The Star: January 30, 2020

The Star Thursday January 30 2020
16
GARDENING
Dining al fresco? Make sure your
outdoor living area is up to task
IT’S DEFINITELY the time
of year we all like to get
outside as much as
possible.
It’s warm and you now
have plenty of time in the
evenings after work to have
a relaxing meal in your garden
or outdoor living area.
It’s very easy to design an
area that will make outdoor
entertaining enjoyable.
• Plants –Try and use
plants that you like the look
of, and that complement
the garden area whatever
your favourite style, and
plants that will help to
soften any solid structures
like concrete walls and
paving.
The best idea is to take a
note when you go to other
peoples places, of what
plants you like, and this will
help you in choosing the direction/
style for your own
area. Plain wooden fences
most of the time look ugly,
and a bit like prison walls,
so softening these is a good
start. You can do this by
planting a hedge, or a border
of assorted plants and
where there is very little
room, espaliering a plant
onto a fence is easy and
very effective.
• Water features —
There are some awesome
water features available
these days, in all shapes
and sizes. If you want the
water feature to be seen
from several angles you will
need to select one where
the water spills over on all
sides.
The latest trend is that
the water features are made
of a composite material
of fibreglass/cement
mixture – lightweight but
strong – and importantly
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
ON THE
LOOKOUT:
Garden art
will add
a point of
interest and
get people
talking.
they look very natural. Also
the sound of water near
an outdoor living area is a
relaxing sound.
• Garden sculptures/
art – If adding either art
or sculpture into your
garden it will, like the water
feature, add an element that
you don’t get in lots of other
gardens. Set amongst your
plants or in pride of place
on a feature wall, it will add
a point of interest that will
certainly get your visitors
talking.
oN sAle Now!
Now only
$35.80
Plus $5 P&H per copy
AvAilAble from stAr mediA:
Level One, 359 Lincoln Road
Addington, Christchurch
Phone 379 7100
A. Azaleas are attacked
by leaf-spoiling thrips in
warmer weather. Protect
new growth with
pesticides.
B. Beans are easy-grow
summer veges. Climbing
beans take up minimal
space.
C. Cut back long shoots on
climbers so they don’t
snare passers-by.
D. Daisies, which come in
all sorts of shapes, colours
and sizes, brighten summer
gardens.
E. Eggplants love the warm
weather in late summer.
F. Fuchsias can be trimmed
back in midsummer.
G. Gardenias look at their
best in summer. Feed with
fertiliser and, once a year,
with iron sulphate.
H. Hydrangeas can be
pruned straight after
flowering or can be left to
develop autumn colours in
the blooms.
I. Indoor plants can be
given a spell outside during
summer, but make sure you
keep them in the shade.
J. Jumping insect pests are
also called leafhoppers.
Control with pyrethrum.
K. Keep on top of summer
weeds by hand pulling or
spraying as soon as they
appear.
L. Set the blades on
your mower higher for
thesummer months.
M. Make plans. A garden
is not a static place – things
grow larger, things die,
your use of it changes as
you and your family age.
Every garden benefits from
an update now and again.
N. Nectarines and peaches
are favourite summer fruit
but they’re very susceptible
to fungal diseases like shot
hole. Use a copper spray in
late winter.
O. Over-watering kills
many plants. Make sure
soil drainage is adequate
and don’t leave water-filled
saucers sitting under plants.
P. Pick tomatoes, beans,
berries and other crops
regularly. This promotes
further production.
Q. Quercus species (english
oak, pinoak, scarlet oak)
are popular shade trees for
larger gardens.
R. Roses can be pruned in
mid-summer to promote an
autumn flush. Remember
to keep them watered for a
good floral repeat.
SWEET:
Nectarines
are a
favourite
summer fruit
but be wary
of fungal
diseases.
The alphabetical guide
to summer gardening
S. Sweet corn tastes best
when it’s home grown and
picked fresh.
T. Tomatoes, too, are home
garden favourites. If you
have a glut make a pasta
sauce and freeze or get out
the preserving pan and
relish, chutney or green
tomato jam for a taste of
summer in mid-winter.
U. Update your reading.
Summer is the perfect
time to increase your
knowledge or make new
garden plans.
V. Vines such as
mandevilla, bougainvillea
and pandorea add colour
to the summer garden in
warm areas.
W. Water at the base of
the plant to keep leaves
dry and prevent fungal
diseases.
X. Xeronema callistemon is
the native poor knights lily
– they may take 15 years
to flower from seed but
provide a spectatcular
display when they do.
Y. Young plants may need
temporary shade
protection until they are
established.
Z. Zucchinis are fast
growing and productive in
the home vege patch.
The magazine for gardeners who
like to get their hands dirty
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