I had a visit today, from my friend Annette, who helped me, many years ago, learn to write a chatty newsletter and she was telling this to Simone who responded that there was no email then... of course I had to say "We sent it through the post!!" Isn't it amazing how things have changed? Annette now has Number 8 Network a local Gordonton publication with some great reading.

I couldn't have organised it better if I tried, the truck and fertiliser spreader was booked for Wednesday first thing. When it rained on Tuesday I thought I had missed the boat as we had an amazing 90ml fall but the paddocks weren't getting their Autumn feed till Wed morning, but hey, as luck would have it we got another 20ml late Wednesday arvo... perfect to wash the ferts in, just in the nick of time too as we've run out of hay and need the Autumn grass.

So now that we have broken that dry summer cycle, and with such a good amount of rain, it's full on Autumn and planting time.. this also means it's feed the garden time as well, just like the fert going on the paddock to grow grass.  Here's a note for all those blokes or gals with lawn fetishes, now is the time to get that vigour back into the lawn after the stresses of summer. Make sure that you feed with a proper lawn fert and that it's going to rain, or use a sprinkler, after you apply it, as fertiliser will burn. The lawn fert will be instantly available and with this warm, wet time you will almost be mowing twice a week until the cool of winter (just kidding)!

It's not just lawns that need feeding at this time of year, the entire garden will enjoy a dusting of fert to support autumn growth. Now the organic stuff like blood and bone, sheep pellets, compost and mulches are all welcome additions at almost any time of the year. Especially as these not only feed the plants but help with water retention over the dry spells, weed suppression and of course soil conditioning but don't forget the inorganic minerals. These provide targeted feeding like Citrus fert for any citrus, Camellia ferts for Camellias, Rhodos, Azaleas, Gardenias, Magnolias, in fact all the acid loving plants in the garden and General fert is great for just getting trace elements into the soil for all the rest...  and just like the lawn, well timed rain afterwards is always a good plan. Even roses and deciduous trees that are about to loose their leaves will benefit from a low nitrogen fert at this time as they are still growing and developing their roots. Low nitrogen will not push growth before their dormancy but will help harden off soft wood for pruning later in roses. A good example would be Fruit and Flower booster. 

Remember to apply ferts to the drip zone of your trees, hedges etc, that's the outer diameter of the plant that the water falls off the leaves at, this is where all the feeder roots will be and not against the plants stems. 

The guys have been busy in the garden cutting all the tired old foliage of our winter roses before the new leaves and flowers start to come through. This was an annual task that didn't get done last year so there was two seasons of growth to remove and the plan is to give them a feed as well. The point of removing the previous years leaves is to make way for the flowers that are about to be produced, the display always looks stunning and then the new leaves will come and look fresh for another year.

If the weather has inspired you to get onto that planting job then we are open all weekend, except Good Friday, usual hours of 8.30 to 5pm. The nursery is brim full of new season Camellias, Rhodos, Azaleas and Lily of the valley shrubs. There has been a shortage of satsuma mandarins but we now have some of the named varieties in stock as well as lemons, grapefruit and oranges. Also plenty of the various berry plants are ready for planting and lots of other fruiting plants if you are working on your edible garden. 

The sales area is being added to all the time and still has some roses, predominantly floribundas, many are newish varieties that will be sought after as people get to know them, also camellias from last season that are well developed but would prefer not to do another season in a pb bag, they are looking for their forever home. There is much more in it and we need to clear them out for roses that are due in so well worth a browse through. These are not in stock so you do have to come and check them out, I believe there are still sales trees there and even some seconds from $10.00 but are collection only as they are tall.

Walking past the shop I noticed that Ang has a selection of Peony tubers in prepacks including a new one named James Pillow, a lovely soft pink and white colour blend, these tubers are all set to go into the ground. Peonies make such a stunning show in Spring, of course this takes time to develop, as the tubers mature you get more blooms.

We have picked up all the windfall feijoas and popped them in the shop to give away as there is an abundance, but if you have a hankering for your own tree then we have a great range of these in stock. They also make an excellent hedging option as they will still fruit, even when kept as a hedge, whether formal or informal.

These long weekends seem to have come around quickly this year, possibly because we have been so busy. This one's a goodie, being a 4 dayer for most, but it comes with a bite as Daylight Savings comes to an end Saturday night (officially Sunday morning if you feel the need to get up at that time to put your clock back, or are like Cathie who games all night on her days off) for those that don't stay up late like me remember to wind those clocks back an hour before you head to bed... hmm not that I actually have a clock as the phones and pc's these days just do it themselves.

Try not to OD on chocolate Easter eggs and hot cross buns, have an awesome long weekend and a sleep in on Sunday. 

Cheers Lloyd, Tony and the Wairere team