FEBRUARY IN THE GARDEN
February is "harvest month" so stock up the pantry by bottling, preserving and pickling your delicious garden produce. It is also usually our hottest and driest month, so ensure all your plants are receiving the water they require.
FLOWER GARDEN
Create your own "Tropical Paradise" and plant the likes of hibiscus, frangipani, vireya, gardenia, tropical impatiens, Tropicana Lillies ... enjoy their vibrant colours, lush foliage and heavenly scents.
The first of the spring bulbs have now arrived - daffodil, freesia, anemone and ranunculus!!
For a stunning spring display of tulips, place the bulbs in the fridge for 4-6 weeks prior to planting.
Plant new annual seedlings to freshen up the garden with colour. The colours and varieties are many - portulaca (great for hot dry spots), antirrhinum (snapdragon), alyssum, begonia, celosia, coleus, marigold, lobelia, verbena, statice, salvia, impatens (for shady places), petunia ...
Plant perennials - so many gorgeous colours and forms - echinacea (fabulous varieties flowering now), leucanthemum (new 'Banana Cream' and old time favourite 'Paladin'), coreopsis (great colours and self cleaning), chocolate cosmos (with it's divine chocolate scent), geranium ...
Colourful hanging baskets or pots filled with flowers look great - we have a variety of pots in many shapes and colours to freshen up a patio or verandah for summer and for your "Tropical Paradise".
Fuchsia's are still delighting but when flowering has finished cut them back to half their size to encourage spring flowers.
Deadhead annuals and perennials as they finish flowering.
Deadhead roses to promote autumn flowering.
KITCHEN GARDEN
To keep enjoying kitchen garden harvests in the months ahead, continue to plant:
Lettuce, Spring Onions, Celery, Leeks, Beetroot, Carrots, Silverbeet, Spinach, Dwarf Beans.
Also plant more of your favourite herbs to continue the supply to the kitchen - basil, parsley, sage, margoram, oregano, chives, thyme, borage, stevia, lemongrass ...
For autumn and winter crops plant brussel sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, leeks and rhubarb (a must for delicous winter dessets and baking).
Dig sheep pellets and vege mix in when you replant and mulch for moisture retention.
Remove old seeded veges, lettuces etc and replace/replant.
If your tomato plants have suffered from blight, pull them out (don't put them in your compost).
Cut back tall basil, parsley etc as required so they will shoot again.
Pick daily - beans while young and tender, courgettes and capsicum before they get too large, cucumbers to promote production.
FRUIT AND CITRUS
Keep well watered and enjoy picking your stone fruit!
Cover grapes with bird netting if the birds are getting to them.
Passionvine hoppers are difficult to control and regular spraying with Pyrethrum may be required.
TREES
We are Tauranga's leading stockist of Japanese Maples. We have a huge range in stunning colours and big specimens available.
TREES FOR SMALL GARDENS
Ginkgo Jade Butterflies is a delightful new miniature Ginkgo variety, growing to approximately 3m. Jade green summer colour turning soft yellow in autumn.
MAINTENANCE
Watering, feeding and having good soil is the key to great flowers/production. Fertilise with plant specific fertilisers and your plants will perform at their best.
Fertilise Hibiscus with blood and bone or a complete fertiliser.
Fertilise Agapanthus with blood and bone.
Continue liquid feeding Fuchsia's and hanging baskets every 2 weeks.
Seasol is an ideal liquid plant tonic for all seedlings, annuals and perennials - apply every 2 weeks.
Check all plants regularly for pests and disease - it's easier to deal with them early before they take hold and do too much damage.
Yates Liquid Copper Fungicide is a terrific new product that prevents the entry of bacterial and fungal spores and is suitable for a wide range of fruit trees, vegetables and ornamentals. Being a liquid product, effective coverage is easy to achieve.
If fungus and bugs are present they need to be kept under control with regular spraying. For fungus - Bravo, Greengard, Copper. For bugs - Pyrethrum, Success, Mavrik, Confidor.
White fly is prevalent at present. Use Target or see the Natures Way Organic Range - Insect & Mite Killer or Pyrethrum (mixed with Conqueror Oil).
Thrips are invading gardens and love Rhodo's, Viburnums and Prunus - spray with Conqueror Oil and Confidor or Mavrik.
Mites cause yellow stipling of leaves, especially in Roses, Fuchsia's, Gardenia's - spray with Mavrik or Mite Killer.
If Psyllids are present (check new growth on Eugenia's) then spray regularly as required - Conqueror Oil and Mavrik, follwed 2 weeks later with Conqueror Oil and Confidor.
Spray roses at 2-3 weekly intervals, alternatively with Shield and Super Shield.
Maintain your spray programme on citrus and fruit trees.
An excellent organic product is "Beata Bug" - a naturally based garlic spray that kills and repels insects - available in either concentrate or as a 'ready to use'.
Apply "Success" or "Derris Dust" to control caterpillars on vegetables, especially on cabbages, cauliflower and broccoli.
Apply Blitzem, Quash (if you have animals) or Baysol (long acting) to control slugs and snails - particularly around new seedlings.
Water deeply and regularly to maintain your garden's beauty, plant health and for fruit development of fruiting trees.
SATURAID is invaluable in summer - a granular wetting agent that improves the effectiveness of watering, rainfall and fertilisers. So easy to use - sprinkle on or dig in. Suitable for all areas of the garden and for pots, containers and hanging baskets.
Check mulch and top up if required with Tui Pelletised Pea Straw, Daltons Garden Mulch or the fabulous "Annandale" Pea Mulch (available in 40L compressed bags). Mulching should be done after thorough watering.
Keep lawns at a longer height during the summer months to help retain moisture and keep weeds at bay. Water deeply as required and preferably in the morning to discourage fungal disease. Greengard is an excellent product for lawns if fungus does appear. If Grass Grub has invaded your lawns treat with
FEED, WEED, WATER and your garden will continue to look beautiful all summer long.
Happy Gardening and remember, our knowledgeable staff are always available for planting and pest/disease control advice and to ensure you use the right products for your requirements.