December Garden Calendar

December is the month when things really get going in the vege garden and we start to see the rewards.

When watering make sure you water at the base of the plants and not over them. This will help prevent the spread of fungal diseases.
A soaker hose is great for the this. A good soaking every 2-3 days can be better than a light daily sprinkling.
Keep pinching out lateral side shoots in tomatoes so there energy goes into producing fruit.

Keep dead heading roses and water well to ensure another flush of blooms.
Any spring bulbs that have finished can now be lifted and stored for next season.
There is still time to get in flowering annuals to dress up and brighten the garden for xmas.
Avoid cutting lawns too close at this time of the year to prevent moisture loss. Cutting them longer will also help keep weeds at bay.
Now is the time for re-potting orchids. Use orchid mix as it has the right balance of what orchids need.
Plants in store in December include grafted hibiscus, flowering frangapani, pointsettia, gardenia, edible bananas to name a few.

Feel free to email us if you have any garden queries or questions that haven’t been covered

November Garden Calendar

Check out some of our gardening tips for November

Give established vege plants a side dressing of general fertisliser or sheep pellets and remember to water well
Plant basil and tomatoes together as they are good companion plants
November is a great month for planting most types of beans, remember to allow room for support
If you have strawberries in make sure you get your bird netting on now
Feed roses and spray to control aphids
Now is the time to plant hippeastrum bulbs we have a great selection in now
If you haven’t already mulch around plants to help retain and lock in moisture over the dry months
Feed Citrus and fruit trees now to help them through the summer months

Daylight savings has started and nothing beats getting out in the garden in October and seeing it come out of its winter slumber

Before planting ensure your vege garden is prepared using compost, mulch and sheep pellets for the best results.
Start thinking about getting your tomatoes in, we have a great selection including heirloom varieties.
It is also warm enough now to plant peas, beans, carrots, sweetcorn, beetroot, lettuce, courgettes, cucumber and pumpkins.
As well as a full range of seedlings we also stock certified organic seedlings.
We also have in kumara shoots, talk to any of our friendly staff for more information and prep for planting.

Now is a good time for feeding your roses, we recommend a slow release fertilizer for this time of the year.
It is also a good time to mulch around the top of your roses to help with water retention as roses need a lot of watering.

Watch your fruit trees and roses for fungal diseases which may need spraying with a fungicide like bravo.
Aphids may soon become a problem so watch out for them and if necessary spray with shield or use Beat-a-Bug for an organic solution.
Spray pip and stone fruit at bud burst for blight.
Also its time to get your codling moth traps up.

It’s hanging basket time, plant now with all new seasons annuals or perennials, we have a great range of perennials which start in price from $6.90.
Freshen up the mix in any old baskets before replanting and add crystal rain to cut down the watering over the summer.