Proteas
Not just any old blossom, protea flowers are blooms with attitude. If you can give them full sun and reasonable drainage, proteas will love you.
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Asters (Callistephus chinensis) are compact and colourful with the telling blooms that behold most of the flowers in the Asteraceae family. Their lovely double blooms are ideal for rockeries, borders, open garden beds, cottage style gardens or for pots.
How to grow asters in a garden
- Fill starter pots or trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Sow seeds, cover, firm down and water well. Keep the soil moist so the seeds don’t dry out.
- While the seedlings are growing, choose a spot in the garden that receives full sun and prepare the planting area well by digging in Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food.
- Water gently and keep moist through germination period.
- The seedling are ready to transplant when they are large enough to handle.
- When transplanting them into your prepared garden bed, ensure seedlings are well spaced – at least 15 cm apart. Water in well.
- Mulch with an organic mulch, such as bark chips, woodchip or pea straw.
- Feed regularly with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food.
How to grow asters in a pot
- Choose a pot at least 200mm wide and deep. Position in full sun.
- Fill the chosen pots with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.
- Plant directly into the pot by pressing the seeds lightly into the surface of the pot.
- Water gently and keep moist through germination period.
- Feed every 1 to 2 weeks with Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
Growing tips
- Remove any spent flowers to encourage a flush of new blooms
- For best results, plant in a new position each year
Azalea
Azaleas vary from small, delicate shrubs that are happy in pots, up to hardy 1.5m shrubs ideal for border planting. Here's how to grow azaleas in your garden.
Lavender
Lavender are hardy perennial plants with silvery-grey, aromatic foliage & dense spike of flowers in shades of purple, blue, pink and white.
Echinacea
Echinacea is a hardy herbaceous perennial with large fragrant pink daisy-like flowers. Used for therapeutic purposes and as a delicious tea.
Recommended products
Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food
Releases nutrients slowly, improves the structure and moisture retention of the soil and encourages earthworms and beneficial soil micro-organisms.
Yates Premium Potting Mix
A premium potting mix, ideal for all potted plants and shrubs, including ornamentals, fruit trees, vegies and herbs.
Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food
Specially formulated to grow all types of flowers. With high potassium for large & abundant flowers, added calcium & iron for stronger flowers.
Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate
A complete plant food enriched with natural fish, seaweed, humates, molasses and more - boosted with NPK to improve plant and soil vitality.
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