MEDIA RELEASE - Think Summer Gardens, Think Water!

Date: 8th February 2013

While summer is supposed to be the most relaxing time of year for most people, for gardeners it is often the most challenging. The lack of rain, drying out of soil and the hot sun all take their toll on lawns and gardens. Since plants are made up of 90% water it is hardly surprising that this is the most vital factor to their survival.

Irrigation Specialist Will Thorne from Think Water Auckland shares his top tips for maintaining a healthy lawn this summer:

• Lawns require around 25mm of water per week • Water alternate days to give time for the water to be absorbed • Lawns like to be watered early morning • Irrigate with pop up sprinklers in the corners and edges of lawns for head to head (complete) coverage • Lawn fertilizer will feed your lawn the nutrients it needs • A well irrigated lawn should be mowed once a week • Only trim the top 1/3rd of your lawn so it is not too short

To keep the rest of your garden looking lush and blooming throughout high summer, Will Thorne says there are five key components that must be remembered:

• The main thing to consider is the weather. It is important to keep in mind how much it has rained recently and how hot or humid it has been. • Check what type of soil you have and how moist it is. For example, clay soil can become rock hard in summer, whereas sandy soil tends to be dryer. • Take planting distances into account. A concentrated area of plants will require more water than the same sized area with only a few plants. • Make sure you consider the nature of your plants and whether they are thirsty such as citrus trees, or hardy like native grasses. • Plant maturity is also an important factor to remember as younger plants generally require lighter but more frequent watering than mature plants.

Another common problem that emerges during the warmer months is over-zealous gardeners drowning plants by over watering them. Too much water is just as bad as not enough as it can lead to disease, rot and death so it is important to water your garden in moderation. Remember, you can always water more if need be but it is near impossible to take back once you’ve watered too much.

For further advice visit the Think Water team at 217 Great South Road in Greenlane. They are happy to guide you on how best to water your gardens, bearing in mind your requirements and budget. They are also happy to visit your property and provide a free quotation to install an irrigation system.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage