Pathways to Eden
In horrible weather there’s nothing worse while getting dinner supplies than getting bogged down in the vegetable garden because of poor paths. Paths define a garden space while creating essential access to our Garden of Eden. They can be both functional and aesthetic, formal or meandering. Either way it’s worth taking time to assess, design and prepare the path that suits your needs. Here are a few different path options for all styles and budgets:
Soft paths:
Grass: Nice continuation from the main lawn. Mowing provides ongoing grass mulch. Easy to establish, but requires regular maintenance.
Herbs: Chamomile, thyme and pennyroyal are all suitable for paths. A challenge to establish and maintain weed-free.
No more lawns: Low perennial groundcovers available at Nelson Saturday market at some cost provide interesting textured living paths. Also tricky to keep weed-free.
Soil path: By far the cheapest, but muddy at times! Good to establish first before settling on a permanent path option. Easy to weed.
Mulched paths:
Sawdust and wood shavings: Creates soft texture and contrast with garden at low cost. Put newspaper or cardboard down first for greater weed control and cover with 10 cm sawdust. Can be recycled after year or so into fruit orchard or ornamental areas.
Crushed bark: Rougher texture but durable and relatively inexpensive.
Straw: Cheap option that’s easily recycled. It does attract slugs and snails.
Weed mat: Less attractive than other mulches and more expensive. Can add warmth to the garden.
Hard paths:
Gravel and crushed rock (pB metal): Hard texture but nice aesthetics and very durable. Best over weed mat. Some weed control required.
Bricks and paving stones: Durable and attractive. Best with firm sand base. Weed control required or weed mat can be laid underneath. You can add herbs in gaps, or concrete gaps for a weed-free finish.
Concrete: Standard concrete, or coloured and textured to suit your preference. Creates a very durable clean finish with low maintenance, but high initial cost.
Fruit care:
· Harvest kiwifruit, pepinos and tamarillos.
· Plant fruit trees, eg plums. Plant in sizeable hole with compost and ensure good drainage. Firm well and stake.
· Spray stonefruit and pipfruit with cutonic copper vs bacterial diseases once leaves fall, or liquid seaweed as a tonic.
· Prune fruit trees; avoid big cuts in winter.
· Complete pruning of berry fruits.
· Re/plant strawberry patch.
· Clear grass and other weeds away from fruits and remulch with woody compost.
· Plant perennial herbs and flowers around the orchard to attract beneficial insects.
· Apply fertilisers to fruits, eg rock phosphate, lime, boron and wood ash.
Herb Care:
· Put cuttings of rosemary, sage and other semi-woody herbs into coarse sand under cover.
Vegetable Care:
· Protect sensitive crops from frost with a cloche of mikroclima or plastic.
· Prepare ground for garlic, onions and shallots.
· Plant winter crops now, eg garlic, cabbage, broad beans and corn salad. Plant winter/spring salads under cover or in containers in a warm spot.
· Liquid fertilise in the morning once a week. Avoid using cold well water.
· Weed and mulch (eg seagrass around broad beans). Good time to fork out couch and dreaded oxalis.
· Mulch vacant areas with either compost and straw or black plastic for spring.
· Tend asparagus beds with lots of compost and straw.
· Hothouse: Plant salads.
· Save seed: Process, clean and freeze seed for a week, then store.
Sow for transplanting: All seeds 6th June. Leafy greens (winter spinach, lettuce, endive, cabbages, spinach beet, Chinese cabbage and onions). Flowers, eg sweet pea.
Sow direct: All seeds 6th June. Turnip and swede (warm areas), radish, spring onions, salads, spinach, broad beans and late peas. Flowers, eg stock.
Plant: Garlic, salad greens, spinach, cabbages, silverbeet/rainbow chard, spinach beet. Flowers, eg divided perennials.
General Garden Care:
· Turn composts.
· Collect leaves into compost ring.
· Prune back flowering plants and hedges. Shred prunings.
· Remove overcrowded trees and shrubs.
· Prune trees for greater sun on edible garden.
· Wrench trees and shrubs for moving in two to three weeks.
· Transplant perennials.
· Weed, add compost and mulch ornamental areas.
· Mow lawns without the catcher.
Sol Morgan, GroWise Consultancy. Ph 525 9110.
