On the Coast – Over 55 Issue 32 I November/December 2019(clone) | Page 24

Spring BURBANK HOUSE & GARDEN I f spring isn’t every gardeners favourite season, it’s certainly every gardens favourite season. There’s so much action in the garden. New growth, new flowers, new plantings and it’s the same in the garden centre too. There’s also lots of new release plants that will be arriving over spring including some exciting indoor plants so watch this space. It’s certainly been a busy time for us with the opening of our second store – Burbank House Garden Erina Heights (formerly Bushlands Nursery). Our staff have been working crazily to create a wonderful shopping experience for you. Lots of indoor pots, baskets arriving instore and indoor plants as well as a wonderful selection of colour for your garden. We’ve all been waiting and it’s finally here! We’re getting fresh deliveries of lots of wonderful spring flowering plants each week with even more arriving as the days continue to warm up. The weather we’ve been getting lately is ideal for planting – the sun is shining throughout the day and the soil is still damp. Plant now and enjoy the Spring growth when the consistent warm days arrive. We’ve got a lot of colourful plants to choose from but some of the best include Daisies, Geraniums and especially the Lavenders. All are in flower and ready to add instant colour to your garden and pots. Seedlings and potted colour are in and the Petunia, Marigolds, Lobelia, 24 ON T H E C OA S T – OV ER 5 5 BY VICKEY TAYLOR Alyssum and lots of other seedlings are starting to come through. We love this time of year, everyone is coming out of the winter blues and getting out into the sun in their gardens! Time to start fertilising Everything in your garden will be starting new growth – fruit trees, Roses, lawns, shrubs, indoor plants, natives and trees. So for strong healthy plants, encourage that new growth with the appropriate fertiliser. Our go to favourite general purpose fertiliser is 5 in 1, an organic pelleted fertiliser that slowly breaks down releasing nutrients to your plants – being organic, it’s great to use on herbs, veggies and fruit trees. For more targeted feeding we’ve got specially formulated citrus and fruit, Rose and flower, native and Camellia/acidic fertilisers. Come see us in store and speak to us about the best fertiliser for your garden. Plant me now ƒ ƒ Citrus – it’s a great time to plant and there’s lots to choose from including native finger limes! ƒ ƒ Spring annuals – Petunias, Marigolds, etc ƒ ƒ Summer herbs & vegetables (it’s exciting!) Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Basil and Strawberries ƒ ƒ Geraniums – Coming into flower, add instant bright colour! ƒ ƒ Strawberries – ready to be planted now. ƒ ƒ Mandevilleas – beautiful colourful flowering climbers. ƒ ƒ Fruit trees – still plenty of fruit trees in stock, regular and dwarf sizes available. ƒ ƒ Almost everything – get planting! Jobs to do ƒ ƒ Mulch – apply mulch now before warmer weather comes to keep soils moist and reduce weeds. ƒ ƒ Watch for bugs – Fresh new growth is a magnet for Aphids and other bugs that want to eat your garden. Control them early to keep numbers down. Use an eco friendly spray like EcoFend or Eco-Oil or so you don’t harm the beneficial bugs. ƒ ƒ Snail bait – Snails are out and about, especially around green leafy veg and seedlings, they can do a lot of damage in very little time! Only ever use a pet and animal friendly snail bait like Eradicate. ƒ ƒ Fertilise all plants – Feed now to promote fresh new growth. ƒ ƒ Seaweed newly planted bare root trees and roses – Give everything a good dose of Seaweed to help new Roses/trees establish healthy new root systems ready for spring and summer. ƒ ƒ Control weeds – Weeds are popping up so fast this time of year, if only the plants in all our gardens grew as quick! Keep on top of them before they get on top of you.