Easter Work in the Garden –
Trimming, Transplanting & Topping Up.....
Trimming: It’s a great time to trim, feed and mulch hedges, specimen bushes and topiaries of all shapes and sizes. Remember to leave a slightly fatter base on your hedge; this allows the lower branches some exposure to the sun to produce re-growth and avoids that bare “unfurnished” look you see at the base of some hedges. Clear away trimmed or diseased leaves from the plants after trimming and nourish the soil around by digging in some Living Earth Compost and slow release fertiliser. Lastly water well and layer Living Earth More than Mulch around the base to a depth of 100mm.
Transplanting: Current warm soil temperatures offer the best time to transplant shrubs and perennials without them going into shock and dying off. First prepare the new site by digging in Living Earth Compost, dig a large hole 1.5 times the depth of the root-ball and twice as wide. If the soil is quite dry, fill the hole with water. Trench around the plant, preferably taking a large ball of the roots with it, then lever it out and moisten well. Soaking in a bucket is ideal. Re-plant into the new hole, water well and layer with Living Earth More than Mulch as above. If the weather remains dry, water every few days.
Topping Up: The erosion of soil in garden beds and pots over summer can be a real problem. It exposes roots to the harsh sun and generally stresses plants. Top up your gardens with Living Earth Ultrasoil. It contains compost mixed with topsoil to blend perfectly with your existing garden soil. Raised vegetable beds and large planters can be filled with Living Earth Organic Vege Mix or Garden Mix.
Garden Diary
• Make a great leaf mulch for spring: Rake up fallen leaves from deciduous trees and place in large plastic garden bags with a little blood and bone. Store for six months or until well rotted, then spread around trees and shrubs.• Plant out a selection of winter annuals such as primulas, polyanthus and pansies. Dried Blood (ugh) is the best kept secret for wonderful flowering polys!
• Romantic Sweet Peas for spring – It’s the best time to sow sweet pea seeds. Compost the soil, add lime and sow directly into position.
• Scarify your lawns to get rid of thatch that is the dead blades of grass piling up on the lawns. This promotes growth over the autumn season. Motorised scarifiers can generally be hired from your local Garden Centre.
• Don’t cut back roses, salvias and perennial grasses now. Rose canes harden up and make strong branches for pruning in July. Salvias, grasses and other tall late flowering perennials offer some winter drama and are easily tidied at the end of July when new basal growth can be seen.
• Leafy greens such as silver beet, spinach and rocket can be sown directly now. A good winter lettuce variety is Merveille des Quatres Saisons from Kings’ Seeds. Also sow carrots, parsnips and broad beans.
• Plan your winter perennials: for a visual treat go to www.hellebores.co.nz and order some spectacular winter roses (hellebores).