all lilies need to be planted as deep as three times the height of the bulb.The only exception to this deep planting is the Madonna lily which is planted just below the surface and prefers to be shifted in midsummer straight after flowering. This is also one of the few lilies which also prefers limey soil. Feed rhododendron and camellias with fertiliser mixed especially for them and water in to give a boost for spring flowering. Break up primula >and viola clumps, pot up or plant to fill gaps in front borders. On the coast, give evergreen hedges a last light tidy up during this month. further inland I would leave top growth as frost protection and trim after spring growth. Lawns are still putting on strong growth after autumn rain but they will slow growth down when frosts are frequent. One last boost with fertilizer needs to be done this month or not at all as fertilizer will be wasted when roots stop feeding. Vegetables / fruit I have broccoli, silver beet, spinach, cabbage, kale and parsley seeds up and potted into punnets. Seeds of beetroot, broad beans, onions, swedes and turnips can be sown directly into garden beds with soil still holding warmth. I am sure there will be wonderful pumpkin crops ripening on beautiful sunny Autumn days. I put another crop of runner beans in after the first sowing had finished and what a great crop of fresh beans I am now picking. Tomatoes, and corn will be coming to an end, if you still have them producing reduced moisture now will encourage ripening and stop new growth. Still plenty of apples, quince, late peaches and walnuts to pick and I see tamarillos are starting to make fruit. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki April 26th 2023

Autumn leaves are blowing around this week but gardens should still be holding green and should continue to do so a little longer if moisture is kept up. Summer potted annuals will be looking tired now but deadheading and foliar feeding will keep them flowering through autumn. Here on the coast we can still enjoy colour during winter if bedding plants are prepared now. The idea is to utilize the warmth from now on to encourage individually potted plants to bush, bud and harden for planting before frosts get heavy. Bedding plants that respond well to this method are pansy, viola, polyanthus wallflower, stock, calendula and primula malacoides. It is so worth taking the time to pot individual young seedlings into single pots for root development and become acclimatized to early winter conditions rather than buying plants that have been forced into flower. I place these pots on trays and store them in a cool shady place until frosts begin, then the trays are put in a sunny spot to bud up. Keep dahlia deadheading up to encourage a last vibrant show but leave roses to make seed heads now. Rust is always a problem on roses in autumn because all resistance will be going into seed heads and hardening wood. Strip affected leaves from bushes as well as those on the ground and burn them. Carnations can be layered now, pin the center of a stem down under the soil while still attached to the mother plant with the flower end still exposed, roots should form along the buried stem. Once rooted, cut from the mother plant and pot up to grow on before planting out in lime sweetened soil. This layering method can be applied to many herbs, plants and shrubs. Lawns.There should be a lot of new lawns being sown, don't worry about annual weeds appearing as the grass germinates most will disappear after the first mow. All lawn weed sprays are too strong for new grass. Birds are after grass grub in lawns now while the grubs are feeding on grass roots, you have until the end of May to deal with grass grub should they be a problem. Fruit: This is proving a good season for apples, quince, pears and walnuts. The more I read about the health benefits from eating walnuts I feel we should all have access to a tree or maybe good crop to think about for future generations. The east coast is said to be the preferred place for growing walnuts, they need a dry climate, with a high summer temperature and winter chilling (down to -10ºC). Walnuts are self-pollinating but the more trees you have, the better the pollination rate. Young walnut trees won’t be producing at economic levels until about Year 8. Vegetable Gardens will be ready to plant out new crops for the cooler seasons, root veg seeds will only germinate well while the ground is still warm. Corn and pumpkins should be ready to harvest now and tomato crops almost exhausted, water early in the day to ensure produce is dry going into the night. Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki April 18th 2023

More rain during this, usually known as the dry and settled time of the year and School holidays as well making it hard for Kids to be entertained outside.  Autumn colours are really happening now brightening dull days.  As all the vibrant leaf colours fade we are knee deep in leaves so much raking with the promise of mulch to go back to the garden in the form of compost and leaf mulch. Don't be too worried about raking every leaf from the garden when adding compost, leaves soon break down. However too many leaves left piled on gardens will be offering homes for garden pests to winter over while also creating a shield to stop rain soaking in. Snails and slugs will be searching for damp hidden places for winter protection from birds so plants like geraniums, hellebore, heuchera, hostas and low leafy perennials need to have the ground cleared around them. Gardeners will still be cutting back summer flowering perennials, piles of soft plant matter go onto the compost but the stringy hard wood trimmings are better shredded or put in a slow composting pile, the more we can put back on the garden the more the garden benefits. I am leaving hydrangeas alone to finish the wonderful autumn show they are offering right now, but have been taking some semi hardwood cuttings as I cannot get enough of these wonderful plants and it takes a few seasons for cuttings to grow into a good sized bush. Semi / hardwood  cuttings need to be taken from close to the base of the bush. Cut at a leaf junction, remove bottom leaves ( not too close to the stem) leaving a set of two leaves and the tip growth, remove the soft tip growth. Use a good nutrient free medium, I use river sand. Dip cuttings in rooting hormone to stimulate root growth then firm in and water, place in a shaded area over winter and Spring.  Still time for sowing seed under cover here on the coast and getting them to prick out size before the days become really cold and growing stops. Once they are pricked out into punnets or pots they will need to be nursed through until spring. Sowing seed now gives you a head start and the seedlings carried through are much stronger and will do better than the new punnets of seedlings offered in Garden centers come spring. Seeds to sow under cover: Antirrhinum (snapdragon), dianthus, pansy, viola, poppy, scabious, sweet William, polyanthus, primrose and primulas.  Seeds to sow straight into the garden now Alyssum, aquilegia, calendula, cornflower, lupins and sweet peas. Lift gladioli and clean corms, after drying dust with flowers of sulphur before storing in paper bags, never plastic.  Winter roses: will benefit from feeding now, take most shabby old leaves off because they harbour green fly over the cold months, but leave enough to protect the new growth then remove when the flowers come up.  Tall asters: Any one growing tall asters should have had them flowering for a while. If they are falling all over the place and need support you need to remember to trim back the new growth by half at the end of next September, this will make them grow bushier rather than tall, I must remember to remind you then. Asters exhaust the soil as the clumps get bigger so divide often when finished flowering.  Lawns are slowing down now, I have given mine a dressing of dolomite lime to keep them sweet over winter, lime takes a season to work down to do its job so if put on now the benefits will be had in spring. Lawn lime application corrects the PH balance in soil by neutralizing acidity and alkalinity. Fertilization of lawns causes the PH to become acidic, limestone will bring the Ph level back down to a natural balance. This has been the perfect Autumn for sowing a new lawn and rain to water. If you notice patches of established lawn browning off and the birds showing interest and scratching grass out, you will probably have grass grubs eating the grass roots, Grass grubs start hibernating in May so this month is the very last chance you will have to deal with them. Grass grub granules need to be watered in.  Vegetables: Watch pumpkins don't get frosted from now on, if they are big and sound hollow when you knock on them they can be picked (leaving the stout stalk attach), sit them in a sunny place to ripen more,  Anzac day is traditionally the time to plant broad beans, if you missed that day any time now is good. Cheers, Linda.