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In This Issue
Garden Club Privileges
Autumn Garden Tips
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AUTUMNDear Garden Club member Welcome the rain and cooler weather into your garden this Autumn, the conditions are perfect for sowing, growing and mowing. Unfortunately it isn't only chosen plants that flourish with the rain but the inevitable weeds, see our feature 'Battle of the Weeds' on how best to target the blighters. Also this issue, for budding home-growers see Sustainable Gardening: Grow Your Own Winter Veggies, plus there's Companion Planting; What's New in-store; and more... To kick off your Autumn gardening, download our RAINCHEQUE special, and save $10 when you spend $50 or more in one transaction (conditions apply, see voucher for details). Mothers Day Dollars are now available, receive one for every $10 you spend in-store. There's plenty of family entertainment planned this Mothers Day weekend (8 & 9 May), where kids can meet the Garden Fairies, plus there's face painting, animal balloons, magic show, jumping castle, baby animal farm and lots more! Make sure you save the date for this free event. Companion Planting
Companion Planting is a term used when planting more than one plant type together in the same pot or garden space. Not all plants work together, however getting the right mix can not only look appealing, but also assist your garden in the control of destructive pests and insects. Pest controlling plants come under two categories - those that repel or confuse insects with strong scent, such as sage, oregano, lavender and basil, and those that attract beneficial insects, such as elder, dill and fennel. These plants often have flowers or foliage that attract insects that prey on other pests in the garden. Pest repellant plants work in three different ways. 1) Masking plants - include thyme, lavender and scented geranium. These produce strong, volatile oils and scent that actually masks the plants the insects might be looking for. 2) There are also repellant plants such as cotton lavender or santolina, tansy and wormwood. These plants produce a scent or taste that is so bitter or putrid it drives insects away. 3) There are plants that contain natural toxins or poisons which can be used to make sprays or washes. These include fennel, which can be used as a flea repellant for animals, feverfew, or chamomile, which can be used as an anti fungal agent, and the dried flower of pyrethrum or chopped chilli, which can be used as insect sprays. Pest repellant plants work in various ways in the garden. Tansy is terrific at repelling ants and flies so you might want to plant it outside your back door or near windows. Also pick the leaves and rub them on the back of your cat and dog to get rid of fleas. Lavender, which has an incredibly strong, perfumed scent, can be planted to protect nearby plants from pests such as white fly. In Sydney's Botanical Gardens it's also used to mask the scent of roses from aphids. Basil is another companion plant that is often used to repel aphids. If you grow a pot near your barbecue area, it will also keep away flies and mosquitoes. Sweet marjoram is often planted near gardenias or roses so that its strong scent will mask or confuse pests attracted to their flowers. Plants such as elder, dill and fennel all have umbels made up of hundreds of little flowers, and these are grown to attract hover flies, which eat other pests in the garden. Wormwood has a strong pungent scent that's fantastic at deterring insects. Planting many of these herbs in your garden will not only diversify your design, but also add attractive, interesting and aromatic elements to it. Gardeners in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens new Palace Rose Garden are using companion plants well to not only deter pests, but also to attract beneficial insects. Previously they used 400 litres of chemicals every fortnight and now they're using none. The result is a much more vibrant and diversified garden. Not only is it better for the environment, but it looks better too. (Source: Gardening Australia) For more 'Companion Planting' ideas, see in-store! Sustainable Gardening
Grow Your Own Winter Veggies The idea of being a self sufficient 'home grower', capable of living independently from your garden is for many of us a dream, with lack of time and land a drawback for the majority. However, it is entirely do-able on a small scale, even with only a balcony for yard space. One of the Boyds Bay horticulturalists recalls a time when at University he helped establish a 250m² block into a fruit & vegetable garden, capable of consistently feeding 20 people. Imagine saving hundreds of dollars a month on fresh produce, money that could equate to a family holiday, or new garden design once saved over a few months! A vegetable garden can be grown from a simple pot, tub or trough, through to a raised garden bed (see Veggie Beds below) or straight into the treated ground. For potted vegetables straight from seedling, add enough quality potting mix (try Searles Herb & Vegetable Potting Mix ), to fill the pot approx 10cm from the brim. Follow planting instructions on your chosen vegetable tag regarding distance apart and preferred position (full sun/shade etc). Water well, and remember to water daily, especially while plants are young, in particular those in pots where ground moisture is not available. If you have a tendency to forget to water your plants, consider placing water crystals in the soil mixture to help prolong moisture until the next decent watering. If planting vegetables straight from seed, you will need to establish the plant via a seed tray and potting mix before transplanting into a pot. Seeds or Seedlings? Whilst seeds can be a cheaper option, seedlings are more conveniently established for you, enabling you to simply plant in a pot/ground and water until fully grown and ready for consumption. Children tend to enjoy seeds as they can watch nature magically transform from an unassuming grain to a full grown plant from which they can eat. Mass plantings of vegetables can become costly, in which case seeds may be the preferred option. Veggie Bed: The innovative Birdies Raised Veggie Beds are a modular galvanised garden bed perfect for any sized backyard. Whether for growing herbs and vegetables or potted colour these innovative corrugated beds can be adjusted in size to fit your outdoor space. Choose from 3 colours: Paperbark, Eucalypt and Zinc-alum, and 2 sizes, 810mm and 400mm high. Birdies Raised Veggie Beds have no base, to allow for drainage and worms to enter, however a base may be attached if preferred. We recommend you use a soil such as Searles Herb & Vegetable Potting Mix, first filling the bottom of the bed with a thick layer of clean sand, general garden wastes or hay bales. Finally plant your chosen veggies and enjoy an easy care garden! What's in season? Carrots - try roasting carrots together with some capsicum, red onion, pumpkin, zucchini and garlic cloves drizzled with olive oil and a sprig of thyme or rosemary as a delicious accompaniment to meat Potatoes - Mash, roast, chip, bake, salad, rosti, boil...... Beetroot - Beetroot relish is really easy to make and perfect served with salad or in lamb burgers. Cook several grated beetroot, 1 grated onion (best to use a food processor), and 1 cup of water in a heavy based pan, covered for approx 15 mins. Add 1 cup cider vinegar and 1 cup sugar (or artificial sweetner) and cook for a further 15 mins or until soft. Chill and serve. Swede - Boil diced swede for approx 30 mins until soft, mash, season and serve with roast. Leeks - Dice and wash leeks well. Boil in shallow water for several minutes until soft; add up to ½ litre milk, bring to the boil, then stir through 1 tbles cornflour mixed with a small quantity of milk, ½ tsp mustard, salt & white pepper. Add a cup of grated cheese, stir until melted. Pour into a baking dish, top with more grated cheese and grill until brown. Serve with meat & veggies. Other veg ready for planting now, to be reaped in Winter: Cabbage; Broccoli; Beans; Cauliflower; Peas; Onions; Leeks; Capsicum; Tomatoes
What's New?
Solar Power Lights: Solar powered lights are a great environmentally friendly and cheap lighting solution. Solar lights transform solar energy into electricity and is stored in the batteries by day. Solar outdoor light units are fitted with a sensor that automatically turns on, providing green energy lighting throughout the night. Solar lights are ideal for lighting your home & garden. Solar powered lights come in a variety of shapes and forms, including stainless steel, aluminium, glass & PVC. Solar garden lights are a great way to light your driveways & paths. Solar lights can also be used to illuminate a water feature, special plant or favourite area. Solar lights offer security and are an energy efficient way to provide lighting to your entertainment areas, including decks, patios, pool areas
, jetties and fence lines. Solar powered party lights are an interesting way to add colour to your garden. Solar powered house numbers makes it easy to locate your home at night. All solar powered lights are fitted with an ON/ OFF switch and are easy to install, and need no wiring. So you can install yourself. Ornamental windmills: Add a little rural charm to your garden with a quaint windmill. Indicates wind direction! Authentic, built-to-scale windmill replica has smooth and silent ball bearing operation. Heavy gauge steel construction. Durable outdoor finish is aluminum color with yellow trim. Includes anchor stakes. 3 heights available, 1.2m; 1.8m; 2.4m. Life-Size Animals: Back by popular demand, our range of fibre-glass animals includes a tiger, giraffe, komodo dragon, farm animals to name but a few. There's no need to visit the outback or Africa when you can bring the kids to pet these harmless life-like creatures in Tweed Heads! View just some of our range here. Ipomea (Cardinal Creepers): This Autumn flowering vine is both quick growing and easy to care for. Flourishing in sun or shade, the Cardinal Creeper makes for a stunning feature plant, grown over fences, trellises, or walls. This particular variety offers beautiful glossy red bell-shaped flowers throughout autumn. Quisqualis mussiendafolia: This exciting new shrub/climber is our choice 'Plant of the Year'. It's mass display of bright red flower bracts last from mid summer through to late autumn. Prefers full sun or semi shade, in a rich well drained soil. This plant is both hardy & semi-deciduous. Water Features: See in-store for a new range of stunning water featuresincorporating lighting for any sophisticated outdoor retreat. Green Walls: Make your home or office stand out loud in a pleasing, natural way (nobody can complain!) with a very contemporary Green Wall. Eco energy efficient insulation for both interior & exterior walls, or roofs of any building, Green Walls are now being seen on some of the world's most iconic buildings (London's Gherkin Tower and Bahrain's World Trade Centre). Green Walls offer an aesthetic eco option for not only insulation, but as a feature, and aid in the reduction of carbon emissions (especially beneficial for city dwellings and high rises). Call us today on (07) 5536 5869 and ask for Environmental Services. What's Flowering?
View a gallery of flowers currently in bloom, ready to brighten your home & garden. Battle of the Weeds
Destroying weeds comes down to how much effort you are willing to put in. Also, different weeds will need a different approach to finish them off, usually depending on their hardiness. The traditional method of fork and spade is the sure best way to rid your garden of the pests with little or no impact on the surrounding 'true' plants, however this requires time, effort and enthusiasm. Using a thick black plastic such as that used by builders can be effective, but is really preferable during the warmer months as it is the heat which kills the weeds. Likewise with mulching, heat is needed, and the moisture retained from the mulch can actually help some weeds to flourish! Whilst BBGW sell a range of weed matting and weed killers, for best results bring a sample of the weed into the nursery for analysis and advice on how best to be rid of the problem. SpecialsBoyds Bay Landscape Supplies: White Tradesman Shovel, Was $17.95, Now $11.99, Save over 30% off! Getaway Garden Club
Stella Hospitality are offering Garden Club members specials at selected Mantra Resorts, Peppers Retreats, and Breakfree Resorts. Gold Coast Escapes: Stay at Mantra Bel Air Broadbeach for just $77 per night (min 3 ngts), save up to 58%.
Julie Willis Photography
View Julie Willis's fantastic offer for this month here (so good many of our staff are using it!). Tweed Heads Mower Centre
Now under new management, the Tweed Heads Mower Centre at the Boyds Bay Garden World complex is offering you a mower service while you shop! For only $66, the Tweed Heads Mower Centre will service your mower including new blades in 30 minutes! Call Nick on (07) 5536 1007 to book your service. Further service & repairs at extra charge. Buy Now, Pay Later
Boyds Bay Garden World now offer No Interest EVER! Ezi-Pay Finance on all retail purchases, landscape design and landscape supplies, so you can Buy Now, Pay Later for your new garden...just in time for summer! Conditions apply, see in-store for details. Final Word
Now that Autumn is upon us, and after all that rain, the garden is the perfect refuge and there'll be plenty to keep you occupied. Consider your garden time as an aerobic workout, as you tidy perennials and cut back vines. Pruning encourages the plant to grow, and helps it form a more attractive shape, thus too promoting more flowers and fruit. It also ensures any diseased wood is eradicated before it takes hold. When pruning always use sharp tools because if the cut is torn or bruised you'll slow down the healing process. And to stop the spread of disease from one plant to another, always dip tools and secateurs in bleach or disinfectant and wipe them before moving onto the next plant. Now is also the time to feed the lawn. Grass growth will begin to slow as the nights become colder, but the roots are still growing well, so it's a great time for repair because the soil is warm. Use a slow release lawn food such as Organic Plus to develop a strong root system and thicker grass. Should you need to add lawn seed, use seed over any kikuyu, couch or buffalo lawn to promote a lush green cover over winter (selected grass varieties available from Boyds Bay Landscape Supplies). Autumn is the time to plant winter-harvest vegetables such as leeks and cabbage, and for nurturing new growth Sweet Peas by spreading some organic compost (try Searles Real Compost) through the soil, with lime (try Searles Lime) for added sweetness. To help get in the swing with your Autumn gardening, see our 'Rain Cheque' and save for all your garden needs (offer expires 21 March). Enjoy Autumn in the garden, preparing your garden for the coming Winter months…. get on top of the lawn, do your pruning and get a jump start on spring.
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