By Tony Murrell
Tasks in the North Island:
Spring winds remind me that it's time to check tree stakes and ties are secure. Dead head any spent flowers, especially Rhododendron's and Azaleas. Shape over unruly shrubs in the garden to improve the form, make sure you check that the plant is not about to flower!
Tasks in the South Island:
Clean up your decks simply by mixing 1 part Nappy San with 5 equal parts warm water and brush onto mouldy pine decking. This will clean up the deck and its nice and safe to use.
My plant of the week is the humble and often referred to as old fashioned "Corn Flower". I think they look great in the garden at this time of the year and self seed for next season which is a real bonus.
Thing of the Week:
My thing of the week is a Colder moth trap, designed to alert your to the male invasion and give you plenty of time to spray with an effective eco friendly insecticide. Make sure you repeat application to all parts of your apple trees once a week for 3 weeks. The traps retail for around $37.00.
Design Tip of the week:
My design tip of the week is to make sure you space your plants according to their suggested mature size. Hedge spacing needs to be precise, I use a bamboo can cut to the appropriate length and measure stem to stem for accuracy.