PHOTO: HEATHER CARSTON
LA Nina has really put its foot down this season, as the protracted rainy season continues. We are now in the second month of summer, but it’s shaping up to be the wettest on record so far and no end in sight.
What does this mean for gardens?
Unfortunately, most of it is bad news.
The bedraggled flowering plants are struggling to attract bees and plants like roses, which don’t like as much moisture as they are getting, will be susceptible to rust and blackspot.
Spray when you can – and when it’s not wet – to try and alleviate this. You can use a copper fungicide spray for this, although in winter, it’s good to use a sulphur-based one.
While there are a number of sprays available, the mixture used for powdery mildew has also been found to be effective for reducing the spread of black spot.
If you make this, the ingredients are: 1 tablespoon of baking soda mixed in a gallon of water, with a bit of horticultural oil or liquid soap added to help it cling to the leaves.
Citrus trees, which need to have a good supply of oxygen to their root crown and ball to ensure there is no sudden die back of the entire tree also need to be treated.
Be aware of this – because it can kill off a healthy, fruit-laden tree in less than a week.
While you’d normally mulch around your trees to help retain moisture, in weather like this, you need to pull it away and allow the soil beneath access to the air.
Another point to remember is particularly with young trees, thinning the growing fruit is a good idea.
Trees put a lot of growth into fruit and if it has been a hard year like this summer is proving, then take off what isn’t necessary.
This will give you good sized fruit and not stress your tree too much. For veggie gardens, many will find their zucchinis are now full of powdery mildew and end blossom rot.
Cut back the leaves to allow more light into the vegetables and easier access for bees.
Tomatoes will be much the same and a good idea here is, once they begin to turn red, take them off the plant and allow them to ripen naturally on a window sill. Left on the plant, they can end up cracking because of excess water. Pull out unnecessary laterals – and hope for a bit more sunshine next month.
