MAY – FULL COLOUR FOR WINTER IS EASY
TIME TO PLANT...
Remember the 3 P's for quick winter colour – primulas. polyanthus and primroses, pansies and violas, and poppies. All of these love the cold, either in pots or in the flowerbeds, full sun, and an occasional feed with dried blood to enhance colour and flower quantity, and available in punnets, Super Six instant colour, or Flora Viva instant single colour.
Cyclamen love cooler light shade conditions and thrive in containers, available in either miniature or regular form with good colour options, great in pots, can take light frost. Camellias flower mostly in winter and or early spring. Hurry to get the last of your Spring bulbs planted – our stocks are going down fast and our final delivery of Spring varieties came in this week.
Re-pot orchids when flowering’s finished if they’re very tight in the pot (they prefer to be on the tighter side to stimulate flowering). I re-potted the Cymbidium at home into a slightly bigger pot using the specifically formulated chunky bark Yates Orchid Mix so it won’t need re-potting again for a couple of years. Tip: Don’t cut the stems of Phalaenopsis back until they’ve gone brown and died right off.
TIME TO FEED...
Every 2 weeks I mix up Thrive Orchid Liquid Plant Food in a jug and stand the plant up to its neck in the solution for 15 minutes, then let it drain in the sink. I do this both while it’s flowering and also in the non-flowering period to encourage new stems. Very important not to let Orchids sit in water in the cover pot as the roots will rot. Mine lives out of the cover pot most of the time to maximise the light getting into the clear plastic pots that the orchids are grown in.
Feeding houseplants in general – this is a good time for a quick feed to encourage lush dark green foliage for the winter, particularly on Peace Lilies, Maidenhair ferns, Lucky Bamboos, and Ficus lyrata. If you need any advice on indoor plant care through the Winter then come in and talk to Tracey who’s our inhouse indoor plant expert.
Now’s a good time to feed the winter-flowering shrubs like daphne & camellias with acid food; despite the colder conditions winter shrubs continue to produce flowers and some help from fertiliser is appreciated.
Use dried blood around winter flowering annuals to enhance colour and strong flowering.
Egmont Dried Blood
Egmont's Dried Blood is ideal for Polyanthus, Primulas. Great source of organic nitrogen and iron which is important for photosynthesis, plant development and cell growth.
TIME TO PROTECT...
Flowering annuals like polyanthus/primroses from slugs & snails.
Cover the compost bin with old carpet/sacking to keep the decomposition process going.
Cover hydrangeas with frost cloth if exposed to severe frost. Put frost cloth over any frost tender plants before the first major frost strikes without warning. If you can use stakes to keep the frost cloth just off the foliage you’ll avoid wet cloth freezing onto the leaves and doing damage. Make the shelter wider than the plant to stop frost creeping in from the sides. We also have the Haxnicks Fleece Jackets which are easy to use.
TIME TO CONTROL...
If any lawn weeds pop up in winter use Lawnpro Turfclean Ultra.
Turfclean Ultra is a fast-acting lawn weed killer that controls the broadest range of lawn weeds. Kills broadleaf weeds including dandelion, clover, Hydrocotyle, Onehunga, selfheal, speedwell, oxalis, daisies, dock, plantain and more…Fast.
Grosafe GroVentive®
Garden Two Way Systemic Insecticide
200ml, 500ml
For the control of sucking and chewing insects on ornamentals, hedging, roses, pot plants and flowers.
TIME TO PRUNE...
Tidy up the last of the perennials as they die down – large salvias, gaura, delphiniums, dahlias – either down to ground level if all foliage has died back, or trim off untidy tops. Lavenders – only take off dead flowers, don’t cut down into foliage until mid-September.
ARS 130DX Pruning shears
Length: 185 mm Blade length: 42 mm Max. cut capacity: 19 mm
The 130DX pruning shear is perfect for semi-professional use and ideal for florists. The blade is made from hardened, chrome-plated steel, ensuring extra strength and rust resistance. With an ergonomic design, the shear fits comfortably in the hand and provides optimal control. It has a length of 18.5 cm and is available in multiple colors. Crafted in Japan, it guarantees high quality and durability. An essential tool for every florist!
TIME TO ENJOY...
Take time to enjoy the Autumn colours that are so vibrant at the moment! And make the most of the mild temperatures to get the garden tidied up for Winter.