Gardening Solutionz Newsletter

Autumn 2012

Greetings!

 

Winter is nearly here and it becomes the season for our spring planning and plant releases.  And as the skies grey we look to winter colour in our gardens to help us forget the dreary cold days - every garden needs hues of brightness in winter and in this newsletter we show you some old favourites that do just that.

 

The 2012 Ellerslie International Flower Show was fantastic - just what Christchurch needed and in my complete unbiasedness the Peoples Choice award that went to Ben Hoyles gold winning garden was well deserved - the garden was simply stunning and it of course featured our SunPatiens.

 

This year we put in approx 3000 plants as site beautification for the show - and this was all done in the rain and mud! 

 

Corporate Garden  Corporate Garden  Airport Cafe 2012

Plant Of The Month         

Dianella Blue Twist 

 

This twisty little number has the most wonderful qualities for the modern garden.  It's a strappy not stroppy ornamental plant that will help create a tropical and lush feel in your garden.  Bred in Australia, this toughie is a goodie for those wanting an extremely easy care option - it's an ornamental flax lily; distinguished by its blue twisting foliage and is a cold hardy darling of the Foliage First Range of Dianellas that are proving to be true garden delights in New Zealand.

 

Dianella Blue Twist

 

It's is well suited to landscaped  gardens that need the colour of great foliage 365 days of the year and at the same time utilizing low to no irrigation.  Containerize this one in your courtyard (as seen in the white pot above) or plant in full sun or shade in the garden bed and then sit back; all the hard work has been done.  This is one fab accent plant!

Ellerslie International Flower Show

A Flower Show Not To Be Missed

 

          

Nine gardens by landscape design students from throughout New Zealand competed for the title of Student Designer Of The Year.  Four of the gardens were based on the 2011 brief (cancelled due to the earthquake) - which was to create a small, low-maintenance courtard garden for a couple with no children.  These gardens are to give an illusion of a pocket of tranquility and a place to entertain.  And congratulations to Katrina Pinnington whose courtyard of our SunPatiens and Phormium Black Rage won Silver Distinction - it looked stunning.

 

And of course the People Choice Award and the judges Gold Award had to go to Ben Hoyle with his "She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not" garden, it was truly magical and our SunPatiens and Petunia Blueberry Crush were the perfect colour combination for the hot pink lily pads.

 

Autumn Colour - What Will Give You Colour As The Weather Chills   

 

It is the season of greyer skies and the anticipation of the approaching winter.  Here at the nursery it becomes all about giving autumn colour to the garden centres and hot to trot off the nursery at the moment are:

 

Astelia Westland: this hardy evergreen astelia with its stiffly arched, reddish bronze leaves has all year round appeal.  It's compatible with all modern home decor and garden landscapes.  Grows to 1 metre by 1 metre.

 

Nandina Firepowerthis heavenly evergreen is renowned for its contrasting foliage colour throughout the seasons.  Its non invasive bamboo foliage changes from pale lime green and yellow in spring to vivid pinks and reds, then to rich deep red tones in autumn.  Grows to 60 cm by 60 cm.

 

Lophomyrtus Red Dragon: its distinct burgundy foliage intensifies to almost black over the colder months.  With its dense habit and fine foliage, this native is superb in most garden situations as a hedge, border or a a low maintenance garden specimen.  Grows to 2 m by      1 m.

 

Convolvulus Cneorum: is a prolific flowering low growing shrub.  Its clean silver foliage covers the plant all year round and cup shaped white flowers open in late spring and continue throughout the summer and autumn months - its an oldie but a wonderful goodie.  Grows to 40 cm by 80 cm.

 

Viburnum japonicum: this stunning bushy dense shrub has large glossy dark green leaves.  In spring clusters of fragrant white flowers cover the shrub and in autumn red berries appear.  Its hardy and is an excellent filler or background plant that likes full sun or shade.  Grows to 2 m by 1.5 m.

 

Loropetalum China Pink: with classy burgundy wine foliage and pretty china pink flowers throughout spring this plant is one of my favourites as a stand out plant. Its dense and spreading habit looks spectacular mass planted and behaves well in containers.  Grows to 1.5 m by 2 m.

 

Astelia Silver Spear: this astelia is in a class of its own - The clean silver coloured stiff and upright sword like leaves have appeal all year round.  It is a wonderful focal plant for any garden.  Grows to 1.5 m by 1.5 m.

       

Ellerslie    Convolvulus Cneorum    Lophormytrus Red Dragon

       

 

 

A New Tool For Your Garden

 

From  www.thecompanyshed.co.nz  whose retail outlet at Ellerslie Flower Show won gold retailer - we present a new toy that every gardener needs when the weather cools  - the Original Victorian Bell.  These bells are perfect for protecting seedlings and early crops of vegetables and salads from the elements.  Ideal for over wintering herbaceaous border plants and less hardy perennials.  Made from UV stabilized plastic they are easily held down with two tent pegs.  Sold in packs of three these handy little bells are only $36.00 and I already have set on order - they are going to be so handy.

 

Our Winners
 

 
Congratulations to: Sue Stevens and Rachel Topins who each won a SuperCal Petchoa and to Wendy Zuppicich and Trude Weekes who won a SunPatiens plant.  Nigel Hart was the winner of the Pachystegia Insignis.

 

This time we have an Erica Melanthera to give away to one lucky winner, so remember to click on the competition section of this newsletter to be in with a chance to win.

 

 

Next time -  It's winter so its time to talk frosts and those plants that shine through the winter months!  Plus we will show you some photos of whats hot and on trial in America at the moment.

 


From Megan and the team at Gardening Solutionz
www.gardeningsolutionz.co.nz

Gardening Solutionz logo
Euphorbia Kea title

Join Our Mailing List
In This Issue
Plant Of The Month
Ellerslie International Flower Show
Autumn Colour
A New Tool For Your Garden
Our Winners
 Competition!

 


If you would like to win an Erica Melanthera Improved  simply enter here to go in the draw
 

TO WIN

  (*Terms and Conditions apply)
Gardening
'Solutionz'


 
If you have any gardening questions you would like answered - please contact us
 
Question: Hi, Whats the best method of treating the cut Garvineas before placing in a vase for long life to prevent head droop.
Thanks Geoff
  

Answer:  Hi Geoff

By all accounts with Garvineas you should not cut the flower stem from the plant, instead the flower stem should be simply ripped from the plant (twist and put the flower stem at the base of the plant) - this enchances the flower life as a vase flower and will help the plant to flower profusely.   

Regards

Megan

www.gardeningsolutionz.co.nz

 

 

Tui Products

 

Tui Logo

For care of your Gardening Solutionz plants we recommend Tui garden care products. For more information click here