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Monday 9th November, 2015
Hi
Gosh its been so fine of late, such beautiful weather, I bet everyone who has a pool have been rushing to bring them up to scratch for the summer. There have been a few days of late that a bit of a dip would have been nice and cooling....From the plants point of view though it may get a tad stressful.
I guess that this is an appropriate time to talk watering, mulching and even planting!!!
Lets start with planting and I know that this will bore some but just yesterday I had a client that lost 12 out of 14 trees and the cause of death was due to them being planted too deep from what I could work out. They had obviously been planted over the graft and in general terms most plants don't like that. It causes the plant tissue that should be in the air to decompose and the trees ability to take up food fails and the plant then dies but slowly as it essentially starves. Rule for planting of all plants: Don't plant any deeper than the plant has previously been in the ground or pot and this includes your mulch layer whether your mulch is stone, shredded bark or compost. Nothing to be put against the bark of the tree above the original dirt line. Here is a link to a video that will show you how to know if you have done it right. This goes for in the hole as well. As a rule, the only thing that should go in the hole with the plant is dirt. Don't add compost to the hole unless you are planting in the heat of summer with the thought to maintain moisture around the roots and even then you need more dirt than compost. It is a much better idea to use the compost as a mulch layer on top of the soil than to put it in the hole. If using slow release fertiliser tablets for large trees then ensure you dig the hole deeper and allow for a good spade load of dirt between the tree and the tablet to ensure no root burn occurs. All other fertiliser should be applied above the soil.
Rule 1 plant no deeper then the original soil line
Rule 2 mulch layer should not contact the bark of the tree above the soil line, ensure free air flow around the bark of the tree from dirt level up.
I often get asked whether its OK to plant at this time of year. Any containerised plant can be planted at any time of year. Its fine to plant this time of year provided you have the ability to water the plants but how to water?
Well our plants in the nursery have to be watered everyday as the only water supply they have is what we provide but plants that are in the ground have much more buffer or slack available to them meaning that the soil will take longer to dry. (Once the water in a container is exhausted there is no give and take)
I often hear of those that water every day but the best way is to water once a week or fortnight but do one decent deep watering. I am a fan of the soak hose and left on all night so that you aren't wasting water but rather targeting the subject. Lets not forget that plants know about summer and can actually cope with a certain amount of dryness its just the extremes that get them. I often think of summer as perhaps the other dormant season as most plants slow growth right down until the next season of rain.
This doesn't apply to our vege patch as we want it to grow through the summer and then you do need to water these and lots. Lettuce and strawbs are nearly all water so daily for them will definitely benefit them.
When you are Planting
First step is make sure that the root ball of the plant is well wet... immerse in a bucket of water and wait for the bubbles to stop but don't leave it in the bucket overnight as this isn't normal for the plant.
When you plant a plant you should always water it in, as this returns all the soil fines back to the plants roots. This should be a good decent watering and then the surrounding ground should also be well wet and this should last the plant for some weeks.
Use common sense and look at the soil and the plant, being a good plants man is all about observation and responding to what you see. Every day that I walk through my nursery I am always looking for the first sign of disease, any insect damage, watering requirements, whether plants need spacing or trimming etc as dealing with a living product is all about observation and reaction.
Mulch on top of your garden is a good thing as it stops the sun from baking the soil and slows water loss and when you do water it keeps the ground wetter for longer but remember to leave clear air around the trunk above soil level.
Its all Roses at Wairere at the moment
If you are wanting to just look at the roses then now is the time to get yourself out here and browse. Had a lady here yesterday who was just looking and making a list for next winter. You can see the colours for what they are and of course smell their fragrance.
It's ok to plant roses at this time of year, just make sure that you water them regularly. I often think that this is a better time than early spring as the weather has now settled and we don't have the fungal problems of early spring putting them under stress and the new rose roots like going into nice warm soil and often do really well planted at this time.
I have been posting pics of many of the roses currently in bloom on our facebook page to give an idea of what is looking great at the moment and will continue to do so over the flowering season. If you aren't getting notifications from us then you need to like our page so you don't miss the gorgeous pics of these gorgeous blooms.
Further to the oven baked Camembert... Irene writes with her version
Christmas is looming and if its ok for TV to have started advertising then it ok for me to write about it LOL
Cheers
Greetings. I hope you don't mind me sharing an alternate recipe for Baked Camembert done with Garlic and White Wine!! I initially found the recipe online, stating it had to be done in a box, but I just used tin foil. And it is a beautiful, gooey mess. Cheers and always enjoy your newsletters.
250g Camembert cheese
1/2 garlic clove
1/2 tsp white wine
Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas 6.
Please note; The Camembert must be whole
Chop the garlic very finely.
Remove the cheese from it's box - take off the wrapping
Make about 6 tiny holes in the top rind of the cheese and drizzle the wine into them.
Sprinkle the garlic on top.
Wrap in baking paper then tinfoil, or just keep in it's wooden box, and bake in the oven for about 25 to 30 minutes, until hot and bubbling.
Serve the melted cheese in it's box, dipping in some gherkins or just some nice fresh crusty bread.
Christmas Trees
Christmas is looming and if its ok for TV to have started advertising then it ok for me to write about it LOL
Pohutukawa or Metrosideros
There are always some that are keen for a plant that they can grow in a pot and use as a Christmas tree and this week we received in some awesome Pohutukawa they really do suit being in a pot. I see that they also have heaps of flowers buds on them too and while I can't promise that they will be open for Xmas I bet it will be pretty close either side. Excellent plants at about 1.2 high and in bud choose from Mistral or a clone call Mt Manganui.
Picea albertiana conica now that's a mouthful of a name, for the cutest ever little conifer, that grows naturally into the perfect cone shape. These plants are little at just 25cm high but I bet someone with a bit of imagination could put one in a pot and dress it up like the miniest Xmas tree. Its the perfect choice to continue growing as a pot plant as it naturally only grows slowly for example a 50 year old plant may only be 1.2 to 1.5m high.
Cedrus deodara or Indian cedar could make for a cool tree in a pot and once a few years are gone then plant it out in the garden allowing a bit of room for it to grow into a handsome large tree. This one has very handsome blue green cascading form.
If you want a tree that has the purpose after Christmas to be planted out, then we have a couple of large grade Pinus pinea that will serve as a pretty fine Xmas tree and then out into the paddock / garden to grow tall and produce those expensive pine nuts that are just so tasty.
Pinus Mugo is a dwarf pine tree and will suit being in a pot, these aren't huge but then small growing plants take time to get big. These don't have such a classic pine tree shape but never the less are pretty cool in a pot, dress them up with mini decs and use it as a Christmas table top
New in this week
Specials this week
Antique, hand thrown pots stylishly presented in a wire holder, available in 2 or 3 pot combo's at 50% off marked price.
Most of the Feijoas are marked down
We also have hedging plants on special.
Mustard, Lupins or a combination of both are also 50% off marked price.
Check out the Family Deals page on our website for all the current specials.
What coming up on the gardening Calender
Pacific Rose Bowl Festival
12 - 15 Nov Rogers Rose Garden at the Hamilton Gardens. There will be live music on Saturday and Sunday, exhibitions throughout the festival, coffee and food, public judging on different days of the rose trials and the VIP judging for Rose of the year. Award ceremony on Sunday 15th starting 2pm
Gordonton Christmas Garden Ramble
Sat 5th Dec 9am-4pm
Tickets $20.00 Groups of 10 or more $15ea (School children free when accompanied with a paying adult) includes free entry to St Mary's Church fair and Woodlands Homestead Call 07 8243850 or email rriddell@xtra.co.nz
Cheers
Lloyd, Harry and the Wairere Team
Make it a Wairere weekend w
here even GNOMES know that gardening's not a drag
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2015 Newsletters...
We're back (8th January, 2015)
Settling In (29th January, 2015)
Summer colour (30th January, 2015)
Fabulous Feb (6th February, 2015)
Roses on sale (16th February, 2015)
stevia (20th February, 2015)
Cheeky Climbers (6th March, 2015)
Michelias and Camellias (11th March, 2015)
Living fences (20th March, 2015)
Easter is nearly here (25th March, 2015)
Mourning the end of summer? (2nd April, 2015)
SALE NOW ON!!! (8th April, 2015)
Autumn Harvest (17th April, 2015)
What to do with all those leaves. (22nd April, 2015)
Autumn Flowers (1st May, 2015)
Sunday Mothers Day (8th May, 2015)
Colours of Autumn (15th May, 2015)
Always a project (22nd May, 2015)
Rose potting (23rd May, 2015)
Clip n Snip (4th June, 2015)
Roses Galore (14th June, 2015)
Rose Climbers (19th June, 2015)
Its Time to prune (3rd July, 2015)
Like a candy shop (11th July, 2015)
The pruning session (16th July, 2015)
Red and white stems (24th July, 2015)
Rose pruning Thur and Fri (24th July, 2015)
Winter Colour (31st July, 2015)
Time to feed (9th August, 2015)
Magnolias (20th August, 2015)
Gardeners work is never done (25th August, 2015)
Till the cows come home, or get shoooood away! (28th August, 2015)
Topiary Art (11th September, 2015)
Tosca in spring (19th September, 2015)
An extra hour (25th September, 2015)
The first Friday in October (2nd October, 2015)
Pretties Galore (9th October, 2015)
Frantic Fridays (16th October, 2015)
geraniums are in (20th October, 2015)
November events (31st October, 2015)
..... Movember
Christmas is coming (20th November, 2015)
Harry was blowing in the wind (26th November, 2015)
December (3rd December, 2015)
Chilli out for Christmas (18th December, 2015)
HL Nurseries Limited t/a Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: