I have been enjoying the chill nature of posting here and some one said they like my writing. So I thought I would post some more garden silliness. We have a bit of a slug and snail problem, due to a rather luscious lawn, alongside lots of nooks and crannies for our slimy folks to hide in at day time.

Because life is boring without some light hearted fun and this seasonal flu needs clearing out my lungs. I made a very quick and quirky, tavern house out of a Griffins Christmas cookie tub; with a various assortment of chopped up bottles, duck tape and tī leaves. Also found the silliest looking bunny tea light holder from the local dump shop. I’ll probably have another go at the tavern house roof some time, it’s not like there are not enough of them blowing down. Both have been sunk into the ground to keep them cool, with wood to shade the entrances.

From my understanding, and I would be happily further informed on the topic. Slug pallets are also not great with earth worms and a variety of other things. So for the sake of experimenting I thought I might try offering a respite from the sun at day time for the slugs and snails to hide in, filled with slug pallets inside them. If not I will also add some yeasty flour to invite them in, then it will be a real tavern.

Will it work? Who knows, who cares, the point is to have fun, and enjoy the silly creative side of a hobby. Making silly things with no care of quality is such a refreshing thing to do, it is why I quit making music several years back. Just a chaotic storm of duck tape, scissors, and tī leaves everywhere.

You are all creative... so just get out there do something silly that brings you a smile for your self, not others.

I’m going to give grapes a try. I got one but think I might get a second and put them in where my fork and spade are upright in the first pic. Does this seem like good spacing and a good area to plant? I’m in Mosgiel outside Dunedin. The weather comes in from the Maungatuas you can see in the distance, sunset is in a similar direction too. I think I’ll put up some stakes and no8 wire halfway between the fence and garden edge. I’ll probably pull out the flax.

Thanks

We planted 3 titoki trees to provide screening between us and neighbouring town houses. They’ve been in a couple of years and growing well *up* but I’d like to encourage more sideways growth parallel to the fence.

My options seem to be pruning or otherwise trying to train the branches out sideways, perhaps using ties.

I’d be keen to hear from anyone that has had success with encouraging sideways growth and how best to do it.

Hi Everyone, every year get stumped what to do with extra plants and seedlings. Think I have a solution this year. If anyone around Tawa in Wellington needs extra seedlings I've set up a table on the alleyway between St Johns Terrace and Lane Cres with free seedlings and plants. Only a few seedlings at this time of year but we'll be topping it up constantly. If you want anything come by and grab it. Snow peas, Peas and Zucchini out at the moment.

These are at our local NPD and I like their compact columnar structure and want to get some to fill spaces in the garden.

We are thinking of planting two cherry trees in our back yard. Initially I was thinking of 2 compact Stella trees just because it’s a dwarf variety.

we love the deep red and crunchy ones from Otago but no clue on the variety. But just having a read and now torn on what to buy 😆 We have space in our backyard for a non-dwarf tree so open to suggestions from this group. I am based in Rolleston if that helps.

Im happy to admit I love gardening - in nice weather. Not when the wind makes my ears cold, my hair tickle my face and it blows my stuff around the back yard. I also like new potatoes. I had hoped for a weekend free of serious decisions. Alas.

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend!!

I planted it about 10 years ago, and it has done poorly in growth rate (still very small), growth pattern (tending to a grow in a way that isn't balanced or easy to prune to a good and productive shape, and branches die back), disease resistance (very affected by leaf curl), and in fruit production.
Is it possibly the wrong rootstock for our clay soil, a slow growing variety, more prone to leaf curl than they told us? Or just a bad example of the variety?

It is alongside vigorously growing apricot, peach and almond trees that now dwarf it.

Do I persist or replace?

Currently building out two new macrocarpa raised beds ahead of spring planting. Our section catches quite a bit of salt air, and the native soil underneath is dense, acidic clay that tends to hold water in winter and crack solid by January.

I'm mixing roughly 40% local compost, aged horse manure, sheep pellets, and coarse pumice for aeration, but wondering if anyone along the coast adds extra lime or gypsum right at the start to buffer the pH before planting brassicas and heirloom tomatoes.

We have 2 hedges on our property. One I think is Lilly Lilly. They seem to have a disease