Our weekly email news letter. Sign up here to get them delivered straight to your email in box. See below for previous issues...

Please note that product availability and prices may have changed from when this newsletter was sent. Please check this site or phone us for current availability and pricing.

Friday 1st September, 2023

Hi
We often get asked about trees and plants in the nursery or occasionally on social media and it can be quite difficult to sometimes give a complete / best answer off the cuff or even in a few sentences. Whilst we are not landscape designers as such  (to scale drawings etc) we usually can assist with an answer regarding our plants. Here is an example of a question from Facebook the other day that I thought might be of interest to all.
Hi all, please help!!! I am after recommendations for a tree to go in the middle of a driveway island. 
Photo's are of said driveway. Note: island shape may change slightly i.e. into more of a teardrop shape to follow the actual vehicle path & potentially raised/rounded slightly.
My revolving thoughts: simple - plain grass island, ideally evergreen to provide some screening from the road all year round. Size estimate: 3m tall max.  Not completely allergic to a shrub or shrub-like suggestion but heart is set on a tree I think. 
Conditions: exposed, full sun, free draining, southern side of house (photos taken 9am Aug-23 after frost)     Many many thanks!
There is quite a lot going on in this question and I didn't quite get it right in the fact that the person asking was, perhaps, after an evergreen tree or shrub and, for me, I generally like deciduous, feature trees in these kinds of spots. 
I am of the opinion that there is way more choice in deciduous trees in terms of shape and form. They also let the light through in the winter which could be an important consideration. The leaves of many evergreen trees are constantly dropping and are usually more robust in the fact they don't decompose readily. Compare that to deciduous trees that drop their leaves just once a year and hence one main cleanup if their leaf type doesn't break down so readily.
If one decides upon an evergreen shrub type tree of which Michelias (type of magnolia) tend to be, then in a driveway situation, you would have to ensure that the plant didn't get too wide as to impede vehicles using the roundabout if the garden area isn't particularly large. This would satisfy the screening from the road all year but choose the smaller growing ones that have a mature height of around 3 metres.

 
Magnolia Grandiflora and another cultivar like Little Gem both could be great evergreen choices that are more tree-like. Little gem is the smaller growing option of around, approx. 3 metres after 10 years  but my ones here after 20 years would now be 6 metres, but of course you could trim. That's the thing, trees and plants don't just stop growing and their height is dependent on age nutrition, environment and general well being.

 
My personal choice would be an upright or rounded specimen tree,  but of course, you will be able to see through and underneath. One would need to crown lift or remove the lower branches to ensure the ability of vehicles to drive around underneath as the specimen starts to age. 

 
It's a great landscape look with a single feature tree with lawn underneath or alternatively, mass planted with something like liriopes or dwarf agapanthus which will give a grassy illusion. Of course, there are many ground covers or other options that could mass the area... Like winter roses, ground cover coprosmas, lomandras and so on. Personal choice here but in a smaller space I would choose just one and mass it out... usually the most dramatic effect.  

  Types of deciduous trees, well there are lots... Flowering cherries like Awanui don't get too huge in the scheme of things (but bigger than 3 metres) and have an umbrella shape form that will allow you to drive under blossoms in spring and autumn colour. Elms are bigger growing trees  with great form of which the golden elm ( Ulmus louie van houte or lutescens) is a popular choice. The variegated Elm, Carpinifolia Variegata  grows into a really handsome larger tree, has  frosted white and green leaves and with a lacy form. Ulmus Horizontalis is quite structural with its horizontal layered form. Check out other smaller growing trees like Crabapples, Cornus Dogwoods , Cercis and even some of the Magnolias.
 

 
 
Many are attracted to weeping forms of trees and unless you have enough space to accommodate these, their weeping habit will get in the way of the driveway though once they get some age this changes. The downside is that you will always have to trim the hanging branches as that is what weeping trees do, grow down, and only augment in height by growing up and over.
Then many like the look of a mass planting of silver birches (Betula jacquemontii) with their white trunks and another shade plant to mass underneath, again perhaps liriope. Mass planting could mean 3, 5, 7 or more depending on the size of the central island.
 
This weeks feature tree 
Toon or Cedrella sinensis which are famous for their stunning pink foliage that emerges first thing in spring and still yet to come forth. You will see these around the Waikato soon as their foliage is totally unique in spring. These will sucker and spread a tad and so you will need to remove the growth to maintain a tree like effect.
I have gotten in early in case there are some that want to sample the taste of the new leaves which are apparently used extensively as a vegetable in China as they have a floral yet onion-like flavour
Also in China and other Southeast Asian countries, the young leaves are used to make Toona paste a condiment to serve with plain rice porridge or dishes made with the paste including fried rice, bean curd and mushroom soup. 
What was put away yesterday.... Lots of Berries, Brambles, Feijoas, Grapes and Citrus 
Our range of Feijoas has suddenly become pretty full with the new arrivals of Anatoki, Kaiteria and Kakariki which are some of the popular cultivars that we haven't had for a while. I need some new trees for my orchard, so will get some of these different ones and name them this time so I know what I am picking.  
Blueberries, there should be a pretty full range here.  Remember to choose  Southern High bush or Rabbit Eye for a warmer climate.  Northern High bush are for the cooler climates. Make sure that you get two different cultivars of the same type for cross-pollination. Ange gave me some blueberries from her two plants this year and I was impressed that she had enough to give away. I have space and so will plant some of my own.  Just down from the Asparagus bed.
A berry house could be a great plan but make sure that the bees can get in and not the birds. Otherwise boysenberries and blackberries could be grown along wires against the fence and cropped just like grapes.  You may have to put a net over them just as the fruit is ripening.
Raspberries are also pretty robust and easy to grow.  Some just let them grow wild and they will perform quite generously, otherwise prune, lift and replant for a tidy way of growing these fruits for Christmas.
Red and black currants are also another addition to the berry gardens and are easily grown as a small shrub in your vege garden area
Don't forget, it is time to get Delphs in
Delphiniums need full sun, good rich soil and available moisture and will reward you with very generous tall spires of often the most amazing blue, white, purple and pinks. Once the flower spire is spent, remove it, and you will get subsequent flower spikes right through into the autumn.
Pruning has to be done and completed now
We got it done, a stunning day and both Tony and myself worked our way through the entire orchard and got it all pruned. Just in good time too I think, as one of the plums had started to blossom. While I was pruning I was looking at the space we had and the size we seem to be keeping the trees and decided that I could double the numbers by planting in between. So then it's all about .. well what other fruit trees could I plant.. and so I will be checking out some different pears. We don't have any peaches like Golden Queen or Blackboy or maybe I will see what else we have in stock. Plums do well here so maybe another different plum or two.
If I kept apple trees trimmed back in size then I could add more of these as well. Then I thought that if I planted in between the existing trees and then mulched the entire strip, then the lawn here would be so much easier to mow. There is always a project and room to plant more things.
We got halfway through pruning our Roses and these are on the move to being in leaf soon. Really should have been done, by now but haven't had the time the rest wont take too long. The great thing about pruning yourself is that it's a great way to learn and then see what happens with the decisions that you make both in the orchard and rose garden. 
This weekend 
Antique and Collectable Fair  Woodlands Estate 42 Whitikahu Road, Gordonton Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd September 10am to 4pm  Entry $3.00 per person or any enquiries to Nick 0274430018
A good frost here on Wednesday morning, probably the hardest that we have had so far this year and such a stunning day to boot and then we got the heaviest down pour around 6pm. Thursday morning fog followed by another great sunny day. Can't predict the weather but small amounts of rain are ok. It's not like the ground is dry yet, but great for planting. Again, another reminder slug bait for delphs, hostas, liriopes and all things that snails and slugs like to chew.
Ang, reminded me to mention that it's time to get Codlin moth traps and tree refills. The manufacturer recommends doing it from early to mid-September, one trap will monitor 3-5 trees up to 12m away. Or you can spray with Success Ultra Insect Control.

 
It's the weekend and it's all about the dads this Sunday, whether you do lunch, cook dinner or just hang out for some of the day catching up!!!
Have a fabulous weekend and all the best from Lloyd, Tony and the Wairere team.

Archived by year 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 |

Last 25 Newsletters...

Viburnums (27th April, 2024)

Rake up those leaves (20th April, 2024)

Things Citrusy (13th April, 2024)

Get harvesting and preserve (6th April, 2024)

Crabapples looking good (29th March, 2024)

Garlic (23rd March, 2024)

Autumn Sale Preview (16th March, 2024)

Orchard planning (9th March, 2024)

Gardens are for play (3rd March, 2024)

Autumnal feel in the air now (24th February, 2024)

Newsletter correction (16th February, 2024)

Welcome back (17th February, 2024)

Thank you (16th December, 2023)

Pot care (9th December, 2023)

Mulch is a must (2nd December, 2023)

Tidy Up Time (25th November, 2023)

Planting now (18th November, 2023)

Waterlilies (11th November, 2023)

Daisies take 1 (4th November, 2023)

Deciduous Azaleas (28th October, 2023)

Labour weekend (21st October, 2023)

roses roses roses (14th October, 2023)

The roses are budding up with this sun (7th October, 2023)

Maples (30th September, 2023)

Happy birthday to you!! (23rd September, 2023)

Blossom time (16th September, 2023)

Birthdays (9th September, 2023)

..... Tree shapes

Sunshine at last (26th August, 2023)

Supa Size (19th August, 2023)

Size can matter (5th August, 2023)

Signs of Spring (29th July, 2023)

Happy Matariki! (15th July, 2023)

Roses all in order (8th July, 2023)

What it takes to produce a rose. (1st July, 2023)

It's all in the name (24th June, 2023)

Rose's, tree's and more.. (17th June, 2023)

Its all about roses (10th June, 2023)

Whats in a Standard (3rd June, 2023)

To Hedge or not (27th May, 2023)

Proteaceae Family (20th May, 2023)

Baby bear, Itty Bit, Little Gem (13th May, 2023)

Species Camellias and more (6th May, 2023)

Its all Lemons and Hiemalis this week (29th April, 2023)

Sasanqua and Oranges (22nd April, 2023)

Mandarins (15th April, 2023)

Citrus (7th April, 2023)

Lloyd here (1st April, 2023)

Evergreen or Deciduous? (25th March, 2023)

Autumn (18th March, 2023)



Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: