Selwyn Times: April 07, 2021

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Selwyn Times Wednesday April 7 2021 24 GARDENING Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Perfect time to pop in some colour • By Henri Ham AUTUMN IS the perfect time to pop some pretty colour into your garden. Flowers like polyanthus, primula and viola can easily revitalise a weary garden, and thrive in the cooler months. And planting them now, before the temperature drops, gives them time to really get established, bringing you a prolonged blooming season. Polyanthus, primula and viola are easy to grow and flourish in garden beds, as borders, or in pots. Polyanthus and voila are petite blooms (about 10-15cm high), while primula has a bit more height (30cm) – ideal for planting in behind smaller plants, for a fuller garden effect. Primula comes in several shades of pink, red, white and mixed. It’s a dainty flower, and when picked makes a cute winter posy arrangement for your kitchen. Primula also copes well growing in the shade. If you’re not into the primula pinks, violas have a bolder look and come in range of blues, yellows and oranges. To really make these colours pop, when planting try thinking about your complementary colours – if you’ve got a terracotta orange pot, try planting blue blooms. Alternatively, if your pot (or house colour) is blue, VIVID: Primula lavender is a dainty flower, also available in many other colours. Polanthus look pretty in a pot on a table. try the citrus or orange violas, to really make them stand out. Purple and yellow flowers will also complement each other, and really stand out in a pot together. Polyanthus has a smaller bloom (framed by its leaves) appearance. There are blue, red, pink, white and yellow polyanthus – so you’re bound to find something you like. They look pretty in a pot on a table, and you’ll often see polyanthus in perfectly planted borders at public gardens. When getting ready to plant your seedlings, choose a spot that receives some sun, and has good drainage. If your garden is looking a bit tired after summer, turn over the soil, and dig through some organic compost or fertiliser. Once this is done, dig holes for your flowers, 10-20cm apart. You want the holes to be large enough so the roots of the seedlings don’t get squashed. Place the seedlings in, and press soil firmly down around it. Your plants will benefit from a good initial watering, and adding a layer of mulch around them. This will help retain moisture, soften the frost, and repel the weeds. If you’ve flower seedlings left over, an old favourite of mine is to pack them into a low hanging basket. Pop your primula, polyanthus or violas in, and add some lobelia to really soften the sides. And, as we leave summer behind, I also like that baskets aren’t so labour intensive with minimal watering required. In six to eight weeks, you’ll start to see colour popping through, all set for your coming cooler months. And remember – as with most flowers – to pick the off the deadheads to encourage more to bloom. Are you ready to grow? Kiwi Gardener is your practical guide to gardening in New Zealand. growing with you Issue 503 | April 2021 | 100% The rules of division How to multiply your plants for free Rose Remedies Identify and solve common issues $8.00 incl. GST 9 416770 121318 Superfood in the garden Beetroot, silver Beet coriander & more SubScribe From $ 20 In the name of good taste The last apricot orchard on the Port Hills ViVe la Volunteers! The growing force behind our botanic and community gardens 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 Making your great outdoors greater HIre equIpment 1.7 ton Digger 3 buckets and 2.5 ton electric tip trailer Plate compactor Log splitter Concrete mixer Lawn Dethatcher Barreto rotary hoe 3” Water Pump Wheel barrows Hand tools Concrete ball float/Screeds Electric concrete vibrator Check out the rest of our landscape supplies online www.mainscapegardensupplies.co.nz Contact us mon - Fri 1543 Springs Road, Lincoln 8:00am - 5:00pm 021 241 7908 Saturday sales@mainscape.co.nz 8:00am - 3:00pm STOP leaveS birds, snow, hail & vermin from blocking up your spouting Quality materials: BHP Colorbond steel mesh with unique patented louvre will even keep out pine needles. Will not rust or sag with age or load. 10 year warranty, range of colours. Proven in Australia & New Zealand over the last 15 years. FOR SAFE, PURE DRINKING WATER FROM YOUR ROOF. NOW AVAILABLE: STAINLESS STEEL MICO MESH SubScriptionS Freephone 0800 77 77 10 www.Gardener.kiwi Call Rohan anytime Mon-Sat for a no-obligation assessment & quote 03 982 8850 0800 486532 www.gumleaf.co.nz
THE COOLER temperatures of autumn have arrived, and so too has the beautiful colourful display of leaves on deciduous trees. It’s another busy month in the garden as we prepare our gardens for the colder winter months. Planting winter vege seedlings April is the favoured month for planting winter vegetable seedlings. Add fresh compost to the vege plot before planting broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, onions, peas, radish, spinach, swedes and turnips. It’s a good idea to stagger your plantings (called succession planting) every two to three weeks so you have a continuous harvest throughout winter. If temperatures are dropping at night, put jars or plastic bottles over seedlings to protect them against early frosts – this also helps keep snails and slugs at bay. Remember to remove any covers in the morning. Growing winter veges in containers If you are short on space in the garden, grow your veges in containers and/or pots. Try silverbeet, spinach, broccoli, peas and winter lettuce. Use fresh potting mix and make sure your pots/containers have good drainage holes. Place them in a warm sunny, north facing, position, away from strong winds. Add a layer of mulch on top to protect the soil. Planting flowering winter annuals Summer flowering annuals are just about finished. Remove old plants into the compost bin and if you haven’t already, prepare beds for planting with fresh compost. Winter annuals to plant in this month include; alyssum, aquilegia, calendulas, cineraria, cornflower, lobelia, lupins, nemesia, pansies, primulas, snapdragons, status, stock, sweet pea, sweet william, violas and wallflowers. Plant up pots and containers for colourful displays on decks and balconies – they will provide Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz a real lift over the dreary, cold winter months. Preparing the strawberry patch May is the preferred time for planting strawberries so use this month to prepare your strawberry patch for planting. Prepare the soil and mound areas for planting above the existing ground level, adding fresh compost and compacting the soil. Remove ‘runners’ from last seasons strawberry plants and keep them in a large container filled with fresh potting mix until they are planted next month. Fruit tree harvesting Feijoas and early kiwifruit are ripening. Leave feijoas to fall to the ground before collecting the fruit. All stone fruit trees can be given an end-of-season spray with a copper compound towards the end of April. Peach and nectarine tree pruning can start as their leaf fall has begun. Lemons will be colouring later in the month and can be harvested then. Ornamental shrubs The first of the winter flowering shrubs such as camelias will begin blooming. Garden centres will have new season plants in stock next month, so prepare new gardens for planting now by adding plenty of compost. End of the rose growing season Just a few rose varieties such as iceberg will be flowering into May. In general, roses are near the end of their growing season and sadly, look their least attractive. GARDENING 25 Preparing your garden for winter weather NOURISH: Add plenty of compost into your existing soil. Wednesday April 7 2021 Selwyn Times MAINTENANCE: Snip off strawberry runners ready for planting in May. Although it may be tempting to start pruning, it’s still a little early as a warm spell can bring about a burst of new growth which could then be damaged by frosts. Continue good garden hygiene such as removing all fallen leaves and dead flowers to help prevent overwintering fungal diseases like rust and blackspot. Last month for lawn care A great month for tackling major work renovating existing lawns or laying a new one. It may sound a bit repetitive, but preparation really is the key to success in growing a healthy lawn. With new lawns (or even lawn repair), only import clean, top quality topsoil or lawn soil. Always seek advice about the best lawn type for your property. For existing lawns, apply lawn fertiliser in early April to encourage strong, even growth. In the Garden with iNtelligro Winter gardens start in autumn, so get those veggies in ready for harvesting through winter. Lawn maintenance is near the top of the list, both preparing new ones and sprucing up existing. Fertilise on an overcast day, preferably with rain on the forecast. New lawns can be sown now too. eDible gArDeN Plant seedling such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, kale, beetroot, silver beet and radish. Flower gArDeN Bulbs can be planted now; daffodils, freesias, tulips, anemone to name a few. New iN store Birdies Garden Beds are now available both in store and online! Made with high quality steel, these beds are built to last. They come in 3 different sizes, and colours, and are super easy to put together. Come and see our display beds in store and get your collection started today! Fun and exercise all year round Lagoon Pools import and install quality fibreglass swimming pools. To compliment the pools they supply good quality equipment including salt water chlorinators, heat pumps, pool lights, fountains and water features, swim turbines, spa jets, robotic pool cleaners and a range of covers and roller systems including hidden and automated. Imported from Leisure Pools in Australia, their Vinyl Ester pools are strong with six layers including protective armour. Each pool is strength tested and has a lifetime structural and osmosis warranty. Lagoon Pools owners Julie and Warren are dealers for Leisure Pools in the North Canterbury to Southland area, and agents for the Elite Hideaway Roller system. Call Lagoon Pools on 0800 927 282 or 349 2160, email info@lagoonpools.co.nz or visit: www.lagoonpools.co.nz They are open by appointment only. oPeN 7 DAYs 261 Manion Road, Weedons P: 03 347 9012 | www.igro.co.nz @igro.co.nz PATIos - ouTDoor AreAs - CAr PorTs Shadecraft is a locally owned company who specialise in shade and weather protection products to enhance your homes design and use of outdoor areas. Louvres – sHADe sAILs – uMBreLLAs – ALL WeATHer CANoPIes www.lagoonpools.co.nz 03 349 2160 0800 92 72 82 ShadeCraft (SI) Ltd 0800 742332 • Cell 0274 981239 • www.shadecraft.co.nz
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Selwyn Times: April 07, 2021

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