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Friday 8th February, 2013

 

 

Summer, Sun and Harvest Time

Hi

Talk to your plants .....

OMG !!! The last time I sat down to write, it was just on Xmas ,  now we have had New Years,  Auckland Anniversary and finally Waitangi Day all done and dusted and I guess all the kids are all safely back at school. I think that its been a pretty nice holiday season for all and now the year begins again in earnest for most. I'm not sure whether there is an official harvest time but that Harry is back on the hunt for those half size Agee jars which must be a sure sign. We even have our first batch of tomato puree safely bottled. Plums, Nectarines, Peaches are all on a roll and I see that some of the apples on our plants for sale are just huge. Amazing what you can grow on a containerised plant but must be due to the regular water that keeps all the nursery looking so good at this time of the year.

It's been a bit of a scorcher this summer and those that do the forecast say that we have just had one of the drier Januarys for a while and Feb is looking to be the same though the days are definitely shorter and evenings of late have been cooler.  Not wanting to be called a plant nerd and I guess that's what I am, I have to say that at this time of year you have to read your plants  (well all of the time really ) for what their needs are. I have had clients in, that are actually killing their plants with kindness by watering them every day because its dry. All plants vary in their need for water and some actually like it drier than wet. Others don't like their foliage being constantly wet and if I can give one piece of general advice, one long deep watering a week is probably suffice for most plants and or new plantings at this time of year.  A well-established plant can probably handle maybe no water at all whilst new plants and vege and annual gardens do need to be kept moist.
Obviously there are a few exceptions like a new tree, that is well established in a bag that is just planted out. For these I recommend and upturned plastic bottle with the bottom cut out so that it acts like a funnel so that you can keep its root ball moist.  Some plants relish being planted in a drier season as then they get established before the wet and cold of winter. Let the plant tell you what its needs are and react accordingly. Lol perhaps this is why people say that their plants talk to them.

Plant Watch - Lagerstroemia and Jacaranda

     
Just so that you really know that I'm totally  a plant nut, there are some plants that you just have to caress or touch; to give you an example,  Scleranthus  or that moss like plant you just have to stroke. Well there are trees that have the most amazing bark or trunks, Now Acer Griseum is a maple that has flaky or peeling bark in the most cool shade or reddish brown but the tree that I want to go on about is really the Crepe myrtle or Lagerstroemia. These puppies are called Crepe Myrtles, and they grow into a small to medium tree with bark and a trunk that you just want to stroke. They also flower now in the summer which is nice as so much is spring flowering. Flowers  are in shades of the most vivid cerise pink, soft pink or white crepe like blooms  and they have been damn hard to get in the past few years. I even have some of the white cultivar Kimono coming. They prefer soils that are free draining and full sun so would make an excellent feature tree. We have one in our garden that we have kept quite small by trimming it back after flowering which on reading is good as it promotes more blooming for the next summer. Another tree that loves the heat of summer that we have to throw in here is the Jacaranda, excellent shape for shade and pretty lilc blue flowers.

Rose Watch

We feel the heat , well so do your plants and  roses are no exception and they can get a little stressed.  Keep them well watered and they will do better but make sure that they are long deep waterings. Probably the biggest pest at this time of year are mites and these little blighters hang about underneath the leaves and suck all the green out making the leaf surface look patchy. I have reached that special age where I can no longer see them running around and if you are like me then you will need a magnifying glass to help. Roses aren't the only plant they attack but once you recognise the damage they do then you will know it anywheres. Rose spray won't deal to them so you either need to get good coverage underneath the leaf with Conqueror or Neem oil. If you can get cattle drench, then 1m per litre or use a proper miticide.

Summer Colour

           

Angelonia serena, This was a new one to me being a low ground cover perennial with pretty mauve blue like flowers  $10.99 these just $7.99

Parahebe White Caps, Probably a similar habit in growth to the Angelonia and is native to us in NZ. As its name suggests pretty white cap like flowers $10.99 these $7.99

Coreopsis Rising Sun. Here is bright colour and as its names suggest rising sun or  brilliant yellow sun like flowers, a true perennial and bright enough  to light up any garden$10.99 again $7.99

Indigofera decora or summer wistaria, a small shrubby plant that has pretty pink flowers for most of the summer

Plumbago,  You don't often get this colour blue in flowers which make this shrub that so much more special and its flowering its heart out now. A good contrast for other colours

Echium fastuosum, Commonly known as Pride of Madeira, this plant is just awesome and great bee fodder to boot. stunning bluish flowers in spires and just fab value $10.99, these now just $5.00 or order 5 of these on line and get them at just $4.00 each

Its a typical Feb and this month always seems to have the best weather and this weekend will be no exception so get on out there and enjoy Fabulous Feb. Have a great weekend

Cheers, Lloyd and Harry and the team

Make it a Wairere weekend where gardening's not a drag

Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, RD 1, Hamilton
07 824 34 30
www.wairere.co.nz

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

2013 Newsletters...

..... New Year and Crepe Myrtles

clivias and Roses (15th February, 2013)

Roses in the beginning (22nd February, 2013)

The Albas (1st March, 2013)

St Patricks day (9th March, 2013)

Cabbage Roses (15th March, 2013)

Hirsute Roses (22nd March, 2013)

Portland Roses (28th March, 2013)

Bourbon Roses (4th April, 2013)

Big boots to fill ... (11th April, 2013)

True Love and Large Hips (11th April, 2013)

Happy Birthday (10th May, 2013)

Tea Roses (17th May, 2013)

Hybrid Perpetuals (24th May, 2013)

Planting and caring for your new roses (29th May, 2013)

Polyanthas (31st May, 2013)

Hybrid Teas (8th June, 2013)

Floribundas (14th June, 2013)

Austin Roses =?utf-8?Q?e298bc?= (23rd June, 2013)

Different Coppers (29th June, 2013)

Pendula or weeping (5th July, 2013)

All in a days work (19th July, 2013)

Daphne (26th July, 2013)

Hydrangea Secrets (2nd August, 2013)

Maples high worked (9th August, 2013)

Magnificent Mags (16th August, 2013)

Mags Part two (23rd August, 2013)

Hedges (30th August, 2013)

The fluffy stuff (12th September, 2013)

Fluff and Stuff (12th September, 2013)

PC Irises (20th September, 2013)

Beardless Irises (27th September, 2013)

Lavender (4th October, 2013)

The Ilams (12th October, 2013)

Maples (17th October, 2013)

Maples (18th October, 2013)

Maples Part two (24th October, 2013)

Maples Part three (1st November, 2013)

It's Rained (8th November, 2013)

Busy week (15th November, 2013)

Hydrangeas (29th November, 2013)

Its rained some more (6th December, 2013)

Who's pinching my Peaches (13th December, 2013)

Merry Xmas (24th December, 2013)

HL Nurseries Limited t/a Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: