DFB's Greenthumb Project

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by GasoLane

If you buy it I'll deliver it free.......I'm getting withdrawal symptoms from not driving

2 part question....

1. Are you sure you know how to find Victoria ?
2. Will the cops still let you in ?

[FTE217]

self motivated employee are gems in this day and age, they should be looking after you very well DFB.
Good work, looks like there is plenty of walking area in your nursery to put more stock in

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by FTE217

self motivated employee are gems in this day and age, they should be looking after you very well DFB.
Good work, looks like there is plenty of walking area in your nursery to put more stock in

They like to maintain large walking space for easier shopping and entry/exit of trolleys. But yes, its a big area and certainly room for more stock beyond what is already defined.

[DFB FGXR6]

These Loropetalum China Pink were very lanky and needed a severe prune a couple of months ago. At the time, I was of the mindset that if they resprout, fine, if they didn't, that would have been fine too.

Well, they have responded and are now pushing on new growth.





I have seen Loropetalum's pruned like this before, so I'm not surprised to see them respond like this.

[DFB FGXR6]

Revamping this old cast iron table, the original timber loooooong gone. A good job to do on a cold, wet day.





For the cast iron legs, the old bolts needed to be cut off with an angle grinder, before being wire brushed and pressure washed. Once dry, the legs were hit with some fresh matte black paint. The timer slats are merbau decking, which were ripped to width and chamfered. New timber was then drilled and bolted to the legs and the stabilizer bars secured. Sanded and ready for a coat of varnish in the morning.

[Citroënbender]

Are you at bare-rooted roses yet? Have heard of supply issues (although might be trivial) with one place up here.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Are you at bare-rooted roses yet? Have heard of supply issues (although might be trivial) with one place up here.

They arrived yesterday, and yes, heavy supply constraints this year. Only a small selection of varieties arrived, which is abnormal for use because roses are one of our specialties.

Two reasons -

1/ Covid staff shortages a few years ago are now showing in a lack of stock laid down during that time. (We only buy two-year graft roses, you pay more, but get a proven graft.)

2/ A major rose supplier has been battling legal issues, as such, cashflow to the business has been compromised.

Speaking of roses, I'm nearly finished the annual winter prune. Despite regular spraying, the past year has been a challenge in terms of pest and disease problems on the roses. While I detest using it due to horrific smell, I will need to do a winter spray of Lime Sulphur this year to clean all that up for the coming spring.

[Citroënbender]

Good information about supply - thanks, I’d been slightly skeptical with respect to the stories up here in case it was just one or two nurseries defending poor management.

Hope your back holds up to the wet sand shovelling.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Good information about supply - thanks, I’d been slightly skeptical with respect to the stories up here in case it was just one or two nurseries defending poor management.

Hope your back holds up to the wet sand shovelling.

It did.......just..................but that's all I'm going to say in the public area of the forum.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

They arrived yesterday, and yes, heavy supply constraints this year. Only a small selection of varieties arrived, which is abnormal for use because roses are one of our specialties.

Two reasons -

1/ Covid staff shortages a few years ago are now showing in a lack of stock laid down during that time. (We only buy two-year graft roses, you pay more, but get a proven graft.)

2/ A major rose supplier has been battling legal issues, as such, cashflow to the business has been compromised.

Speaking of roses, I'm nearly finished the annual winter prune. Despite regular spraying, the past year has been a challenge in terms of pest and disease problems on the roses. While I detest using it due to horrific smell, I will need to do a winter spray of Lime Sulphur this year to clean all that up for the coming spring.

Speaking of pruning, this time of year I always feel sorry for all the poor buggers out in the frozen vineyards from dawn pruning back for the next Summer harvest.
Seems like such a thankless job and one that doesn't seem to attract a decent wage.

[DFB FGXR6]

3 days, 30 pallets, 300+ trees................





A lot more to go.

[Tonz]

hows the back muscles?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Tonz

hows the back muscles?

Ha ha, not bad, not great!

[DFB FGXR6]

Camellia 'Look Away'. An impulse purchase, I just couldn't resist...................

[DFB FGXR6]

It's Camellia Japonica season, two catching my attention while planting the newly acquired Look Away...................

Betty Sheffield Supreme -



Guilio Nuccio -



I have some room for a few more, which I'm on the look out for. It's hard to find the variegated varieties that I prefer and remind me of my grandmother's garden.

[DFB FGXR6]

Tulip 'World's Favorite'....................



I once planted tulips every year. While most teenage boys perved on motorcycles and the like, I was geeking out over the Tesselaar bulb catalog instead. My grandmother and I would choose what varieties we wanted and combine the postage. Back then, there was no such thing as online shopping, so you would mail in your order with a bank cheque. How things have changed.

She also took me to the Tesselaar Tulip Festival a few times, best described as a multicolored assault to your eyes, with tulip blooms stretching out into the distance.

[ford12]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Tulip 'World's Favorite'....................

image

I once planted tulips every year. While most teenage boys perved on motorcycles and the like, I was geeking out over the Tesselaar bulb catalog instead. My grandmother and I would choose what varieties we wanted and combine the postage. Back then, there was no such thing as online shopping, so you would mail in your order with a bank cheque. How things have changed.

She also took me to the Tesselaar Tulip Festival a few times, best described as a multicolored assault to your eyes, with tulip blooms stretching out into the distance.

image

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image

image

image

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Tulips, great looking but impossible to keep flowering year after year. ( How there meant to look anyway )

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by ford12

Tulips, great looking but impossible to keep flowering year after year. ( How there meant to look anyway )

Try feeding them just as they finish flowering, this is when the plant is absorbing and storing nutrients for the next sprouting/flowering.

It also helps to chill them in the fridge for a few weeks prior to planting them out. This simulates a colder winter and improves flowering.

[DFB FGXR6]

Every year it's always "oh, we'll fit them all in".............not this year. Surplus trees are being housed in our holding bays out back...............



When you consider how much of the nursery is dedicated to advanced deciduous trees, that's saying something. And that's not all of them, there is about another 50 odd trees to go in there yet. A combination of slower winter sales plus ordering as much as we could is the cause.

In reality, these trees will probably grow and fill out better than the stock crammed into the nursery.

[Rallye Sport]

Hey DFB thought you might like this one.
Its Grevillea 'Pink surprise' a robusta hybrid. It can be either a thick hedge/ screening plant or trained to a small tree like mine.
Flowers all year round but really puts on a show in spring. It's dripping with nectar at the moment and full of bees an honey eaters.

[

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Hey DFB thought you might like this one.
Its Grevillea 'Pink surprise' a robusta hybrid. It can be either a thick hedge/ screening plant or trained to a small tree like mine.
Flowers all year round but really puts on a show in spring. It's dripping with nectar at the moment and full of bees an honey eaters.

image[

Looks stunning!

Speaking of Grevillea Robusta, one of my least favorite plants. So messy, so ugly.

[Citroënbender]

Another nod of appreciation for this thread (and the mowing one).

They spur me on, and this year my 60+ year old azalea hedge is blooming really well, because I’ve felt that urge to try keeping up with the experts here.

[DFB FGXR6]

After delays in getting more potting mix (don't go there!), this year's potting is FINALLY done! These last couple of trees done by yours truly, very satisfying and a weight off my shoulders.



And finally, good old Dr. Clifford Park's is in full bloom at the moment at the back of the shop.





This camellia is actually a cross between a Japonica and Reticulata, meaning it has larger foliage than a regular Japonica, and bigger flowers too. It is known to be slower to establish, but certainly rewards with the sheer size of the blooms.

[prydey]

A quick question about garden equipment...

I need a new wheelbarrow.

While browsing the big green shed I noticed the garden carts. As someone struggling with back issues, these look like a good option. Same capacities and some have a tip function.

So, if you could only afford one of the other, would you buy a cart or wheelbarrow, and why?

Question is open to everyone. Keen to hear from those who may have a cart already.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by prydey

A quick question about garden equipment...

I need a new wheelbarrow.

While browsing the big green shed I noticed the garden carts. As someone struggling with back issues, these look like a good option. Same capacities and some have a tip function.

So, if you could only afford one of the other, would you buy a cart or wheelbarrow, and why?

Question is open to everyone. Keen to hear from those who may have a cart already.

Have only ever used them occasionally over the years, the only real drawback to them is you can't store them as conveniently as a traditional wheelbarrow.

Otherwise, something like this would be easier on your back, but still able to dump like a wheelbarrow can.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/sherlock...-cart_p2970646

[Citroënbender]

A traditional barrow is a good height and shape for mixing stuff in. Would this be a likely use for you, Prydey? Also ergonomically not too bad for a two person “flip” into a skip bin.

[prydey]

Yeah I had a look at both options but just curious to hear if there was anything I'd overlooked. Any major pro or con, one way or the other.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

A traditional barrow is a good height and shape for mixing stuff in. Would this be a likely use for you, Prydey? Also ergonomically not too bad for a two person “flip” into a skip bin.

No, it's mostly for distribution of mulch etc

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by prydey

No, it's mostly for distribution of mulch etc

Considering you are a Makita guy............................

https://www.totaltools.com.au/brands...a/wheelbarrows

[prydey]

Haha, incredible.

If I could afford one of them, I could afford a little man to come do my gardening for me.