Saturday 6th March, 2021
Hi
Its officially Autumn and only just by 5 days and we could not have kick started the season off better than that 40 mls of liquid gold coming from the skies...
I'm sure that the sudden deluge created some havoc in town with such an huge amount of water in a very short space of time.. There were almost waterfalls flowing off the bank here in the nursery and it certainly gouged all the metal off the path to the lower level. No need to irrigate last night and with the shortening days we probably need to cut back the system to every second day. Lets not forget that March can still be, quite the hot dry month.
Last year we were waiting for the Autumn rains to have a sale to clear out some stock lines before new seasons plants all start to arrive.. If I recollect those rains never quite arrived and then it was our first experience of the country in lock down. By the time we could have the team back, new seasons stock was arriving and the opportunity was lost, but not this year. We have had a good starting amount of rain and so an opportunity to offer our database an opportunity to grab some deals on some of our clearance lines.
Sneak preview of our Autumn sale
If you are checking these out on the web be sure to check the box that says Show in stock items first as it will display all of the plants that are actually here and not yet to come. Just know that while we endeavor to be very accurate with stock its not always perfect when dealing with a living product
Roses... 25 % off all roses We need to clear the remaining stock that we have left from last winters potting season. The roses are still looking in good condition and worth checking over if you have a few gaps. Just know that we are down in numbers and so if your choice is not there then come armed with a second choice if you are looking online. If you are checking these out on the web be sure to check the box that says Show in stock items first
Camellias... 25 % of most Camellias except those already marked at $25.00 and hedging Early Pearly quantity which attracts its own quantity discounts. New seasons Camellias are just a week or two away now and so would be great to clear out the existing stock to make space for the new stuff so we don't have to move them unnecessarily. Again all good plants and so if you have a few gaps then these could be a great option. Just know that stock numbers at this point may not be perfect due to the large quantities that we handle and the fact plants are living things.
Hydrangeas .... 25 % of macrophylla types.... ie mopheads and lace caps.. These are sitting where the new seasons Camellias are due to go.. Hydrangeas are pretty easy to grow preferring dappled light and good moist soil.
Apple trees 25% off our remaining stock. Still quite a few varieties to choose from but if you don't see your apple of choice then pre-order new seasons trees due in July.
What about these for a deal
We got offered a clearance deal of some pretty handsome specimen trees as the growers needed space to put down some new seasons stock.. seems we are all in the same boat and the offer was too good not to take and it suits us to add in to our impending Autumn sale. So on offer here first, for the next couple of weeks
Cercis Merlot.. Now many will know the very popular Forest Pansy Judas tree, well Merlot is very similar forming a small tree with very attractive glossy burgundy wine kidney shaped leaves, typical of the Cercis genus. The other cool thing about this tree is that it flowers bright pink pea like flowers direct on the stems and branches which is a little different. An ideal small tree for those smaller gardens and definitely a leaf colour contrast against other green leaved trees. These are fabulous well grown trees at some 2.5 metres high.. Maybe too tall to courier to some areas
Normally $69.99 these just $25.00
Magnolia Honey Tulip ... an unusual shade for a Magnolia in the yellow shades of honey yellow making for a very attractive specimen tree in the garden. Magnolias are up there as a favourite tree for me. Again beautiful trees at around 2.5m..
normally $69.00 these are going out for a song at just $25.00
Betula laciniata the cut leaved birch or Swedish birch. renown of those delicate and dissected leaves and the typical characteristic white barked trunk of the birch family these are
1.4 high normally $59.99 these just $25.00
Betula Japonica Ang asked me to mention these as they are so large being some 2.5 to 3 metres and very instant looking for the garden $99.99 down to $74.99. Larger leaves than the classic silver birch but still with the Typical white trunks... Mass plantings of silver birch always look pretty cool.
One last Flush
Its that in between time with roses and I reckon that there is just about time to get one more decent flush of flowers in before you need to leave them alone. Its 7 weeks from cutting back to being in full flower again and by my reckoning if you pruned them now, that you would get one more flush in by the end of April. I would think that you would need to get on and do this task this weekend or by next weekend at the latest so that they aren't too late flowering. Then just let them flower and resist the temptation to deadhead. Let them go to seed so that they are ready for pruning late winter.
It wouldn't hurt to give them a feed of rose fert and a couple of sprays of super shield wont go amiss.. This wet and warm weather is perfect for fungal spores and infections of all kinds. It always pays at the first sign of infection to spray your roses a couple of times close together to knock the spore count, then try to spray prior to rain and again when the rain is finished. A dry March April would mean less fungal infections.
Watch out too for the buxus blight with this wet warm weather especially if you have lots of soft new growth that is coming away after a summer trim. It's those new leaves that are most susceptible and perfect for germinating spores. You could start with a preventative spray like Copper Oxychloride but you may need to reapply prior to each rain.
Just arrived in today
Dahlias of the Hammett series
Dahlia mystic Dreamer, Striking deep mahogany to black filagree foliage. From summer through to autumn stems of single pink and white striped blooms with a dark central zone complete the picture
Dahlia Mystic Enchantment. Fabulous, filigree foliage in deep mahogany black topped off with stems of vibrant, fire-red blooms from summer through to autumn. Simply stunning in full flower.
Dahlia Mystic Wizard Features rich, magenta jewel-tone flowers on glossy mahogany-black divided foliage.
Dahlia Mystic Wonder Dahlia Mystic aka "Velvet" Wonder has single, deep red velvet-like flowers and deep purplish black foliage.
Salvia Sallyfun Bicolour Beauty Originating from Israel this compact little Salvia gives harmony in the form of contrasting white buds that open to gorgeous deep blue petals highlighted behind by a lush green bush
If you have been onto it and getting your winter veg garden in then that last bit of rain would have been perfect for getting them off to a good start. I am stoked to say that I have taken my own advice and have my brussels in, not to mention broccolini and a few other brassicas. Needless to say but keep up regular dustings of derris dust other wise they will just become white butterfly caterpillar fodder.
We also spent the last evening bottling some golden queen peaches that were on a random neglected tree in the paddock that must have been to far for the possums lol. Thinking that maybe I will have to order a new new seasons golden queen peach to go into my orchard so that its closer to home or maybe a Blackboy peach... anyways the thought is to pre order these now for winter planting, same deal with roses and the like.
It's Friday afternoon and I need to get this out. I hope that we all manage to get back to alert level 2 or even 1 so that we can have an enjoyable weekend out and about. Take care everyone.
Have a fabulous weekend,
Cheers.. Lloyd, Tony and the Wairere team
