Selwyn_Times: October 05, 2023

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10 | selwyn gardening guide spring 2023 Lichen: friend or foe? Lichen grows on any undisturbed surface, so it’s commonly seen on slow-growing trees. There’s a – let’s not call it an “old wives’ tale”, because old wives are often right – it’s more of a gardening myth, that lichen on a tree means that the tree is dying. The tree may in fact be dying, but the causality is the other way round. Lichens love sunlight, so if the tree is unwell, its canopy is decreasing, letting more light through. You may see light-loving lichen on the sunny side of a branch with shade-loving moss on the other side – both beautiful, and neither harming the plant. In fact, the presence of lichen is a positive indicator of the health of your garden. This is because of its unique physical makeup and structure. Lichens are a symbiosis of fungi with algae. The fungus gives it its body, while the algae gives it its ability to get nutrients by photosynthesis. This all means that the lichen cannot do anything bad to your plant – it is living on it, but not penetrating, drying or consuming it. Lichens are self-sufficient, feeding from clean air and sunlight. So if they’re doing this in your garden, your air quality is healthy and unpolluted. Lichens are the dominant vegetation on as much as 8% of the Earth’s land, able to survive in every climate and altitude. This is because of some remarkable attributes. 1) If they don’t like the weather, they can shut down their metabolism until their environment suits them again. This is how they survive the planet’s extremes of heat, cold and drought, living in Antarctic winters at -70°C and deserts at 70°C. 2) They can live for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. 3) They can release hundreds of different sorts of biochemical compound substances to defend against specific threats, for example to control light and ultraviolet exposure, repel herbivores, fend off grazing slugs and insects and kill attacking microbes and bacteria. New Zealand has at least 2,000 lichen species, with up to 40% being unique to this country. You probably have some of those in your garden, adding a beautiful sense of aging and grace. Relax and feel honoured – they are friend, not foe. Trees are the Kiwi dream We Kiwis love being outside whenever the weather allows. We’re gardening, BBQing, playing and relaxing, enjoying quiet reflection and sharing time with loved ones – and we love doing all this in the presence of beautiful trees. Most kiwi gardens have a feature tree – the one that enchants and uplifts us, and represents home. Canterbury company The Tree People understands this, and shares our passion. Their main promise: “The trees we care for look perfect and healthy… because they are.” “We combine the science and art of tree care with technical experience, passion, advanced equipment and sustainable practices,” says Co-Owner Raoni Hammer. Shade in outdoor space is critical once that temperature creeps up. There are several benefits of using tree canopy for shelter: a deciduous tree will let the light and warmth you want into the house as the canopy thins for autumn. In the hot months, the transpiration of trees cools the air around them. A row of trees will shade a paved area, cooling the ground itself for bare feet, plus minimising heat radiation upwards. As you prepare your summer garden, consider water conservation as a top priority. Select environmentally suitable plant species. Enhance soil quality by mulching, composting or using Biochar, while leaving healthy leaf litter in place. Opt for early morning or evening watering and explore the benefits of rainwater collection systems. At our arborist company, we’re committed to helping you create a sustainable and thriving garden for the summer months. The team also trims trees for powerline safety and offers emergency services. Whether your trees are native, ornamental or fruiting, The Tree People are the experts. Book a free consultation today. www.thetreepeople.nz | Ph 03 384 9630 email: info@thetreepeople.nz Since 2004, The Tree People are your Canterburyowned tree experts. Our team is focused on sustainability, and we care about what we do. You can trust us to take care of your tree needs South Island wide. Our services include all aspects of tree work: • Pruning • Storm damage • Removals • Planting • Tree transplanting • Vista management • Hedge trimming • Environmental services Call us for a FREE quote 03 384 9630 www.thetreepeople.nz
selwyn gardening guide spring 2023 | 11 SPOT THE DIFFERENCES! TO GO IN THE DRAW Colour in the pictures and circle the differences. There are eleven to find. HAVE FUN! Free printable courtesy of PrintitFree.net Your organics bin is only for the following items... It’s organic collection time Garden prunings, clippings and leaves Fruit and vegetables Meat, bones and fish Spring is the perfect time to get back into the garden and start filling up your organics bin again. The Selwyn District Council’s green organics bins can be utilised for garden prunings, weeds, leaves and grass clippings. Food items such as bread, dairy products, fruit, vegetables fish, meat, bones and coffee grinds can also be placed in the green bin. Here are some useful tips to ensure your bin is fully emptied every week: · Keep the bin weight under 60kg. If you find it difficult to move the bin, then you may find it exceeds the truck lifting limits. · Keep the bin contents loose. Don’t compact your material by standing on it (it may not come out when tipped by the truck). · Place weeds, branches or newspaper at the bottom of the bin before filling with grass clippings. This reduces the likelihood of the grass clippings getting stuck. · Organics only! No plastic bags (including those labelled as compostable, degradable or biodegradable), metals, timber, sawdust, glass, rocks, stones or bricks as these cause considerable damage to the organics shredder. · Flax and cabbage leaves need to go in your red rubbish bin (as these get caught up in the shredder). · Make sure your bin is not overflowing – the lid needs to close. For townships with organic collection; why not swap your 240-litre rubbish bin for a 240-litre organic bin and an 80-litre rubbish bin? You’ll save money and the environment! Unsure about an item? Check out selwyn. govt.nz/organics. Tips to ensure your bin is fully emptied: · Keep items loose. · Keep the bin weight reasonable. · Place weeds, branches or newspaper at the bottom of the bin before filling with grass clippings (to avoid contents getting stuck). selwyn.govt.nz/organics Bread, pastries and dairy products Coffee grinds · No plastic bags (including compostable or biodegradable), metals, glass, rocks, stones, bricks or rubbish. · Flax and cabbage tree leaves should go in the red bin. · Make sure the lid closes.
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Page 5 and 6: Art and Nature Intertwined: Tai Tap
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Selwyn_Times: October 05, 2023

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