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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For a mass of small flowers in summer that carpet areas with their stunning blooms, Phlox (Phlox spp.) are the perfect choice to add colour to the garden.
How to grow phlox in a garden
- Choose a spot in the garden that receives full sun.
- Prepare the planting area well by digging in Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food.
- Sow seeds directly where they are to grow and lightly cover with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Firm down and water well.
- After sowing cover with a sheet of newspaper or cardboard to limit the light to the seeds.
- Water gently and keep moist through germination period. After germination, remove newspaper or cardboard.
- Once seedlings are approximately 5 cm, mulch with organic mulch, such as bark chips, woodchip or pea straw.
- Feed during the growing and flowering season with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food. TIP: For an added boost apply Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.
How to grow phlox in a pot
- Choose a pot at least 200 mm 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. Lightly cover with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix.
- After sowing cover with a sheet of newspaper or cardboard to limit the light to the seeds.
- Water gently and keep moist through germination period. After germination, remove newspaper or cardboard.
- Feed regularly with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food. TIP: For an added boost apply Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
Growing tips
- Water at the base of the plant to avoid fungal problems.
- Remove spent flower clusters regularly to promote new blooms.
- Phlox don’t transplant well, so choose the growing position carefully.
- Phlox have shallow root systems and appreciate a light covering of mulch to prevent the roots drying out quickly especially on the hot summer days.
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 Black Magic Seed Raising Mix
Specially formulated for trouble-free seed raising in trays (or outdoor seed sowing direclty into the ground) and propagation of cuttings.
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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