One of Auckland's few independent Garden Centres

November

In July I wrote the following sentence!! “Though the days may still be a bit grim and cold, the “half full glass” people also say that Spring is “JUST AROUND THE CORNER!!”
Spring is here and this one happens still to be a bit grim, grey and cool and windy. As the days and soils warm however, we should finally get some growth in our vegetable and flower gardens and the gardening jobs will hopefully become a more pleasurable. See you soon. Kelvin

Whats New In Store…….

HYDRANGEAS

Huge pink, blue and white flowers (or combination of) make a statement in any garden. Remember pinks like lime and blue likes an acidic soil with white being neutral. For best flowering plant in different parts of the garden.

SUNPATIENS

NO SUNSCREEN REQUIRED!!

Now your tropical garden will be even more colourful!! Fantastic mass planted or in pots either side of the door and these New Guinea Impatiens will go in FULL SUN. Big range of Vibrant colours to choose from.

GARVINEA Gerberas

One of my new favourite plants. I never used to be able to keep a gerbera alive. Now I reckon these ones are hard to kill and they just seem to keep flowering all year and just get bigger an bigger.
Fantastic pot plants or used on mass in the garden with reds, oranges pinks and whites.

Whats To Do In Your Garden This Month…….

IN THE FLOWER GARDEN

  • Spray ROSES with Supershield to control insect pests and and fungal diseases through Spring and Summer. Add Aquaticus Garden Booster to increase plant and soil health. Feed with Yates Dynamic Lifter
  • Renew your tired pots with Summer colour for Christmas. Perennial petunias, lavenders, lobelias…. the list is huge
  • WATERING is very important. You may have to water some areas of your garden or some pots daily (or even more).

ON THE LAWN

  • New lawns can be sown now. Clear and flatten the area. Add a layer of Tui Soil Preparation before spreading seed then add another 5mm layer to cover before rolling (or getting your friends and family to lightly walk over). Keep regularly watered.
  • Mow regularly to about 3.5cm. Cutting lower only encourages weeds!!

IN THE ORCHARD

  • Feed with Burnets Fruit and Citrus.
  • Mulch Gardeners Choice Compost with Blood and Bone underneath or the coarser Daltons Mulch and Grow.
  • Mulch your strawberries with pea straw to keep fruit from rotting and remember to put bird netting over the top!!

IN THE VEGE PATCH

  • SLUGS AND SNAIL AND (no not puppy dogs tails) CATERPILLARS AND APHIDS…all come out to play now the weather warms up.
    Snail traps are a non toxic alternative to control slugs and snails (plus you can finish the opened bottle of beer). Pyrethrum spray is ideal for caterpillars and aphids and only has a one day with-holding period before harvest. Inspect your garden regularly to keep on top of the pest problems.
  • FEED your tomatoes regularly with a Burnetts Tom-a-rite and Jobes spikes. Side dress the rest of your vege garden with Yates Dynamic Lifter.
  • Maincrop potatoes can be planted now. Mound soil around the new growth to increase your harvest.
  • WATERING is essential. A pea straw MULCH is ideal to stop soils drying out.

EVERYWHERE ELSE

  • Check your irrigation system before its to late. Put in filters at the tap to stop nozzles clogging.
  • Mulch the whole garden so that your water bills won’t be too high, especially new plantings and hedges.
  • SWAN PLANTS should be started ASAP to get to a good size to support as many caterpillars as possible.

SWAN PLANTS

We currently have quite a few, though I have just read in the paper that there may be a national shortage so be in quik to ensure you have enough for your hungry caterpillars!!

LAVENDERS

Huge variety available at the moment from the edible “Lady” “Hidcote” and “Munstead” (flowers colour up a salad) to the “Ruffles” and “Leigh” series, and if you want to make your own oil, look for L. “Grosso”, though you may need quite a few!!