A LITTLE PIECE OF ‘THYME OUT’ FOR YOU

Bi-Monthly Newsletter – November to December 2008

Oh my gosh, is Christmas coming faster each year or what? Whilst the year is speeding up, take this time to relax and take a break…

Jobs to do in your garden during November include:

Now the weather should be warmer you can plant vege and flower seeds directly into the garden.
Transplant the lettuce, leek, cabbage, tomato, capsicum, courgette and cucumber seedlings from last month.
All veges will benefit from blood and bone or a general garden fertiliser.
Snail and slugs are still relentless; just remember you will have to resprinkle pellets after it has rained.
Plant basil with tomatoes to give them more flavour and remember to feed with Phostrogen tomato food.
Plant main potato crops.
Dust cabbages and caulis with derris dust or plant rosemary/thyme to repel the white butterfly.
Spray roses with Shield/ Super Shield remembering to alternate each spray.
Still a good time to mulch, it’ll help retain the rain we’ve had and save you watering the garden when the restrictions start!
Spray your lawn with Prickle Weedkiller to keep the Onehunga at bay.

Jobs to do in your garden during December include:

Get your Christmas shopping done and dusted!
Yay, there should be lots of growth happening in your garden, sit back and enjoy the benefits from having done your preparation work.
Successively sow seeds of veges every two weeks to keep a running supply, and remember to feed them!
Don’t give up the war against slugs and snails!
Feed your tomatoes weekly and stake if required.
Spray pip and stone fruit with Copper to prevent fungal diseases.
Spray citrus with Copper and remember they are heavy feeders, so look after them!
Summer prune peach and nectarine trees once fruiting has finished and you’re full of fresh fruit!
Let your lawn grow a little higher before you mow to conserve moisture and keep it green.
Keep an eye on your garden’s water requirements and thank me later for reminding you to mulch, mulch, mulch.

Did you know:

Pots of basil, tansy or eau-de-cologne mint, or all three will keep house-flies away from your house and are also useful in barbecue areas.
Foxgloves grown around or beneath apple trees stimulates growth and aids them in becoming disease resistant.

Especially for you:

Now I’m going to sound like a nagging mother (because I do it so well), but as the weather is improving the sun will be out and hot, please remember to lather suntan lotion on, get a funky sun hat and sunnies and keep sensibly covered.
Gone are the days when you could sit out in the sun for hours on end and not get too burnt. So please listen to me as I care about my readers (and everyone else too!).
Keep refreshed by visiting TogZone for a few swimming lessons! See Susan’s website www.togzone.co.nz

More Before and After photos:

Before:

After:

Who knew what was hiding!!

Remember, do nothing and you’ll keep receiving my newsletters. However, if you do not wish to receive them, please by all means let me know.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, take care and remember to take ‘Thyme Out’.

Regards,

November to December 2008