Garden Advice › Garden Tips of the Month
Garden Tips May 2016
What to do in May for the Auckland gardener…the weather's got an autumn chill, but there is growth in some areas of the garden
Do's
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Vegetables - still warm enough to plant out seedlings - just make sure they will get plenty of winter sun on them to get optimum growth
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Thin carrots, anchor broad beans, sow mesclun which is cold hardy. Plant radishes and cabbage seedlings for a good supply of coleslaw through the winter.
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Do the outdoor housework - clean up leaves from the lawn and pathways - the leaves of deciduous trees break down easily in home compost heaps
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'Comb' ornamental grasses - that's right - take a garden fork and gently pull it through the clumps of grass as though combing hair. It removes dead, dry strands and spent flower heads, leaving the plants looking fresh and healthy and creating structural focal points in the garden in winter
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Refresh pots with seasonal colour for winter -suitable plants include primula, cyclamen pansies and polyanthus - throw a few spring flowering bulbs into the pots as well to add variety and extend the flowering season
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Take photos - this allows you to see the structure of your garden before leaves are gone and it becomes quite bare. Helps you plan your planting for next season
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Perfect time to divide clumps of perennials such as hostas, delphiniums and penstemons and plant out. Some plants have seeded themselves and, if desired, these can be repositioned where you want them in your garden
Don'ts
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It's not time for trimming back the tall autumnal perennials, the late flowers are pretty to look at and a source of nectar for breeding birds. They can be trimmed back at the end of winter to expose fresh new foliage.
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Resist pruning roses and hydrangeas. The conventional wisdom is that goodness in the branches and canes travels back down to the roots for storage. Pruned shrubs take this as a signal to begin new growth, which will shrivel and die on the cold of winter. Hence pruning should be done at the end of winter.
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Don't let the 'garden thugs' take over - plants that add foliage interest or grow in difficult soils need a good 'clip because unchecked, they strangle other desirable trees and shrubs. The list includes ivy, acanthus, agapanthus and some of the creeping succulents.
Lawn Care:
With your autumn renovation done and winter just around the corner it is time to get your lawn strong and healthy before the cold weather sets in. Fertilise with Prolawn Garden Supreme to give your lawn a helping hand to battle the winter conditions. By applying Garden Supreme you will be strengthening your lawn to protect it against the cold and wet weather.
Make sure your mower has sharp blades to get the best appearance you can when grasses are under stress. Although growth starts to slow at this time of year it still pays to be vigilant and try to mow your lawn at least once a week.
Garden Thought of the Month:
"The gardening season officially begins on January 1st, and ends on December 31st." Marie Huston
