Time to Topdress - Aug 07, 2014

Dear Gardening Friends,

Spring is getting closer but don’t rush out to buy your spring vegetable seedlings just yet. You only need one frost like we had this week and all your plants will turn black and die.

If you have been thinking about planting roses bushes then buy them now while they are still at winter prices. Once spring hits the price of rose bushes can double. We still have nice plants for just $15.99. Never fertilise rose bushes when you plant them.

Remember these fertilisers are high in salt so they draw the moisture out of the roots and kill your plants. We recommend a soil improver product called “Greengold Planting Compost”. Dig this into the soil prior to planting and your roses will take off!

This week we have been topdressing all our potted trees and shrubs with Greengold Planting Compost. If you have pot plants at home use this product now and watch your plants take off this spring.

Modern potting mixes are made from recycled green waste, composted bark and river sand. The green waste and bark composts over time and all that is left in your pot is river sand and roots!

Have you noticed how the soil level in all your pots has dropped down and when you water it just runs out the bottom of the pot? Because the water runs out so fast your plants don’t get time to have a good drink. The result is your plant drops leaves, loses vigor and turns yellow.

A topdressing of Greengold Planting compost has an amazing effect on your plants. This product contains a wetting agent, an organic slow release fertiliser and rich compost.

You simply mulch the surface of your pots with about 20mms of this product. The finer particles wash into any cracks. The wetting agent removes the oily barrier and allows the potting mix to accept the water again.

The added compost absorbs the water and releases it slowly into the soil. Now you plant gets more water and when plants get more water they turn green and look happy again.

This is so simple and so cost effective. Bags of Greengold Planting Compost cost just $12.99, or buy 2 for $25.00. One bag will treat at least 5 big pots. It has no smell so you can even use it on indoor plants. We have been topdressing all our potted plants in the nursery. That’s why our stock looks so good.

Karyn also uses this product in our flower gardens before she plants. Check out our garden the next time you are driving past.

I noticed the first Hyacinth has popped up this week and the perfume is divine. If you bought some of these they should be flowering soon too. If you got some of the free bulbs last week plant them now!

Karyn also uses this product in our flower gardens before she plants. Check out our garden the next time you are driving past. I noticed the first Hyacinth has popped up this week and the perfume is divine. If you bought some of these they should be flowering soon too. If you got some of the free bulbs last week plant them now!

Karyns Primulas have started to flower in the gardens facing The Moore Oxley by pass. These really put on a spectacular show and the flowers sway in the wind as the cars woosh past.

Its Karyns birthday today, so we would normally be celebrating with a cake but she is not working today. If you love Karyns garden let her know because we all get to enjoy her beautiful flowers.

We were eating mudcake this week to celebrate Lisa’s birthday. Lisa works in our office so you have probably never seen her. Lisa does the wages so she is everybody’s favourite.

Lavenders are popular plants and every spring at least another 5 new varieties get released.

Lavenders are beautiful flowering shrubs but to keep them looking good they must be pruned at least twice a year. If you don’t prune them they go all woody and eventually fall out of the ground.

Karyn has just pruned ours so they will get covered in flowers this spring. If you prune lavenders back hard they usually die so the secret is to prune them lightly often.

Ours look like large soccer balls at the moment. Prune your lavender plants lightly now.

Don’t fertilise your lawn yet. The best time to fertilise anything is when it is actively growing. Your grass is still dormant for at least 3 weeks. Once it turns green its time to fertilise.

Pig took the piglets to the footy on Monday night. The tigers were terrible and pig lost his voice shouting at the ref. Pig’s not perfect.
Spring is so close now pig can smell it.
Come and see us if you are looking for ideas on what to plant this spring.

Happy Gardening
Tim