Bunnings Warehouse catalogue - NO LONGER VALID - page 48 *

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Sowing from seed Seeds are one of nature’s wonderful gifts, containing everything needed to grow a plant from scratch, all bundled into a tiny package. Most plants can be grown from seed, although some may require extra measures such as soaking or scarification (weakening the seed coating) to encourage germination. Sowing requirements vary according to plant TOP PICKS type, too, so Bianca Boman of sunflower, cosmos, heirloom veges, sweet pea, billy buttons Seeing a beautiful bloom – like this cosmos – grow from a tiny seed can be one of gardening’s greatest joys Mr Fothergill’s recommends following the instructions on the back of each seed pack to get the best results. You can also collect and use your own seed from most plants. Seed heads are produced once flowers are finished – don’t deadhead blooms if you want to collect seed. The process varies between plants, so it’s best to do a little research first – for example, you can harvest seed from ripe tomatoes, but you need to wait for the seedpods to dry on coriander. Ideally, seed should be collected from open-pollinated varieties, that is, plants pollinated by natural means, as opposed to hybrid plants. Hybrids have been artificially crossed to produce plants with desirable traits, but seeds from hybrids won’t always grow ‘true-to-type’ and resulting plants may be different to the parents. Plant division Dividing plants involves removing and replanting a section of the parent plant that has its own roots. It works best with evergreen and herbaceous perennials that have a clumping habit, such as hostas, clivias, salvias, asters, Phormium and ornamental grasses. Over time, as these plants spread, they can become crowded and won’t perform or flower as well as they used to. So dividing them gives you more stock to fill gaps and keeps the parent plants looking their best. To divide a clump, dig around the edge of the plant and use a garden fork to gently lift it out of the ground or pot. Gently tease apart the root ball; if it’s difficult to work with, use a sharp knife or spade to divide it, ensuring each section has viable roots and shoots. “Replant or repot each plant in a good-quality mix and water regularly to keep the mix moist,” says Bianca. Most perennials and some ornamental grasses should be divided in winter or early spring, before TOP PICKS new growth lamb’s ear, mondo has started. grass, dianthus, dahlia, iris “There are many ways to propagate. You can grow from seed, divide roots or tubers and take cuttings of stems or even leaves” Bianca Boman, Mr Fothergill’s With plants that produce offshoots, such as primula auricula, propagation is a simple case of lift and separate Photography (far left) Anna Robinson, Wild Violet Flower Farm; (left) Gap Photos/Lynn Keddie; (opposite) Cath Muscat. A re there gaps in your garden that need filling? For most gardeners, there’s always room for more plants – and the good news is you can boost your collection using what you already have. Propagation is a way of creating new plants from existing ones. As gardening editor Rachel Clare explains, propagating is enjoyable and economical, allowing you to share your plants with friends and family for free. “You end up with more plants, including types of plants that can be harder to find, plus it makes you think of the person who gave it to you or the place it came from,” she says. There are several different ways to do this – read on to find out how.

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