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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Ornamental Grapes (Vitis vinifira) are a lovely addition to any cool/temperate garden where a climber with fantastic autumnal colours is required. A deciduous, but relatively fast growing vine, giving vibrant green leaves in spring and summer and vibrant orange and red tones in autumn. Known as nearly indestructible, they will require some pruning to shape/size, but do not usually hold onto any fruit, creating little mess and attracting few pests.
How to grow ornamental grape in a garden
- Choose a sunny or partly shaded spot in the garden and prepare the planting area well by digging in Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food. A trellis, frame or veranda post is required for these climbing plants. Good airflow and low levels of humidity are also a bonus.
- Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
- Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down.
- Form a raised or doughnut-shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. This helps keep water where it's needed.
- Water in well with diluted Yates Thrive Natural Seaweed Tonic - this helps reduce transplant shock and will promote strong root development.
- Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, woodchip or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.
- Feed with Yates Thrive All Purpose Granular Plant Food during the growing season, from spring to mid-autumn. TIP: For an added boost apply Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
How to grow ornamental grape in a pot
Not usually a pot specimen, however, for a small trellis or balcony area you can grow in a pot.
- Choose a pot at least 500 mm wide and deep. Position in full sun or part shade, with trellis or small climbing frame.
- Fill chosen pots with quality potting mix, such as p. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease out any tightly curled roots.
- Position in hole and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.
- Regularly apply Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate during the growing season. Prune back vines in winter to help keep plant contained.
Growing tips
- Ornamental grapes are easy to grow and hardy plants, requiring less work and fertilising than fruiting grapes. They also have fewer pest and diseases. You may have to watch out for the odd fungal disease, so spray accordingly if required with a Yates fungicide.
- Plant in full sun for best colour in autumn. Best colours set in a cooler climate.
- Lovely when grown as a cover over a pergola area where they provide summer shade, but let the sun through in winter.
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.
Hellebores
Hellebores are the moody, gothic jewels of the winter garden. Learn how you can grow them in garden or in pots.
Gardenia
Gardenias have soft scented blooms in white or yellow. Depending on the variety, can be grown as a shrub, standard, hedge or ground cover.
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 All Purpose Granular Plant Food
Easy-to-use granular plant food specially formulated with both fast acting and gradual feeding for up to 3 months, in the garden or pots.
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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