Gareth Carter: Think spring… it s bulb planting time
26 Feb, 2021 04:00 PM
6 minutes to read This change of season has moved us into the time for selecting and planting spring flowering bulbs.
Call into the garden centre to check out all the types available and you can view all the pictures on the packets. Often by the time later-planting varieties such as tulips have arrived, the first varieties of freesias have sold out so several trips is highly recommended.
One of my favourite sights is daffodils. This is synonymous with the end of winter and the start of spring. It is a conjures up a feeling of fresh air and the hope of warmer temperatures, new growth and sunshine. You can have this at your house by planting your own bulbs. There are many options other than daffodils that can be planted, so here is some information on a few of them.
Gareth Carter: Shade trees a great way to escape the heat
19 Feb, 2021 04:00 PM
7 minutes to read
Ulmus Louis Van Houtte. Photo / supplied
It is during the heat of summer that the value of shade trees is recognised. In a carpark the spot under a tree becomes the favoured park for the car. At places like the Bason Botanic Gardens or Virginia Lake under a tree are the favoured picnicking spots.
Around the home a tree can be planted and grown on the north and western aspects to shade the house during summer, providing a cooling effect and reducing the need for heat pump cooling or simply reducing discomfort from an over heated house.
Gareth Carter: Herbs great for container gardening
31 Jan, 2021 04:00 PM
5 minutes to read
What a great summer for growing we have had. The warm temperatures combined with rain have kept soil moisture levels higher than other years. Shallow rooted plants such as those in flower and vegetable gardens still need regular watering as do recent shrub plantings made in the last two seasons.
Watering is a pleasant job in the evening or early morning and if you are short on time, sprinklers, soaker hoses and watering systems are an easy fix to ensure your plants remain in good health.
Summer allows us to be outside more and indulging in the joy of growing things is far easier and more pleasant than in winter.
Gareth Carter: Hibiscus, the perfect choice for Whanganui gardens
22 Jan, 2021 04:00 PM
6 minutes to read
This summer so far has been warm and with intermittent rain, has been good for the garden. Like people, plants all react differently to the heat and some plants relish in it. In gardens where there is shelter from the wind, a hot microclimate ensues. This really encourages a spectacular flowering in plants such as bougainvillea, mandevillea, silk trees, jacarandas, petunias, tropical impatiens, flame vine and tropical hibiscus.
Driving around the city I have seen some good examples of some of these in our city. It is during these hot months that these plants really come into their own.
Gareth Carter: Five minutes a day for a perfect vege harvest
15 Jan, 2021 04:00 PM
7 minutes to read
Harvesting of tomatoes, beans, zucchini and cucumbers is becoming prolific for many during this midsummer period. Photo / file
Harvesting of tomatoes, beans, zucchini and cucumbers is becoming prolific for many during this midsummer period. Photo / file
Vegetable gardening has been taken up as a pastime by many more Kiwis this year. The summer months we are in now are some of the most productive for vegetable gardening harvest. I always recommend where possible that a quick daily visit to your vege patch is the best way to ensure you get a good quality harvest.