CHANGES TO YOUR COLLECTION DAYS OVER EASTER

Autumn In The Garden - March

Autumn is here and the growing season is slowing. March is a major harvesting period so the garden will be full of delicious crops to enjoy.

The garden will be laden with crops like tomatoes, beans, sweetcorn and beetroot, all ready to be picked, bottled, preserved, and prepared for use over the colder months. As it's a major harvesting period for both fruit and veges it's the perfect time to plant more for continuous harvests over the cooler months. Follow our guide below for your region.

Remember if you are growing from seed to dry and save seeds of tomatoes, cucumbers, melons and beans, and store them in labelled envelopes ready for sowing next spring.

With autumn's arrival the widest variety of bulbs are now in-store, so it’s time to pick your bulbs to plant for a stunning spring show.

 

VEGETABLE GARDEN

PLANT

Beetroot, bok choi, broccoli, Brusssels sprout, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, coriander, kale, leek, lettuce, mesclun, onions, parsley, radish, rhubarb, rocket, silverbeet, spinach, spring onions, blueberry, Chilean guava, feijoa, lemon, orange, mandarin, lime.

HARVEST

Basil, beetroot, beans, broccoli, carrot, capsicum, chilli, coriander, courgette, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, mesclun, parsley, potatoes, pumpkin and squash, radish, rocket, silverbeet, spinach, spring onion, tomatoes, sweetcorn, apples, pears, grapes, Chilean guava, passionfruit, blueberries, strawberries, apricots, peaches, plums. 

MAINTENANCE

Many summer crops will be harvested and pulled out of the ground now.

  • While any garden areas are empty take time to replenish the soil with a new layer of compost or Tui Sheep Pellets.
  • Remove runners from strawberry plants and pot into Tui Strawberry Mix, ready for planting out in the winter.
  • When planting fruit trees keep in mind that fruit requires a position in full sun. Shelter from prevailing winds is preferable.
  • Keep the soil moist and water fruit trees through dry periods.
  • Add Debco SaturAid to soils to help hold onto water.
  • Aphids, whitefly, mites and scale insects may be about, blast off with a hose or select a suitable spray from your garden centre.
  • Birds will spot ripening grapes too, use netting to protect your crop.
  • Bunches of grapes will begin to ripen, prune back excessive leaves to allow more sunlight into the crop.
  • Once nectarines, peaches and plums have finished fruiting, prune to shape and to remove any dead or diseased branches.
  • Citrus are heavy feeders. Feed with Tui Citrus Food for healthy green leaves and better growth, flower and fruits. Keep orchards and the areas around fruit trees weed free.
  • Only use weed sprays that are non-residual near fruit trees.
  • Herbs to plant in autumn: parsley, chives, rosemary and mint.
  • Grow a smoothie garden in pots on your deck – plant kale, spinach, pak choi, and beetroot for green energy!
  • Pull out any summer herbs and vegetables that have finished producing and add to your greenwaste bin. 

 

FLOWER GARDEN

PLANT

Cooler temperatures are the ideal time to plant a hedge. If you want flower and fragrance, plant Fairy Magnolia Michelia’s or for something hardier try the Aussie Westringia varieties.

Bulbs: It's not too late to plant bulbs for spring flowering. Bellis, lobelia, polyanthus, flowering kale, primula, violas, snapdragon, wildflowers, sweet William, cineraria, alyssum, calendula, daffidol, tulip, hyacinth, forget-me-not, pansy and viola, poppy, sweet pea, cyclamen, daisy, delphinium, dianthus

Plant your favourite winter flower seedlings like pansy, viola, primula, polyanthus, calendula, cineraria, lobelia, poppies, alyssum, stock and snapdragon.

PICK

Scabious, Peruvian lily, poppies, marguerite daisy, statice, Japanese anemones, roses, coreopsis, echinacea, strawflowers, dahlias, lilies, sweet peas, gypsophila, cosmos, zinnia, pineapple lily, agapanthus, hydrangeas.

 

MAINTENANCE

  • Apply Tui Bulb Food to bulbs already in the ground.
  • Apply a side dressing of Tui NovaTec Premium fertiliser to shrub borders and flower gardens.
  • Add thick layers of Tui Mulch & Feed or Tui Pea Straw Mulch to garden beds and pots to conserve water, reduce weeds and add valuable nutrients back to the soil.
  • Mulching also keeps your garden looking tidy and cared for!
  • Aphids and whitefly are all still moving about now, particularly if the weather is still very warm.
  • Lay Tui Quash every few weeks to keep slugs and snails at bay.
  • Prune back summer flowering perennials and bulbs that have finished for the season, to tidy up garden borders and beds.
  • Lift and divide overgrown perennials.
  • Save and dry seeds of summer flowers for sowing in the spring.

 

LAWN

Autumn is the ideal time to sow or repair your lawn so it can establish over the winter months. Apply a layer of Tui Lawn Force Fertiliser to encourage healthy growth and to help sustain everyday wear and tear.

 

Sounds like that Greenwaste bin is going to be full. Give the team at Bay Enviro Bins a call  for collection or to talk you through the best option for you!

 

Sources: Tui Garden + Palmers Garden Centre