Pantyhose or Office Socks???

Hi

 

Tie those branches down

The ideal stuff to tie branches down used to be pantyhose because its stretches as the plant stem girth increases and it tends to decompose after about a year as nobody seems to get back to remove the ties. Now Im not sure that everyone wants that pantyhose look and I fess up to the fact that there are none in our house hold despite what you may have seen on our TV advertising. But I have the answer. I was out helping Anthony out the other day and his client raced off and grabbed an old pair of hubbys black socks. Now we talking those office looking socks made of cotton and elastine. Make one cut lengthways and then cut in strips and not too thin strips and you get all these perfect small ties and no lacy patterns LOL. I imagine if you want a longer tie then you could cut the other way. Anyway the long and short of it is that they were perfect for tying down the branches on the apple tree that been espaliered that I was pruning.

Its count down to completing your pruning
Now I have been going on and on about getting your pruning of the roses done but your fruit trees need to be done as well before they burst forth into blossom. I did see my first either nectarine or peach out in full bloom yesterday but they are not all out so there is a very short window of time left to do this job.  Remember pruning isn't that hard. Young fruit trees need to be trained into the shape that you want them to be and it will take roughly three years to get them there. For a simple vase shaped tree from a new plant simply cut the top bud of or remove approx 1/3rd to ¼ and hopefully you will get 3 to 5 new branches that will be the beginning of the new tree, second year top them all to outward facing buds again. Basically you're aiming for a kinda open tree that if you looked from the sky has been flattened. This will let the light in to help ripen the fruit and of course make the fruit easy to pick as the tree won't be allowed to get too tall. Off course this is not the only form as you may want them along a fence and the principles are mostly the same. Tip for espaliered apples and pears, is don't be in too much of a hurry to tie them down as it ages the wood and it stops growing in length.

Don't forget that apples and pears fruit on fruiting spurs and plums etc fruit on previous seasons and older wood so don't hack it all out!!!  Check out all the new fruit trees in here

Have you noticed that the flowering cherries have started to flower well the Campanulata form of Felix Jury has any way. Our neighbour has several trees and they are amass of crimsony red bell shapd flowers that the tuis like!!

Key Lime Pie

I said that I would try and load a recipe up to the web site in the new editor and I managed. yahoo It wasn't even too hard and the Key lime pie was a goodie to practice on especially as limes are still abundant for you to make it again. So the link if you missed it, Whats cooking then its under sweets.

Fresh in this week

Chatham Island for get me nots These are stunning when in flower and the flowers are a real true blue. Not only do they do awesome flowers but way cool leaves as well. The secret to growing these beauties is to protect them from the hot arvo sun though they are not a shade plant and give them rich soil with sharp drainage. Once you have sorted the right spot then its all go. Tidy plants normally $7.99 now just $4.99

Scleranthus Biflorus or Moss like plant everyone just wants top run there hands over this cool little groundcover $7.99 now just $4.99

Black mondo with the stunning black leaves $9.99  down to $7.99. A great plant for in pots or as a border. Does best in full sun but is pretty damn tough and will grow in most positions.

Agapanthus Agapetite An excellent new Agapanthus that we haven't ben able to get until this new batch came ready. A true petite dwarf grower with typical Agapanthus white flowers. excellent chunky plants $12.99 each

Due In soon

Huge grade Camellias. We had this batch of these and they all sold. Great big chunky plants

Spuds, Dont forget to pre order these on line and get them at a good price Normally 9.99 but for preordered spuds pay only $7.99. These are not in yet but preorder to reserve yours and we will send out an email when they are in.

What an amazing week, the weather has been perfect and its going to be another great weekend. Have fun in the garden and if you havent pruned yet then oil up and sharpen those secaturs and get cracking!

Cheers,

Lloyd and Harry

Make it a Wairere weekend where gardenings not a drag!!!!!