Winter Scoop 2022

FREE ISSUE

WINTER SCOOP 2022

Monthly

Deciduous

Heavenly

Our expert tips on gardening tasks

Top varieties & planting guide

All you need to know to grow well

CHECKLISTS

FRUIT TREES

HELLEBORES

From 7th June our Forrest Hill store will be relocating to 11 Porana Road.

Winter may not be the most exciting time in our gardens, but it’s perfect for all the planning and preparation that makes the other seasons so spectacular.

At Kings Plant Barn our business is no different to the changing seasons. We adapt to the environment around us and lay foundations for future growth. So, we’re excited to share one of those changes - this winter we’re evolving our Forrest Hill branch into the distribution centre for our online store. It’ll make it easier and faster for you to order plants and garden essentials from home, or even your garden! In fact, it means we can add more great products to our range for you to choose from.

The fabulous team at Forrest Hill who’ve been looking after you will join our other Kings branches. And if you’re a local who still wants to pick something up or grab a coffee, our Kings Porana Road Garden Centre & Garden Café is just a 2-minute drive around the corner.

The other exciting news is we’re opening the doors to our new, state of the art concept store in Stonefields. With sustainability, service and innovation at its heart, this new garden centre will be everything you love about Kings and so much more!

Keep up to date with the latest on our new store opening through our social media pages or sign up to the Kings Garden Club for the weekly newsletter.

Happy gardening!

The Kings Team

@kingsplantbarnnz @kingsplantbarn kings.co.nz

2

Our new concept store opening this winter in Stonefields.

CONTENTS WINTER 2022

FEATURES

EVERY ISSUE

16

Winter Colour Our top winter colour ranges and tips for success

4

Gardeners’ Mail Celebrating your garden success stories

18

Heavenly Hellebores A look at our favourite winter roses this season

6

Winter Checklists What to plant and tend to this winter

20

Caring for Roses Planting and pruning

12

Indoor Plants Winter care and style tips

22

Growing From Seed A quick guide to growing veggies from scratch

19

Kids Corner Create a leaf collage animal

34 24

Planting for Butterflies How you can help butterflies thrive this winter

Garden To Plate Use your crops in these seasonal recipes

38 27

Planting Trees Establishing trees to bring height to your garden

Passionate Plant People See our Plant Doctor's garden

42

Plant Doctor Your questions, our expert advice

30

Deciduous Fruit Trees Our top varieties and pruning tips

3

GARDENERS’ MAIL

CELEBRATING YOUR SUCCESS

SUCCESS WITH SUCCULENTS My succulent garden started off as a succulent that was gifted to me by a friend a few years ago. I started to buy some more succulents and planted them around the house. They grow in the sunny place happily and beautifully. This is a corner of my small woodland fairy garden.

Angela Smith

4

Send us your stories and be in to

WIN a Kings $50 Gift Card

PEACE THROUGH PLANTS It’s been a heck of a ride over the past 18 months. After two surgeries, six months of chemotherapy and a lot of tears, I found myself being drawn more and more into my small garden. My trips to Kings Plant Barn (always including a coffee at the cafe of course) over these times have been small steps back to recovery for me. I’d like to thank the fantastic staff that have always been so helpful and knowledgeable.

Keep up the good work guys, and know that you all bring so much pleasure to us gardeners! The more I garden, the less I know, and it’s always great to know the team at Kings are there to guide me.

Every published story wins, so send us your gardening success stories!

Lea Eaton

PLANTS ON DISPLAY My lovely partner fully supports my indoor plant addiction and built me my very own plant shelf for my beautiful indoor plants! After the first lockdown, I found so much joy in growing a single cutting my mother had given me, and slowly began expanding my collection over the last two years. My favourite part of any morning is sipping coffee next to this beauty!

Sonali Jina

Post: PO BOX 31002, Milford, 0741 Email: scoop@kings.co.nz or message us on Facebook or Instagram 5

YOUR JUNE CHECKLIST Winter is officially here, the cold has set in and deciduous trees are losing their leaves. But when it comes to the garden, there is still much to do.

Veggies 





 





6

Continue planting out lettuce, broad beans, onion, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, silverbeet, and leek seedlings.

Plant garlic and start chitting potatoes now, letting them sprout for a few weeks before planting.

Depending on how cold your garden gets, protect tender plants and seedlings from frost by covering them with frost cloth.

Keep newly planted veggie beds weed-free.

Make sure beds aren’t becoming too sodden in the rain. If they are, improve your drainage by either planting in raised beds, mounds or adding Gypsum into the soil.

Don’t let your seedlings get too wet, or they risk collapsing from damping off disease.

Protect tender veggies from slugs and snails with Tui Quash.

Fruit Trees 







Deciduous fruit trees are coming into stores in late June. Pre-order specific varieties instore so you don't miss out.

Strawberries are back in stock! Plant them now to get them settled to produce a good crop of fruit for spring. Place a layer of strawberry straw over the soil to protect the fruit from fungal diseases.

Prune back any new growth on established deciduous fruit trees, keeping them short so that they are easy to harvest from. Make sure you prune on a dry, sunny day to reduce the risk of diseases. Be sure to apply pruning paste to all pruning cuts.

Spray lime sulfur on your deciduous fruit trees only. If you have had leaf curl in the past, gather up all fallen leaves and dispose of them in green-waste bins (not the compost).

Trees and Shrubs  





Plant trees, shrubs, hedging and hardy climbers now.

Plant daphne now to add a beautifully scented bush for winter, best planted in a partly shaded area in the garden.

Refresh your garden by applying a layer of mulch to conserve moisture and reduce weeds.

Check stakes and ties to ensure they are secure.

GROW WELL

with these

ESSENTIALS

Flowers and Perennials 











Plant hellebores under trees and shrubs for a beautiful winter display of colourful blooms.

Plant winter annuals for a pop of colour, including cineraria, pansies, viola, polyanthus, primula, asters, and hardy mini cyclamen.

Deadhead hydrangeas, and any other flowering shrubs, perennials, or annuals with flowers that are past their best.

Water cyclamen from the saucer if they are in small pots, but don't allow them to sit in water.

Cut back perennials that have finished flowering, and trim back trees and shrubs where necessary.

Leave pruning roses until July.

Lawns   

General Tasks  Gather up leaves from trees (that have not had a history of disease) and add to your compost.  Sharpen and clean all your garden tools, this will help avoid the spread of disease.  Add gypsum to the soil to help with the breakdown of clay.

Kings Sheep Pellets Use our organic fertiliser to promote healthy growth in all your plants, trees and shrubs. $19.99

Indoor Plants  Start watering less, keeping an eye on moisture levels by testing the soil with your finger or a moisture meter.  Keep plants away from heaters and draughts.  Wipe dust off leaves and wash windows for better light.

Tui Strawberry Mix Boost fruit production right through summer with this specialised mix. $16.99

Remove any lingering leaves to prevent parts of the lawn dying off.

Fertilise your lawn and get rid of moss with Kings Lawn Moss Control.

Spot spray larger weeds in your lawn now with Turfix Gun.

Harvest 

Harvest silverbeet, spring onions, leeks, lettuce, parsnip, asian greens, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Kings Strawberry Food Especially made for strawberries to promote fruit production. $8.99

7

YOUR JULY CHECKLIST In Auckland, the ‘dead of winter’ usually means chilly overcast days with lots of rain (fingers crossed!). This is the best time to finish your winter clean up and start planning for the upcoming growing season.

Veggies 





 



8

Place your seed potatoes in a cool well-lit spot until 1-2cm shoots have appeared.

Chop up and dig in any green crops before they flower and begin getting beds ready for spring planting.

Continue to protect vegetables from frost with frost cloth. Ensure that your seedlings are not getting too wet or they may die from damping off.

Mulch garden beds with pea straw.

Continue to use Tui Quash, or create your own beer-trap for slugs and snails.

Plant out new season asparagus crowns.

Fruit Trees 







Remember to prune deciduous fruit trees that you didn’t prune in summer, as well as any citrus trees and grape vines that need a bit of work. This encourages better fruiting!

You’ll need secateurs, Prune'n'Paste, as well as loppers and a pruning saw for any larger cuts. More information on fruit tree pruning can be found in our deciduous fruit tree article on page 30.

Spray your deciduous fruit trees with Yates Liquid Copper and EnSpray 99 Oil to kill off any overwintering insects and diseases.

Mulch any deciduous trees that have been prone to leaf curl (peach, plum, nectarine) with Mulch 'n' Feed.

Trees and Shrubs  







Plant daphnes in a semi-shaded area, in large pots or in the garden.

Spray lime sulphur to defoliate roses that are still in leaf to kill off any fungal spores. Take care when spraying as this product can stain fences and paving.

Prune your roses in the first couple of weeks of July. Choose a dry, sunny day to prune.

After pruning roses, spray with a mix of Liquid Copper and Aquaticus Glow to help clear up any persistent bugs or fungal problems. If you have used Lime Sulphur, wait 2 weeks before spraying Liquid Copper.

Transplant any small trees or shrubs you want to move now, and make sure their roots remain moist when replanting.

GROW WELL

with these

ESSENTIALS

Flowers and Perennials   

 

Plant hellebores to provide bees with food throughout winter.

Continue to plant winter annuals in the garden, pots or hanging baskets.

Deadhead flowering shrubs, perennials, and annuals that are starting to die back.

Trim back trees and shrubs where necessary.

Feed your garden-planted polyanthus and pansies with Kings Dried Blood.

Lawns   

Continue removing moss from your lawn with Kings Lawn Moss Control.

Spot spray and take out any larger or harder-to-get weeds by hand.

Remove any fallen flowers from the lawn and add them to your compost.

Harvest 

Harvest carrots, leeks, silverbeet, kale, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, and bok choi.

General Tasks 

 

Pruning Paste An organic, easy to apply, pine based product that provides a natural barrier against fungal and bacterial diseases.

From $29.99

If you have compost, remember to turn it over and add leaf matter, cardboard, and newspaper. Layering is key!

Clean out gutters once all deciduous leaves have fallen.

Clean out birdbaths and bird feeders frequently.

Indoor Plants  

Cut back any dead, browning leaves.

Yellow and curling leaves at this time of year can indicate cold damage.

Increase the room temperature or move plants closer to an indirect light source.

Yates Liquid Copper To help clear up fungal spores and protect plants from fungal issues.

From $22.99

Bypass Pruners Bypass pruners ensure clean, precise cuts.

A must-have for winter pruning.

From $27.99

9

YOUR AUGUST CHECKLIST The days are slowly getting longer as spring creeps into the garden, and seedlings are beginning to take off again as mid- to late August comes around.

There is much to do to prepare your garden for spring!

Veggies 

 

 

 

10

Sow spring seed into seed-raising mix now, including peas, beans, lettuce, celery, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Plant potatoes now.

Grow tomato, basil, and chilli from seed inside, before transplanting them outside in September.

Plant parsley, coriander, thyme, and mint.

Start preparing for spring and summer now! Dig in green crops and start weeding beds to ensure you’re ready and prepared to plant this spring.

Continue to use Tui Quash for slugs and snails.

Start feeding your veggies regularly from mid August with Kings Organic Vegetable Fertiliser.

Fruit Trees  



Don’t forget to buy your deciduous fruit trees now.

Thoroughly spray with a mix of FreeFlo Copper and BioNeem. By spraying with these two organic products in winter, you reduce the risk of diseases and pest problems over the coming seasons.

If you are going to graft or espalier fruit trees, do this from late August to mid-September.

Trees and Shrubs 

   





Magnolias and flowering cherries will arrive in stores this month - plant them early to enjoy their beautiful blooms this spring.

Mulch around trees with Living Earth More Than Mulch.

Feed the whole garden with Kings Garden Booster.

Put up wasp traps as queens begin to come out of hibernation.

Mulch roses well and give them a final spray using Yates Liquid Copper before bud-burst.

Remove any fallen camellia flowers, as these can be slippery when left on the ground. Add these to your compost.

Time to trim and shape early flowering camellias once blooms have finished.

GROW WELL

with these

ESSENTIALS

Tui Organic Seed Raising Mix Specially formulated to promote healthy, strong seedlings. $12.99

Flowers and Perennials   



Plant summer bulbs now.

Deadhead old flowers as they fade, as this encourages new buds.

Early spring bulbs will now be flowering – cut and gift to a friend or family member!

Continue to feed pansies and polyanthus with Kings Dried Blood and feed the rest of the garden with Kings Blood & Bone.

General Tasks 



Indoor Plants 

Lawns  As it warms up, begin to repair your lawn or plant up any new patches.  If moss has become a problem, apply Kings Lawn Moss Control, just be careful around paving as it can stain.

Start thinking about making your own compost bin if you have the space.

Weeds will soon be popping up everywhere – get rid of them while they are small, before they get out of hand.





Start repotting at the end of August, using Kings House Plant Mix. Turn plants if they have been stretching towards the light.

Start fertilising with Kings Liquid House Plant Food.

Kings Dried Blood Boosts flower production of winterflowering annuals. $9.99

Kings Liquid House Plant Food Promotes lush green foliage and encourages flowers. $13.99

11

WINTER CARE TIPS FOR YOUR

INDOOR PLANTS

During the cooler, darker days of winter, indoor plants need a little less attention. Here are some tips to keep your plants happy and healthy.

12

Temperature

Light

Watering

Most indoor plants are tropical or subtropical, meaning that they need to be kept warm in winter. Keep your plants in a room that is 18°C or warmer, otherwise more delicate plants will start to show signs of cold damage on the leaves and may start dying back. Make sure your plants are kept away from cool draughts, heat pumps and heaters.

Diminishing light levels may mean your plants need to be moved to get more light (but remember to keep them out of direct sunlight). Clean your windows to allow extra light in, and clean your plants’ leaves with a damp towel so they can absorb more light. If you have small cuttings or young plants, look into investing in an indoor grow light.

Incorrect watering during winter is the number one way to lose your indoor plants. Cut watering back to a third of what they get in summer to help ensure they don’t get waterlogged or start developing signs of root rot. The only exceptions to this rule are carnivorous plants and ferns.

13

Encouraging creative spaces If you are running your own business or have been working from home through covid, you will understand the importance of setting up a creative, engaging space to work in, one that inspires and motivates you.

When we work from home, we miss the opportunities to see, breathe, and experience plants in our daily commutes or walks to work.

Why not bring nature in? Check out our tips on sprucing up your office space with plants.

14

Utilising Shelves

Incorporating Height

When choosing your plants for your shelves, always select at least one hanging plant. This will soften the space and give an authentically designed look. Add colour and character with cover pots. This is an easy styling tool that you can change to fit your desired look. Sometimes a more restrained approach is just as beautiful, if not more functional. Again, use books and personal effects to tell a story and accent the space with plants.

Sometimes our home office spaces are limited. If this is the case, try to incorporate smaller house plants such as dwarf sansevieria and mini moth orchids.

Plant stands framing the side of a desk is a great way to integrate height.

Pair plants with items such as photo frames and books to add personality. We love a plant paperweight. You don’t have to spend a lot to get a designer look.

Visit your local Kings for help choosing the right plants for your space.

We have new plants arriving in store each week!

15

LIVEN UP YOUR GARDEN WITH

WINTER COLOUR

Making the garden look beautiful is easy in spring, summer, and even autumn, but winter can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. Here are our top plants and tips to continue making your garden look great even when it’s cold outside.

Adding colour to your winter garden is the easiest way to brighten those dull winter days. From fragrant boronia with beautiful bell-shaped flowers, to striking nandina that changes colours as the

16

temperature drops, winter plants come in many different shapes, colours, and sizes to suit any garden. Whether planted directly into your garden beds as a shrub, border, feature plant, or into pots or

containers on the deck, these are some of our favourite winter plants that will add a variation of colour, structure and fragrance to your outdoor space.

Brown Boronia

Heuchera

Nandina

Blooming from winter to spring, brown boronias are small evergreen shrubs that bear highly scented, brown, bell-shaped flowers. It is said that some people can smell them far more than others.

Also known as ‘coral bells’, these evergreen perennials come in an exciting range of colourful leaves. The nickname coral bell refers to their small, sweet flowers hung like bells on each flower stalk.

Often known as ‘heavenly bamboo’, nandina are evergreen shrubs that come in a range of colours. Many varieties, such as ‘firepower’, change colour to a deep red as temperatures cool.

Hellebores

Cyclamen

Daphne

Also known as ‘winter roses’, hellebores provide a stunning display of flowers in a shaded winter garden and are also a good food source for bees in the colder months. They look great planted under deciduous trees.

An easy-care plant, perfect for a beginner gardener! Plant in shaded to partly shaded areas in pots or the garden. A drop in temperature triggers them to bloom, filling spaces with red, white, pink, and purple flowers. When flowers finish, pluck the seed heads gently off the corms to encourage new growth.

Bearing highly fragrant white flowers with a pink blush, daphne is one of the best shrubs in the garden this season.

The ‘Perfume Princess’ is our top seller and produces large clusters of beautiful blooms.

SAVE

15%

on our Winter Colour ranges shown above.

Present this coupon at checkout instore or use promo code WSCOOP15 online before September 1st.

Coupon limited to one use per customer. Voucher will be forfeited on use. Discount only applies to selected Boronia, Heuchera, Nandina, Hellebore, Cyclamen, and Daphne ranges. Discount is off the original, individual price. Offer expires September 1st 2022, or while stocks last.

17

HEAVENLY

HELLEBORES Nicknamed the ‘winter rose’ due to its stunning vibrant colours in the winter, hellebores will add a touch of colour to those dreary winter days in the garden. Hellebores provide food for bees and other insects in winter, when food is scarce. Plus, they are perennials, so will continue to bloom for a number of years.

White Magic

Camelot

Ice ’n’ Roses Red

A New Zealand-bred hellebore that showcases large, pure white flowers with a lime green eye. As the flowers start to age, they turn a soft pink.

A stunning hybrid species from Germany.

The rose tinted buds open to reveal eye-catching, creamy-pink flowers that last through winter.

One of the most beautiful hellebores, this variety offers large ruby-red blossoms with a golden crown of stamens.

Planting Hellebores are best planted in partial shade and are relatively easy to grow. They are commonly found in the garden in dappled light under trees, shrubs, hedging and on the south side of a fence or house. When planting, make sure the crown of the plant is buried only slightly beneath the soil.

Too deep and this can hinder flower production.

18 18

Care Water well in their active growth periods in autumn and spring. Watering in summer is less important as they die back and become dormant.

Add a fresh layer of compost in autumn for added nutrients.

Hellebores will self-sow, so thin out any unwanted seedlings the following year, or pick off the seed heads as they appear.

Expert Tips Plant with crocus, snowdrops, muscari and daffodils for a gorgeous spring-flower display.

Hybrid varieties have recently been bred to have showier blooms with a more upright growth habit.

Hellebores tend to have downwardfacing flowers.

To enjoy them to the full extent, plant them on a hill or raised garden, at eye level.

Little Growers

Kids Corner Leaf collage animals

As the leaves fall for winter, why not take advantage and create an easy and fun activity for the kids!

What you will need: • • • •

Leaves of different colours and sizes PVA glue Paper Marker pen

1.

Get the kids to choose an animal they want to create. They might choose a butterfly, bird or elephant!

2.

Collect fallen leaves of all different colours from the park or your own backyard. Make sure they are not too brittle.

3.

Lay old newspaper or a small tarp over the work surface. Let them loose with the glue and leaves!

TIP: You can also use double sided cellotape.

4.

Let it dry for half a day, and add features with a marker pen.

5.

Share your creation by tagging us on Instagram @kingsplantbarnnz

Top Tip

Use leaves that haven’t completely dried, as they won’t be as fragile and hard to work with.

Go in the draw to WIN! Send your Little Grower leaf collage creations to scoop@kings.co.nz for the chance to win a $50 Little Grower Gardening Pack!

Entries closes 7th September 2022. Only one prize to be won. Prize must be collected from your local Kings Plant Barn store.

19

CARING FOR

ROSES

Growing roses isn’t difficult, but it’s a lot easier if you set yourself up for success from the beginning – a rose that is planted in the right spot and is well cared for from day one is far more likely to thrive and reward you with stunning blooms season after season.

OUR TOP ROSES

20

Wish Come True

My Grandma

Pink Ribbon

A newly released floribunda rose.

Exquisite soft lemon to creamy white cupped blooms create a magical garden display with refreshing fragrance. Superb health and glossy foliage. Grows to approximately 1.3m tall.

Beautiful lilac pink flowers with divine fragrance. Grows to 1m tall.

Multi-petal, vintage-style blooms with repeat flower on a strong, easycare plant. Lovely for picking.

This beautiful rose from Matthews creates an outstanding, continuous display of soft pink cupped blooms on a healthy, compact, bushy plant.

Ideal for planting into a pot. $2 of each sale from this rose is donated to BCFNZ.

Planting Your Rose Roses require full sun (at least 6 hours a day) and grow well in free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. In Auckland, choosing a spot with a good amount of airflow will also help reduce the risk of fungal diseases, as the humidity and warmth can make things more difficult than in drier parts of New Zealand.

Steps Dig a hole at least twice the depth and width of the pot the rose came in. Backfill the hole with a mix of your original soil, compost and sheep pellets, or use Garden Mix, leaving enough room for your plant.

In heavier soils, break up the edges of the hole as you backfill to improve drainage and add a handful of ClayBreaker Gypsum.

Place your rose in the hole and fill around it with your mix and some of the remaining topsoil, and make sure you press the soil down until it is firm. In heavier clay soils where drainage is likely to be an issue, plant into a slight mound.

You can also add some pumice sand to your mix for more drainage.

Fertilise using Kings Slow Release Rose Food or, for an organic option, try Natures Organic Fertiliser. Mulch to finish, keeping it a few centimetres away from the trunk.

Too high

Too close

Sloping

Sloping

Cut too

Correctly

above bud

to the bud

wrong way

too steep

jagged

cut

Pruning July is traditionally the best time to prune roses as the plant is in its dormant stage. Before you start, make sure you have the right equipment. Ideally the roses should have been sprayed with Yates Lime Sulfur (in winter only). This will cause the plant to defoliate and will help protect your rose from fungal problems in the future. Just be careful if you are spraying near other plants.

Making a cut You’ll need • • • • •

Sharp secateurs Pair of sturdy gloves Pruning saw Yates Lime Sulfur (for the postpruning, clean-up spray) Pruning paste

Suckers Cut back to a viable bud. The cut should be made at approximately a 45-degree angle, and the bottom of the cut should be level with the top of the bud. Making the cut too close can kill off that bud as a small amount of wood will die off after making the cut.

Seal cuts larger than 15mm (or as thick as your little finger) with pruning paste.

Check the base of the plant for unwanted suckers coming from below the ground or the graft point. These need to be removed.

The graft point is usually evident as a slightly crooked or dog-legged bump a few centimetres above ground level.

A QUICK GUIDE TO

GROWING FROM SEED It’s a fascinating process being able to watch a plant grow, flower, and fruit, all from a tiny little seed. It’s so easy to do and extremely costeffective! Some of our top seeds for sowing in winter include lettuce, onions, peas, broccoli, and beetroot. Seeds can be sown all year round, so make sure you check the back of the packet for the recommended time to sow in your location.

22

22

Sowing in seed trays Fill your seed tray with seed raising mix and moisten with a mister filled with water. Check the seed packets for planting requirements, as some seeds need to be sown into a small trench, and some thinly sprinkled evenly on the surface. Lightly cover the seed with a thin layer of mix and gently press down to create a good contact between the seed and soil.

Position your seed tray in a warm, well-lit position, away from low night temperatures. If growing outside, ensure the location is sheltered and sunny.

GROW WELL

with this

EXPERT TIP To give your seeds the best chance of success, I recommend using Tui Organic Seed Raising Mix. It has all the nutrients and minerals to give your seeds the best start.

David, Assistant Manager

Sowing in the ground Prepare beds by forking in Kings Organic Compost and raking to form a fine seedbed. Plant the seed as instructions recommend, and gently rake over with remaining soil. Water lightly.

Some seeds grow well in rows, such as beans and peas, making it easier for them to grow up a trellis. Carrots, beetroot, or parsnips are also best sown in a line, however plants like corn are best planted in blocks for better wind pollination later in the season.

Organic Seed Raising Mix - 15L $12.99

23

WINTER PLANTING FOR

BUTTERFLIES People who love butterflies usually just think of swan plants in the spring, but there are many other plants that encourage NZ’s beautiful butterflies. During the winter, butterflies are looking for places to shelter and will emerge on the warm, wintry days to top up their nectar reserves.

24

24

This article is brought to you by

When you’re looking for trees, why not plant something multi-purpose?

Bottlebrushes will often flower in the winter, and they’ll provide nectar for butterflies and other pollinators. There are many varieties to choose from even the dwarf Little John.

If you prefer natives, lacebarks or houhere (Hoheria populnea) also provide nectar for our pollinators. Corokia is an attractive native and will make great hedges or topiary and feed our pollinators with its Corokia

bright, star-shaped yellow flowers. C. buddleioides needs shelter, but C. cotoneaster, often referred to as the wire-netting bush, is ideal for dry, stony soils and more exposed locations.

And don’t forget manuka and hebes!

They come in a wide range of colours these days and are so versatile.

Many people ask about butterflies like ‘tiny monarchs’. These are our copper butterflies, and we have the plant the

caterpillars need! Muehlenbeckia. Plant it, and you may have the extra delight of seeing these butterflies around your home or garden. Muehlenbeckia spp can be grown into mounds, sculpted into balls, hide ugly banks or grow up dead trees and walls. It will bring interest to your garden with its structure and texture.

There are different species, suiting most environments. Muehlenbeckia is easy to grow and not fussy about where it’s planted.

Lepstospermum (Manuka)

Muehlenbeckia

To find out more, check out the website of the Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust nzbutterflies.org.nz

Proudly supported by Kings Plant Barn

25

KINGS ORGANIC COMPOST Made by gardeners for gardeners

Kings Organic Compost helps revitalise soil and enhance the growth and health of plants. Building healthy soil with compost ensures steady, but strong, plant growth.

E

Y

YD VER A

4for $25 L TIBU

Y

MU

Need advice on best use of our Compost?

Visit kings.co.nz or ask a friendly team member in store.

REACH NEW HEIGHTS WITH

TREES

Whether you’re wanting a large assortment of trees to screen the neighbours or a busy road, a large feature tree in the middle of the lawn to offer shade on hot summer days, or a small japanese maple adding brilliant colour in autumn, there's a tree for every garden.

Screening Trees

Feature Trees

Trees for Smaller Gardens

These are large trees that are best used in the city to add some privacy - either as manicured tall hedges or planted in specific areas to protect the property from nosy neighbours. We recommend trying olives, pittosporums, puka trees, titoki, ficus tuffi, and michelias.

Feature trees are planted in specific places in the garden to draw attention. These often have colourful flowers, leaves, and shapes or have a large spread to offer shade in an otherwise sparse area. We recommend trees such as camellias, magnolias, flowering cherries, crepe myrtle, palms, robinia ‘mop tops', cercis, jacarandas, pohutukawa, and albizia.

Smaller gardens in urban areas can also have planted trees without losing much garden space. The best trees for smaller spaces are Japanese maple, dwarf citrus, and eucalyptus 'baby blue'.

New release at Kings MICHELIA CHURCH MOUSE

Michelia Church Mouse is an exciting addition to the michelia family. With its copper coloured buds and sweet fragrant white flowers in early spring it is well suited for pots, courtyards and small gardens. Growing to 1m x 1m it will also look great as a low hedge.

27

GROW WELL

with these

PLANTING STEPS 1 Dig a hole twice the depth and width of the plant's root ball. Mix Kings Compost into your existing soil at a 50/50 ratio, add Sheep Pellets and Kings 24 Plus fertiliser then mix together well.

2 Backfill the hole with this soil so that, when planted, the top of the plant’s roots sit level with the surrounding ground.

3 Soak the root ball of the tree well before planting. Sitting it in a bucket of water works well.

4 Stake trees when planting to keep them stable, minimising root damage in windy conditions.

5 Firm the soil down gently and water in well with Organic Garden Booster. Add a 5cm layer of mulch, ensuring that it is not up against the trunk of the tree.

6 In heavier clay soils, where drainage is an issue, plant onto a raised mound and sprinkle Gypsum ClayBreaker into the bottom of the hole. This helps condition the soil and will help to break down clay.

28

Jute Webbing 5m $9.99

Kings 24 Plus 700g $17.99 Kings 24 Plus 60g $3.99

YD VER A

E

$$

Y

Kings Sheep Pellets 5kg $19.99

$

Y

M

UL IBU T

Kings Compost $6.99 or 4 for $25

TREE PLANTING ESSENTIALS

Our top products for ensuring your trees have all they need to grow well this winter.

Aquaticus Garden Booster 500mL $14.99

Gypsum ClayBreaker 8kg $19.99

$$

$

Y

E

YD VER A

Y

M

UL IBU T

Living Earth Mulch Mix $13.99 or 2 for $27

Hardwood Stakes From $3.99

29

DELIGHTFUL DECIDUOUS

FRUIT TREES

If you want to add an orchard to your farm, or enjoy fruit grown on the balcony of your apartment, try growing a deciduous fruit tree. There are plenty of varieties to suit all gardens. Arriving instore from early June to July, they are best planted in winter to prepare for spring growth.

30

NECTARINES

PEARS

PEACHES

Snow Queen

Taylor's Gold

Golden Queen

Best eaten straight off the tree, this earlyharvest nectarine provides very sweet fruit that is a favourite to all who grow it.

A late season variety with russet gold skin and sensational flavour. It will need another pear nearby to aid pollination.

Flavourzee (Dwarf)

Garden Belle® (Dwarf)

A classic peach that originated in New Zealand in 1908. The best peach for bottling. With firm, deep orange flesh, this variety ripens late in the season.

The best for smaller gardens or large containers. These are very easy to maintain and feature a compact growth habit, without sacrificing quality fruit.

The first true dwarf pear variety in New Zealand. An early harvesting pear in midsummer that is also self-fertile, perfect for smaller gardens that can only fit a couple of fruit trees. Great for eating straight off the tree.

Pixzee (Dwarf) A dwarf peach that can easily be grown in a large pot for a sunny deck, small garden or balcony. There is no need to prune due to its compact growing habit.

APPLES

PLUMS

Royal Gala

Black Doris

Perfect for growing in Auckland and known as one of the world’s most beautiful apples, these are best picked and eaten fresh from the tree and are great for fruit salads.

One of our most popular varieties, the Black Doris is well known for its deep purple flesh and strong taste, which is why it is one of the best for cooking. It will need a pollinator nearby to help the fruit set.

Blush BabeTM (Dwarf) A miniature apple tree with a compact, mop-top growth habit that means it is perfect for smaller Auckland gardens or even in a large container on your balcony. These are great for kids as they can reach to harvest the apples themselves.

Santa Rosa Known as the queen of all plums, the Santa Rosa is one of the best-tasting plums in the world! It is a self-fertile variety making it great for small properties that have room for only one fruit tree. It is also great for making plum wine.

Pacific RoseTM A special New Zealand apple with an attractive rosy-red coloured fruit. This apple has a very rich taste that is different to other traditional types, making it a great fresh addition to lunches and fruit salads.

Luisa Popular for its large heart-shaped fruit and high yielding crops.

If you are looking for lots of fruit, this is the plum for you! Being half self-fertile, it doesn’t need another variety of plum to set fruit, but will produce lots more if paired with a friend.

31

PRUNING DECIDUOUS FRUIT TREES There are typically two times during the year that you can prune your deciduous fruit tree, in late winter when trees are dormant, but before new growth, and in late summer to autumn when trees have finished fruiting.

Why prune?

How to prune

Pruning select types of trees

One of the most important reasons is to maintain the size and shape of the tree, making it easier to harvest fruit. Like with other plants, pruning also encourages flowering and fruiting, meaning a larger yield. Cutting back any dead or diseased wood is also common practice for all plant pruning. Sunlight and air movement lowers the risk of pests and diseases.

Before pruning, make sure you have sharp secateurs to make clean angular cuts, and always clean them with a little meths on a rag between trees to mitigate the risk of spreading disease.

Only prune on a fine day with no rain forecast, and seal cuts with pruning paste once air-dried.

Apricots Prune during summer after fruiting has finished. This will minimise the chance of infection and bacterial canker.

A good way of gauging if your tree needs to be pruned is to ensure that a small bird could easily fly through the centre of the tree.

Thinning heavy-bearing trees in late spring will lessen the risk of over-bearing branches snapping off with too much fruit later in the year.

Plums Refrain from pruning plums between March and July. Instead, give them a summer prune to help control their vigour and shape.

Dwarf trees Many of the dwarf fruit trees that have come on the market don’t need pruning due to their purposefully selected stunted growth. However, semi-dwarf varieties like apples will still need a trim.

PRUNING SHAPES

32

Central Leader

Espalier

Open Vase

Central leader pruning is where there is one main trunk with whorls of branches that start 70–90cm above the ground and then around every 50cm up the trunk, with the shape of a Christmas tree. This allows maximum light penetration of the fruit tree. Modified central leaders are recommended for trees that have no branches when planted. It is recommended for both apples and pears, and for fruit that grows on spurs, which produces a stubby growth on horizontal branches.

Espalier trees are trained to grow against a wall that is north-facing and can also be trained between posts with wire supports. This is a great way to grow fruit trees if you have minimal space. Tie the branches from both sides to the support wires with soft fabric. Cut back any branches in between the wires that will not be trained. Cut off the top part of the tree to encourage the energy to be diverted to your trained branches instead. As the branch grows, continue to train it along the wire.

The open vase shape is where the leader is removed with three to five main branches below that develop as the tree grows. This allows for light penetration into the tree and enables easier harvesting. This pruning form is best for stone fruit such as nectarines, peaches, and plums.

GROW WELL

with these

ESSENTIALS

Bypass Pruners These pruners are beautifully simple and elegantly designed for all basic pruning tasks around the garden. A balanced design for a steady cutting action.

From $27.99

Pruning Paste A unique, BioGro certified, easy to apply, pine based product that provides an effective natural barrier against fungal and bacterial diseases.

From $29.99

Soft Cloth Garden Tie Soft and durable tie which helps to train pruned fruit trees, without risking damage to the branches. $3.99

33

GARDEN

TO PLATE Try one of these tasty new winter recipes with seasonally harvested ingredients — brought to you by InSeason magazine.

34

CHARGRILLED EGGPLANT & HALOUMI STACK WITH PESTO Make the most of the cooler weather with this great seasonal meal that serves 4.

The Main •

• • • • •

2 medium eggplants (800g) cut lengthways into 1cm-thick slices 3 red capsicums, thickly sliced Cooking oil spray 1 bunch rocket 225g pack haloumi, sliced Micro herbs, to garnish

The Pesto • • • • • •

2 cups firmly packed basil leaves 3 garlic cloves 2 tbsp lemon juice 1/2 cup grated parmesan 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Method To make pesto, combine basil, garlic, lemon juice, parmesan and pine nuts in a food processor. Process until finely chopped. Slowly drizzle in oil and process until smooth.

Heat a chargrill pan over a medium heat. Spray eggplant and capsicum with oil, and cook in batches, for 3 minutes each side or until tender.

Allow to sit in a warm area.

To assemble stacks, layer eggplant, capsicum, rocket, haloumi, then continue until you have 2 layers. Repeat with all remaining ingredients. To serve, drizzle stack with pesto and garnish with micro herbs.

Remove from oven. Let cool slightly.

Spray haloumi with oil, then cook for 1-2 minutes or until golden.

35

TARTE AUX POMMES This delicious, seasonal tart is simply divine. Serve with a spoonful of your favourite ice-cream for the ultimate dessert or afternoon-tea delight.

Serves 6.

Pastry • • • • •

140g butter, room temp 55g caster sugar 1 egg yolk 2 cups plain flour pinch of salt

Filling • • • • • • •

115g butter, softened 115g caster sugar 2 large eggs 30ml calvados or apple syrup 2 tbsp plain flour, sieved 115g ground almonds 3 braeburn or modi apples, peeled, cored

Method To make sweet pastry, beat together butter and sugar. Beat in egg with 1 teaspoon cold water. Stir in flour and salt.

Bring mixture together to form a soft dough. Shape into a ball and cover in plastic wrap.

Chill in fridge for 30 minutes.

Roll pastry out on a floured surface.

Line a 23cm-diameter, 3cm-deep flan tin with removable bottom with pastry. Prick base with a fork; chill for 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 200°C. Put a baking sheet in oven to heat.

To make filling, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Gradually beat in eggs and calvados. Stir in flour and

36

almonds. Spoon filling into the pastry case and spread evenly using a palette knife.

Cut apples in half, then slice into 4mmthick pieces. Press pieces into the filling vertically to form a flower shape.

Bake on baking sheet for 15 minutes or until pastry begins to brown. Reduce to 180°C, cook another 30 minutes.

Remove from oven; cool in tin before removing. Serve.

CARAMELISED ONION TART WITH RAINBOW BEETROOT Kick off your next brunch with this colourful, vegetarian tart.

Serves 4-6.

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • •

6-8 medium beetroots, trimmed and scrubbed 4 tbsp olive oil 2 large brown onions, thinly sliced into rings 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup brown sugar 250g ricotta 3 tbsp finely grated parmesan 1/2 cup basil leaves, shredded 1/3 cup cream 2 sheets of butter puff pastry, stacked Micro basil leaves, to garnish

Method Preheat oven to 200°C. Grease 2 large baking trays and line with baking paper.

Place beetroot on one of the baking trays, drizzle with half the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 50-60 minutes or until tender. You can peel off the skin at this stage, but we left ours on. Slice beetroot into wedges.

Heat a large frying pan over a mediumlow heat, add remaining olive oil and cook onions, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until softened. Add balsamic

vinegar and sugar and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until caramelised. Let cool.

In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, parmesan, basil and cream. Using a small paring knife, run a 1cm border around pastry square. Spread inside border with ricotta mixture.

Increase oven temperature to 220°C. Top ricotta mixture with the caramelised onions, then arrange the beets over the top. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden. Scatter with micro basil leaves and slice to serve.

37

PASSIONATE PL ANT PEOPLE

A GARDEN FIT FOR A

PLANT DOCTOR

38

Meet Tracey, Kings online Plant Doctor, who shares her ever evolving garden with us full of year-round colour, beautiful scents and a friendly blackbird fondly referred to as Mrs Birdy.

How long have you lived at your home in Beach Haven?

We spent many a day sitting outside with a pen and paper drawing what we wanted. Richard's only requests were a nice flat lawn and some olives. My key objectives were to provide us with privacy from the busy road, and have fragrance and flowers throughout the year.

I have lived here for seven years. We spent two years preparing the garden, as it was pretty neglected when we first bought the house, but I could see the potential.

Once the groundwork was done it was time to let loose and plant. I had a been buying plants and stockpiling them for months, keeping them watered and fed until I could plant them.

What was the garden like when you first moved in?

What did you first plant into your garden after all the preparation and planning?

When I moved in with my partner Richard, the garden needed some drastic attention. The fences needed replacing, the old large clumps of agapanthus needed pulling out, and the six or so remaining trees needed to go to give us a bare canvas to work with. It took months to build the fences and get rid of all the plants that had to go.

The first thing we planted in the front garden were two titokis to give us some privacy from the busy street, along with two rows of El Greco olives. Around the same time, I also planted a veggie garden out the back, with loads of tomatoes, capsicum, courgette, and herbs. Not long after, I planted citrus trees which now produce an abundance of mandarins and lemons each season!

What do you love most about your garden now?

I love the variety, there is always something different to see.

“I'm a trial and error gardener, I'll plant anything to see how it grows...” ...if it doesn't thrive there I will move it or give it to friends or neighbours.

I also love spending time in the garden with my mum. It's a place we can be together, chatting and trying new things.

I find it relaxing after spending all day at work, to have a private place where I can connect with nature and just enjoy the calm.

39

40

Birdy and Garden Tips What is your favourite plant?

I don't really have a favourite plant. I love seeing the different colours come to life each season and have made an effort to have lots of different flowering plants staggered so there’s always something bright blooming.

I am not a rose lover but I have one rose called Blue Moon which is pretty special.

I love its fragrance and repeat flowering.

Where did your love of plants come from?

I guess it was from growing up on a farm.

My mother always had lovely flowers.

Working at Kings for so many years has helped me learn about all the different varieties of plants available each season and now I find it hard not going home with a new plant when it comes instore.

Tell us about Birdy, your local feathered friend.

Lol, it's Mrs. Birdy. She has had two nests in our olive hedges, and when we’re working in the garden she flits in to see what we’re doing so we started giving her worms in a saucer. Now we feed her mealworms every day and she sits on the back of the chair outside the door clacking until we feed her. She comes back about four times a day for a snack.

Sometimes you hear her early in the morning clacking away happily and it’s a lovely reminder to take time to sit and enjoy the garden.

What is your top gardening tip?

Take your time getting to know the lay of the land, before deciding what and where to plant. What areas are in sun and shade, how does the soil drain, and which areas are windy? Having this information will help you to decide where you can plant each species.

What question do you get asked the most often as Kings Online Plant Doctor?

Usually it is about indoor plants and why are the leaves browning or falling off.

This is normally a result of incorrect or inconsistent watering.

See more of Tracey’s garden in our Winter Passionate Plant Person video on the Kings YouTube channel!

41

ask the

PLANT DOCTOR Giving you expert advice for your seasonal gardening woes

Dear Doc, I have moss all through my lawn this winter. How do I get rid of it, and how can I stop it from coming up again?

-Stuart, Blockhouse Bay Hi Stuart,

Kings Lawn Moss Control 800g $7.99

42

Throughout the year, you can use either Kings Lawn Moss Control or Yates Weed’N’Feed Moss Killer on an established lawn to help kill off moss as well as fertilise it. Make sure to keep these products away from concrete as they can stain it.

Dear Plant Doctor, There is some white cottony fluff on my apple trees. Is it a disease? What is it?!

-Rhianna, Papakura Hi Rhianna, This is actually a style of aphid called ‘woolly aphid’. It is most commonly found on apple and pear trees in late autumn and winter. Winter is the perfect time to give your deciduous fruit trees a good spray of Yates Lime Sulfur – this is a standard spray and will kill any overwintering insects on your trees.

Yates Lime Sulfur 200ml $17.99

Dear Doctor, My lemons have started to become bumpy and a light brown colour, sort of like scabbing. Why does this happen?

-Will, Remuera Hi Will, This is Verrucosis, aka citrus scab, which is a fungal disease that causes misshapen bumpy fruit and bumpy crinkled leaves. Citrus trees need regular spraying to keep pests and diseases at bay.

Start spraying in late spring, after the flower petals have fallen, with Yates Copper Oxychloride to control this problem. Spray again in May and June.

Remember prevention is better than cure.

Yates Copper Oxychloride 200g $19.99

Ask the Kings Plant Doctor Easy Trap Guava Moth Trap $31.99 Little Bugga Guava Moth Trap $89.99 Bioneem 200mL $39.99

Got a plant problem you need help with?

Visit plantdoctor.co.nz for free expert advice or look out for the red shirts instore.

43

we help you

GROW WELL by

New Ze a l

an

★

★

2021 ★ rs • ★ de

2021 • Vo te

d

★

★

Garden Centres At Kings, we’re proud to be plant-people, but we’re chuffed to find out our customers think we’re as good with people as we are plants. So good that we’ve won our second gold medal in the Reader’s Digest Quality Service Awards. Thank you to everyone who voted for us. We are so pleased we have been able to help so many kiwis grow well.

kings.co.nz

0800 PLANTS

PROUDLY KIWI OWNED SINCE 1992