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There are many reasons that a plant may not thrive, or it may thrive then get sick. Plants, like people, have a variety of tastes and needs. Plant health factors Here are some things to consider when diagnosing plant problems.  The green vegetable bug (aka stinkbug) uses its needle-like mouthparts to feed on developing flowers, fruit and seeds. Position Is the plant in the right place and does it have the conditions it needs or avoid the conditions it can’t handle? Eg, sun, shade, soil type: clay, sandy, loam, damp, dry, wind. Food Is it getting the right mix of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphate, potassium and trace elements) for its needs? Nutrients Is the soil washing off in the rain and taking nutrients with it? Water Is the plant getting enough, or too much, water? Foes Are there visible pests? Eg insects, eggs, chewed leaves, silvering leaves, distorted growth. What about pathogens, viruses and bacteria? Mildews, rusts. blights, galls, dieback? Soil What is happening in the soil? Pests such as grass grubs, unhealthy bacteria etc. Underneath Do you know what is under the garden itself? If underneath is clay, compacted soil, concrete or rock-fill, plant roots may not be able to get the water and nutrients they need. There could be contaminated soil from long ago. See Repairing the soil for a good place to start revitalising your soil.
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We want to encourage a diverse kingdom of creatures in the soil.Many of the gardens we work in haven’t had attention for several years and the soil is dormant. We want to build a healthy underground soil kingdom. This is the soil food web - a complex community of microbes, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and more. These creatures all deliver benefits to the soil, the plants, and the people who eat those plants. How we restore the soil  Crimson clover adds nitrogen to the soil, feeds bees and looks good. To do this we need to boost and keep improving the soil. We do this continually as part of our gardening practice. The soil life helps fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and feeds other nutrients to the plants. Some ways to do this:
We work with what’s there rather than making radical changes. With some gentle input from us, nature will restore balance. Just as it took a while to deplete the soil, improving it isn’t a quick fix. It's part of regular gardening. Read Soil - the basis of garden health  A simple compost pile produces soil alive with worms and other essential creatures for the garden. The ideal garden is a healthy ecosystem where plants, insects, birds, microbes, lizards, ie nature, work together, as they did before people started interfering with the land. A key part of a healthy ecosystem is the essential life in the soil: the microorganisms, insects, fungi and a heap of creatures we can’t see. How the land gets damaged When land has been worked and planted to create a certain look or function, essential aspects are removed over the years resulting in soil which can’t function properly and goes dormant.
Many factors contribute to dormant soil. For example, cultivation, earth works, chemicals eg fertilisers, mono-culture planting and bare soil . Also maybe no organic matter has been added to replace nutrients the plants use. Some of these problems are unavoidable, but for others we can try different practices to get a result that works for us and our garden. See Repairing the soil At Wild about Weeds, use products that give nature a helping hand, such as effective microorganisms. This article from EMNZ explains how they can help and why they are so important.  Soil food web
The soil food web provides a delicate ecosystem for all of these organisms to survive and thrive. When in balance these soil organisms will:
If clients don't mind, we leave weeds onsite to let them to rot down as compost, smother existing weeds, and to save labour and costs in removing them. Anything we can do to improve the soil’s structure and microbe population is a win.  Woolsacks full of weeds for green waste at the tip. Here's how Here’s how you can reuse organic matter (anything that once grew) and save yourself effort and money. Learn to identify the pest, or invasive plants, (ideally when they are small) versus the less nasty weeds that will curl up and die without a fight. It’s fine to leave the less nasty weeds on top of garden beds or around plants to rot down to improve the soil, which helps hold water and nutrients on your land. A different approach is needed for the baddies, those that reproduce like crazy using a variety of cunning tricks. For these, you can:
More info To identify pest plants see Weedbusters. Pests in Wellington region and more general info see, Greater Wellington Regional Council Pest Plants.  Ivy is one of the most common pest plants we come across. It grows up trees and shrubs and smothers them. Birds eat the ripe berries and drop the seeds in the bush with a dollop of fertiliser. A before and after story Exploring the siteBehind the cottage is a large section going uphill to a flat space with a brazier. These photos are from my first visit. Hover over the pic to read caption. Start clearing and discoveringWe gathered our tools on site to start clearing and discovering what was coming through under the weeds. We piled the waste on site to make compost and improve the soil over time. There were so many pest plants that it wouldn't have made enough difference to take the considerable time to remove it all. Worst comes to the worst, we can weedspray the piles later. New plantsThen we got planting. Wharangi on the edges. Poa cita grass to hold the bank and for its feathery flower heads. Coprosma kirkii to cover the awkward corner and keep weeds down. Small muehlenbeckia complexa to reduce disturbance to the bank and to cover it. Perennials for colour and to enjoy. Dwarf toe toe to add continuity with existing ones.
The orchard has good success with the apple, pear, plum and feijoa varieties listed below. These are good options if you're planting fruit trees in Wellington.
Why not get involved with your local community garden. Lend a hand, share your knowledge and learn from others. All while enjoying some fresh kai and connecting with others.
Winter in the garden is just as busy as other seasons. There’s always something to do to keep plants healthy and weeds under control. For us, it's mainly about pruning and planting right now - and weeding, always weeding. This month we’re weeding then gathering any fallen leaves and using them as mulch in the garden. Also sowing cover crops in bare areas for all the great reasons mentioned in this blog post.  Gathered fallen leaves as mulch. When we trim the lavender, we put the trimmings on the garden too. It all helps the soil and consequently, the plants. Winter pruning On fruit trees we're pruning dead, damaged, diseased branches. Then pruning to have space between branches for air and pollination, to let the sun in for the fruit to ripen and keep the branches reachable for picking. These all help reduce pests and disease. We’re after strong healthy branches with lots of fruit spurs. Check out Kath Irvine’s helpful pruning videos. We’ve started pruning roses. Lopping off branches that cross and rub as these allow disease to enter the plant through the damaged area. Taking out some of the older branches to encourage new growth and pruning to an outward facing bud on healthy branches. After pruning, where there have been pest problems, we’re thoroughly spraying the tree with copper to deal with any overwintering pests. Otherwise we’re spraying the neem oil to deter those nasties. Grapes have also been getting pruned, trained and sprayed.  Espaliered pear at Brooklyn Community Orchard, Wellington. Planting
We’re planting shrubs and trees. Whether it’s natives for shelter and food for wildlife, or fruit trees and shrubs for homegrown goodies. Now’s the time to get them in. This is the best time to plant strawberries. Remember they will need protection from birds. We've been sowing seeds for green manure crops where there are garden beds not being used or areas where customers are deciding what to plant. Bare soil invites weeds to make themselves at home, and when it rains, valuable soil and water wash away taking nutrients with them. Benefits of covered soil There are many reasons to sow a green manure crop. To:
 Green manure seedlings (oats, lupin and peas). These were sown about three weeks ago and are already creating their own micro-environment. Before cover crops seed Cut them down or pull them out before they go to seed. Use the stems as mulch or dig it into the soil to rot down and release nutrients for the next crop and improve soil structure. What to sow Diversity is the way to go. Each plant has its own benefits, from attracting beneficial insects, to adding specific nutrients to the soil. Include your cover crop in your vege crop rotation plan. Ie don’t grow plants of the same family after each other. In winter, we have oats and legumes (nitrogen fixers) such as beans, lupins and various types of peas. There’s also winter-hardy salad crops, such as corn salad and miner’s salad (Claytonia). Experiment with what works in your area and with your soil. You’ve got a lot to gain and very little to lose.  Self seeding nasturtium covers the weed heap. This living mulch improves the view, is edible and can also lure cabbage butterfly from your brassicas. A to-the-point list of activities to prepare your garden for winter and the plants for spring. We're talking about pruning, feeding and general care. Plant, sow, reproduce covers planting. Remember Wild about Weeds can help you with any of these tasks. Prune and trim Prune shrubs that have finished flowering. Eg hebes, rosemary, manuka, grapes, hydrangeas, lavender, grevilleas, fuchsia. Many of these grow leggy and the lower leaves die. Pruning encourages new growth. Give hedges a final trim before winter. Remember to leave the bottom wider than the top to prevent bottom branches dying off. Cut perennials, eg herbs, back to encourage new growth. Poke a few short cuttings in the soil to grow new ones. Feed your hard working plants Spread a quality general organic fertiliser around plants’ dripline as per packet instructions. Water it in before mulching. No need to fertilise plants that don’t like fertiliser. Eg proteas, leucadendron. Give them some love Spray plants with neem or other organic pesticide. For deciduous plants after leaves drop is a good time to fully spray plants to deal to any overwintering fungi and other pests lurking in nooks and crannies. Mulch or compost plants inc shrubs and trees. This will reduce weeds, improve soil structure and break down into nutrients for the plants. Sow green manure seeds in bare areas. Don’t waste fallen leaves and prunings. If they’re not diseased use as mulch or put them in your compost. It's all goodness for the soil. Keep weeding. If you don’t have much time, at least remove flowers and seed heads to reduce spread. Cooler wet weather brings slugs and snails to deal with. With more rain and less heat, but enough to keep the garden happy, autumn is a great time to plant, sow seeds , take cuttings or split perennials. If you have a wood burner or a firepit, you could plant trees to coppice and supplement your delivered firewood. Otherwise plant trees and shrubs for shelter, privacy, to bring wildlife into your garden. If you’re after spring flowering bulbs, get them in now. We’re talking anemones, bluebells daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, snowdrops.  Plant hebes and ake ake for their many benefits. Sow seeds Sow seeds for winter flowers, such as calendula, pansies, wallflowers, cornflowers. Primulas, polyanthus, cineraria will flower in shade if you have a spot for them. Sow direct until May: cosmos, cornflower, nigella, poppies, sunflowers and sweetpeas. For sweetpeas, chill seed first to give germination a head start. Once growing, pinch heads off to encourage strong side shoots. For fresh winter veges sow broccoli, broad beans, cabbage, cauliflower, peas. Or give microgreens a go if you’re short of space and not so patient.  Sow seeds for your winter greens and more. Free plants Propagate woody cuttings like berries, grapes, hydrangeas, currants and roses. See Grow your own free plants For free plants, divide your perennials such as grasses, irises, sorrel, day lilies, hellebores, hostas, heucheras, achillea. Get more bang for your buck and a better show by grouping them.  Autumn is a good time to strike lavender and other cuttings. Cover bare areas
Finally, if you have any bare areas, sow green mulch such as Kings Green Mulch mix. This helps reduce weeds, then you chop it down before it seeds and use it for mulch. Win-win. Thought I'd share some photos of plants and flowers in my garden this autumn. Flowers I didn't think there was much colour until I looked properly and saw the flowers blooming. Hover over image for caption. Native shrubs Autumn is the best time to take plant cuttings and grow some more This works for many plants you’re likely to have, eg fuchsias, hebes, hydrangeas, lavender, rosemary, succulents. My method is a bit of a shortcut as I put cuttings straight in the ground and leave it to mother nature. Here's what I do:
 Pelargonium cutting showing nodes
My house backs on to a large sports park that slopes down to the road below. The large area between the road and the playing field is wildlands. Lots of rubbish. Lots of pest plants. Some natives. Just through my back gate are several pine trees from which I gather cones and firewood. Natives coming through As for native plants, are self seeded pseudopanax, Coprosma robusta and repens, renga renga (probably from nearby gardens). The baddies Of course there are way more pest plants than natives. I pull out the small ones, if they're too big I break the tops off so they don't seed or spread seed as far. The menu comprises bear's breeches/Acanthus mollis, German ivy ( I saw only one plant), ivy, prunus, cotoneaster, broom/Cytisus scoparius and some Norfolk Island pines. Weedbusters has info on how to control pest pants. Mulch
Such a pity I can't use the abundant pine needles for mulch or compost in my garden. There's tradescantia and many other weeds among them and I daren't risk them taking a liking to my garden. While I'm scrambling around, I lay branches horizontally between trees to create a bit of a shelf. Over time, this reduces soil and water running down the hill and creates a shelf for seeds to settle and grow. On my walk up my street this afternoon, every other verge had agapanthus, Agapanthus praecox, growing healthily. Definitely the predominant species round these parts. Why it's a pest plant It seeds prolifically, spreads seeds effectively which germinate densely. Fragments of the roots easily regrow. Plants live a long time and can handle a wide range of conditions and soil types.
Wherever it grows, it forms solid clumps. I've seen layers and layers grow on top of each other. It bullies all other plants out and takes over. For information on getting rid of agapanthus see Weedbusters, First day beating the feet during the rahui to save lives and eliminate Covid-19. I explored part of Sinclair Park, discovering natives and exotic weeds mixed together. And a lovely wildness in the margins. Some of the natives Hover over the photo for more information. Some of the pest plants I spotted are below. Life in the margins A small garden clean up entails weeding, pruning and trimming. Also, prioritising plants that need more space and light and pruning accordingly. We can also attend to plant pests and start improving the soil. Below is an example of one job. Second visit to continue work January 2020. First visit to start work July 2019. Photos from the initial visit 24 June 2019 below. January 2020Our approach to a small garden with a lot of invasive weeds. Before we started work Oct 2019Small garden beds back on to a wild area. We want it to look tidy for as long as possible but some of these weeds are pretty aggressive. Hover over the images for information. During and after our workComfrey has many benefits. Get the sterile one, Symphytum Officinale (common comfrey), which is propagated by the root, not seeds. The tap root goes deep into the soil to bring up the nutrients for nearby plants. Plant it under your fruit trees with a wild flower mix that attracts beneficial insects. You can also soak the leaves in water for a health tonic for your plants. The plants below are going in a client's orchard this week.  Comfrey's taproot goes deep into the soil bringing nutrients to nearby plants and improving the soil. When it does off over winter,, you can use the leaves as a plant mulch. It's especially good under fruit trees A small garden in a sunny spot that we keep looking its best by propagating and letting desired plants self-seed making it very cost-effective. See the progress below. Hover over photos for information. Here's the garden in spring 2019. 22 November 2018 What a joy to add more to this sunny garden. See previous photos in our Facebook gallery. The album below is from October 2017, just after we started gardening here. You can see how much the plants have grown in the photos above. |
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