Selwyn Times: September 15, 2021

NEITHER WINTER nor
summer, September can be
termed the ‘in-between’ month.
Usually there is a hint of
spring – a taste of better things to
come, and it’s a very busy month
preparing for the summer garden.
Houseplant care
Hopefully your houseplants
have successfully survived winter.
It is a difficult time for them as
many originate from tropical
countries.
As tempting as it is, delay
purchasing new houseplants for
another month until indoor temperatures
warm up consistently
throughout the day.
Continue to water plants sparingly
and mist the foliage (leaves)
regularly with lukewarm water
and ensure they are positioned
in a ‘high-light’ part of the house.
With large “glossy” green-leaved
houseplants such as fiddle leaf fig,
clean the leaves regularly with a
soft sponge.
If you have any houseplants
that are struggling, a few days in
a steamy bathroom is an excellent
way to revive them.
In the vege patch
It’s the very end for harvesting
traditional winter vegetables;
broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage,
cauliflower, celery, leeks,
lettuce, parsnips, rhubarb, silverbeet,
spinach and turnips. Keep
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planting out year-round vegetables
like celery, lettuce, silverbeet,
beetroot and spinach.
Many rush to plant out traditional
summer vegetable
seedlings in September such as,
tomatoes and cucumbers, but it
is still a little early. You are better
to wait until mid-October when
soils have warmed up.
However, you can now sow
summer vegetable seeds in seed
trays or punnets and place them
in a warm sheltered position
indoors or in glass houses.
Where areas of your vegetable
garden not too wet, start preparing
your summer garden by
digging in fresh compost. When
‘cleaning up’ the winter vegetable
garden, all the green material can
go straight into the compost bin
(so long as it is disease free).
Blooming bulbs
A wonderful month to enjoy
the spring flowers of traditional
bulbs.
When they finish flowering,
sadly sometimes too briefly, allow
the foliage to ‘brown’ and die
down before removing.
This is how the bulbs obtain
enough nutrients for the next
seasons flowering.
It can be worth marking in the
areas of your major bulb plantings
with some small stakes to
avoid disturbing later in the season
when planting possible trees
and shrubs.
GARDENING 27
Time to prepare for the summer garden
HEALTHY: If any of your houseplants are struggling, a few days in the bathroom will
revive them.
Wednesday September 15 2021 Selwyn Times
Flowering annuals
Most winter annuals are
now coming to the end of flowering.
Begin preparing for planting
summer flowering annuals by
sowing varieties in seed trays
ready to plant out later.
In the meantime, for continuous
flowers in your garden, plant
annuals that flower all year round;
alyssum, calendulas, cornflowers,
lobelias, pansies and violas.
Roses
Many rose varieties will now be
in full growth and the first flowers
will appear towards the end of the
month.
Apply the first side dressing
of rose fertiliser. Make sure your
fertiliser is high in potash which
promotes strong flowers.
Compost can be spread around
the base of the roses. This works
as both a soil conditioner and
mulch.
Lawn care
Grass will begin growing again
in some warmer areas.
Towards the end of the month
the first dressing of fertiliser can
be applied.
Check the lawn for wet spots or
areas that may require additional
drainage to be installed over the
summer months.
Ornamental trees and
shrubs
Camellias and azaleas will be
near the end of their flowering,
while rhododendrons are in full
bloom.
Complete any additional
planting of trees and shrubs in
September, before soils dry out in
early summer.
with intelligro
Spring is a time of growth and
development, and the list of jobs to do
is endless. With the weather warming
up and daylight savings here, now is the
perfect time to get stuck into the garden.
Intelligro are trying to make small
changes to help the environment and
we’re here to help you and your family
create a more sustainable future.
Creating your own veggie garden is the
perfect place to start.
Growing vegetables is not only quite
satisfying but very easy too! Growing
some of your own food is a key part of a
sustainable lifestyle.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Pick a sunny position for your veggie garden with
shelter from the wind.
2. If you’re using timber, untreated is best. If using
treated timber line with black plastic.
3. Having a good quality soil is key for growing a
productive veggie garden! For leafy, above the ground
produce choose Intelligro Vege Garden Mix, For root
crops, (potatoes, radishes etc) choose Intelligro Garden
Soil Mix. A soil blend is preferred by these plants.
4. Make sure you plant quality, in-season seedling (big is
not always better).
5. For a successful veggie garden make sure you establish
a regular watering routine!
Some of what we have in stock: Certified Organic Compost • Vege Garden Mix • Potting Mixes • Lawn
Mixes • House Plant Mix • Seed Raising Mix • Bark • Mulch • Stones • Chips • Pebbles • Sands
• Fertilisers • Pavers • Raised Gardens • Seeds • Seedlings • Tools and so much more!
Lawns...
Spring is well known as lawn time.
Lawns can be sown or repaired
now, as long as you are sure the
last of frosts have been and gone.
We have a handy lawn guide on
our website and our team would
be happy to talk through any
issues you may have, and point you
in the right direction. It’s also a good time to fertilise
your existing lawns, and repair any patches or holes.
261 Manion Road, Weedons 7677 | P: 03 347 9012 | E: info@igro.co.nz
Spring & Summer Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday: 7.30am – 5.30pm Sunday and Public Holidays: 8.30am – 4.30pm
www.igro.co.nz /igro.co.nz /intelligro_nz