March in the garden

March in the garden

Autumn is really here now, although last week it felt like winter. I have always said autumn is the best season for gardening, so let’s hope I am still right. I am having trouble countering my smart relatives in Auckland, who tell me every day there is sunny and balmy at 24 degrees!

Recently there have been a large number of pine trees felled near us in Onslow College. Now they are down, natives will be planted or regenerate in their place. As there are a lot of native trees in the area, already seedlings are starting to pop up. The natives come away surprisingly quickly once the trees are removed.  You may hear that little grows under pine trees due to the acidic needle mulch, but once cleared of pines, the soil is fertile enough for natives to grow. 

Some native trees and shrubs that do particularly well in situations like this in Wellington are:

Coprosma robusta, karamu

Cordyline australis, cabbage tree

Hebe stricta, hebe

Myoporum laetum, ngaio,

Talking of cabbage trees, I have had an interesting discussion with a number of horticulturists regarding the removal of the lower leaves or fronds of cabbage trees and tree ferns. Cabbage trees and tree ferns leave their dead leaves or fronds hanging down. This can look unsightly, and with cabbage trees, the leaves are the bane of every lawn mower. If you want to remove the dead leaves of cabbage trees, it is best to wait until they come away with a gentle tug. Don’t cut them off, as it can leave the trunk looking rough. If you are growing cabbage trees in tubs or pots, they can produce more dead leaves than if grown in soil, and the leaves look mottled. This is especially the case if they are too dry, so make sure they are well watered.

Tree ferns can produce a mass of hanging dead fronds, sometimes called a “skirt”. Cyathea medullaris, mamaku or black ponga can have the old fronds gently removed or cut back close to the trunk. Dicksonia species such as wheki, are best left with their skirt on. If you want a cleaner trunk, use the Cyathea species.

Both the tree ferns and cabbage trees are real features of our native flora, with their distinctive form. Cabbage trees are tolerant of strong winds, and can grow rapidly, but prefer adequate moisture. The tree ferns prefer moister and shadier conditions to start with. Like the cabbage trees they are best planted in groups. Once the tree ferns have grown up, you can under plant with shade-loving plants such as ground ferns and rhododendrons.   

If you want any further advice with your garden or planting, you can call me on 0274794195 or email me at info@wellingtongardens.co.nz