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SELWYN TIMES Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz<br />
Wednesday <strong>June</strong> <strong>10</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 19<br />
Gardening<br />
Don’t let that lockdown work disappear<br />
NOW IT’S officially winter, don’t<br />
abandon those lovely gardens that<br />
enjoyed your attention during<br />
lockdown.<br />
Keep reaping the benefits of<br />
your hard work through a few<br />
monthly tasks.<br />
This month’s jobs include pruning<br />
of pip, stone fruit and roses,<br />
harvesting of winter vegetables<br />
and planting new strawberry<br />
plants, shrubs and trees, as well as<br />
general maintenance.<br />
Vegetable patch<br />
Continue planting seedlings<br />
of vegetables that you want to<br />
harvest in late winter/early spring.<br />
Seeds of broad beans, onions,<br />
peas, radish and spinach can still<br />
be sown. Prepare the soil thoroughly<br />
with the addition of fresh<br />
compost before planting.<br />
<strong>June</strong> is the month for dividing<br />
old rhubarb plants and this<br />
should be done every three to<br />
four years. Plant new divisions<br />
600mm apart. Rhubarb thrives<br />
in a ‘rich’ soil ie fresh compost<br />
enriched with blood and bone.<br />
Winter flowering annuals<br />
Winter flowering annuals<br />
planted in autumn should be in in<br />
full flower. They include alyssum,<br />
calendulas, aurelia, nemesias,<br />
pansies, poppies, primulas, snapdragons,<br />
stock and sweet peas.<br />
Dead head finished flowers to<br />
encourage continuous blooming.<br />
Pruning fruit trees<br />
<strong>June</strong> is the main month for<br />
pruning existing fruit trees<br />
and purchasing new ones.<br />
Garden centres have the most<br />
comprehensive selection of new<br />
season fruit trees now. When<br />
pruning young pip and stone<br />
TASKS:<br />
Mass<br />
displays<br />
of winter<br />
annuals will<br />
brighten<br />
up your<br />
deck. Plant<br />
rhubarb this<br />
month.<br />
fruit trees, aim to create a strong<br />
structure that will support the<br />
weight of fruiting wood in future<br />
years. With older, mature fruit<br />
trees, remove inward growing<br />
branches, reduce the height<br />
of trees (for harvesting and<br />
maintenance) and remove any<br />
overgrown branches. Where there<br />
are signs of damage or disease,<br />
remove these branches.<br />
Pruning berry fruit<br />
All these berry fruit (raspberries,<br />
boysenberries, loganberries,<br />
gooseberries) are very vigorous<br />
growers requiring the removal of<br />
all old growth and some of the<br />
same seasons canes where they<br />
are not required. Tie new canes to<br />
the existing wires or framework.<br />
Be careful to remove any diseased<br />
plant material.<br />
Rose pruning commences<br />
Apart from the odd late flowering<br />
rose such as iceberg, most roses<br />
have now shed their leaves and<br />
can be pruned. Remove all dead<br />
or diseased wood, remember<br />
most rose bushes, even though<br />
quite healthy, will have some dead<br />
wood.<br />
Prune to outward facing buds<br />
and remove any wood that is<br />
thinner than pencil thickness. If<br />
some plants have a lot of dead/<br />
diseased wood, it is advisable<br />
to remove the specimens and<br />
replace with new rose bushes.<br />
With climbing roses, train the<br />
main leaders (growing up from<br />
ground) on a horizontal axis as<br />
this encourages the production<br />
of flowers. With all roses, a spray<br />
with copper compound after<br />
the completion of pruning helps<br />
minimise reinfection of fungal<br />
disease in spring.<br />
Ornamental trees and<br />
shrubs<br />
Garden centres have the best<br />
range of plants in <strong>June</strong> and July<br />
so an excellent time to buy.<br />
Always be fussy when selecting<br />
new plants. Ensure they are new,<br />
healthy, and not root-bound, and<br />
are the right plant for the position<br />
you are going to plant them<br />
in. Try to avoid overcrowding in<br />
your garden as trees and shrubs<br />
can often grow a lot bigger than<br />
what is written on the label.<br />
Container gardens<br />
Especially useful over the<br />
winter months for growing salad<br />
vegetables and herbs close to<br />
the kitchen. Mass displays of<br />
winter annuals in containers can<br />
brighten up winter decks and<br />
balconies. Always plant into fresh<br />
container mix that has sufficient<br />
nutrients for healthy, vigorous<br />
growth.<br />
Use your outdoor living areas<br />
all year round<br />
• Warm & dry in winter<br />
• UV protection for summer<br />
• Stylish & permanent<br />
• 5 year warranty<br />
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15 months<br />
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