1512742-spot-on-pots-and-nursery

The Best Advice Is to Copy Nature

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 06:32:00 GMT

The Best Advice Is to Copy Nature

Our most simple and consistent advice is to copy nature when it comes to caring for your plants. Recently I had a customer with more than a few problems with their fruit tree. If one person is having problems, than another may too.

Here are some top tips to help keep plant care straightforward and easy!

Problem 1. What Was It?

They bought a plum, from Nursery X. Or so they thought until seeking further advice from Nursery Y when problems started with said Plum. They were told that it couldn’t possibly be a plum as a plum cannot get leaf curl.

Confused they visited us, Nursery Z.

We were able to put their mind at ease and assure them this was in fact a plum tree. Problem 1 solved.

Problem 2. What Was the Pest or Disease Causing the Problems?

The leaf was curled but it hadn’t been caused by a fungal disease.

At a juvenile stage of leaf development, the tree had in fact been attacked by aphid causing the leaves to curl and not fully develop. Pyrethrum oil was advised but to be on the lookout when the tree is shooting its new leaves. Problem 2 solved.

Problem 3. The tree had split from the amount of fruit it was carrying. Problem 3b, the wound was covered in streiprune.

There are different opinions on if we should or should not do this. I think it depends on the time of the year. Keep the wet out (Winter)… let it heal naturally (Summer).

The theory behind steriprune is to keep the wet out which in turn keeps out the diseases. But... doesn’t that also lock diseases in???

My advice for this poor 18 month old tree was to lighten the load and prune to get strength into the bottom branches. Don’t expect too much of a crop out of your trees for at least 3 years. Give the plant time to be able to support what it is carrying.

Problem 4. And this is where the main theme COPY NATURE nature comes into play.

And for me the most puzzling part of the whole situation.

This customer was told they should “Tie the branches with a piece of string to a brick so that it bends” if anyone can shed light on this advice we’d be greatly appreciative.

I’ve been racking my brain trying to come up with a reason that this is good for the plant or what the benefits may be. The only thing that my 20 years’ experience has come up with is trying to keep the fruit at a reachable height. A pair of secateurs can do the same thing with the right advice and pruning techniques. The art of espalier. When I give my advice I always say to try and mimic nature, and if not nature maybe an orchardist, someone that does it for a living. Everyone has traveled from Ballarat to Melbourne at some time in their life. Next time you’re travelling in the car take notice of the apple orchid at the bottom of Anthony’s Cutting at Bacchus Marsh, it has been there for my entire life. Yes it has changed over the years and new crops have been planted, but they do have fantastic shaped apple trees…….. and not one brick.

Best Way to Care for Your Cherry

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 07:39:57 GMT

We Often Get Asked What's The Best Way to Care for Your Cherry.

No. 1 Problem/Culprit: Water

You will kill your cherry quicker with too much water than not enough. If you're trying to establish a lawn and a weeping cherry at the same time our advice is "DONT". The lawn will require a lot of water and the cherry doesn't. We aren't saying this can't be achieved, we recommend do the lawn first and wait for the cherry.

No. 2: 2 Prune or Not 2 Prune

This is all about what you want out of your cherry. Pictured RIGHT is a cherry we pruned in winter back to 6 inch slems - and this is taken 8th Jan just 6 months later. However we didn't have any spring flower on it. LEFT is one we didn't prune. The foliage is smaller/much but the display we had in spring was amazing.

If you're trying to shape + resize - PRUNE PRUNE PRUNE

If you're happy and love the flowers - LEAVE LEAVE LEAVE

As we had a colder than normal spring this year, the cherry slug has been sluggish (like what I did there). Normally keep eyes peeled December + February but this season now (Jan) keep eyes open.

It's easy to get rid of. Success (pic) is what we use.

SIGNS: Skeletonising of Leaf - Smell like honey when squashed.

What are Bee Hotels?

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:48:08 GMT

What are Bee Hotels? And How to Care For Them

Bee Hotels will boost pollination in your garden , optimising the work you are already doing.

Bee Hotels are great educational tools , it is fascinating for young and old to watch native bees bringing pollen, nectar and building materials back to a Bee Hotel!

This is a wonderful way to teach kids about the diversity of nature and the behavior of insects. Children can watch the life cycle of bees and learn how bees help pollinate our wildflowers and crops.

Positioning the Bee Hotel

Think about where you like to be on a holiday…? Close to the food and drink and entertainment opportunities!

Bees are the same, they need food and water sources within reasonable flying distance. Locating the hotel near a variety of pollen-rich plants that flower at different times of the year is ideal. A water source and a ‘wild area’ (think of the nearby nightclubs and bars on your holiday) that resembles natural bush, with leaf litter, twigs and rotting material will also make the bees feel right at home.

The bee hotel should ideally be facing between the north and east, in a sunny to semi-shaded position that is sheltered, more than 1 metre off the ground, but no higher than 2 metres. Make sure it won't get too hot in summer.

Hail Damage

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 09:02:10 GMT

What does it matter?

Hello Ballarat,

Wow what a night Tuesday night was... Well for some anyway.

Some people might be completely unaware of the weather event that occurred over Delacombe/Sebastopol Tuesday evening. Sitting at home listening to some heavy rain and impressive thunder, we were completely unaware of what we would find on Wednesday morning. Walking in we were soon aware something a little more dramatic had occurred. Our nursery had been completely smashed by a hailstorm including the flooding of our shed/shop.

All staff have been exceptional in the clean up in the last two days and this will be continuing the clean up in the days to come. The immediate mess is gone but the clean up and most importantly my values will continue for weeks to come.

The last two days has been a great reminder of just how lucky we are to work in a fantastic industry with heaps of people willing to help and do what they can to help get us up and running doing what we believe in as soon as possible. We have ordered truckloads of plants which have been arriving already and will continue to do so over the next week.

‘A little hail’ I hear some of you say. ‘What’s the big deal?’

Today, we CAN see the cosmetic affect the hail has had, shredded leaves, complete defoliation of some plants and pretty much every flower in the nursery gone. It looks as though possums have had a 50 ^th birthday party and 100 bachelors went a little rogue. Today, what we CANNOT see yet is the underlying damaged caused to the plants, bruising, scaring, and freezing. The hail was thick enough that it has sat in the top of the pots over night and frozen a lot of the foliage as well as smashing it. Imagine holding an ice pack on your head all night, pretty sure we would end up with freezer burn.

The nursery is filling back up quickly with new supply, but we are also emptying it as we handle every plant one by one to do what is required to hopefully save and bring back these plants to retail quality. There is no clear way of knowing immediately what the outcome of this work will be and we could have zero success. With over 23 years’ experience in this industry, if I’m not confident that the plant will grow and flourish in your yard, how can I expect that you will succeed with your purchase. We are here to make gardening successful, and my business is built around making that a reality. To do that we source and sell the best healthiest stock that I can find to pass onto you.

In a couple of days there will be no obvious evidence of the storm - except in our trees. With over 1500 on site, we will be sorting through these one by one and seeing if we can get these back to retail quality. In the short term we can still help in this area but instead of being loaded and ready to go we will need our customers to have a little patience and it might mean getting new stock from growers.

One last thing before I finish is that I can guarantee you that no plant will be sold from this nursery that I don’t believe is fit for retail sale and therefore help you have successful gardening experiences.

The shed, as always, is still full of thousands of pots and giftware and most importantly, smiles. See you on the lead up to Christmas….only 46 more sleeps.

Jason and the team at Spot on Pots and Nursery.

Beautify your Garden During Winter

creative@austcommunitymedia.com.au (Creative ACM) — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 01:03:24 GMT

With winter coming in, Ballarat gardeners need to be especially considerate of frost and how it can affect our gardens. While the temperatures are low and the chance of frost is high you can still design your garden during this season. Here are some tips to help you beautify your garden even during winter.

1. Prepare for Summer

It’s good to prepare your garden for the next season, as well as the next two, five or ten years. Winter would be a good time for you to prepare for the future of your garden.

Now is the time to plant bare root trees. Bare root trees are a good choice because they are cost-effective, especially if you are lining a driveway or along a fence line.

At Spot on Pots and Nursery , we stock bare root trees from the highest quality growers in Victoria. The sense of achievement the first spring when the trees all shoot their brand new growth is very special!

Pulling out a tired garden bed, revamping an area or cleaning out the well loved water feature are great winter jobs. With less traffic and visitors in your garden no-one needs to see the work in progress. Working on design and landscaping, and getting your outdoor garden plants established in your yard now, means you get to relax and enjoy the sunshine in spring and summer.

2. Get Wintery Flowers and Shrubs

Many people think gardens are not much fun during winter but we have a great selection of winter options that will suit the Ballarat climate. Foliage and texture are great features of winter gardens. For instance; Lamium a ground cover, which has short spikes of flowers in spring and autumn has lovely silvery-white leaves which provides a great feature year-round.

If it is flowers you are looking for some options are daphne, camellia, cyclamen and hellebore.

Colour can still be achieved with foliage in winter with choices like variegated hebes, coprosma, and nandina.

3. Plant for the Future

As mentioned in the first point, it’s important to prepare for the future. We often see or hear of people ‘doing the garden’ to sell a house. Unfortunately, poor planning or short-sightedness can turn this good intention into a problem - as quickly as the next season.

We agree a home will sell quicker with an attractive garden, but the risk of over planting gardens in this situation is high. Not only is the maintenance on an overplanted garden arduous but long term generally a re-design is required. When planning a new garden it is important to factor in growth - short and long term. Think about the maintenance requirements of the plants you like and how the plants will grow together.

Depending on the style of the home native plants are great choices to create an easy care garden all year round, grevillea, acacia, callistemon and anigozanthos (kangaroo paw) can create a visually appealing garden.

Container gardening or ‘containerscaping’ is a relatively new term but not a new concept. Using pots can help create a full garden but with less chance that the plants will overgrow their space. These styles generally will look tidier longer. A great option for people selling homes.

If you’re ready to design your garden during winter and make it last for years to come, get your garden pots and plants from Spot On Pots & Nursery. We offer a wide range of indoor and outdoor plants that will easily bloom within your home or out in your yard no matter what the season. Visit our garden centre in Ballarat or contact us for more information on our website.

Child-Safe Indoor Plant Options for your Home

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 00:52:28 GMT

Decorating your home with plants is a fun activity because it adds more life to any interior space. Additionally, there are health benefits to having indoor plants, such as adding fresh air and eliminating toxins in your home.

When you visit a garden nursery, be sure to ask which plants are non-toxic to your children - and your animal companions if you have some - so that you can avoid plant poisoning and other accidents. Here are some of our suggestions that you will surely love adding to your home.

1. African Violets

This beautiful flowering plan is an ideal choice for busy families and beginners who would like to raise an indoor garden. This plant is rather low maintenance and will grow either indoors or outdoors.

2. Begonias

This is a rather beautifully coloured flowering plant that is definitely safe for children and pets. If you have whitewashed interiors, begonias are a perfect plant to add a splash of colour to your space. Be sure to check if you’re selecting the fibrous-rooted variety though as they are more suited for interiors.

3. Parlour Palms

Safe for both children and pets, the parlour palm is perfect for the indoors because it doesn’t need much watering and prefers low-lit environments.

4. Rubber Plants

This is not safe for pets but just fine for your little ones. It’s a favourite among interior designers as they enjoy adding these plants in modern homes. Rubber plants need moderate attention and loves sunlight, so best to put it in a well-lit area.

5. Spider Plants

Named because of its spindly leaves, the spider plant is safe for both animals and children. A big plus is that its leaves are rather hardy and will be tough to break, so the kids and dogs can pull and bite all they want.

Spot On Pots & Nursery have more options for safe indoor plants for you. We are a trusted seller of nursery and garden supplies in Ballarat, Victoria, and we have a wide selection indoor and outdoor plants that you can take a look in our location. Take a look at what we can offer in our garden nursery page on our website. We look forward to seeing you soon!The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

How Memories Live in a Garden?

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 22:20:29 GMT

Memories Live in a Garden

Gardens, flowers and plants are present throughout our lives impacting differently on us all and playing changing roles as we grow and age. For some gardening is a way to produce food, add value to the family home or earn a living, for others plants are a fashionable home styling accessory with air cleaning benefits. For many more flowers and gardens often form the basis of happy memories and are a key way to stay positive, healthy, remain in touch with nature and being active with friends and loved ones.

Flowers, plants and gardens create memories by impacting all our senses be it a colourful pot of flowers at our front door, the sweet taste of a home grown apple, the sounds of birds in the trees, or a scratch from a rose thorn. The sense of smell in particular has been shown to stir up significant memories and emotions from the garden, such as the scent of fresh herbs as you brush by them or the beautiful fragrance of daphne on a cool winter’s morning. The cherished memories are those created by sharing all of these experiences or reminiscing about them with a loved one.

Reminiscence therapy has been used since the early 1960’s as a means to increase psychological wellbeing, life satisfaction, communication and have a positive impact on daily life whilst reducing depressive emotions and feelings of loneliness. It has gained far more widespread use now as research continues to provide more evidence of its positive impact. Reminiscence therapy involves the discussion of past activities and experiences with the use of tangible prompts and it dictates that both young and old need to reminisce to maintain good mental health.

Garden Releaf Day Australia 2020 is Sunday March 22. It aims to raise awareness of the numerous health benefits of plants, gardens and gardening and provide ideas and inspiration to encourage people young and old to get in a garden or to make the home a little greener and to have fun. We will be one of over 40 garden centres across Australia hosting an in store plant party in the lead up to and as part of Garden Releaf Day. We will be having informative talks, hands on activities, a raffle and lots of fun in the garden. Come and join us to celebrate Garden Releaf Day.

Garden Releaf Day Australia

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 02:14:48 GMT

Garden Releaf Day

There has always been a deep seated human need for contact with nature to enrich our lives, alleviate stress and improve our overall well being. With the onset of time-poor busy lifestyles coupled with modern technologies, rapid urbanisation, city living, smaller home block sizes, limited garden spaces it seems people have never been more disassociated with plants and gardens and the age-old joy of gardening. It is possible that many of us, including children can go for days without any real interaction with plants and gardens, all at a time when research continues to show significant benefits plants and gardens can have on improving our physical and mental health. Garden Releaf Day Australia 2020 is Sunday March 22. It aims to raise awareness of the numerous health benefits of plants, gardens and gardening and provide ideas and inspiration to encourage people young and old to get in a garden or to make the home a little greener and to have fun. We will be one of over 40 garden centres across Australia hosting an in store plant party in the lead up to and as part of Garden Releaf Day. Follow us on Facebook and watch our website for the details of our celebration day.

White Marks like Salt on Pots

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 08:52:22 GMT

The 'White Stuff' Is a Buildup of Salts and Minerals.

It's commonly caused by the plant and pot becoming water logged - over watered, nutrient fed and poor drainage. This combination of factors has resulted in plant being unable to draw up anymore water and the roots and soil are sitting in the surplus water in the bottom of the pot.

How to Get Rid of It

Cut down on watering and check if the plant requires watering but pushing your finger into the soil to see if it is still moist below.
Don't let the pots sit with water in the dishes at the base for a long period of time as this is the main problem.
Always follow instructions on the fertilliser packets so that you dont over feed the plants.

Learn how to Plant a Bare Root Tree

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 00:45:21 GMT

How to Plant a Bare Root Tree

Dig hole 1.5 x the size of the root system.
Mix 1/3 of a bag of our Enriched Planting Compost into the soil removed.
Put a shovel-full of the mixed soil back into the middle of the hole. (This creates a soft bed for the roots to sit on.)
Place tree roots on soil mound and backfill with the rest of the mixed soil. (Make sure the graft union is above the soil level.)
Compress the soil down with your foot gently.
Water in well, covering all the loose soil 20-40L on initial planting. Mixing in our Plant Starter to advised quantities on bottle.
Follow up with a watering can of water (9L) per week for one month only. With our Plant Starter Mixed in.
WATERING IS KEY. A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER WATER THEIR TREES. TRYING TO ESTABLISH TREES WHILST ESTABLISHING A LAWN IS A NO NO.
One average bucket of water (10L) per week when it hasn’t rained.
If we receive rain leave your tree alone.
Continue with one bucket of water per week through the first summer.