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30 Wednesday <strong>January</strong> <strong>15</strong> <strong>2020</strong><br />
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz<br />
SELWYN TIMES<br />
Gardening<br />
Capture rain water by using a tank<br />
FREE: Simple guttering, a downpipe and water tank will<br />
give you access to rain water for use elsewhere in the<br />
garden.<br />
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES<br />
AS WE move through summer,<br />
keep the garden looking fresh for<br />
your outdoor enjoyment.<br />
Conserve water – While<br />
we may not reach Australian<br />
levels of urgency with water<br />
shortages, the eco-messages are<br />
just going to get tougher from<br />
now on. Take a good look at how<br />
you use water in your garden<br />
and make some plans. This<br />
might be the year you invest in<br />
a rain water tank to capture all<br />
that free wet stuff, and to review<br />
the sprinkler system timing<br />
and spacing (so you don’t waste<br />
water spraying paths and so<br />
forth). Whatever your method,<br />
be sparing with the frequency<br />
of watering – established plants<br />
need only 30min of water once<br />
or twice a week, vegetables more.<br />
Check the soil at 10cm first.<br />
Mulch to save work –<br />
Mulch is the instant makeover.<br />
It suppresses weeds, makes a<br />
tired garden look fresh and slows<br />
water evaporation.<br />
But only apply it once the soil<br />
is good and wet, as otherwise it<br />
will not help your plants. Leave<br />
breathing room around trunks<br />
and shrubs to avoid fungus<br />
infections.<br />
Plant locally – Native plants<br />
are perfectly adapted to local<br />
NUTRITION: Be sparing with the frequency you put water<br />
on the lawn.<br />
sun, rain and wind conditions,<br />
so they look after themselves.<br />
The huge fashion for natives is<br />
not just about looks, it is about<br />
reducing hard work.<br />
Mow lightly – In the summer<br />
lawns do best when the<br />
grass is longer (about 25-30mm).<br />
The soil and roots are shaded so<br />
the lawn does not get sunburnt<br />
and more moisture is retained.<br />
If you can, leave clippings on the<br />
lawn to help conserve soil moisture<br />
and feed it.<br />
Add water – There is<br />
nothing like water to enhance a<br />
garden. While a full-scale water<br />
feature can get expensive, garden<br />
centres now sell small plug-andgo<br />
bubbling water bowls and<br />
sculptures which do not need<br />
elaborate construction. Add a<br />
few plants and you have a tiny<br />
tropical paradise.<br />
Create shady spots – If<br />
your deck gets the full blaze of<br />
sun, look at creating a secondary<br />
area for relaxing in the heat<br />
of the day. Deciduous trees may<br />
take a while to grow, but pergolas<br />
with removable shade sails and<br />
market umbrellas that hang from<br />
a wall or fence are good summer<br />
solutions that can be packed<br />
away when you need to soak up<br />
winter rays.<br />
Garden<br />
In the<br />
with intelligro<br />
Vege gardens<br />
Check your veggie regularly to ensure that you are<br />
harvesting the produce as soon as it is ready. If your<br />
plants have grown really fast and now have flowers<br />
and seeds on them, it is time to pull them out. They<br />
have “gone to seed” typically due to a lack of water,<br />
and won’t grow any produce now.<br />
Keep on top of watering. Planters, containers and<br />
pots can dry out faster at this time of year so make<br />
sure you give them a good soak every few days rather<br />
than a small watering daily. If your plants have been<br />
in for a while now, it might pay to add some fertiliser<br />
or organic matter to the soil to help keep the nutrient<br />
supply available for them to sustain healthy growth.<br />
For most of us, the summer holidays are done and dusted<br />
and we are back to the reality of work life. If you have spent<br />
a bit of time away from home, your gardens will more than<br />
likely be ready for a bit of TLC. Here are our top garden<br />
tasks to help get your garden back into shape.<br />
general gardening<br />
9 Raise the height<br />
of your mower to<br />
keep the lawns a bit<br />
longer. Make sure<br />
they are getting<br />
enough water too.<br />
9 Pull out or spray<br />
off the weeds as<br />
you see them. They<br />
compete with your<br />
plants for space,<br />
water and nutrients.<br />
9 Keep safe in the garden.<br />
Wear protective gear<br />
such as sunblock, hats,<br />
sunglasses and gloves. Make<br />
sure you wash your hands<br />
after you are finished.<br />
261 Manion Road, Weedons<br />
Access to Intelligro from Manion Road is now available from both<br />
the Weedons Ross Road end, and Curraghs Road entrances.<br />
Phone: 03 347 9012<br />
@igro.co.nz<br />
www.igro.co.nz<br />
tie up your tomatoes<br />
If you haven’t done so already, stake up your<br />
tomatoes to give them that extra support. Remove<br />
any laterals (side-ways growing shoots) and any<br />
excess leaves that are accumulating at the bottom<br />
of the plant. This will help to create more space for<br />
airflow and light to get in.<br />
intelligro is open to the public 7 days a week<br />
September – May Hours<br />
Mon – Sat 7.30am – 5.30pm Sun and Public Holidays 8.30am – 4.30pm<br />
June – August Hours<br />
Mon – Sat 8am – 5pm Sun and Public Holidays 9am – 4pm
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