Friday 13th March, 2020
Hi
Hedges are Hot!!!
Hedges really do it for me... there is nothing more cool than a perfectly kept, very slick, delineation of a space than a gorgeous hedge. Now like all things in life that come in a variety of sizes and shapes... that is the hedges and the plants that could be used to create them. Why do we need hedges .. well they border properties and screen out the neighbours smalls... helpful in giving some protection from the wind... awesome for border gardens. Wise use of hedging can create rooms or spaces within a garden, they can even be used to keep people out with prickly plants and sometimes hedge, trees and lawn can be the garden itself... how simple is that to keep... just to drop in a few decent purposes.
The beauty of a hedge is that they are often more affordable than a fence. Aesthetically they are absolutely easier on the eye... only two clips a year, for most plants, to keep them neat and tidy and the clipping is a
no brainer to do, square and straight across the top and of course the sides. I will note here that the base is meant to be slightly wider than the top so that the light hits all of the hedge and it doesn't look top heavy.
When planning a hedge then work toward an Autumn planting as this is definitely the best time to be getting the task done. Prepare your site by skimming the lawn or weeds or use some
Zero weedkiller a couple of weeks in advance. I'm a bit fussy, so it's always out with the string line. I would create a garden space approx 70 cm wide for a hedge that is going to be approx 1.2 to 1.5 metres high and end up 70 cm wide. Plant the desired plants at 70 to 100 cm apart in the centre of the new bed. Tree bricks (fert tabs) into the planting hole to ensure the plants get off to a good start and remember to put a good spade full of dirt between the bricks and the plant to avoid root burn. Mulch the entire area afterwards so that it looks as neat as a pin. Don't forget that you can't plant any plant deeper than what it already is in the bag and that includes the mulch layer! You should plant slightly higher and then mulch back to the correct level.
In principle it's all the same for smaller hedges except obviously on a smaller scale... so the bed or space will be 40 cm wide and you plant your choice of plant at 30cm apart. Again use tree bricks and mulch to complete the look. Water in well then wait for Autumn rains to do the job for you.
What to plant for taller hedges ... well the choices are boundless and popular plants in these times include
Griselinia,
Pittopsporum,
Photinia Red Robin Camellias and the like. My favs include
Ilex (Hollys) like Blue prince and Lago. Bays are pretty cool too, we have a 30 year old hedge at the nursery that gets a lot of interest. Camellias are up there on my list for hardiness and durability and esp all the
Sasanqua species. We have a
Camellia hedge at the nursery called
Gay Baby (must be because the flowers are bright and gay in pink LOL) but its new leaves are a stunning crimson, burgundy red and they age to green. I must not forget to mention
Totaras here of the native kind and then there is
Podocarpus gracilor which is a very fresh green and clips exceedingly well. The team are pretty good so if you need a recommendation then call on out and discuss the options.
Smaller hedges are pretty handy for those small and narrow gardens where you can't let anything grow too wide... edging a formal garden looks pretty neat too. There is an old saying that comes to mind that if your hedges and edges are done and the lawns mown then the garden will look fabulous even if there is work to be done within.
Don't be limited by the obvious as in the right place many plants could be used for a hedge... for instance Pseudowintera or even
Nandina Gulfstream or
Pygmaea. The latter potentially wont need trimming and would suit a full sun position.
It happened! We got another wee drop of rain... just another 10 mls but
I'll take it, its rain, combine that with shorter days that don't get quite as hot as it has been and hopefully the cumulative effect is Autumn. But hey we are on the right track now... when I look out over the paddocks I can see the faint tinge of green starting to happen. Autumn is such a fab time of year to plant because the ground is so warm and with a little more rain it will all fall into place. I am organising my guys to get some more planting done so that plants are in the ground before the rains come. If we don't get it done and then run out of time because of potting season then we miss the planting season for another year... and I don't want that!
On that note we need to move some plants and its only fair that you our clients get first dibs before we spin it over to the the radio stations to advertise for us.
Roses are first up 25% off all roses. These are great plants that have been well cared for all season. They have been fed, sprayed and deadheaded and are in awesome condition. This offer includes all roses... bushes, climbers, patio standards, 80cm standards and even the 1.8m weeping roses and 1.5m pillar roses. There is heaps of choice still... users tip though if you want to see just what we have in stock then tick the little box that says "
Show in stock items first " and then update.
Plums,
Apple and
Pears... 25% of these selected fruit trees and now's the time to be looking at getting them in the ground... natures planting season. So if you have a hankering to plant a
Black Doris or a delicious
Luisa plum now is the time to get one at 25% off. There are plenty of popular apple and pear varieties there too... It's worth noting though that if the varieties you are after are not available then pre order for new seasons stock arriving in July.
Camellias 25% off across the board of all of the 2019 season stock. Again all have been well looked after, fed, watered and tipped to keep them in good condition. These need to move so we can pave the way for all the new seasons stock due to arrive this Autumn.
Really flat ground covers
Leptinellas used to be called Cotula and they are a very tight knit tiny leaved creeping tuft perennial in horticultural speak. Personally I think that they have the cutest leaves, feather like, tiny and can grow to form quite a dense carpet. They are tolerant of many positions from full sun to dapple light, though will be densest in sun. We have a couple of these one being dark blackish foliage called Platts Black and another species called Pusilla. Both are native groundcovers.
Leptinella Platts Black is an extremely useful and rather attractive, spreading, perennial that has fern like foliage in interesting shades of lime and bronze-black. Lime yellow flowers appear in summer but the foliage is the main feature. This evergreen groundcover will grow best in full sun but will cope with part shade and it likes humus rich soil with good drainage.
Leptinella pusilla is an intriguing little evergreen ground-cover with aromatic foliage in a bronze-green tone. The leaves are small, deeply dissected and fern like. Small button flowers appear in summer. Again likes sun and humus rich soil with good drainage. Great for adding interest and foliage texture.
Dymondia Margaretae. I have not had first hand experience of growing this in the garden other than in containers in the nursery but it strikes me as a very hardy ground cover and I really like the very dense, silvery, thin leaves that it has. A very flat groundcover with narrow, grey green leaves with white reverse that are rolled at the edges giving a two tone effect. Small, yellow, daisy like flowers through summer. Sun to light shade. Takes light foot traffic, great between stepping stones. Evergreen.
Recently there has been much in the bigger picture that can stress our psyche, drought, virus, loss of toilet paper access LOL. The adage that our homes are our castles seems apt and I have to admit that home right now is a great place to be! A good thought going forward is it will rain again soon enough and the cumulative effect of Autumn is certainly going to help somewhat with the dry weather and pastures. Keep on being positive, support each other, care for your psyche and remember to smell the roses.
Have an awesome weekend
Cheers Lloyd, Tony and the Wairere team
