The Growing Edge – September 2015

This Month's Featured Trees

This month's featured trees are a spectacular flowering magnolia and a tried and true Aussie favourite. They both have distinct uses in small and large gardens.

Magnolia x liliflora
Vulcan

A beautiful, frost hardy variety. With attractive foliage it has a compact growth habit and magnificent deep magenta coloured fragrant flowers in late Winter, making this a great plant to use in the landscape.
Magnolias prefer a fertile and well drained soil, a sunny aspect in a protected position. They do tolerate partial shade, and some protection from strong wind will enhance and prolong the flowering season.
It will reach a mature height of 5 metres and a width of 2 metres after 10 years.

Schinus molle
Peppercorn Tree

The Peppercorn Tree has a graceful weeping habit with dark green and glossy aromatic leaves. It produces pale green long flowers followed by reddish berries. This is an old time favourite with Australians as it tolerates harsh conditions.
The Peppercorn Tree tolerates drought conditions and extreme heat in most soil conditions.
It reaches a mature height of 7-9 metres and width of 3 – 5 metres.

Common Spring Pests:
Aphids and Thrips and Snails! Oh My!

Aphids come in many different varieties and colours, depending on the plant that the particular species is attacking. They range from green to pink to yellow, black and grey. They attack the plants piercing the foliage or stems and sucking out the sap, leading to malformed flowers and shoots and opening the door to other biological infestations. Easy ways to deal with Aphids include spraying with Pyrethrum or White Oil. Minor infestations can be dealt with by hosing down the plant.

Thrips have a similar effect on plants to aphids, but are often overlooked due to their small size. Some varieties exist solely on dead matter, breeding in fallen leaves or dropped flower petals. Of those that survive on live plant matter, they more often attack the flower petals, making it a huge problem for people growing blooms for cut flowers. Control methods are the same as for aphids.

Snails are a problem in all gardens. We all know what effect they can have on plants from newly planted beds to well established gardens. Baiting is easy, but there are other simple ways to control these pests.
Beer Traps! Place a dish of beer in your garden bed, level with the soil. The snails will go for it and not be able to climb out. Simply fish out he dead snails each morning.
Newspaper Rolls! Roll up a newspaper, leaving a snail sized hole in the middle and leave it in the garden. Snails will think its a great place to hang out during the day, so all you have to do is pick up the paper, filled with snails and dispose.
Also remember that snails will not cross sand or foil, so creating a protective circle around sensitive plants can also hinder their attack.

What's Been Happening On The Farm
 

Winter is officially over, along with bare root season. A lot of stock is being potted up ready for sale and a full seasons growth. 

Our deciduous trees are starting to flower and leaf, adding some much missed colour to the nursery.

What's Looking Great
 

One of the first fruit trees to flower, the Mariposa Plum are completely covered in spectacular white blossoms. The bees are starting to buzz around, doing their job to provide you with some wonderful summer fruit on your semi-mature trees.

The Cottages 

Peak season is over now that spring is here and we are taking the opportunity to renovate our cottages. We are renovating one cottage at a time, so there are still cottages available to stay in. We are busy outfitting with new bathrooms, kitchens and living areas to provide a more comfortable and enjoyable stay for our guests.