A few garden tips
I’ve been walking a lot lately and I’ve noticed a couple of things.
Like my garden, others gardens are producing fruit, just not ripe, and not seasonal. My fruit that should have been ready for Christmas, nope. And my fruit that shouldn’t be coming in yet, yup.
Unfortunately, there’s not a lot we can do about that.
My gardens are still wet footed, from the rain, so, except for my potted plants I’m not watering. Others, I’ve noticed are. If you need to water, consider mulching, or growing ground cover. Your gardens will maintain a healthy level of moisture longer, and require watering less.
You are more likely to over water your plants out of habit, than need, with weather like we’ve been having.
Browning on top doesn’t mean your gardens are dead. It means they are putting all their efforts into protecting the roots.
If you feel you must water, consider drip lines. They use up to 2/3 less water, more effectively, than hose or sprinkler watering. Simply because the water soaks straight to the ground and into the roots. Sprinkler and hose water evaporates at an eye watering rate (pun intended), before it soaks below the surface. Up to 1/3 before it even hits the ground.
Also, lawns. While mowing them as short as possible keeps them tidy, it sadly, also kills the roots. Like scalps, the ground needs cover to protect it from the sun. But also the rain and weeds.
Lawns that are military buzz cut short dry out, severely, in the sun, which kills the roots, hardens the ground and leaves them prone to weeds, like couch grass. Longer thicker grass is softer, and easier able to block couch. It also protects against prickles. But it also keeps the ground soft enough to absorb rain. Hard ground is like concrete, prone to flooding.
Think about your gardens and lawns as if they were extensions of you. What happens if you over water yourself, especially when it’s hot? Or don’t cover up in the heat of the sun?
Simple. We dehydrate faster if we take in too much fluid too quickly. Because we literally flush our systems out. Our bodies cannot absorb that much fluid at once. Slow and steady, a little at a time.
And if we don’t cover up in the heat of the sun? We have one of the higher rates of skin cancer in the world. One of the worst weeds to have in our lives.
Take care of your gardens and lawns. Take care of yourselves and each other. And take it easy on Mother Nature. She knows what she’s doing. She just doesn’t know what we’re doing and it’s making her mad.
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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73.2% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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16% Hmm, maybe?
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10.8% Yes!
Electrician needed
Hi. Does anyone know of a good electrician who does not charge the earth. We need a security light disconnected and blocked off. Putting new one in in a different place.
Thanks
Barbara
Secure your homes over summer
Police are reminding people to keep their homes secure during the summer months.
Inspector Glenda Barnaby, Christchurch Area Prevention manager, says daytime burglaries are just as common as nightime burglaries.
“Burglaries can be committed at any time of the day, and coming into warmer months there is more opportunity for thieves."
"Although a majority of burglaries involve forced entry through windows and doors, we are starting to see more incidents at insecure premises. Police deal with cases where burglaries are committed in broad daylight, sometimes even while the victim is at home. Good weather means open doors and windows, which makes homes more vulnerable to burglars.”
Inspector Barnaby says there’s a few things people can do to reduce their changes of a burglary being committed.
⚠️ If you’re going outside for gardening, relaxing in the sun, or working in the garage, take a moment to lock your doors and secure your windows first.
⚠️ Do the same at night when you go to bed - keep your doors and windows secure and close your curtains. Fitting window stays means you can get a breeze coming through, while keeping your windows secure.
⚠️ Get to know your neighbours - let them know if you’re going away and look out for one another.”
If you see any suspicious activity, people or vehicles in your neighbourhood, don't hesitate to contact Police.
If you witness or suspect any illegal activity, please call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report through 105 either online or over the phone, if it is after the fact.
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