Thatch Busta is an organic liquid for the control of thatch. Watered into the grass it breaks down the debris and quickly converts it into food for the lawn. It’s best used regularly to control the problem rather than expect it to remedy a thick mat. Thatch Busta is also a great compost activator. Water it over your compost whenever a lot of new material is added and this will speed up the process. Can be used in worm farms too.

There’s still plenty to do in the vegetable garden. Plant punnets of brassicas now. For a small family, try the combo punnets of 2 each of cabbage, cauli and broccoli, or the mini combo of smaller but quicker maturing plants. The good old standby of silverbeet and spinach can be planted now and also lettuces which can be planted all year round. Many people like to get their broad beans in now so they have a good start when spring arrives. They are also a good cover crop for the winter, putting nitrogen into the soil as they grow. If you have a sheltered garden, you may still be able to sow a crop of fast maturing carrots such as Baby carrots. Mound up leeks for long white stems. Liquid feed every week for fast, healthy growth before winter slows it down. BioFeed is a good quality all-purpose liquid fertilizer.

 

The peas have been harvested, so there are fresh bales of peastraw available again. Be sure to cover all bear patches of garden with a thick mulch to protect the soil from the ravishes of winter.

 

Pots, troughs, cubes, urns and birdbaths are all instore now. A new delivery has arrived of lightweight fibre, terracotta, concrete, sandstone and glazed. There are some lovely styles and patterns to choose from. Come in and check them out!

 

Fruit Tree and Rose catalogues are out now for you to browse through and then place an order.

 

Autumn is the optimum time for planting, with moist soil and cooler conditions, so go mad and plant now. Autumn is also the time when plant roots put on the most growth.

 

Bulbs are very popular this year. We have a great selection of all the favourite varieties. We have bags for you to fill with your own selection of Daffodil bulbs. See how many you can get in, for only $9.95 over 20. Fertilize with Portstone’s 500gm value pack of Dried Blood for only $9.50.

 

Hyacinths are fun for children to grow because they are so fast it holds their interest. Then when the flower emerges, it is fragrant too. A great way for children to learn.

 

Perennials are a great option for putting colour in the garden without spending too much money. Plant now for a wonderland of colour from late winter through to summer. For winter colour, you can’t go past the good old standbys of pansies, polyanthus, primulas and cyclamen. Again, feed with liberal amounts of Dried Blood.

 

Hostas will be turning golden now heralding their return to the earth. (I love that brief flash of bright yellow as they die down). Plant them with a circle of daffodils around the clump. That way the emerging new hosta in spring will hide the dying foliage of the bulbs and it makes double use of the space. We have a good special on Hostas at the moment - 40% off. Many of them are big enough clumps to be able to divide, making them even better value.

 

Lawns can get clogged with thatch which is a build up of dead grass, that eventually forms a thick mat around the roots. This reduces the amount of rainwater getting down to the soil, but holds the water around the base of the grass, thus increasing rot and fungal problems. The remedy for this is to scarify your lawn with a de-thatching machine. It simply rakes out all the dead material that if you tried raking by hand, would be an arduous task indeed. We have a scarifier that you can hire for just $45 for half a day. It is as simple as mowing the lawn.

 

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