8/14/2019 Outdoor Classroom 18th December 2009 http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/outdoor-classroom-18th-december-2009 1/1 2 3 6 0 6 7 6 A A Cnr Normanby & Devon St East, New Plymouth p 06 769 9363 f 06 769 9364 e livingtrends.np @paradise.net.nz UNIQUE GIFT BUYING EXPERIENCE... EASY ACCESS FREE PARKING Ref: 2371728 BIG JIMS GARDEN CENTRE 20x3 Ref:2372777 GIRLZ GARDEN CENTRE 24x1 Call us today on (06) 758 8831 Open 7 days 8.30am–5.00pm Cnr Mangorei & Junction Road New Plymouth 2 2 8 5 5 9 4 A A G o o d g r o w t h i s g a i n e d f r o m g r e a t k n o w l e d g e GIFTS FOR GARDENERS Pe a c e fu l, r e l a x e d s h o p p i n g Easy Parking • Niwashi Garden Tools • Moon Planting Calendars • Seed raising Kits ( Both Flowers & Vegies) • Wooden Planting Dibblers • Art Umbrellas • Children’s Garden Tools • Wolf Brand Quality Tools • Gift Wrapped Shrubs and Fruit Trees • Nationwide Gift Cards Ref: 2375997 ACE HOME SERVICES 6x2 ranakidailynews.co.nz Friday, December 18, 2009 T ARANAKI D AILY NEWS 13 G ARDENING www.taranakidailynews.co.nz erennial cuttings: a step-by-step guide with Abbie and Mark Jury. 1 Perennials are clumping plants without the woody trunks and stems of trees and shrubs. Many of them clump below ground, putting up many new growths, and we have done two previous Outdoor Classrooms on how to multiply these plants by division (cutting up the entire plant into smaller sections). However, those that grow from a single or a few stems only need to be increased by cuttings. Dianthus (pinks) and carnations are an example, as is this lithodora (also known as lithospermum). 2 Now is a good time to take perennial cuttings because most plants are in full growth. Find fresh growths that are firm but flexible, not floppy or old and woody. These cuttings are from lithodora and from top to bottom are a) too soft and floppy, b) too old and woody, c) about right flexible but firm. 3 Make a clean cut across the bottom and remove the foliage from the lower third of the cutting. Remove floppy top growth and take off flowers and flower buds. Always remember which way up your cutting goes. It is not always easy to tell this, but your cutting will die if you put it in upside down. 4 You can buy rooting hormone in powder, gel and sometimes liquid form from garden centres. It will have instructions for use on the packet. Some gardeners use liquid honey as a natural rooting hormone. Easy cuttings at this time of the year do not need rooting hormone, although it can increase success rates on more tricky varieties. 5 Stick the cuttings into seed-raising mix in pots. This mix will be low or free from fertiliser, which can burn cuttings. We do all cuttings in a bark mix that has no fertiliser at all in it. A warm position out of direct sun and away from marauding slugs and snails is best. Don’t let the mix get too dry over summer. 6 This dianthus cutting was put in last summer without any rooting hormone. It has developed a good root system and has not yet had any fertiliser. It is ready to be potted on or even planted out into the garden into good conditions.