Swiss cheese your lawn? - Oct 16, 2014
Dear Gardening Friends,
We had amazing weather this week with snow on the mountains. We didn’t like the cold weather but we did love the rain.
During the storm I took a nice photo of a double rainbow over Camden. You don’t often see a double rainbow?
Our rose bushes are looking fantastic.
They are covered in blooms and buds.
Winter is the cheapest time to buy roses but if you buy them now you can sniff test the blooms
One of the most fragrant roses is a variety called Mr Lincoln. This rose was first introduced into Australia in 1964. Fifty years latter it is still the best selling red rose.
The reason it is so popular is because this long stemmed prolific flowering rose bush has the most amazing perfume. You can smell it from 3 metres away!
The petals stay on the flowers for ages so it’s perfect for picking.
If someone ever buys you a bunch of red roses from the florist it is probably Mr Lincoln. We have around 20 plants flowering now.
Plants cost $19.99 so they are an absolute bargain when you compare them to that bunch of flowers from the florist that will cost you at least $60.00.
Lisa has potted up one of our Tim’s Italian Tomatoes and it is already flowering and setting fruit.
You still have plenty of time to grow your own tomatoes and if you don’t own a vegetable garden then copy Lisa and grow them in big pots!
Tim’s Italian tomato is a disease resistant and vigorous. The sweet tasting pear shaped fruit have fewer seeds and more flesh than traditional varieties.
The Italians really do have the best tasting tomatoes. Big plants cost just $4.50. Remember to water your tomatoes every day for best results.
I hired a coring machine from Camden hire last Friday.
Camden hire is a local business that has won many awards and when you talk to the staff you can see why. I haven’t cored my lawn for at least 5 years.
A Coring machine removes cores from the ground as you direct it across your lawn. You are basically Swiss Cheesing your lawn! These holes allow water into your soil and help prevent compaction.
Traditionally green keepers would rake up these cores and then topdress with river sand. I just let the cores dry for a couple of days then mow the lawn without a catcher.
I keep telling you that gardening is all about maths. The more water you can get into your soil the better your plants will grow.
After the rain my lawn was like walking on a giant sponge. Usually that rain would just run off but now it goes into the ground.
I hired a commercial machine from Camden Hire but they do have walk behind, lawn mower sized machines that are more suitable for residential lawns. It only takes about an hour to core the average lawn so talk to your neighbours and share the rental cost.
You will need a van or trailer as the machines are heavy. Ironically a coring machine works better when the soil is moist so core your lawn now before the heat of summer arrives.
We have cored the lawn here at Tims Garden Centre too and it has never looked better. You will also notice that you get fewer weeds when your soil is wetter.
If you have grassy plants like Purple Fountain Grass cut them off at ground level now. These grassy looking plants love to be pruned and it gives them a new lease of life.
Karyn pruned our Purple Fountain Grass a few weeks ago and they are sprouting fresh new purple growth.
Grasses are very fashionable at the moment but if you don’t prune them they look shocking over time.
Thank you to all those customers who purchased a Euphorbia Milii. You helped us raise $1050.00 for The African Aids Foundation in Camden.
Dr John Schwarz from AAF picked up the cheque during the week.
The money will be used to supply Zulus in Bergville with tools, fencing, seeds and knowledge so they can grow their own vegetables.
Lots of new spring stock has arrived this week. There has never been a better time to visit us especially after that amazing rain.
Stop and smell our roses.
Happy Gardening
Tim