You may be aware that, in July last year, Department of Conservation and MAF Biosecurity New Zealand declared rainbow skink (Lampropholis delicata) an Unwanted Organism (UO) under the Biosecurity Act 1993. The declaration was based largely on the risk posed to native lizards from competition for resources with this invasive Australian skink. Rainbow skinks are […]
Peter from Touchstone Garden centre in Gisborne has reported a major problem with an algae type plant coming into the garden centre presumably on a plant and although it was problematic last year, it is now out of control. Land Care Research has identified it as a species of cyanobacterium Nostoc, possibly N Commune. It […]
Citrus trees are a common fruit tree for NZ gardeners and in most areas grow in open ground or in containers with protection during winter. Citrus trees cross very easily which has created a large number of types over the years. The genus Citrus appears to have originated in Southeast Asia with the following types: […]
Potential problems you may encounter with growing and caring for citrus. An important aspect for your citrus tree is the area between the trunk and the drip line. This is the area where you want micro organisms to work and thrive, so avoid using any Herbicides, chemical sprays and fertilisers it this area. Instead hand […]
February is usually the driest and hottest month of the year and the time when a lot of the earlier plantings of vegetables have reached maturity and been harvested. It is the second to last month to plant out crops for winter harvesting so make sure the empty spaces are manured and replanted with winter vegetables this […]
Several gardeners have contacted me recently because their stone fruit trees have leaf curl damage. Unfortunately for these gardeners they have already lost the battle this season in controlling the disease. Curly leaf is a difficult one so I did a little research on the Internet and came up with the following from the University […]
Recently I received a couple of new tips which might be of interest to you.
Last week I popped into a local garden centre and was taken back on all the new season’s stocks of things that we should be getting organised to do. Spring vegetables and flower seedlings, seed potatoes, asparagus crowns, liliums, strawberry plants, fruit trees and ornamentals to name some of the main lines. The weather has […]
