A taste of frost has hit most gardens in Hamilton or Auckland by now with the garden in its 'bare’ phase before spring starts.
In the edible garden it’s about prepping for future growth with pruning of fruit trees and harvesting brassicas, silver beet etc.
In the ornamental garden, the opportunity to divide dormant plants to make more new plants is too good to miss and it is the best time to select and plant a deciduous magnolia.
For rose lovers pruning can begin, plus spraying to set them up for the flowering season.
Wrangling mud into perfect paths and parking spaces is easily achieved by laying sturdy JakMat Geocell Ground Stabilisation Mats that can be filled with colourful ornamental pebbles or stone chip.
The edible garden: What to grow this winter
Growing your own spuds – seed potatoes, as they are known, can be purchased online or in garden centres now. Remove their packaging and lay them on a tray in the garage or a covered area, out of direct sunlight. Within a month they will have sprouted 'ears' and can be planted in garden beds or special potato planter bags. (Did you know? treat heavy clay soil by planting a crop of potatoes to loosen up its texture).
It's hard to imagine many vegetable seeds can germinate right now, but a crop of peas can be sown, and I have radishes coming ready for coleslaw dishes, although they are growing slowly. Rocket is also worth sowing directly, as it's cold hardy.
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How to limit frost damage in your winter garden
Inexpensive frost cloth can help save the foliage of citrus trees, tamarillos, and passionfruit vines plus any other vulnerable fruiting plants that are out in the open. Only remove the cloth when the ice has thawed and dry the cloth on the clothesline before re-using
What to prune this winter
It's time to prune apples and pears. And light shaping for plums. The rule of removal: dead, diseased and damaged means trim back to healthy branching. Keep the centre of the tree open by taking out congested branches that cross over into each other. Spread Premium Compost around the base of the tree and mulch.
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What to harvest this winter in New Zealand
Its harvest time for broccoli, cabbage, cauli, silverbeet, carrots and spring onions. Cut a head of broccoli but leave the plant in the garden – small side shoots of broccoli continue to grow, to use like broccolini.
Key winter gardening tasks
It’s time to prune roses. The same methods apply for bush and standard types as for fruit trees above, most should be cut back by around a half. With climbing roses follow the rules as suggested, but the check the framework of the main canes (the ones creating the shape and being trained along the fence or climbing frame) and take out any weak or crossing over canes. Then shorten the branches coming off the canes – where the new flowers will be produced.
At this time, there’s no need for rose fertiliser, I like to spread compost, and some sheep pellets, and let Nature take them slowly out of their dormancy.
Spraying roses, fruit trees and other deciduous plants with a combination of copper and spraying oil is very beneficial in limiting scale, and fungal disease that can develop early in the season.
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Planting deciduous magnolias in winter
Deciduous Magnolias – breathtaking in their beauty! Smothered with white, soft pink, or plum-coloured flowers (there are even soft yellow varieties), magnolias that bloom on bare branches in mid to late winter are sheer garden joy.
To plant, dig a hole slightly deeper and wider than the pot. In a garden full of clay soil, I use two products to help the magnolia thrive: a generous layer of Gypsum on the base to break up clay, then some RootMate, which helps counteract root rot.
Next add a layer of Premium Garden Mix and some Tree and Shrub Fertiliser Tablets, in with the garden mix. Place the tree on top and fill the hole with a mixture of existing soil and garden mix, firming it in around the tree. Finish with a layer of mulch.
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Winter weeding and mulching
Weed, weed, weed! And mulch. Pulling flourishing weeds is easy in winter, while the soil is moist. Giving existing plants space to grow on as spring arrives sets them up for a great performance in the garden. Mulch the weeded areas to slow down the regrowth of weeds.
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Divide perennials to grow more this winter
Some of the summer garden stars die down, losing their foliage over winter. After a few years they can be divided into more plants for the garden. Dig up clumps of delphiniums, hostas, heleniums and hardy geraniums. Using a pruning saw cut through the mass, carefully diving into two to four pieces depending on the size making sure each division has roots attached. Replant into soil that has been enriched with Premium Garden Mix.
Repotting root cuttings
After several months, it’s time to check cuttings potted up in late summer and autumn. Look for roots protruding from the bottom of the pot or give a gentle tug at the cutting to see whether it stays firm in the mix. Gently pot up the cuttings with roots in Potting Mix or Premium Garden Mix and liquid feed with Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster.
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Winter flower fertiliser
An icky but excellent tip: Colourful polyanthus are excellent winter flowers to brighten the bare garden, in pots or garden beds. To ensure they do their best, regularly remove spent flowers and gently sprinkle a teaspoon of dried blood around each plant. They’ll love you for it...
Winter ground stabilisation
From mud to magnificent – JakMat Geocell Mats will turn an unsightly area into something functional and beautiful. We’ve been recommending NZ made JakMat for many years now, as a robust mat system to control muddy areas and those driveways and paths continue to perform. If you’re considering a project at your place watch the Jakmat installation video here. Our teams can help you with all aspects of your project, including choosing the decorative chip or pebbles to finish. We can also recommend installers if you’re not the DIY type.
