Plant Health
Garden Care Blog from Kiwicare. New Zealand's premier manufacture and supplier of garden care products.
Preventing Winter Damage to Plants
In mild areas of New Zealand, tender plants can survive over winter outside with some protective coverings. But in cold or exposed areas even hardy plants may need some protection from the cold and wind.
When to Sow Grass Seed
A common gardening question is ‘when can I sow grass seed’? The answer may surprise you. Read on.
Spraying to Protect Roses
Many rose varieties are susceptible to pests and diseases. A simple spray programme can prevent pest and disease problems.
How to Make Your Indoor Houseplant Last
Have you purchased an indoor pot plant and found it seemed to thrive for a few months and then slowly became sick and died, even though you followed the label advice, or thought you did?
Warm and Cool Season Lawn Grasses
New Zealand has both warm and cool regions. Lawns are most commonly of cool season grasses but in warm regions, particularly coastal areas, warm season grasses can be used for lawns.
Wilting Indoor Plants
There are three common causes of indoor houseplants wilting; too little water, too much water and root rot disease.
What to do About Soggy Soil and Puddles on Your Lawn
Is your soil soggy? Do puddles form on your lawn? Few plants like their roots wet for long periods; most garden plants prefer well-draining soils. What to do about soggy soil.
Can I Mix Products Together to Save Time and Effort Spraying?
A common question is the like of “I am going to spray my fruit trees with fungicide and insecticide can I mix the two products together?”. Being able to mix two products together in one spray can save time and effort, but is it a good thing?
What are Adjuvants and Should You Use Them?
Adjuvants are substances that can be added to sprays to improve the spray’s performance. Those in agriculture, horticulture, nurseries and other commercial operators will be familiar with some adjuvants but should home gardeners also use such products?
Flying Ants
Often referred to as alates, ants with wings are the males and queen female ants who grow wings, take the air for a nuptial flight to reproduce and start new colonies. This happens in the form of swarms that can be of significant numbers.
How to Grow Everything - General Advice on Growing Plants
When we grow plants in our gardens, or in pots, or indoors, or in green houses, or wherever, there are some general ‘rules’ about how to get the best growth.
Lime, Sulphur and Gypsum
Lime, Sulphur and Gypsum – When and where to use these in your garden.
Fruit Tree Care
What is better than wandering out into the garden to pick your own lemons, apples, peaches etc.? But there are some tips to making sure the harvest is bountiful and the fruit not affected by pests and diseases.
Measure Soil Fertility by Earthworms
Gardeners know that having earthworms in the soil is good for the soil. But do you know they can tell you the fertility level of the soil?
How to Water Your Plants
It might seem an easy question to answer; turn on the hose and wet everything. But although plants need water, there are some tips that will mean you provide with the water they need without causing them harm.
6 Things To Do Before You Go On Holiday
These are 6 things you should do before you go away on holiday to the beach, or even if you intend to stay at home over the holiday period.
Kiwicare Garden Problem Solver TV Commercial
Kiwicare Garden Problem Solver television commercial. David Brittain Kiwicare Technical Support Manager talks about the Kiwicare garden problem solver.
Safe Disposal of Chemicals and Containers
How to safely dispose of home and garden product containers and unwanted chemicals.
Why Do I Use So Much Slug and Snail Bait?
Slugs and snails eat and damage seedlings of vegetables, bedding plants and other plants in the garden. The most common way to try and control them is with slug and snail toxic baits. Why does it take so much bait to keep control of slugs and snails?
Gro-Sure Easy Flowers - Blooming Easy!
Everyone finds a garden full of colourful, fragrant flowers a pleasing sight, not to mention the feel good factor of helping the bees!
Types of Plant Disease
Plants are susceptible to disease. Many of the plants we grow in our garden have been bred for traits that we desire, such as flowers, large fruit, good flavour and shape.
Winter Spray Program
Ensure your garden explodes with health in spring by taking a little time now to protect your trees, shrubs and roses from pests and diseases.
Testimonial for Organic Caterpillar BioControl
As one of our most popular products in our organic range, Organic Caterpillar BioControl is an excellent way to keep those hungry caterpillars off your Fruit and Vegetables. Read what people have to say...
Transplanting
Transplanting is a stressful time for any plant or tree. Root systems consist of branching roots covered in delicate microscopic 'hairs' through which most absorption of water and nutrients takes place.
Butterflies and Caterpillars
One of the many delights of having a garden is seeing and hearing the variety of wildlife it attracts. Birds, bees, butterflies and others add to the garden’s beauty.
Know Your Garden Insect Pests
There are many insect pests that will damage the plants in your garden. Some suck the sap and nutrients from the plants, some eat the leaves and roots, some spread disease to plants and some are a nuisance or danger to people in the garden directly.
Protect Your Plants From Disease
It's always better to prevent your plants from being infected with diseases rather than trying to cure them.