Mulch, Mulch, Mulch.
This month is all about preservation of plants that may stress over arguably New Zealand’s hottest month of the year. Pick a cooler day or early morning or evening to ‘groom’ around your plants by weeding and tidying things up. Water deeply at ground level after the heat of the day has finished, preferably out of direct sunlight. Layer on Living Earth More than Mulch at 100mm thickness around plants, taking care not to ‘bury’ trunks and stems. We are often asked about feeding plants at this time, but if your area is experiencing high temperatures there is a risk of fertilisers not washing through the soil and thus burning plants. However, a liquid fertiliser made up to half the recommended strength is good for boosting yellow leaved specimens or establishing young seedlings. Another exception is a light application of fertiliser to citrus trees as they seem to like plenty of nourishment over summer, but as their roots cover quite a surface area, use the liquid fertiliser as above or specific controlled release fertiliser like Burnet’s Gold Fruit & Citrus.
Garden Diary
• Spray citrus trees: when bushes are located in sheltered places they often attract scale and aphids
• Plant out leeks. Make a hole for the seedling with a thick pencil or the handle of a garden tool. Drop the leek into the hole. Successive waterings will fill with soil. Now can be a good time for sowing carrot and parsnip seed, for planting out as the weather cools. All three crops will benefit from planting into a garden bed that has had compost added to it.
• Make up a solution of 1 tsp baking soda to 1 litre water to spray edible crops developing the grey ‘furry’’ look on their leaves. It is powdery mildew and, if left to spread, will quickly inhibit crop production. Adding a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid helps the spray stick.
• Spraying the passion vine hoppers that are congregating everywhere in the garden can be hit and miss due to their quick reaction as the spray drifts close. Try garlic based deterrent sprays to protect your favourite plants.
• Water tomatoes regularly (or mulch thickly) over dry periods to prevent skins splitting during the ripening process.
• Cut off runners from strawberry plants to prolong fruiting season. All berry plants need good water supply during fruiting time.
• Deadhead agapanthus; go on join the eco-brigade, you’ve enjoyed the flowers, just don’t let them seed further around the place.