Selwyn_Times: October 05, 2023

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14 | selwyn gardening guide spring 2023 Encouraging bees into your garden Bee-friendly planting Honeybees are struggling right now in early spring, and will again in autumn, when there are fewer flowers around unless humans help. Bumble bees need support from midwinter to early spring. Native bees are better off, being active from late spring through summer, to match Aotearoa’s peak native flowering diversity. To help these little hard workers, plan for early, midseason and late season blooming, providing food throughout the year. Bees especially love blue and yellow, and flowers that make good landing platforms or are tubular with nectar at the base. Trees and shrubs can provide pollen and nectar early in the season before other plants have emerged. The NZ Trees for Bees Research Trust has downloadable regional planting guides. Good news for Cantabrians is that many of our favourites are already on there, including cabbage trees, flaxes, hebe, and pear and apple trees. Top tip – plant clusters of each species together – this type of display attracts bees while also looking awesome. Sometimes it’s a matter of re-framing your opinion about what’s already happening naturally in your garden. Lawn purists will tell you that clover and dandelions are weeds. But bees love them, and let’s face it, once these plants are in your lawn they’re pretty hard to get rid of, so – let them flower. Their presence will help the bees and therefore all your other plants. Easy on the sprays Extensive scientific studies have concluded that Roundup, although heavily used in NZ domestically and commercially, is toxic to bees. Glyphosate, its key ingredient, disrupts their digestive bacteria, making them weaker and prone to infection. It has also been proved that surfactants, or spray-enhancing agents, smother the bee. So if you must spray, do extensive research from independent sources, not from the manufacturer. Also consider the many natural products that are highly effective, including vinegars, salt, lemon juice and boiling water. The timing is also crucial – bees forage in daylight, so spray at dawn, or dusk and into the evening. Here’s a great job for the kids Bees need fresh, shallow water available every day. They can’t swim, so choose a container with gently sloping edges, or add small stones or floating bits of wood. Bees are a gardener’s best friend, so let’s be theirs too. Bring your dreams to reality Adding a pool to your outdoor area remains a popular option for many Selwyn homes and local company Lagoon Pools continues to be busy looking after residents’ needs. They not only install the pools in a range of sizes but can help with organising pavers, pool surrounds and fencing. With sizes and shapes ranging from three metres to 12 metres, there really is a pool for every site in a range of colours. Other additional features include fountains, spa jets and swim jets and they can even add pool lighting. “It is best for anyone looking at installing a pool to work ahead and get it locked in early,” says Lagoon Pools owner Julie who runs the business with her husband Warren. It takes around five days to install a pool and then the finishing touches takes from around 6 weeks depending upon the design. Lagoon Pools is the Leisure Pools dealer for most of the South Island. Leisure Pools feature 100% per cent composite fibreglass and, with patented innovations, every swimming pool is supported by their lifetime structural warranty and a lifetime osmosis warranty. Contact Lagoon Pools by phoning Julie or Warren on 0800 927 282. You can also visit their website www. lagoonpools.co.nz to find out more about their range of pools and other services they offer. www.lagoonpools.co.nz 03 349 2160 or 0800 92 72 82
selwyn gardening guide spring 2023 | 15 H AM 310 II Working Area: 1,000m 2 - Cutting Capacity: 60m 2 /h Max Incline: 40% (22°) An excellent entry level, user friendly robotic mower for a small to medium lawns up to 1,000m 2 , handling slopes up to 22°. Control from your smartphone via Bluetooth connectivity. FREE Install Kit H AM 405X Working Area: 600m 2 - Cutting Capacity: 63m 2 /h Max Incline: 40% (22°) High-performance model ideal for small, intricate lawns. Handles slopes and narrow passages effortlessly, delivering flawless results. Features GPS assisted navigation, smart home integration, premium security, personalised zone control and cellular connectivity. FREE BONUS Install Offer Kit H AM 415X Working Area: 1,500m 2 - Cutting Capacity: 63m 2 /h Max Incline: 40% (22°) The perfect choice for mid-sized and complex lawns, handles narrow passages and slopes. Features GPS assisted navigation, smart home integration, premium security, personalised zone control and cellular connectivity. FREE BONUS Install Offer Kit $ 2,790 Includes medium installation kit^ L AM 430X Working Area: 3,200m 2 - Cutting Capacity: 133m 2 /h Max Incline: 45% (24°) Smart enough to navigate large and complex lawns, multiple narrow passages, obstacles, tough terrain and slopes with superior control thanks to the GPS-assisted navigation. Features smart home integration, premium security and cellular connectivity. FREE BONUS Install Offer Kit $ 3,490 L AM 450X Working Area: 5000m 2 - Cutting Capacity: 208m 2 /h Max Incline: 45% (24°) The ultimate model for large properties, adept at handling tough terrains, obstacle, and slopes with GPS navigation. Features smart home integration, premium security, object detection and cellular connectivity. FREE BONUS Install Offer Kit $ 4,490 L AM 435X AWD Working Area: 3500m 2 - Cutting Capacity: 146m 2 /h Max Incline: 70% (35°) An all-wheel-drive model that makes light work of large lawns, obstacles, rough terrain and slopes. Features ultrasonic collision detection, X-line design with LED headlights and equipped with Automower® Connect including GPS theft tracking. FREE BONUS Install Offer Kit $ 5,690 $ 6,990 $ 8,490 H Homeowner Medium Duty, seasonal or occasional use. L Landowner Heavy Duty, Frequent or demanding use. Prices refer to units only. Installation kits sold separately: Small $219 RRP, Medium $309 RRP. Large $479 RRP. Installation costs are optional and are in addition to all Automower unit pricing shown above. SHANDS HuSqVARNA 706 Main South Road Phone 03 349 8955 | www.shands.co.nz *Buy a residential Husqvarna Automower® X-Line series (AM430X, AM450X, AM435X AWD) unit and SAVE up to $400 (including GST) off cost of Husqvarna professional installation. *Buy a residential Husqvarna Automower® X-Line series (AM405X, AM415X) unit and SAVE up to $300 (including GST) off cost of Husqvarna professional installation. ^Buy a residential Husqvarna Automower® 305/310 MKII unit and receive a FREE installation kit. Installation costs not included, to be quoted separately by local Husqvarna dealer. See husqvarna.com for full terms and conditions.
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Page 5 and 6: Art and Nature Intertwined: Tai Tap
Page 7 and 8: | 7 The ethereal beauty of Te Repo
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Selwyn_Times: October 05, 2023

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