Season's jobs
With autumn comes a change to the colours of our gardens, but it’s also the perfect time to get stuck in. Avenues chats to Chris Smith, Southern Woods’ plant centre manager.
It’s now April; what should we be planting?
Autumn has definitely arrived now and marks the start of the planting season through to October. With the hope of much-needed rainfall, this period offers the best conditions for planting native shrubs, trees, ornamentals, and fruit trees. With milder temperatures and reduced water stress, plants get a chance to settle and establish their roots. Additionally, I find it’s a great time to select plants for their autumn foliage! The colour in Christchurch is stunning.
What else is good to do at this time of year?
Water in the morning to ensure plants are dry by nightfall. It’s also a good time to complete the last of the stone fruit pruning before winter. Plant blueberries, feijoas, lemons, and limes, and apply the last feed of citrus fertiliser. Hygiene is important around fruit trees, so pick up fruit that has dropped. It’s also timely to apply liquid copper fungicide on Camellia and Rhododendron to prevent thrips damage. Adding compost and mulch will keep the weeds at bay and prepare the garden beds for spring. Most perennials can be deadheaded now, although I would like to keep those with interesting seed heads.
How can we improve our soil at home?
Understanding your soil is everything. I would suggest getting a soil test. Once you have that, you can start to amend the soil to make it sing! Compost is very beneficial along with gypsum and can really aerate and feed the soil. It is particularly useful in clay or sandy soils. Post-planting, organic matter can be added to the soil by regular mulching with the likes of bark and wood chips. I find maintaining the mulch is one of the most valuable gardening jobs.
For those with small gardens/patios, what trees grow well in pots? Japanese maples like Acer palmatum ‘Tamukeyama’ are a good option. For fruit, try upright crab apples – Malus ‘Ballerina Maypole’ – or Prunus persica ‘Bonanza’, a natural dwarf peach tree with full-size, freestone orange-red fruit with sweet, yellow flesh. It is a winner for a small garden, potager, or patio pot. It is best with plenty of sun and summer moisture. A spray programme is recommended.
If someone is unsure where to start with their garden, what would you recommend?
Come visit us at Southern Woods. Walk through your neighbourhood to get ideas. Visit the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Visit Broadfield Gardens in Selwyn.
Is there a plant you’re loving at the moment?
Our native alpine Edelweiss. Leucogenes sp.
Anything else you want to leave readers with?
The best time to plant a tree is 30 years ago, and the second best time is today! If you don’t have great soil, build raised gardens!