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From Lushington’s Garden Centre 

MARCH
As we move from one season to the next, this month is all about that change: Harvesting the last of summer crops, and preparing for autumn and winter. 
Key Points 
• Mow lawns more regularly and feed with lawn food as rain becomes more frequent. 
• The first of the season’s cyclamen will appear in store this month. Remember to keep in a well-lit room that has a cool even temperature. 
• New season’s Camellias are now coming into the store. The perfect shrub for winter colour in the garden. 

APRIL 
Key Points 
• Strawberries 
Now’s the time to be planting strawberries. Strawberries like good fertile soil so dig in lots of top quality compost before planting. A handful of Blood and Bone in the planting hole and a top dressing of general fertiliser will get them off to a flying start. Remember to water in well after planting. Strawberries look great in strawberry pots on the deck – easy picking in the summer! 
• Vege Garden 
Still lots to do in the vegetable garden this month. Spinach, cabbage, winter lettuce, bok choy, should all be part of your winter garden. 
Broad beans are a great winter garden crop – plant seeds now into prepared soil. Provide some support as they do get reasonably tall (use twigs and small branches from your pruning in the garden). 
Broad beans are easy care, and you will have delicious young beans in October / November. 
Shallots – sweeter than garlic, milder than onions. Great in stews and casseroles, or roasted whole. Shallots are easy to grow and take up little space in the garden. 
Rhubarb – Nothing beats the taste of homegrown rhubarb with your muesli or weet-bix for breakfast! Rhubarb is planted by ‘Crowns’ which are available this month. 
Rhubarb plants are heavy feeders so dig in plenty of top quality compost at planting time and follow up with general garden fertiliser at regular intervals through the year.

MAY 
Key Points 
• Spray lawns with Yates Turfix to control broadleaf weeds, and Yates Surrender to get rid of moss. 
• Prune back shrubs that have finished flowering and feed with a fertiliser high in potash such as Rose fertiliser. 
• Lift and store dahlias and gladioli. 
• Plant lily bulbs now. 
• Spray deciduous ornamental and fruit trees with Lime Sulphur. This stops lichen from growing and helps control overwintering diseases and insects. 
• Protect young seedlings from slugs and snails with Quash or Baysol snail pellets. 

For more gardening advice or products, visit www.lushingtons.co.nz and don’t forget your Ruralco card when shopping in store!

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