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Saturday 6th February, 2021
Hi
We're Back... Watered... Potted... Colour filled
Suddenly it's all about water... due, of course, to the thermometer taking a sharp rise over the past week or so LOL. I always say... Feb and March are our hottest months, or so it seems, as we get those long settled in highs with sun, sun and, yes you guessed it, more sun and just when all the kids are back at school... must be time for a holiday now!!
It has puzzled us for years, a declining water output from the sprinklers in Bays 1 and 2. There is certainly water coming through, just with no oomph... The line has the same number of sprinklers as the other main irrigation lines and they all have excellent output. A few years back we increased the pump capacity and even upgraded one of the main feed pipes just to ensure that it was all go and we could run more lines all together. I have to say, to no avail on Bays 1 and 2... maybe it's the solenoid (an electronic tap that opens on a sequence) and so last week we duly replaced the solenoid... expectantly ran that line and still, frustratingly, no difference. Alex and I walked along the avenue of Awanui trees planted behind the shop, which runs the length of Bay 2, trying to figure what could be the problem when suddenly at one of the trees I heard a faint burbling noise...
I looked up to the speaker, expecting to hear the noise of a radio off frequency but no.. it was very definitely coming from the ground. Assuming a leak that isn't making it to the surface, we (well actually Alex) opened the ground beneath the tree and exposed the pipes. There, in full view, were three pipes being tightly squeezed by the tree roots, to the extent that the water flow was being heavily reduced. You learn something new every day, it has taken 3 or so years to sort that little problem and in the meantime there has been lots of extra hand watering. Note to Garden team: NEW project... lay a new pipeline away from the roots of of the Awanui trees.
Looking for some colour
Penstemons Electric Blue has intensely blue flowers, tinged with purple, which is a beautiful contrast with the silvery green foliage of this hardy perennial. Hidcote Pink narrow grey-green foliage and stems of slender bell like flowers shaded rose-pink with a cream throat. Portwine Stunning panicles of bell shaped wine red flowers from early summer and into autumn.Great for cutting.
Catmint Six Hills Giant has aromatic grey-green foliage and tall spires of lavender-blue flowers that appear all summer long. This tough catmint loves full sun and good drainage. Enjoys a good cut back after flowering to promote new growth. It's a good thing it's tough as your cat will love it. Perennial.
Daisy single pink produces lots of gorgeous small pink daisy flowers that will cover the bush. It's vigorous, hardy, tolerant to weather conditions and disease, easy to grow, easy care, so many uses. For maximum flower power dead head regularly.
Liatris or Gay Feather. Let this one tickle your fancy - tufts of grassy foliage and flower spikes of violet that resemble a small 'feather duster'. Unusual in that they open from the top down. Flowers from mid summer and great for the vase.
Coreopsis Sunfire the bloom are semi-double, golden yellow, the petals are slightly fringed and Rising Sun the tall stems of bloom are semi-double, golden yellow and have a red dot at the base of each petal. The petals are slightly fringed.
Blue throatwort or Trachelium Lake Michigan Violet has round shaped flower heads crowded with tiny, tubular violet flowers enhanced by long toothed purple leaves brushed with plum highlights. Also white Lake Louise White
The buck stops with you
A recent convo with a client, with pics of some over suffered citrus in pots, has prompted this refresher of watering of potted plants esp over the summer time. It's those hot north facing decks and patios, at this time of year, that need extra vigilance and they were after plants that will cope with the heat. In all honesty all high light plants should cope, like citrus, but there are some plants like Aussie natives and even our nz coastal flora that have evolved to cope with the hot and dry.
With pots, the buck stops with you as there is no moisture buffer like there is in the ground. I believe the best piece of advice I can give is to be observant and watch for signs of being to dry or too wet. In the summer an established plant in a container may well need watering everyday.
Lets start with the basics. Make sure that your pot or container has adequate drainage holes. It would be advantageous, for pots made of porous materials, to seal the inside as this helps conserve water loss. Use only good propriety potting mix as its scientifically designed to provide correct air and water pore space. Don't be tempted to mix any compost or soil with your potting mix as this will just upset the balance.
Always pot down from the top of your container, relative to the size of the same, so that when you water, or it rains, that it fills up like a reservoir and filters throughout the pot.
Watering, so much to say LOL... a newly potted plant may not need as much water as say a more pot bound plant. The seasons also dictate watering, as you will probably assume, and on that thought no water in the winter, as your pot plant may be dormant, but in spring and Autumn when actively growing, water will be need a top up when the rain isn't happening. Summer... perhaps every day... sometime a saucer of water under the pot can help keep up moisture levels but be warned it can also be the demise of your plant due to waterlogging.
Feed only with fertilisers suitable for pots, these will be slow release, and I recommend to feed quarterly to keep up with the nitrogen levels.. don't ever use ferts of the instant kind.. every now and then water till the water runs out of the base of the pot so as to wash any excess soluble salts away.
Hibiscus Syriacus as standards
Jean D'arc You will love the sight of this gorgeous deciduous Hibiscus in full flower. The fresh green foliage is decorated with large, white, deliciously double flowers from summer through to autumn. Hardy and tolerant and therefore easy to grow. Happiest in full sun. Prune after flowering if desired.
Lady Stanley Gorgeous tight buds open to reveal semi double blooms of soft pink with attractive veining of deep wine and a strong central blotch of the same colour.
These are all deciduous and most are also available as bushes.
Something a bit different
Pineapple lilies or Eucomis. These are really sweet and make up a seriously cute mini range. These are a summer flowering deciduous perennial that will pop up each year with new fresh green leaf swords and then the cutest pineapple like flowers. Currently available are Pot pink, Tiny piny opal, Tiny piny Ruby and Tiny Piny sweetie.
Pulmonaria or lungwort are awesome for semi shade situations, check out Leopard and Majeste. These are clump forming perennials and look great as a companion planting with hostas.
Calliandra Blushing Pixie is a fast growing, small shrub which provides abundant, rose pink, pompom flowers through summer and autumn. Easy to grow in temperate regions preferring full sun and free draining conditions which encourages more flowers.
Wahoo two long weekends in a row, I would hazard a guess that many will be heading to the beach or the closest swimming pool, certainly will be here if the Tron keeps it's temp around the 30 degree mark... especially if you have the kids home for another long weekend.
I guess gardening is best as an occupation for the early hours of the morning otherwise it's all about watering pots and the garden enjoying the warm weather.
Have a great Waitangi weekend
Cheers Lloyd, Tony and the Wairere team
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Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: