| Greetings!
What more can the gods throw at us? We have come away relatively unscathed at the nursery in Christchurch but nerves are rattled with each aftershock. It is such a cruel blow to our beautiful city.
With the cancellation of Ellerslie International Flower Show, our sponsorship of the thirteen Emerging Designers gardens will have to be put on hold until next year and a number of our new plants that were to showcase at the show will just have to wait until spring.
As the nights get a bit cooler, remember Autumn is the perfect planting time and here at the nursery some plants really come into their own over the cooler months - like the fiery red colouring of Nandina Firepower and the deep purple leaves of Loropetalum China Pink, the upright red tones of Libertia Taupo Blaze and the bluey grey colour of Dianella Blue Twist. For co-ordinating your autumn planting plan by colour there is a helpful guide in this newsletter. |
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Plant Of The Month
Chionochloa flavicans
Graceful in growth and tough in nature, Chionochloa flavicans is one of New Zealand's most stunning grasses. Also known as the miniature toi toi, this distinctive native grass has shapely foliage year round and elegant, silky cream-green flower plumes in mid-summer. Grouped among other easy-care subjects - such as Astelia Silver Spear, Phormium Black Rage, Phormium Evening Glow or Jester and the winter colouring of Libertia Taupo Blaze - it is the perfect plant for a low-maintenance garden.
As a back or middle of the border plant, Chionochloas flavicans is perfect, with its height reaching 75 cm by 1 m wide. Both wind and drought tolerant, an exposed bank and other tough places will not put this plant off. For those with a talent for cut flowers, this is one plant worth working with. |
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Wanting Winter Colour?
  
This time we have decided to colour code our picks for the Autumn season. All these plants really come into their own as the colder seasons approach and are true survivors of the colder weather.
Hues of Red - ideal for warding off the winter blues, red adds drama and impact.
- Try Libertia Taupo Blaze, Nandina Firepower, Nandina Gulfstream, Phormium Evening Glow
Hues of Green - give your garden a sense of lusiciousness
- Try Viburnum Davidii, Choisya Ternata, Hebe Emerald Gem, Choisya Aztec Pearl, Scleranthus Biflorus, Dianella Emerald Arch and Euphorbia Kea
Hues of Blue - notably a cool and calming colour
Hues of Silver - these plants will give your garden an almost reflective look.
- Try Astelia Silver Spear, Convolvulus Cneorum, Pachystegia Insignis,
Hues of Bronze/Brown - the metallic look of bronze will give a your garden an earthy look.
- Try Astelia Westland, Lophomyrtus Red Dragon, Corokia Frosted Chocolate
Hues of Black - its all about drama!
- Try Phormium Dark Delight
Hues of Yellow - its bright and will highlight any corner of your garden as you think of sunshine and warmer days.
- Try Coleonema Sunset Gold
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New To The Market
NovaTec Premium - Next Generation Fertiliser
The new Tui NovaTec Premium fertiliser is developed with new technology that feeds plants more efficiently and sustainably. As plants grow they take up vital nutrients from the soil. These need to be in constant supply for plants to reach their optimum growing potential. Fertilising helps to replenish the soil with nutrients previously leached or lost, providing that helping hand in order for plants to be healthy and thrive. New Tui NovaTec Premium is developed with new technology that feeds plants more efficiently and sustainably. NovaTech can be used to feed the entire garden including ornamental plants and roses. It can also be used in pots and containers, and is perfectly safe for use around edible crops. NovaTec will be available in all good garden centres from April 1st 2011. Visit www.tuigarden.co.nz for more information. |
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Our Winners
Congratulations to:
The Press winners - Rose Spencer, Joy Dunlop, R Nelson and Mr L Odgers.
Go Gardening winners - Jackie Morris, Phillippa Sweetman, Beverley Toulmin, Sonja Lawson and Julie Matheson.
Tui Times winners - Kay Aish, Ian Smith, Margaret Osbourne, Lynn Coleman, Trevor Bell, Sue Street, Sandra Keane, Susan Tonner, Mickey Johnston, Jodie Troy, Sally Wheater, Susan Hopkins, Petra Love, Sylvia Herman, Geoff Win, Shaun Merson, Gavin Walker, Emma Naidu, Phil Warin and Maureen Goodwin - we hope you all enjoy your plants. This month we have a Chionochloa flavican to give away, so remember to click on the competition section of this newsletter to be in with a chance to win. |
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Next time - the joys of winter, how to protect your plants from frost, hot winter plants, plus more chances to win a and sneak preview of some of our new releases for spring .... |
From the team at Gardening Solutionz
www.gardeningsolutionz.co.nz
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Competition!
If you would like to win a Chionochloa flavicans- simply enter here to go in the draw
TO WIN (*Terms and Conditions apply) |
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Gardening
'Solutionz'
If you have any gardening questions you would like answered - please contact us.
Question: I am interested in Pittosporum Silver Sheen as a hedge. The soil is clay like, is in a wind area (Half Moon Bay) with salt sray on the odd occasion. As I live in Auckland, can I purchase in my area. The website states that you do not have any suppliers in Auckland, but I wonder whether this situation had changed.
Regards Jan Answer: Thanks for your email - we are actually out of stock of Pittosporum Silver Sheen at the present moment, but I would suggest your local garden centre (Palmers, Kings, Bunnings and Mitre 10 - if they don't have any grades in stock they should be able to order them in for you). The salt spray may be a bit of a concern for the Silver Sheen but it depends on the level of it. One piece of advice we find really handy when trying to choose the right plants for any area - is to have a look around your suburb and see what other people have planted as a hedge and if it is thriving under similar conditions it obviously grows well.
Regards
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For care of your Gardening Solutionz plants we recommend Tui garden care products. For more information click here |
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