It’s finally spring and we can just feel the buzz in the air - metaphorically as well as literally!
If you take a quiet walk through the nursery and stop to listen, you can hear the buzz of the bees. They’re back. While we have had the odd forager during the winter months, most of the bees have been staying inside, feeding on their honey reserves until the warm weather returns. These last few weeks, they’ve discovered the flowers of the hellebores, and more recently, they’ve returned to the lavender.
Bees are wonderful creatures - non aggressive little guys with an amazing work ethic. We co-exist with them quite peacefully here where they forage amongst the flowers while we deadhead, prune and fertilise. It’s quite unusual to be stung, and Noel even likes to pat them (although we do not recommend doing this yourself)!
Many people are scared of bees, but we love them and our gardens are so much healthier and more abundant with a thriving bee population. If you are growing veggies in your backyard, bees will most likely be your primary pollinators, so they are essential for a good harvest.
On a global scale, it is recognised that bees pollinate around 80% of our food, so these little guys are literally making food to feed the whole world! That’s a pretty important job they have.
We've written some tips for you on how to protect these precious little creatures, so if you would like to read more, head on over to our website. Or pop in to the nursery and ask our bee-loving team. We would be happy to show you how you could make your garden bee friendly this spring.
- From the team at Town and Country Gardens.
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Spring is the moment we gardeners have been looking forward to all winter. Most of us are desperate to whip out our tools and get outside.
Now is a great time to focus on soil health. If you do nothing else in spring, do this! You can read our article on soil makeovers here.
It's also a good time to top up your mulch and check your irrigation systems are working.
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Insects are making a return to the garden, so check for early signs of attack.
Planting flowers to attract beneficial insects is one way to keep insect populations under control and may reduce the need to use chemicals.
If you are wondering what to plant in the garden now, you are spoilt for choice. We've listed a few suggestions on our website so read on if you need some hints.
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Tomato growing workshop
Saturday November 9 at 10am
$20 per person
Whether you have a huge backyard or a tiny balcony, there's a tomato you can grow! With so many varieties available, success is all about choosing the right variety and understanding a few of the key things you need to do for a satisfying tomato crop.
In this workshop, our staff will show you the latest varieties available, give you tips for feeding and training your tomato, explain what pests to look out for, as well as companion planting advice.
Workshop participants will receive automatic entry to a door prize giveaway and a gift pack which includes two advanced tomato seedlings and a tomato growing fact sheet.
Spaces are limited to 20. To avoid disappointment phone the nursery on 9822 3305 to book your place.
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With the warmer weather here, it’s now a safe time to repot your indoor plants. Fertilisers in potting mixes can become depleted, and plant roots can become constricted over time. Potting an indoor plant on can invigorate the plant in time for its upcoming growth spurt!
When repotting, only go up to the next sized pot,and make sure you buy a good quality potting mix. With potting mix you definitely get what you pay for. Cheaper mixes can mean problems with drainage and air circulation, and often lack food for the plant.
If you are a bit unsure, feel free to come in and have a chat to our staff. Or if you like, bring your plant in and we'll repot it for you!
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