The Star: March 19, 2020

THE BEGINNING of the
‘changeover’ from summer to
winter gardening has arrived.
Autumn brings regular rainfall
and a welcome reprieve from hot,
dry temperatures for many areas
around the country.
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Thursday March 19 2020 The Star
GARDENING 23
Change of seasons gives plants a reprieve
Vegetable gardens
Harvest your remaining
summer crops and remove any
plants that have finished cropping
and pop them in the compost
bin. Towards the end of the
month, winter vegetables can
be planted as either seedlings
or seeds and include; beetroot,
broccoli, brussels sprouts,
cabbage, cauliflower, carrots,
lettuce, onions, radish, silverbeet,
spinach, swedes and turnips.
Replenish the soil with much
needed nutrients by adding
compost. Mix well with existing
soil to a spade and a half depth.
Remember to rotate where you
will plant different vegetables
compared to last year, and stagger
plantings to provide continuous
harvesting throughout the season.
Protect your seedlings from snails
and slugs and keep watering if
there is a lack of rainfall.
Flower gardens
Sadly, most summer flowering
annuals that thrive in the hot
months are nearing the end of
their lives. As temperatures cool
towards the end of the month,
begin planting out winter annuals
like calendulas, nemesia, pansies,
snapdragons and wallflowers.
As with your vegetable garden,
prepare the soil well and make
sure there is enough drainage
for the coming wet, winter
conditions.
Cut back any flowering
perennials and plant any new
seedlings where desired.
March/April are the final
months for planting out bulbs.
Good preparation of soil is
critical as many bulbs will not be
disturbed for a number of years
so it’s worth giving them the best
start.
In general, bulbs thrive in an
open, sunny position where the
soil is well drained. Bulbs to
plant include anemones,
crocus, daffodils, freesias,
hyacinth, iris, lachenalias,
nerines, ranunculus, tulips and
watsonias. Remember to mark
where you plant them.
Fruit trees and berries
A number of pear and apple
varieties are ready for harvesting
this month, while the classic
golden queen peach ripens in
early march. Passionfruit are
turning purple now, indicating
they are ready for harvesting.
Pull them directly off the vine or
collect as they fall to the ground
when ripe. Mandarins, lemons
and oranges are now forming
on citrus trees so keep watering
consistently, mulch well and
continue feeding with citrus
fertiliser. Berry plants such as
CARE: Apply
lawn fertiliser
and dead
head roses
next week.
raspberries, can be safely pruned
this month.
Herb gardens
Herbs can start looking a
little tired this time of the year
and many begin flowering and
eventually ‘go to seed’. Cut back
plants regularly or plant new
specimens. Another option is to
harvest, dry and then store herbs
for use over the winter months.
It’s a simple process and is very
rewarding.
Rose gardens
Where roses have been well
cared for over the summer
months, you will be rewarded
with displays of blooms in March
and April, and varieties such
as iceberg will flower right into
winter. Begin applications of rose
fertilisers to rose bushes and dead
head flowers regularly. Mulch
with fresh compost.
Lawns
Even though we have had
just a small amount of rain,
work can now begin on
renovating existing lawns or
sowing a new one. Lawn fertiliser
can be safely applied this week –
make sure it is watered in well.
Regular mowing can begin again
to encourage strong, healthy grass
growth.
Shrubs and ornamentals
Add compost around all
existing shrubs and ornamentals.
Hold off purchasing new plants
until around May when new
season specimens start arriving at
garden centres.
GARDENING ADVICE
Q
Today’s winning question
came from Tracey-Lee.
Congratulations!
Can I sow new lawn seed just
after treating lawn for grass
grub? If not, how
long should I
wait?
A
WIN a Daltons Blooming Bulbs Pack!
A waiting period would only apply if
you have been using herbicide on
your lawn to control weed growth.
This would have an impact on
sowing a new lawn.
If you have been using insecticide to
control grass grub, then check the label for
any instructions or warnings that it would
affect lawn growth.
To ensure successful germination, it would
be better to wait until the weather cools and
autumn rains become more regular before
sowing a new lawn or repairing an existing one.
Products to try: Daltons Premium Lawn
Patching Gold, Premium Lawn Soil,
Premium Lawn Fertiliser.
Read our How to Grow Lawns Guide for more
advice: www.daltons.co.nz/how-to-guides
Top tips for growing successful bulbs include choosing healthy well sized bulbs and purchasing
them early in the season when there is a good selection. Sow varieties suited to your climate in
pots, planters or in the garden with Daltons Premium Bulb Mix.
Each pack is valued at over $85 and contains 2 x Daltons Premium Bulb Mix, a
Daltons Premium Bulb Fertiliser and a Daltons Organic Biofungicide Granules, plus
a pair of comfortable, versatile Red Back gardening gloves from Omni Products www.
omniproducts.co.nz.
$85
PRIZE
PACK!
Send us your
gardening question
to be in to win!
Email your question and
glove size to:
chchstar@daltons.co.nz
Entries must be received
by 25th March 2020