GARDEN UPGRADE

Don visited a property with a number of problems that are typical of many backyards:

Citrus:

The orange and grapefruit trees had yellowing leaves and generally weren’t looking very healthy.

Yellowing leaves were due to trace element deficiency

Solution: applying citrus food should rectify the problem. Established citrus should be fed with a citrus food or complete fertiliser in late winter and late summer (August & February). Water well before and after fertilising. It’s a good idea to alternate fertilisers – say Dynamic Lifter in August/September and Complete Citrus Food in February.

Citrus need a warm position in full sun (a northerly aspect is ideal).

Citrus need good drainage, because they are susceptible to root rot. In heavy soils plant in raised beds and correct any drainage problems.

With new citrus before planting, dig some chook, cow or horse manure into the ground.

Keep trees well watered when young fruit is forming in spring and early summer. Use a sprinkler twice a week to deep water trees in the warmer months. 

Grass and citrus don't mix. Keep the area beneath your citrus free of grass and weeds. Cover with a mulch such as lucerne hay, composted leaf litter or compost, but keep the mulch away from the tree trunk to avoid collar rot.

Adding Colour

There was one pink Cordyline in the garden ‘Red Fountain’

Long thin arching burgundy coloured leaves are the feature of ‘Red Fountain’. It grows 80cm to 1m tall, spreading a little over 1m wide. Multiple short stems emerge from the base, producing a deep red, grassy look. It is excellent in pots (38-45cm diameter) or in the ground. 

Don pointed out that just one plant on its own doesn’t look very good and a group of similar or identical plants will look far better. He selected some ‘Electric Pink’ cordylines to add a spark to the area.

Cordyline ‘Electric Pink’ is the most popular variety of all NZ cordylines. It has very narrow leaves (often 1cm wide or less) and they are striped a gelato pink and deeper silver-burgundy. Probably it’s the densest clumper of all cordylines and grows about 1.5m tall. It’s excellent for tropical themed gardens or in pots.

To complement the cordylines, an Austromyrtus ‘Blushing Beauty’ was selected. This shrub grows to about 1.5m (5’) tall and 1m (3’) wide. It has plum coloured new growth and small, white flowers followed by black fruit. ‘Blushing Beauty’ grows well in sun or part shade, but it does not like frost. Don put this plant into a plum coloured pot, to match its beautiful foliage.

Tips: When planting make the hole deeper and wider than the plant when it’s removed from its pot. They don’t like narrow confines. Never squash soil down. Air is the most important thing in the soil. Roots need air.

To remove plants from pots and minimize the amount of potting mix falling out, place your hand around the base of the plant, turn the pot upside down, place your other other hand on the rim, then tap the base of the pot.

The Vegie Garden:

To rejuvenate an existing vegie garden, add fresh soil & dig in compost

Vegie gardens must be in full sun all day

When watering it’s best to give it one long and thorough soaking than more frequent ones.

Spoiled Lucerne hay or pea straw are both excellent mulches for vegie gardens. They are both rich in nutrients and will quickly break down & encourage worms.

Nasty Tree

Don came across a Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) in the garden. These are particularly nasty trees which can grow to enormous sizes. They have very strong roots which can jack up paths, crack foundations and cause other damage. 

To get rid of the tree, Don cut the trunk and immediately applied gylphosate concentrate (Roundup or Zero – available at Bunnings,some supermarkets & nurseries). It will work best if painted under the bark and on to any exposed areas where there might be a tear in the trunk.

Fixing the Hedge

The Leyland cypress hedge wasn’t doing well. Lucerne hay mulch was put over it to keep the soil warm & moist. A mixture of Nitrosol and Seasol Super Soil Wetter was also applied to get the hedge growing.

Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii)

The Leyland cypress is what is known as a bi-generic hybrid, which means it is a cross between 2 different genera. It originated in Wales in 1888 from a chance cross-pollination of Cupressus macrocarpa and Chamaecyparis nootkatensis. Many forms and cultivars have since been developed and planted by the millions worldwide, mainly for screening and hedging. These upright, evergreen trees are very fast growing, and hardy in a wide range of soils and climates.

CHILDREN’S PLANTS

Don planted some snapdragons as a fun plant for the children. The botanic name for snapdragons is Antirrhinum. The resemblance of the flower to the head of a dragon and the flower’s “mouth” that can be opened and closed lead to the name snapdragon. Snapdragons are annuals & can be grown from seed or as seedlings. They grow best in full sun.

Copyright CTC Productions 2009