The Star: November 19, 2020

Thursday November 19 2020 The Star
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
GARDENING 45
CARE: Herbs thrive fully exposed to the sun. Hedges can be trimmed in November.
Now is the time to get busy in the garden
NOVEMBER HAS got to be one
of the most enjoyable months for
gardeners with prolific growth
everywhere, lashings of colour
and scents and plenty of tasks to
keep busy.
Houseplants
Continue houseplant fertiliser
applications throughout November.
Take note of water requirements
of the houseplants, as temperatures
rise so does the need
for increased watering. Flowering
chrysanthemums are now available
if you require a spectacular
display of flowers indoors.
Purchase them as their flowers
are just beginning to open. Check
plants regularly for any sign of insects
or fungal diseases, if caught
early these should not be a major
problem.
Vegetable garden
All summer vegetables should
be in active growth by now including
beans, beetroot, cabbage,
celery, corn, cucumber, courgettes,
lettuce, peas, pumpkin,
radish, spring onions, spinach,
tomatoes, silverbeet.
Ensure young, developing
plants are well-watered, but be
weary of overwatering. Continue
to remove laterals and tie up
tomato plants. Stagger plantings
to extend harvesting time. Apply
side dressings of vegetable fertiliser,
especially to those ‘grossfeeders’
e.g. sweet corn. Mulch
around plants with pea straw to
FRESH: All summer vegetables should now be in active
growth.
improve soil water retention and
help reduce infestations of weeds.
Summer flowering
annuals
Flowering annuals will now be
in vigorous growth and producing
early flowers. These include
Alyssum, ageratum, arctotis,
asters, cornflowers, cosmos, marigolds,
nemesias, phlox, portulacas,
and zinnias.
Water regularly, especially when
young seedlings are first planted.
Summer flowering annuals can
also be very successfully grown in
large pots or containers.
Herb garden
As with vegetables and flowering
annuals, all new season herbs
should be growing vigorously by
mid-November.
It is now safe to plant basil as
the chance of a very late frost is
highly unlikely. Herbs thrive in
a ‘fine’ well-drained soil, fully
exposed to all day sun.
Fruit trees
All fruit trees are in full
growth mode in November so
continue to apply side dressings
of fruit tree fertiliser to all
trees, especially newly planted
specimens.
Irrigate deeply, mulch to
reduce water loss suppress
weeds. As mulch breaks down it
will eventually improve the soil
around the fruit trees as well.
Strawberries
Strawberry plants should be
producing masses of ripe berries
in November and plants require
minimal care so more time for
eating them! Cover strawberry
beds with bed netting now as
somehow birds always seem to
find strawberry patches!
Roses
Another rewarding month for
rose growers in the home garden.
Many varieties are at their best
in November! Continue deadheading
finished flowers and apply
rose fertiliser every 4-6 weeks
until mid-December. Spread
compost around roses to encourage
healthy root growth.
Hedges
November is the perfect time
for the first new season’s trim of
hedges.
A ‘little and often’ technique
is recommended for maintaining
a dense, bushy hedge. This is
especially important with newly
planted hedges. Water deeply and
fertilise regularly to encourage
vigorous growth.
Lawns
November is the last ‘safe’
month to sow a new lawn or to
patch up areas of an existing lawn
before it becomes too hot and dry.
Lawn fertiliser can be applied to
encourage strong grass growth.
Water immediately after spreading
the fertiliser. Irrigate lawns
when required to help maintain
consistent grass growth.
Ornamental trees and
shrubs
Prune young trees to encourage
the development of a strong
framework that will later support
mature growth. Fertilise all plants
regularly with general garden
fertiliser.
Mulch to prevent water loss
over the hot summer months and
help keep weeds at bay.
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