Monthly Newsletter

River of Life Garden Centre
ADVANTAGE CLUB NEWSLETTER - dec 2010
Hi everyone,
It's been an exciting week down here at the River of Life, we have just received delivery of a spectacular variety of new plants. The staff here love these deliveries and it is becoming a tough job finding homes for our new arrivals. The plants themselves would love to get in a nice piece of dirt at your place and get their roots established before winter, ready for a burst of growth in spring.

Plants just in!!

Too many varieties to mention them all, but as a taster we have Proteas in beautiful colours such as Peach, Limelight, Frosted Fire and King Protea Arctic Ice... as well as Mini Kings in pink and white for the smaller garden. Some in flower. Also the unusual and beautiful Leucadendron argenteum 'Silver Tree' with it's silky, silver hairs that cause the leaves to shimmer as they move in the wind (you may have seen large specimens of these growing on the way up to Hohoura).

Red and burgundy flowering Waratahs will be a picture when they come into flower.

Good range of Grevilleas, including the groundcover 'Bronze Rambler' with its burgundy flowers and vigorous habit, which positively loves clay banks.

We also have small numbers of Aulux and the unusual white flowering bottlebrush, or for something to munch on, sugar cane, which grows very well in the Far North. Also more Blueberries, Cranberries, Pomegranates, Pinenuts and other fruit trees have arrived.

Due to cancelled order we have more Hibiscus available, mainly the hardier Fijian varieties.
New stock is expected next week, including a dinky dwarf cabbage tree, Cordyline "Karo Kiri" which is great in pots.

How to look after us:-

Protea, Leucospernum, Leucadendron, Warratah, Grevillea, Banksia, Mimentes

We are blessed to have Pam working at the River of Life, who previously worked for many years at a nursery specialising in the ornamentals mentioned here. To this month we pass on some of her growing tips.
The most important rule: Do not fertilize - plant will die - not even blood & bone. - Can use compost mixed in with your soil at planting time and mulch is OK.
- Like sandy or acid soils (clay) - will grow in both, as long as they are free draining. If drainage is a problem mound up area.
- Plant in open sunny position, can tolerate wind, quite hardy, and once established will tolerate periods of drought.
- Avoid sheltered positions which can lead to fungal attack.

Flower: From late autumn right through winter and into spring
Picking: Flowers of Protea should be picked when they are nearly open Will last for some weeks in a vase
Pruning: Prune off dead heads at end of season after flowering

Hedging:-

With the rain coming over the next few days it will soon be time for hedge planting.

Pittosporums make great hedges and screens, we have good quantities, and several varieties to choose from, P. 'Wrinkle Blue' and 'Mountain Green' are excellent varieties, 'Wrinkle Blue' growing particularly fast
We have large numbers of Cupressus Ovensii (similiar to Leyland Cypress) in stock Large grade Leyland Cypress at about 1.8 metres tall for a more instant hedge
If you want a hedge with something not in stock we will do our best to source it for you A variety of natives could also be used for a 'mixed native hedge' providing food for birds i.e. coprosma, five finger, crokia, pittosporums, cabbage trees, manuka, flax, akeake, puka, kowhai...
Syzygium Australe, very hardy, new growth comes out red

Tip

Feed the birds: Northland Regional Council have a free handbook available "Northland Natives", which covers planting information for natives, listing which varieties provide nectar and berries for tui, kukupa, bell bird and wax eyes. We have a copy here for reference.

Winter Colour available now:-

Our instant colour spot table is full again
Other winter colour ideas: Azalea's, Camellias, Cyclamen, Day Lillies, Polyanthus, Sweet Peas (seeds), Coreopsis, Nemesia, Snapdragon, Antirrhinum, Alyssum, Dianthus, Lobelia, Primula, Pansies and Viola

Citrus appeal:-

Orange trees have been known to bear fruit for up to 100 years, so well worth the investment Orange and Mandarin trees like a long, hot summer and minimal frosts for good fruit development, so are right at home in the Far North
A happy citrus will have excellent drainage, lots of fertiliser, a reasonably sheltered position and consistent moisture and sunshine
If drainage is not good, mound up area, and/or add bark to soil, or grow in a large pot Gross feeders, so in spring lay down compost and citrus fertiliser and then mulch well (keeping away from base of tree - susceptible to collar rot), then fertilise another couple of times through spring and into summer.
A weed free area is important and mulch will help keep the weeds at bay, and the moisure in. Comfrey planted around the final drip line will also help keep weeds down, especially good at keeping kikuyu runners out, the comfrey leaves can be ripped off and thrown under the plant as free mulch and fertilizer Heavy crops may need to be thinned out when fruit is small Prune and feed after fruiting
You can have fresh citrus available for many months by carefully selecting varieties that ripen at different times.

Specials:-

Large succulents - all half price
Swan plants, large grade - were $6.90, now $4.00 - some with free chrysalis or caterpillar!
Crocus and Hyacinth bulbs - half price
Bargain Bin, still chocka - only $3.00

Tips Wanted

We really like to pass tips onto other gardeners. We are now keeping a notebook at the counter to write down any tips customers pass onto us - any tips or ideas you have would be really appreciated. We will share them through the News Letter.

On the Veggie Front:-

Brussel sprouts, broad beans, silverbeet, spinach, leeks, spring onions, cabbage, caulies, broccoli and pak choi are good to go now. Cos lettuce (seed available) or any loose leaf lettuce should also do well planted now.

This Month's Hint:-

Here is a tip one of our customers gave us for gardenias:
Coffee grinds around the plant help the flowers stay white for longer.

Reminder:

Don't forget mothers day:- Ann has been busy getting hanging baskets and pots planted up as gifts for mum, also there is no charge for gift wrapping.
Too all our mothers out there, have a lovely day on Sunday, we hope you all get a treat. Perhaps the best gift could be a whole day to yourself in the garden! On second thoughts it may be raining... have a lovely day however you spend it...

From us all: Stephen, Sue, Pam, Ann, Darlene and Hunter The Cat River of Life Garden Centre Ph 09 4060813 Fax 09 4060208

P.S If you would like us to send you a copy of the Newsletter each month please send us an Email.