Ohakune's gardens judged

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 428, 17 March 1992, Page 13

Ohakune's gardens judged

Despite the vagaries of our climate, with summer one day and winter the next plus frosts in November, December and January, we have some beautiful gardens in this area thanks to the efforts of

some of our dedicated gardeners. This was clearly shown in the results of the Ohakune G arden Pride competition organised by the Ohakune Garden Circle. Two judges, Bev Kerr and

Pauline Murphy, nobly agreed to select the three best gardens in Ohakune 'as seen from the road'. To narrow the selection to just three gardens proved difficult and after much deliberation the choice was narrowed to five gardens. Elewyn Costello's beautiful garden in Clyde Street Ohakune took first place and was awarded the Garden Pride Cup to be held for one year. Each of the five finalists were awarded gift vouchers generously sponsored by the Ruapehu District Council. The four highly commended runners-up were: Bill and Janice Taylor of Miro Street (although Mrs Taylor tells me that all the credit is due to her husband. Kate Lourie; in Miro Street; Max and Angela Martin also in Miro Street; and

in Station Road, Koi and Pam Young took the honours. Congratulations to you all and our thanks to our two judges Bev and Pauline, to the Ohakune Garden Circle for organising the competition and to Ruapehu District Council for sponsoring the prizes of gift vouchers. March is now upon us and the great tidy up begins. Perermials which have finished flowering can be cut back to base and if the clumps have become too large can be split up and relocated as required. Annuals which have come to the end of their flowering can be removed and the ground dug over and enriched with compost or animal manure ready for the spring bulbs which are becoming available now, or the planting out of wallflower, stocks,

sweet William, calendula, bellis daisy, Iceland poppies, violas and pansies which will flower next season. Polyanthus and primrose can and should be split up if the clumps have grown too large or if they were not split up last year. Dig up the clumps and remove the rooted plantlets from the hard woody base beneath. Dig over and weed the ground and nourish the soil with well dried cow manure or sterilised sheep pellets and work in a little dried blood where the little plantlets are to be planted. Plant in groups of three or five to make a nice clump for flowering in the spring. By splitting them up in this manner it will encourage larger flowers and help to retain the individual colours on your polyanthus. Left

on the woody bases the plants will eventually revert to the natural creamy colour with several smaller heads of flower on the one stem. To encourage later flowers on the roses continue to dead head the plants. If heps are allowed to form the bushes will cease flowering, but if like me you love the brilliant colour of the heps in the autumn then leave the petals to fall and the heps to form. Don't feed your roses this late in the season as

this will encourage growth which will be too soft to withstand autumn frosts. Continue the spraying programme while the bushes are in full leaf and later on when the leaves fall and the plants go into their dormant period spray with a winter oil to prevent spores of fungus diseases from wintering over. Camellias, rhodos and azaleas, pieris, hydrangeas and all acid loving plants will benefit from a feed of a balanced acid plant food.