We know this public holiday is to celebrate the Grand Final but it happens to be the perfect time to be out in the garden. New flowers are everywhere and more are opening up as the days get longer and the soil warms.
We are open from 8am to 5pm as usual today. We hope to see you soon!
Tony's Tips
October 2024
Spring is well underway and we now have many of the cold-sensitive plants in store. This includes Impatiens, Cucumbers and the first Basil for protected positions. We have over 30 varieties of tomatoes, as well as a good range of chillies, with more coming in as the weather heats up.
Petunias of all types are flowering now and we have pots of New Guinea Impatiens in store too. We have more Salvias and Gauras arriving every week, both of which are terrific long-flowering perennials. The spectacular Jackmanni Clematis are also flowering now and with pruning and feeding will flower through until mid to late Autumn.
October is the best time to plant the widest variety of plants. Just remember the three planting sins;
- Don’t plant anything deeper than it is in the pot,
- Don’t plant into unimproved soil, and
- NEVER tease the roots, even if it has a mat-forming root system.
Avoid these and your garden will reward you with abundant flowers and lush foliage!
Things to Do
- Repot Cymbidium orchids if they need it. They don't like too much space so only go up one pot size, plant in Orchid mix and give them a good dose of Osmocote.
- Prune Azaleas, Spirea, Wisteria, Weeping Cherries and other early spring flowering plants after flowering. This is their most serious prune of the year! Follow up with a good feed.
- Treat lawns with a selective weedicide to control Bindi and Clover. Both are in abundance currently due to favourable conditions.
- Control aphids and Black Spot on Roses with Rose Gun or Rose Shield. We like to fertilise Roses at this time too.
- Feed Gardenias with Harry’s Gardenia Food to ensure maximum flowering.
- Prune and feed evergreen Magnolias such as Little Gem and Teddy Bear before their spring flush of growth. They are much more attractive if fat and bushy and the foliage is highly prized for flower arranging.
- Dose all long-term potted plants, both indoors and outside, with Rapid Soak wetting agent to ensure that there is maximum water absorption, which encourages more efficient use of food and water.
Plant of the Month
Roses
Just like every spring, we're obsessed with roses! This is the ideal time to see the colour, smell the fragrance, and select the perfect rose for you. Some of our favourites are Camp David, Blue Moon, Friesia, Just Joey and the classic Iceberg. Give them a headstart with a good feed of Blooming Roses and stand by for a spectacular show!
