The Star: September 21, 2017

32
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday September 21 2017
Gardening
The Star
Stay ahead of what needs to be done
With spring upon
us, Rachel Vogan
says here’s what
you need to know
to stay ahead this
month
GARDENING IS therapy,
and now is the time to get
your green prescription
locked and loaded for the
growing season ahead.
The joys, rewards and
sense of self-satisfaction
provided by a dirty weekend
in the garden are numerous
– the wait is over, spring is
here.
Stretch your arms above
your head and get ready to
launch into action outdoors.
In the warmer regions,
where the soil is dry enough,
start planting out your
vegetable patches now, but if
you are in a cooler area and
the soil still squelches under
your boots, give it a few
more weeks.
Working and planting in
the soil when it is wet does
more harm that good, so
hold off.
DELICATE: Cover up young seedlings during cold
snaps.
Cold snaps
Just because it is spring, it doesn’t mean that Jack Frost
has moved on – in the wake of cold, wet periods, frosts
can lurk until November in some parts of the country.
Young seedlings can be protected from frost with small
cloches, plastic covers or by using frost cloth. If it feels
like a cold one, tuck your plants up for the night.
Vegetables
This month is all about preparation and
planting, so if your patch is still too wet,
get busy sowing the seeds of all your
tender crops like tomatoes, chillies,
eggplants, and cucumbers indoors. If
soil conditions are right, sow the first
rows of carrots, beetroot and radishes.
Hardy crops such as spring onions, celery,
broccoli, cabbage, bok choy, lettuce,
Plants for free
Lift and divide perennials this month,
especially the ones that have been
dormant under the ground for a few
months. Dividing plants is an easy way
to bulk up garden beds and fill any gaps.
Delphiniums, hostas, red hot pokers,
daylilies, lady’s mantle, heuchera and
dahlias can all be lifted and split up this
Roses, roses and more roses
As soon as the new growth starts to
appear, keep a close eye out for aphids and
greenfly, as these little sap-suckers will
spoil your blooms overnight by chewing
out the petals of the developing buds.
A rose spray programme helps prevent
Fruit trees
Have your planted out your new-season fruit
trees yet? The shops are still brimming with an
excellent selection of deciduous trees, berries
and currants, and many apples, peaches,
nectarines and apricots are now available on
dwarf rootstocks. This means the trees do not
grow as big as usual, but while the plant may
be petite, the fruit remains the same size. If
space is at a premium, grow your fruit trees in
larger grow bags or wine barrels, the portability
making them extra convenient should you need
to move them. If you don’t have any room, why
not offer to donate one to your local community
garden, where you can share the fruits of your
crops with other like-minded people.
Lawns
You will start to see a real flush of growth
this month, and as soon as this appears
you know it is time to weed and feed
your lawn. These combination sprays are
available everywhere, and the beauty of
them is that they kill the weeds whilst
fertilising the lawn. Don’t go overboard –
make sure to apply at the recommended
spinach and silver beet can all go in by the
punnet load. For potatoes, make sure you
get them sprouting as soon as possible
to ensure you have some to enjoy for the
Christmas holidays, and most of all, don’t
forget to feed your soil before you plant,
your crops will thank you for it. Slugs
and snails will be out in force, too, so arm
yourself with plenty of bait.
month, and maybe consider sharing
or trading some of your plants with
neighbours and other gardener friends.
This is a cheap and rather cheerful way
to add more plants to your garden, and
it’s amazing how often you think of that
friend when their plant comes into bloom
or appears each season.
major issues. New roses are aplenty
now in the shops. Fertilise existing
roses with rose fertiliser, which is
available everywhere from hardware
stores and supermarkets to garden
centres.
TASTY: Add a nectarine tree to
your garden.
date, and be mindful of the fact that
overuse can cause burn-off.
Prepare new lawn areas for sowing now
by spraying off the area and raking it level,
apply lawn fertiliser before sowing and
protecting the area afterwards so pets,
kids and cars do not accidentally park and
mark your new turf.
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