MAY IN THE GARDEN
Autumn is far from dull at Decor with oddles of fantastic foliage and flower colour ready for your garden now. Continue planting and you will be rewarded with stronger and bigger spring growth, root systems will develop over the winter months, there's less watering and fewer pests and diseases.
FLOWER GARDEN
For gorgeous autumn/winter flowers plant rhododendrons, azaleas, Pieris (Lilly of the Valley), camelias, ericas (white, pink or red) ... all are looking stunning now!
Plant spring bulbs - we have top quality bulbs - daffodils, freesia, tulips, iris, anemone, ranunculus ...
Remove summer annuals that have now finished flowering and plant new annual seedlings for spectacular colour in your winter garden. The colours and varieties are many - pansy, viola, primula, polyanthus, stock, poppy, snapdragon, dianthus ...
Plant perennials - mini cyclamen, enviromentally friendly Agapanthus 'Lapis' (blue) and Agapanthus 'Pavlova' (white) ...
Hanging baskets or pots filled with colourful flowers will brighten your patios and verandahs over the winter months. We have a large selection of pots in many shapes and colours.
Deadhead annuals and trim perennials as they finish flowering.
Roses should now have been given their final deadhead before leaving them to "winter".
NEW SEASON ROSES ARRIVING 1ST WEEK OF JUNE - order now!
KITCHEN GARDEN
Continue planting for winter kitchen garden harvests:
Winter lettuce, onions, beetroot, spinach, silverbeet, carrots, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, rhubarb, snowpeas, garlic bulbs, shallot bulbs ...
Herb favourites - parsley, rosemary, sage, margoram, oregano, thyme, lemongrass ...
Dig sheep pellets and vege mix in when you replant.
Remove old seeded veges and herbs and replace/replant.
Sow cover crops to replenish soil nutrients and improve soil structure - lupin, mustard.
A greenhouse is great for growing your favourite veges all year round - come and see the top quality range of Winter Gardenz Greenhouses we have available.
FRUIT AND CITRUS
Plant feijoa's - you'll enjoy lovely big juicy fruit every April from the self vertile Feijoa Apollo and Feijoa Unique.
Persimmons are a gorgeous fruit and are a great addition to the home garden as a handsome fruiting tree.
If you haven't already done so, fertilise all citrus with specific Citrus Fertiliser to ensure they receive all the nutrients they require and also spray citrus with Copper and Conqueror Oil (Yates Liquid Copper Fungicide is very effective and easy to apply).
Pip and stone fruit trees can also be sprayed once all fruit has been picked, with Champion Copper & Conqueror Oil.
TREES & SHRUBS
Plant new trees and shrubs! Stake for support if required and fertilise with slow fertiliser
tablets.
For great winter colour Leucadendrons, Protea, Grevillea (bird attacting), Maples, Cercis (Forest Pansy), Dogwood, Liquid Amber, Oaks.
We are Tauranga's leading stockist of Japanese Maples and have a huge range in stunning colours and big specimens available.
Plant new hedges and trim exising hedges before frosts damage new growth.
Fantastic hedging plants are Japanese Box, Teucrium, and NZ's favourite Griselinia Broadway Mint!
Box Hedging - spray with Copper and Conqueror Oil or with a systemic fungicide such as Greenguard to prevent the spread of Box Blight (Japenese Box is far more resistant than English Box to Box Blight).
TREES FOR SMALL GARDENS
Ginkgo Jade Butterflies - a delightful new miniature Ginkgo variety, growing to approximately 3m. Jade green summer colour turning soft yellow in autumn.
Robinia Mop Top - an ideal feature tree for courtyards and entrances.
Liquidamber Gumball - stunning garden or pot specimen. Spectacular orange, red, yellow autumn foliage.
MAINTENANCE
Watering, feeding and having good soil is the key to great plants/flowers/production. Fertilise with plant specific fertilisers and your plants will perform at their best.
Hygiene is important in the garden so clear away diseased leaves and prunings and sterilise secateurs, hedge trimmers etc before and after use (bleach is a good sterilant).
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 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 still prevalent at the moment. 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.
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 Blitzem, Quash (if you have animals) or Baysol (long acting) to control slugs and snails - particularly around new seedlings.
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.
LAWNS
Autumn is the best time to sow new lawns or renovate existing lawns.
New lawns - spray to eradicate weeds, apply Tui Lawn Prep Mix, fertilise with Tui Lawn Fertiliser (1-2 weeks prior to sowing), sow with a seed variety suitable to your needs.
Existing lawns - spray with Turfix to eradicate weeds and topdress areas as required.
Feed existing lawns and new lawns (once germinated) with Scotts Slow Release Lawn Fertiliser.
NEW PRODUCTS FOR YOUR GARDEN
Yates Uplift "Organic Plant Starter and Root Booster" and "Organic Liquid Fertiliser" - these products will greatly improve plant growth.
Yates Nature's Way "Organic Wormicast Soil Conditioner" - improves soil structure and moisture retention and promotes root growth and nutrient absorption = healthier plants.
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.