MAY TIPS

In the May garden we have had some welcome rain and with more predicted we can plan and plant with more confidence.

In the vegetable garden prepare some beds for Spring. Sow a green manure crop such as broad beans, wheat, barley or lupins This can be slashed and dug in early in the Spring and planting can commence a few weeks later. Soil fertility and humus are improved giving increased crop yields and better water holding capacity.

Plant broad beans, spring onion, spinach and garlic cloves. Seedlings such as broccoli, cauliflower, beetroot and lettuce can still be planted. Be sure to keep vegetables growing strongly with a fortnightly dose of liquid fertiliser. Keep weeds pulled, as they compete with your plants for nutrients, throw them in the compost, unless they are garden thugs like Oxalis and other perennial weeds.

Growing Garlic:
Dig in some well rotted manure or compost, prior to planting in well drained soil in a sunny position. The bulbs will be ready to harvest in Summer as soon as the leaves start to turn yellow. Hang the plants in a dry airy place, (garden shed or verandah) and you will have the basis for many delicious meals.

Growing Strawberries:
Choose a sunny position, as although the plant will grow happily in the shade it needs sun to produce berries. Dig in some compost and manure prior to planting in a well drained position. Give the soil a dressing of complete fertiliser,(half a cup to sq. mt.) Strawberries can be planted from May to October however runners planted now will be well established before Spring. Be sure to buy new season certified virus free plants. Discard any plants in your garden which are more than three years old as they will not fruit well. Mulch well when fruiting to keep the berries clean. Pine needles make an excellent mulch for strawberries as they acidify the soil.

The Ornamental Garden:
In the ornamental garden May is the deadline for planting any bulbs you have purchased, liquid feed when foliage appears to keep them growing well.
Plant seedlings of foxglove, pansy, alyssum, poppy, cornflower and primula.
Plant hardy perennials too: grasses, kniphofias, agapanthus, lavender and gaura.

Prepare the soil for rose planting now, dig in some compost and dynamic lifter and allow a few weeks before planting. Roses have performed well despite the lack of rain, flowers have been a little smaller than usual however they have proven what hardy plants they are. Remember when planting, that roses do not do well where roses have been grown previously, the reasons for this are not clear and it is usually termed “rose sickness.” If you must do so, be sure to remove the soil and replace with fresh soil and compost before planting.Rake up and burn or discard fallen rose leaves as they carry disease spores which will infect new growth in Spring.

Correas: these tough and undemanding native plants, deserve a place in every garden.
A long flowering period gives both you and our native birds time to appreciate the delicate flowers which vary through reds, dusky pinks and white. Try C. reflexa, C. Dusky Bells, C.Alba, or C.Alba var.pannosa which has pale pink flowers.
Grevilleas: G. Coconut Ice and G Superb are definitely worth consideration, good drainage and  a light trim after flowering will keep them performing well for most of the year. G. Superb is a showy cultivar with deeply lobed leaves and clusters of deep pink and pinkish-yellow flowers produced throughout most of the year.
Callistemon: Little John is a very attractive dwarf (80cm) with red flowers.

Deciduous trees:
Deciduous trees to consider are the Crabapples (Malus) which have performed well during the drought and the Manchurian Pear also a good performer.
Mulberry Hicks Fancy is a good variety which has a longer fruiting period than Black English.
Good soil preparation with plenty of humus rich compost several weeks before planting, will help to establish your deciduous trees. This is particularly important with species such as Birch and Maple and also ensures a good start for newly planted  fruit trees  Follow this with a deep mulch in Spring  and Summer.

Enjoy the rain...and happy gardening