A LITTLE PIECE OF ‘THYME OUT’ FOR YOU

Bi-Monthly Newsletter – May to June 2008

Welcome to my very first Thyme Out newsletter.  I must admit I am both excited and nervous about the newsletter idea.  Thoughts crossed my mind as to what and how much I would put into it; would people want to read it; making the time to gather information to publish it bi-monthly; do I send it via mail or email or both and it goes on.  But, I figure it’s a challenge for me to produce an informative and light-hearted read for my clients and those interested in a read.  Right, let’s get into it.

Jobs to do in your garden during may include:

• Protect seedlings and plants from those annoying slugs and snails.  You can use slug & snail pellets (remember to wear gloves); put some beer into a container and almost bury it; or plant rosemary, which repels the little beggars.
• If you want colour in your garden over winter, now is the time to plant instant colour – polyanthus, pansies, violas, kale and calendula.  Camellias are starting to bud up and look rather lovely as well.  Daphne is always a favourite with its vibrant fragrance.  If you aren’t into flowers you can plant up hanging baskets with variegated ivy – just make sure it’s not a vigorous variety!
• Get in and mulch, mulch, mulch!  Now we are starting to get the rain, it’s a good time to get out, get wet, weed and lay lots of mulch.  However, if you’re not into this, give me a call!!
• Prune back shrubs that have finished flowering.  How far   you prune depends on the type of plant you have.  A general guide is to remove up to one-third of growth, but check first if you are unsure.

Jobs to do in your garden during June include:

• Yep it’s garlic time. Plant cloves on the shortest day and harvest on the longest day in December.
• Dig over bare soil ready for spring planting.  Remember to add plenty of compost!  With clay, add plenty of gypsum with the compost and work in.  It helps bond the soil particles together to create bigger ‘gaps’ for both water and nutrients to seep downwards.
• Prune deciduous plants, again it depends on what type you have as to how hard/soft you prune them.  If you are unsure, get it checked out first – if you prune an old plant hard when it hasn’t been done before; just think of the shock it could give them.  Treat them like a person, ease into it!
• If you haven’t done it already – mulch, mulch, mulch!  Or call me!
• Now is a good time to think about what you would like to change in your garden whether it is a total makeover or a small rejuvenation.  Look around your garden, make notes of what you would like to change and give me a call!  Yep, I sound like a stuck record.
• It’s getting time to look at pruning your roses.  Just make sure there is no chance of a frost as this kills new growth.  Or, call me!

Handy tip

• To remove those tough weeds growing through cracks in the paving try making a hole with a screwdriver or old knife as far as possible down the side of the plant.  Using the garden hose, trickle water into the hole for about 30 seconds.  Then, with the water still running, get hold of the top of the weed and gently pull.  It should come out with the roots intact.  Or, if you don’t find that appealing, you can spray with a weed killer.  Just remember to wear gloves and a facemask, spray when it’s calm and repeat as instructions advise.

All fired up

• Coprosma ‘Autumn Haze’ was released in 2007 and really shines as the weather starts to stop shining!  Small close-knit foliage on slim stems gives it an almost dainty appearance.  IT has glossy cream and green variegated foliage, with tones of soft peach and apricot.  These tones are present all year round; they just intensify as the temperature drops!  Forms a dense ground cover 20cm high x 150cm wide, relatively unfussy as to soil type, requires little or no pruning and best of all will smother those pesky weeds!

Parting note:

It’s never too late to learn about composting.  It’s easy, means less rubbish and is great for your garden.  More in my next newsletter…

Well I hope you found that interesting.  I know I’m learning new things!

If you would like to receive further newsletters, please do nothing – yep, take it easy, relax back into that lazy-boy, sup on your hot chocolate and breathe easy.

If you have ideas of what you would like to see in my newsletters, I’m welcome to suggestions.

If you wish to no longer receive newsletters, please let me know.

Thank you and whew!  I’ve done my first newsletter.

Take care,

Jo

Thyme 4 Jo trading as Thyme Out

Email: info@thyme4jo.co.nz

Phone: 0800 thyme out (849 636)

Mobile: 027 5522116