The constant gardener

On one of those crisp, cool, fine winter days, take an amble around your garden and get a lay of the land

- MARY LOVELL-SMITH Garden editor

Cooler weather makes staying indoors appealing, especially when the rains come. However, there is always plenty to do outside on finer days, and a host of small tasks that can get away from the incautious gardener. A daily walk around the garden keeps one in touch with what is going on, such as when the trees need to be sprayed, the fruit picked and the vines pruned.

CUT IT OUT

Prune apple, pear, peach and plum trees to encourage fruit production and make harvesting easier. Grapes and kiwifruit also need a prune asap as once temperatures rise, their sap begins to flow and bleeding will occur.

SPRAY IT

Fruit trees with leaf curl and bladder plum disease should be sprayed with copper at bud movement, which is when the buds begin to swell but before they open.

BEST PICKS

Kiwifruit, olives, tamarillos and early avocados will be becoming ready for picking over the next month or so.

Silver beet is best eaten over winter and early spring as it tends to go to seed once temperatures rise.

GROUND ZERO

Trees and shrubs may be planted in warmer districts. Ensure plants are well-hydrated before planting by submerging the root ball or pot in a bucket of water until the bubbles cease. Plant tulip bulbs as deep as twice their diameter, in a sunny spot in rich, well-drained soil. They hate wet feet.

Deciduous perennials, such as monarda, rudbeckia and asters may be ripe for rejuvenation with their tri-annual division.

As with all new and replantings, the working of compost into the soil first will give the newcomer a head start. Water in well.

TO THE FUTURE