Warming weather brings out a number of insect pests which include; grass grub beetles, codlin moth, whitefly, leaf hoppers, spider mites, aphids and many more. The later 4 when left without control, will quickly build up their populations making for a real problem later in summer. The first two will be worse next season if […]
At this time in New Zealand things are not too bad as yet, so as we used to say, Make hay while the sun shines. There are two aspects to growing your own food to be more self-sufficient, these are the short term and the long term. For instance on the short term you can […]
Top Tips for Beginner Gardeners There’s nothing worse than starting a vege patch all enthusiastic, putting the leg work in, then getting disappointing results. As spring is often the time when beginners decide to give it a go, I’ve put together a few top tips to help you on your way. If any of you […]
Weather-wise, there’s no doubt it is winter. But take a stroll in some gardens, you could be forgiven for thinking it was spring. In a garden that’s planted with winter colour in mind, these cold wet months are far from dull. If your winter outlook needs brightening, then a strategically placed flowering shrub or tree […]
…What to plant in July Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chinese Cabbage, Garlic, Peas, Radish, Silverbeet, Perpetual Spinach, Turnips Planting Potatoes If you live north of or within Auckland, you can grow potatoes all year round. (If you are south of Auckland you will need to wait until the ground gets warmer – we’ll keep you posted) […]
The winter planting season’s stock of the latest and greatest rose varieties arrives in garden centres in early June. Loads more are available via mail order and the internet. If you buy bare root roses, carefully remove the packaging, trim any damaged roots, then soak in a bucket of water while you prepare the ground. […]
With autumn’s vibrant hues still in mind, winter is planting time for deciduous trees. Apart from the temporary nuisance factor that the autumn leaf drop can be (just think of all the good that composted leaf litter will do for your soil), deciduous trees are enormously useful things to have in your garden. They provide […]
It’s hard to feel inspired about roses in the dead of winter, but June is the best month to go shopping (and get planting) if you want to grow the world’s most romantic blooms in your own garden. The dilemma most of us have with roses is that the most desirable of blooms are borne […]
