Friday 27th May, 2011

ITS ALL IN THE NAME: Check out all the newbies here

Hot Pants, Tickled pink, Absolutely fabulous: Its all in the name!!  I mean how could you not have a Hot pants in your garden or even Cherry kisses climbing over your pergola.Could even be a place for Cheek to Cheek on the fence We all have or need a Mum in a Million and there must be a place for a My sister.  From the English quarter we have Darcy Brussell, Windermere and the Endeavour and I ll just chip in that there is Tea Clipper in too.  Perhap a spot for Ali Mau or Hayley Westenra or maybe even a Maggie Barry.  Imagine the walk around your garden as you name drop.

                      

It was so wet today as we potted those roses, we were like drowned rats covered in potting mix and mud. The potting mix was like porridge to work with but there was no problem with the roots drying out. LOL. The main bulk of bushes and climbers are now done. The standard roses are on the agenda for the rest of the week and then the main pot will be complete. There are still odds and sods to come in though and then its onto fruit trees and my favs the ornamentals trees.

Planting a New rose

Now when you get a rose at this time of year and go to plant it, the mix will all fall off and hopefully there will be an abundance of those white new little feeder roots all coming away.  Be gentle with it as you don't want to break all those roots off, Dig a hole larger than the roots so that they can hang free. I always suggest that at this time of year that you don't add compost to the hole as it holds too much moisture like a sponge and those new roots can rot off. Add the compost to the surface area afterwards.  If you have previously prepared the planting spots then the compost should be well rotted and almost like soil. Plant the rose so that the bud union sits just at or above the soil level. Include these new roses in your normal winter spray programme.

                    

 

NEW IN THIS WEEK other than all the roses

Phormium Purple Haze, There are some really nice purplish colour flaxes around and Purple Haze is no exception. Nice chunky plants that are normally $16.99 now just $9.99

Hebe speciosa Excellent shrubby hebe for that sunny well drained spot great buying !! $16.99 also 9.99

Garlic and shallots, dont forget to order if you want to grow your own.  Elephant garlic I love using as its much easier to peel one large clove though its milder in flavour

Strawberries, Winter is the time to plant these, Not in yet but order them and we will let you know when they are in!   Bundles of 25 plants

Asparagus Packet of 5 plants,  nothing like the taste of fresh asparagus