It might be hard to believe but, if you know where to look, the signs of spring are there. Magnolia and other blossoms are going at full force and this is the time to start planting flowers and veggies for spring and summer.

If you've been into the Nursery recently, you may have noticed the big For Sale sign out the front. While there are a few changes on the horizon, rest assured we are not going anywhere for a while. We are still here to help you with all your garden and gifting needs and look forward to seeing you in store.

Tony's Tips

September 2024

It’s spring at last! After a miserable start to winter, the season finished on a positive note with warmth, sunshine and early spring growth. This is the most exciting time of the year in the garden, with new growth and change happening every day. Make the most of it by planting new season Petunias, Marigolds and Tomatoes.

I always plant new season tomatoes out in the carpark on September 1st and will have pickable, flavoursome fruit by late November or early December. My favourites are Mighty Red and Sweetbite, which are available now, and Truss Plum, which will be available in two weeks. Make sure to improve their soil with compost and a little lime at planting and don’t plant into soil that grew tomatoes last year. Hold off feeding them until they are setting the first fruit then use a suitable fertiliser to encourage fruiting. Dust with Tomato Dust to prevent any diseases.

We have already started planting our Petunia hanging baskets. With relatively little maintenance, they will put on an abundantly colourful display from late spring through to late autumn.

Look out for more new season veggies and flowering plants as the season progresses. There will be more available every week!

Things to Do:

• Feed your lawns, gardens, and pots. This is the most important feed of the year so make sure to use a high quality fertiliser!
• Lots of pruning! Prune winter and early spring flowering plants such as Hibiscus, Camellias, Luculia, natives and Proteas. Prune scrappy ornamental grasses like Liriope fairly hard to promote new growth. Lightly prune Oak Leaf Hydrangeas into shape. Prune back Salvias, Heliotrope, Gaura and Fuchsias by a third.
• Protect Peaches and Nectarines with Kocide. This is also great to use on Tomatoes and Roses.
• Apply Blueing fertiliser or Alum to blue Hydrangeas to ensure strong colour when they bloom.

Plant of the Month

Geum Jazzy

September sees many new season perennials available again, including Geum Jazzy in five vibrant colours. They are hardy, easy to grow, and long flowering perennials that should grow to around 40 cm high and 50 wide in a sunny position. Fiery Tempest and Scarlet Tempest are beautiful shades of solid red, while Pretticoats Peach and Mai Tai are gorgeous watercolour pinks and Alabama Slammer is a lovely yellow. These are the best performing Geums I’ve seen, ideal to brighten up any garden!