The Star: November 30, 2017

The Native Plant Nursery
visit www.tauponativeplant.co.nz to view all current specimens, availability and prices
The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday November 30 2017 37
Gardening
STRIKING: Marigolds in full bloom. They flower annually.
Still time to plant
IF YOU haven’t got your summer
planting finished it’s not too late
to get your vegetables and flowers
in the ground.
Hopefully, you will at least
have your soil ready for planting.
If not, then add in plenty of
compost or garden mix now and
combine well with your existing
soil before you plant out.
There is something special
about growing your own vegetables
– watching them grow from
seed/seedling to a scrumptious
crop through your own tender
loving care might be why they
taste better.
No matter how big or small the
space available; you can successfully
grow veges in regular garden
beds, raised beds or in pots and
containers.
Tasty vegetables to plant now
include beans, beetroot, carrots,
celery, corn, cucumber, onions,
peas, pumpkin, radish, potatoes,
spinach, tomatoes and zucchini,
not to mention the great range of
lettuces available.
If space really is an issue, there
are plenty of dwarf varieties you
can grow. For plants that need
support like tomatoes or beans,
put your support stakes/structures
in place before you plant
your young plant so you don’t
disturb the roots later on.
Summer flowering annuals
can also be planted now in either
beds or large containers. Flower
varieties to grow are alyssum,
aster, cornflower, cosmos, livingstone
daisy, lobelia, marigold,
SWEET: Pumpkins should
now be developing well.
nemesia, portulaca, petunia, statice,
salvia, stock, sunflowers and
zinnia – to name just a few.
Also, think about planting
some varieties in your vegetable
garden to help attract bees and
other beneficial insects to aid pollination.
Fresh herbs can also now be
safely planted, such as basil,
chives, dill, marjoram, mint,
oregano, parsley, sage, tarragon,
thyme and rosemary. They can be
grown successfully in containers
or in the garden, preferring a hot,
free-draining site.
Add some fertiliser to fruit
trees and shrubs to encourage
growth. Citrus trees should be fed
with a specific citrus fertiliser. Do
not apply fertiliser in very dry hot
conditions such as the peak of
summer when plants can suffer
from heat or moisture stress.
Keep garden design simple
SIMPLE, uncluttered garden
design is especially appropriate
when space is limited.
Whether you want a serene
look or something dramatic, you
can achieve it by mass planting
just a few carefully chosen
plant species, each with strong
features.
Flowers are not essential (year
round good looks and healthy
foliage are more important), but
as seasonal highlights they can
make the garden all the more
interesting.
Mass planting by itself can be
dull. Break up the monotony by
choosing an accent plant that
can be repeated throughout the
design.
Planting in pots adds extra
zing and makes it easy to change
or relocate your accent plants
when you feel like a new look,
or a change between seasons.
As well as accents, every garden
needs a strong focal point.
Often a sculpture, this could
also be a piece of furniture or
garden architecture, a water
feature, or just one stunning
plant in a spectacular pot.
Container gardening is a great
way to enjoy getting your hands
dirty. The trend is towards
simplicity – bigger pots and less
of them.
Classy containers deserve
classy plants, and those that last
the distance.
For pots in prime positions
choose plants with a strong
WARM: Use canna tropicanna for visual affect.
STRONG: Mass planting provides this corner with something
dramatic.
well defined shape, preferably
symmetrical so that they look
good from all angles.
Cordyline red fountain is
one such plant. Its cascading
mass of bright burgundy leaves
rises from a short central base,
becoming thicker and more
lavish with time.
Tolerant of dry spells,
cordyline red fountain performs
exceptionally well in a large pot.
Another spectacular container
plant is cordyline caruba black.
With wide shiny purple-black
leaves and a strongly upright
habit (up to 1.2m tall by 45cm
wide), it makes a striking
contrast in both colour and
form.
Bromeliads and slow growing
cycads (sago palms) are ideal
container plants for warm
climates.
The favourite bromeliad for
big pots is Alcantarea imperialis,
a stunningly symmetrical plant
with bold leathery leaves.
Alcantera is a warm climate
plant but will tolerate cold
nights, and even light frosts once
settled.
Containers offer a no fuss way
to enjoy the seasonal colour of
bulbs and flowering annuals.
When flowering stops, pots
can be replanted or simply
moved from view.
A fabulous summer accent
plant for a warm climate garden
is canna tropicanna. Fantastic in
large containers, it is loved for its
fiery striped leaves, followed by
tall bright orange flower spikes.
Cut right back in autumn the
vibrant leaves reappear with
fresh brilliance in spring.
When we plant whole groups
of a few carefully chosen
varieties, the effect is bold and
deliberate, bringing strength and
character to the garden. But not
all plants are suitable for mass
planting. Anything with a down
time is going to be a blot on your
landscape for a large part of the
year.
So the first priority is to choose
a plant that looks great for at
least most of the year.
No. 200-0051
Name
Name
No. 200-0051
$200
Gift Voucher $ 200
T WO HUNDRED DOLL ARS
Date of issue
Name
The Native Plant Nursery
Taupo Garden Centre
155 Centennial Drive Taupo
No. 50-0251
No.
Date of issue
This voucher may only be redeemed at The Native Plant Nursery and its outlets:
The Native Plant Nursery Taupo 155 Centennial Drive Taupo Ph: 07 378 5450
The Native Plant Nursery Taupo Garden Centre 155 Centennial Drive Taupo Ph: 07 378 5450
The Native Plant Nursery Waiuku 341 Glenbrook-Waiuku Road South Auckland Ph: 09 235 3543
Name
50-0251
Gift Voucher
The Native Plant Nursery South Island 1350 Lake Brunner Road Rotomanu S.I. Ph: 03 738 0634
$50
FIF T Y DOLL ARS
P: 07 378 5450
Date of issue
Valid for 12 months from date of issue. Vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash
Date of issue
This voucher may only be redeemed at The Native Plant Nursery and its outlets:
The Native Plant Nursery Taupo 155 Centennial Drive Taupo Ph: 07 378 5450
Name
Date of issue
Taupo Garden Centre
155 Centennial Drive Taupo
GIVE a GARDEN
FOR CHRISTMAS
P: 07 378 5450
Christchurch Garden Centre
Open daily 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
478 Marshland Road, Marshland
Telephone : 03 385 9008
The Native Plant Nursery Taupo Garden Centre 155 Centennial Drive Taupo Ph: 07 378 5450
The Native Plant Nursery Waiuku 341 Glenbrook-Waiuku Road South Auckland Ph: 09 235 3543
The Native Plant Nursery South Island 1350 Lake Brunner Road Rotomanu S.I. Ph: 03 738 0634
Valid for 12 months from date of issue. Vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash
visit www.tauponativeplant.co.nz to view all current specimens, availability and prices
…with native plant
gift vouchers
No. 20-0451
No. 20-0451
Gift Voucher $ 20
Name
Date of issue
This voucher may only be redeemed at The Native Plant Nursery and its outlets:
T WENT Y DOLL ARS
The Native Plant N