February is also usually our hottest and driest month,
so ensure all your garden is receiving the water it requires.
Create your own "Tropical Paradise" and plant the likes of Hibiscus, Vireya, Gardenia, Tropical Impatiens, Tropicana Lilies, Mandevilla, Bougainvillea ... enjoy their vibrant colours, lush foliage and heavenly scents.
The first of the spring bulbs will arrive later this month - Freesia, Anemone, Ranunculus, Gladioli ... Plant bulbs continually through to autumn and you'll enjoy a longer display of flowers.
Plant new annual seedlings to brighten and freshen up the garden with colour. The colours and varieties are many - Portulaca (great for hot dry spots), Petunia, Marigold, Lobelia, Verbena, Alyssum, Zinnia, Dianthus...
Plant perennials - so many gorgeous colours and forms - Alstromeria, SunPatiens (impatiens that love the sun), Penstemon, Salvia, Dianthus, Lavender...
Fuchsias - when flowering has finished cut them back to half their size to encourage further flowers.
Deadhead annuals and perennials as they finish flowering.
Deadhead roses to promote autumn flowering.
Containers, Pots, Hanging Baskets:
Colourful baskets or pots filled with flowers look great on the patio or veranda for summer.
Add Debco Saturaid to the potting mix to preserve moisture.
Continue to plant for kitchen garden harvests in the months ahead:
Lettuce, spring onions, celery, leeks, beetroot, silverbeet, spinach, kale, snow peas...
Herbs - basil, parsley, sage, oregano, chives, thyme, spearmint, peppermint, rosemary, dill, fennel...
For autumn and winter crops plant broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, brussel sprouts...
Add more goodness to the soil - dig in iCan Real Blood & Bone, sheep pellets, compost or vege mix when you replant and mulch for moisture retention. Feed with Ican Organic Vegetable Food.
iCan Ocean Grow is a fantastic liquid fish fertiliser which can be applied regularly and will really get your veges growing!
If your tomato plants have suffered from blight, pull them out (don't put them in your compost).
Cut back tall basil, parsley etc as required so they will shoot again.
Pick daily - beans while young and tender, courgettes and capsicum before they get too large, cucumbers to promote production.
Remember the saying "the best time to plant a fruit tree was 5 years ago, the next best time is NOW". Plant a range of fruit trees and berries and you'll be rewarded with gorgeous fruit throughout the year.
Keep well-watered and enjoy picking your fruit!
Cover grapes and berries with bird netting if the birds are getting to them.
Passionvine hoppers are difficult to control and regular spraying with Pyrethrum or Mavrik may be required.
Maintain your regular fruit tree spray programme. It is important to spray with the correct product at the correct time so please ask one of our knowledgeable staff, come in for your copy of our "Fruiting Plants Health Care Programme" or click here to download.
Plant new trees and shrubs - looking fantastic this month are hibiscus, hydrangea, pittosporum Golf Ball, coleonema, loropetalum...
For the birds plant - coprosma, five finger, flax, kowhai, pohutukawa, protea, rewarewa, viburnum, bottlebrush...
Maples look great in all gardens and we have a large range available.
Plant new hedges. Fantastic hedging plants are Japanese Box, corokia, teucrium and NZ's favourite Griselinia Broadway Mint.
Box Hedging - spray with Grosafe Free Flo Copper and Grosafe Enspray 99 Oil to prevent the spread of Box Blight (Japanese Box is far more resistant than English Box to Box Blight). Alternate with Grosafe Buxus Blight Fighter.
Dwarf fruit trees and citrus are ideal for small gardens and also grow well in pots and containers and yield an abundance of fruit.
Beautifully shaped standards make spectacular landscape features - camellia, viburnum, bottlebrush, bay, laurel...
Weeping maples are ideal when space is limited - Crimson Queen and Viridis will impress with their gorgeous form and colour.
Flowering Crab Apple - pretty blossoms and luscious fruit (crab apple jelly!).
Magnolia - gorgeous colours and varieties to choose from.
Good soil, feeding and watering is the key to great plants, flowers, fruit and vege production.
Fertilise with iCan Ocean Grow liquid fish fertiliser or the Yates range of Citrus, Strawberry and Rose Food.
Ican 24 month Slow Food is ideal for trees, shrubs, palms, fruit and veges.
Fertilise hibiscus with iCan Real Blood & Bone or a complete fertiliser. Spray with Sequestron for yellow leaves and continue to spray throughout the season with Grosafe Free Flo Copper.
Fertilise agapanthus with iCan Real Blood & Bone.
Continue feeding roses regularly with Tui Rose Food.
Continue liquid feeding fuchsias and hanging baskets every 2 weeks with iCan Ocean Grow.
Hygiene is important in the garden so clear away diseased leaves and prunings and sterilise secateurs, hedge trimmers etc before and after use (bleach is a good sterilant).
Pests and Diseases - check all plants regularly - it's easier to deal with them early before they take hold and do too much damage.
If fungus and bugs are present they need to be kept under control with regular spraying. We recommend:
Grosafe Free Flo Copper to control fungus diseases on all fruit, veges and ornamentals.
Grosafe Enspray 99 Oil for the control of sucking insects on all fruit, veges and ornamentals.
Success Ultra for caterpillars, thrips and leafroller.
Mavrik for spider mite.
Roses - Continue your regular spray programme - to view our Rose & Ornamentals Health Care Programme click here (or call in for a copy).
Apply Blitzem, Quash (if you have animals) or Baysol (long acting) to control slugs and snails - particularly around new seedlings.
Water deeply and regularly to maintain your garden's beauty, plant health and for fruit development.
SATURAID is invaluable in summer - a granular wetting agent that improves the effectiveness of watering, rainfall and fertilisers. So easy to use - sprinkle on or dig in. Suitable for all areas of the garden and for pots, containers and hanging baskets.
Mulch to suppress weeds, preserve water and add nutrients with Tui Mulch Pea Straw or Daltons Mulch & Grow.
Keep lawns at a longer height during the summer months to help retain moisture and keep weeds at bay.
Water deeply as required and preferably in the morning to discourage fungal disease.
Fertilise with an even application of Tui Lawn Fertiliser - water in well. Or use the "hose on" Yates Lawn Master for rapid greening of lawns.
