Gardeners awake from hibernation

Local gardening and landscaping stores are benefiting from the arrival of spring in Rotorua, as keen gardeners return to their sanctuaries.

Palmers Gardenworld Rotorua owner Darryl Pierce said their carpark had been full as people looked to plant or prepare their gardens before Labour weekend.

"People do hibernate in the winter. So this is the time of year when people get back into their garden," he said.

He said they were selling a lot of vegetable and flower seeds, compost and garden mix and fruit trees.

"You name it and you can grow it here [in Rotorua]."

Mr Pierce said most people, if they had not already started planting, were building up their gardens or getting rid of moss and weeds.

"Labour weekend is the traditional time for people to start growing veges in their garden but I like to get a bit of a head start with my tomatoes."

Gardeners Landscape Supplies owner Peter Bentley said they were selling about 40cu m of weed-free gardening mix and 20cu m of weed-free compost each week.

"People generally just stay out of the garden during the winter so now is the time for doing up their gardens," he said.

Bunnings Warehouse power gardening salesperson Michelle Smith said they had been selling lawnmowers and lawn trimmers during spring.

"I think it is the time of year when people pull out their old lawnmowers and they blow up or they need to upgrade because they have a bigger place."

Bunnings complex manager Alan Bunce said popular flowers were marigolds, petunias and lavender.

SPRING GARDENING TIPS:

• 
  Now is the time to fertilise the garden in preparation for summer growth
• 
  Prepare tomatoes, capsicums and cucumbers for planting at Labour weekend
• 
  Grow seedlings in pots on the deck to protect from frost or cover until ready to plant
• 
  Mulch citrus trees for rich coloured fruit
• 
  Plant summer flowers like Yates Fusion seeds which will cover the garden in colour
• 
  Plant fruit trees like plums, apples, nectarines and peaches
• 
  Plant summer annuals like marigolds
• 
  Lay slug bait after planting
• 
  Don't allow grass to grow under citrus trees - too much moisture isn't good for the trees