Selwyn Times: February 01, 2023
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THE LEAD into summer may<br />
have been a bit gloomy but it<br />
did provide conditions that have<br />
given us lush, healthy roses with<br />
an abundance of flowers.<br />
There are several practical tasks<br />
to help maintain roses at their<br />
best – applying mulch around the<br />
base of the rose helps maintain<br />
moisture, protects the soil surface<br />
and reduces weed growth;<br />
watering well during the growing<br />
season, noting that roses shifted<br />
or recently planted may require<br />
more watering; and feeding roses<br />
with fertiliser by apply around<br />
the drip line a little and often,<br />
but only when the soil is moist.<br />
To encourage new growth and<br />
repeat flowering, remove or<br />
dead-head old flowers. This is<br />
simply achieved by removing<br />
the old flower or flowering<br />
stem by cutting back to the first<br />
complete leaf with five leaflets,<br />
or to any new actively growing<br />
side shoots. In roses that have<br />
multi-headed blooms, pinch out<br />
each individual flower as they age<br />
until the entire head has finished,<br />
then remove the stem.<br />
When selecting new roses<br />
look for good healthy bushes.<br />
Many newer varieties are bred<br />
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz<br />
to be more resistant to pests and<br />
diseases. The Dunedin Botanic<br />
Garden, neighbours’ gardens<br />
and membership of a local rose<br />
grower group are good places to<br />
observe and get advice as to what<br />
grows well locally.<br />
Pests and disease are always<br />
a possibility and there are any<br />
number of treatment options<br />
available. Good hygiene is one<br />
of the best management options,<br />
though, with dead-heading,<br />
cutting out damaged stems and<br />
removing old fallen flowers and<br />
rose leaf litter from the base of<br />
the bushes.<br />
GARDENING 31<br />
Everything is coming up roses<br />
ABOUT HALF of Canterbury<br />
households feed birds in their<br />
backyards – but are we feeding<br />
them the right kinds of food?<br />
Dr Margaret Stanley, a professor<br />
of ecology, says most of us<br />
feed birds with bread and seeds,<br />
which is unlikely to attract<br />
our native species who prefer<br />
sweeter treats.<br />
“We take what’s happening<br />
overseas and kind of plonk it on<br />
the New Zealand context, which<br />
doesn’t really work,” she says.<br />
“In the UK and in the US,<br />
places like that, they have a<br />
lot of species that eat seed and<br />
grain, what we call granivores,<br />
and in (Canterbury) our native<br />
Margaret<br />
Stanley<br />
species just don’t<br />
eat those things,<br />
we’ve got a lot of<br />
the honey-eaters<br />
– things that eat<br />
nectar and fruit.<br />
“So when we<br />
put out this seed<br />
and this grain and<br />
bread, then all we<br />
do is attract large numbers of<br />
sparrows and pigeons and things<br />
like that and it tends to push out<br />
our little native species.”<br />
To attract and support native<br />
birds like bellbirds and tui some<br />
people put out sugar water for<br />
them to feed on, which Stanley<br />
says can be helpful for the birds<br />
in winter, but at other times<br />
could prove a distraction.<br />
“There are some concerns<br />
about it, that perhaps there<br />
might be more disease if birds<br />
are hanging around feeders, perhaps<br />
they’re not spending that<br />
time pollinating native flowers<br />
and dispersing seeds and doing<br />
their job they should be.”<br />
She suggests that rather than<br />
feeding them all year round,<br />
save the sugar water for winter<br />
– but be sure to keep the<br />
feeder clean. Stanley’s research<br />
found that birds in gardens with<br />
feeders had about four-and-ahalf<br />
times more coccidia, an<br />
organism that causes severe<br />
DEAD-HEAD: To encourage new growth and repeat<br />
flowering remove old rose flowers now.<br />
How to attract native birds to your backyard<br />
Wednesday <strong>February</strong> 1 <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
digestive problems in birds. She<br />
recommends cleaning backyard<br />
feeders at least twice a week by<br />
scrubbing them with hot water.<br />
The type of feeder used can<br />
also help prevent the spread of<br />
disease. Stanley recommends<br />
a specialised feeder with holes<br />
designed for honey-eaters with<br />
long tongues, as it’s less likely<br />
that faeces will make it inside.<br />
Another way to support your<br />
neighbourhood bird population<br />
is to install a bird bath, particularly<br />
doing long dry summers<br />
where water sources are limited.<br />
“It’s definitely a great idea to<br />
have a water bath and often you<br />
can see some really good behavioural<br />
interaction and have that<br />
connection instead of the effort<br />
of putting out those feeders,”<br />
Stanley said.<br />
They also must be cleaned<br />
frequently. Feeders and<br />
birdbaths should also be kept<br />
away from trees, preferably on<br />
a tall post, to keep birds safe<br />
from predators like cats. While<br />
we tend to focus on flowers and<br />
fruit when thinking about food<br />
for birds, Stanley says insects<br />
are also an important protein<br />
source, particularly during<br />
breeding season. So consider<br />
planting some native plants that<br />
attract a lot of native insects,<br />
such as manuka. – RNZ<br />
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Garden<br />
In the<br />
with intelligro<br />
As the temperature<br />
rises, make sure<br />
you have a regular<br />
watering plan<br />
in place. Veggie<br />
seedlings can dry<br />
out quickly, and<br />
bolt to seed making<br />
them go to waste.<br />
Lawns will appreciate a good soak in the<br />
morning or evening to help them stay lush.<br />
Garden beds will benefit from applying a layer<br />
of organic compost, and then some mulch on<br />
top to conserve water.<br />
Now is great for planting<br />
these veggie seedlings<br />
• Beetroot • Beans<br />
• Carrots • Leek<br />
• Lettuce • Parsley<br />
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If you have planted the likes of basil,<br />
broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, peas and<br />
capsicum, keep an eye on these and<br />
harvest as soon as they are ready.<br />
If you leave them too<br />
long, you risk losing<br />
them to birds, pests<br />
or them spoiling on<br />
the plant.<br />
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