Calling All Gardeners: Expert Tips on Offer

How can you make your garden’s lawn look as good as the turf at Puke Ariki Landing?

And how can you prune your fruit trees to get the most out of them?

Expert turf culture and horticulture staff at New Plymouth District Council will be giving free public demonstrations in May and June to help people make the most of their home gardens.

“We have highly experienced staff who look after our premier turf – such as sportsgrounds and reserves – and the various public orchards in the district, and we’d like to share our skills with residents,” says Manager Parks Mark Bruhn.

“There are a number of tips that are applicable for the home garden and this is a great way for the skills among our staff to benefit the wider community.”

The one-hour demonstrations are free and no bookings are required. The sessions are:

Stone fruit pruning: 11am on Saturday 2 May and Monday 4 May, Brois Street orchard (just up from Huatoki Stream – look for the NPDC flags), New Plymouth.
Turf maintenance: 10am on Monday 18 May at Puke Ariki Landing.
Pip fruit pruning: 11am on Saturday 13 and Monday 15 June, Brois Street orchard, New Plymouth.
The turf demonstration will show how to de-thatch turf by aerating and coring, plus top-dressing and re-sowing.

The pruning demonstrations will show basic pruning techniques to encourage good health and optimum fruiting, including which branches to prune and how to thin a crowded canopy.

Note: The Brois Street orchard site is undulating with long grass, so please wear sturdy footwear.

 

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