The Growing Edge – July 2015

This Month's Featured Trees

This month we are comparing two similar trees to find out what the difference between them really is and how these subtle attributes can be best used to make an impact in your garden.

CAPITAL Ornamental Pear

Pyrus calleryana – Capital Pear Tree is a narrow, fastigiate form and possibly the narrowest growing Pyrus cultivar in Australia. An excellent choice for narrow, restricted areas, around carparks, along driveways and fencelines. It has a mature height of 6-8 metres but tends only to reach its minimum height in an urban environment, and a width of 3 metres. It's growth rate is moderate and it's form is narrowly columnar and compact.

CHANTICLEER Ornamental Pear

Pyrus calleryana Chanticleer – Also known as 'Glensform' or 'Cleveland Select' is a superb, upright ornamental pear introduction with a dense habit and attractive foliage. Excellent for sites where lateral space is restricted, its tough disposition and aesthetic attributes combine to make for a wonderfully versatile tree be it for home gardens or streets and public areas. It has a mature height of 7 -9 metres but tends only to reach its minimum height in an urban environment, and a width of 6 metres. It's form is narrowly conical and dense.

Caring for your Citrus

Citrus trees prefer a full sun position. They will grow well with
up to half a day of sun, but will produce less fruit with less direct sunlight. They need to be protected from frost and wind which damages the foliage and fruit. Citrus are shallow-rooted trees and require regular watering especially during the hot summer months. Most varieties of citrus are ideal grown in large pots or tubs.
Mulch Citrus in spring to help them through the summer months. Be careful not to build
the mulch up around the trunk of the trees, as this may cause collar rot.
Citrus should be fertilised with Fruit & Citrus Food in early September and again in early March. Some older leaves may yellow as flowering is initiated. A liquid fertiliser may be used in winter as a quick green up.
Pruning is really only necessary to remove dead wood and to cut out branches that are rubbing against each other or to shape the tree as desired. Remove all shoots that come from below the graft.

Bare Root Season is Here
Bare root season has begun and we have been busy compiling orders that have been placed over the last few months. It has been a very busy time as there is a shortage of stock this year due to some other major suppliers closing down in the past 12 months.
This is the first year that we are not holding bare root stock on the ground, but we can get it in to order. As many lines are already sold out, keep in mind that we can take orders all year for delivery the following Winter.
Feel free to contact the office to request the latest availability list to be sent out to you.

What's Looking Great
 

Weeping Apricots are already starting to flower, providing a splash of colour in our current world of bare branches. These trees are very easy o maintain and are the earliest to flower out of all the blossom trees.

These trees are trained to a height of 1.8 metres before they're allowed to start cascading down with long sweeping branches and profuse blossom.

Accommodation 

Snow has already arrived at Mount Baw Baw. You can even check out the current conditions by Snow Cam here http://mountbawbaw.com.au/web-cams 

We still have the odd vacancy here and there at our cottages so if stepping out of a spa and curling up in front of a fire after a day in the snow is something you can see yourself doing, give us a call.