Bedding Display Change Over at DBG April 2008

Bedding Display Change Over at DBG April 2008

Steve Bishop from the Dunedin Botanic Garden leads horticulture students through a bedding display change over in April 2008.

All hands are on deck to remove summer/autumn display to make way for winter /spring display.

Steve Bishop from the Dunedin Botanic Garden leads horticulture students through a bedding display change over in April 2008.

All hands are on deck to remove summer/autumn display to make way for winter /spring display.

Health and Safety Anyone?Health and Safety Anyone?

What are some health and

safety considerations for this activity?

What are some health and

safety considerations for this activity?

Health and Safety ConsiderationsHealth and Safety Considerations

Sun damage Wear steel caps/protective clothing Manual handling Take care when handling tools Take care working in close proximity

to other people Care for the public Back fatigue(do some stretches now

and then) Slip or trip accidents Always wash your paws after working

in soil/growing media and wear a dust mask if media is not moist.

Sun damage Wear steel caps/protective clothing Manual handling Take care when handling tools Take care working in close proximity

to other people Care for the public Back fatigue(do some stretches now

and then) Slip or trip accidents Always wash your paws after working

in soil/growing media and wear a dust mask if media is not moist.

Remove Existing DisplayRemove Existing Display

We start by removing the summer/ autumn display put in in November 2007.

Remove wire fencing and stack neatly.

Remove plants carefully and make sure you pull the roots out with the plant.

Shake excess soil from the roots and pick up any leaf litter.

Stack neatly on the edge of the bedding plot to avoid soil and leaf litter falling on the lawn and in general try to think of ways to reduce extra clean up jobs or double handling.

We start by removing the summer/ autumn display put in in November 2007.

Remove wire fencing and stack neatly.

Remove plants carefully and make sure you pull the roots out with the plant.

Shake excess soil from the roots and pick up any leaf litter.

Stack neatly on the edge of the bedding plot to avoid soil and leaf litter falling on the lawn and in general try to think of ways to reduce extra clean up jobs or double handling.

When Do you Fertilize?When Do you Fertilize?

Clear bedding plot of all plant material and take to the transfer station for recycling (clean and green).A standard trailer load will cost between $12.50-$20.00.

The bedding display example would typically be fertilized when the summer/autumn display is put in which is usually in November.

Fertilize with Blood & Bone and then follow up with a slow release fertilizer like Osmocote or Nitrophoska

Clear bedding plot of all plant material and take to the transfer station for recycling (clean and green).A standard trailer load will cost between $12.50-$20.00.

The bedding display example would typically be fertilized when the summer/autumn display is put in which is usually in November.

Fertilize with Blood & Bone and then follow up with a slow release fertilizer like Osmocote or Nitrophoska

What fertilizers are best?What fertilizers are best?

Nitrophoska Blue has proven to be one of the world's best known and widely used fertilizers.

N-P-K 12-5-14 Plus Sulphur, Magnesium, Calcium

& Trace Elements Essential nutrients are contained in

each and every granule so nutrients are evenly available to the plants.

The fast acting granules are broken down by water and quickly absorbed, and will keep releasing for up to 3 months.

2.5 kg cost around $20.00 retail

Nitrophoska Blue has proven to be one of the world's best known and widely used fertilizers.

N-P-K 12-5-14 Plus Sulphur, Magnesium, Calcium

& Trace Elements Essential nutrients are contained in

each and every granule so nutrients are evenly available to the plants.

The fast acting granules are broken down by water and quickly absorbed, and will keep releasing for up to 3 months.

2.5 kg cost around $20.00 retail

What fertilizers are best?What fertilizers are best?

Yates or Tui blood and bone is a good product and you can purchase this for around $17.00 for 10 kg.

It is an organic fertilizer made up of a dried mixture of blood, meat waste and bone dust suitable for all garden plants.

Organic nutrients are released slowly to the plant, improves soil structure, promotes beneficial soil micro-organisms and encourages earthworms.

One adult handful holds approximately 50g,apply 200g per square meter and rake into the topsoil.

Add potash for total plant health as blood and bone contains none or apply B&B at the same time as a complete fertilizer.

Yates or Tui blood and bone is a good product and you can purchase this for around $17.00 for 10 kg.

It is an organic fertilizer made up of a dried mixture of blood, meat waste and bone dust suitable for all garden plants.

Organic nutrients are released slowly to the plant, improves soil structure, promotes beneficial soil micro-organisms and encourages earthworms.

One adult handful holds approximately 50g,apply 200g per square meter and rake into the topsoil.

Add potash for total plant health as blood and bone contains none or apply B&B at the same time as a complete fertilizer.

Fertilizers-Quick review of MacronutrientsFertilizers-Quick review of Macronutrients

Nitrogen(N) Plays an essential role in plant growth. Also feeds microorganisms in the soil.

Phosphorous (P) Plays an important role in root growth and promotes the establishment of young plants, flowering, fruiting and ripening, photosynthesis, respiration and overall plant health.

Potassium (K) Moves through the plant

and promotes the movement of sugars,and stem rigidity. Also increases the plant’s overall resistance to cold, diseases, insect pests. Promotes the formation of flower buds, the hardening-off of woody plants and fruiting.

Nitrogen(N) Plays an essential role in plant growth. Also feeds microorganisms in the soil.

Phosphorous (P) Plays an important role in root growth and promotes the establishment of young plants, flowering, fruiting and ripening, photosynthesis, respiration and overall plant health.

Potassium (K) Moves through the plant

and promotes the movement of sugars,and stem rigidity. Also increases the plant’s overall resistance to cold, diseases, insect pests. Promotes the formation of flower buds, the hardening-off of woody plants and fruiting.

Dig InDig In

Dig over the plot using the full spit of your spade.

Move around the plot and systematically turn over the soil in order to dig in any compost or fertilizers you have added .

Turning over the soil and adding organic matter encourages aeration which increases the availability of oxygen in the soil which in turn promotes good root growth due to the plants easier absorption of water and nutrients.(all good)

Dig over the plot using the full spit of your spade.

Move around the plot and systematically turn over the soil in order to dig in any compost or fertilizers you have added .

Turning over the soil and adding organic matter encourages aeration which increases the availability of oxygen in the soil which in turn promotes good root growth due to the plants easier absorption of water and nutrients.(all good)

Firming Down PlotFirming Down Plot

After the bedding plot has been turned over you must firm it down.

Use your boots and shuffle around the plot until you have firmed down the newly turned soil as this will insure that areas will not slump/sink after planting.

A nice even planting surface is required.

After the bedding plot has been turned over you must firm it down.

Use your boots and shuffle around the plot until you have firmed down the newly turned soil as this will insure that areas will not slump/sink after planting.

A nice even planting surface is required.

Rake, Rake and Rake Some MoreRake, Rake and Rake Some More

Preparation is very important and takes time.After the digging over and firming has been done you must rake the bedding plot for two reasons:

To remove all large clods of media,and residual plant material from surface of bedding plot.

To contour the plot evenly.

Preparation is very important and takes time.After the digging over and firming has been done you must rake the bedding plot for two reasons:

To remove all large clods of media,and residual plant material from surface of bedding plot.

To contour the plot evenly.

Marking Out Bedding PlotMarking Out Bedding Plot

Use some type of system to mark out the bedding plot.

A marking out rake with adjustable tines is used at the Dunedin Botanic Garden.

The rake creates 4 lines at equal distances apart as a guide for the formal planting of the annuals.

The marking out rake is set at 8 inches(it is an older tool but still

very useful) 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters so

about 20 cm apart.

Use some type of system to mark out the bedding plot.

A marking out rake with adjustable tines is used at the Dunedin Botanic Garden.

The rake creates 4 lines at equal distances apart as a guide for the formal planting of the annuals.

The marking out rake is set at 8 inches(it is an older tool but still

very useful) 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters so

about 20 cm apart.

Planting bulbsPlanting bulbs

Some of the bulbs chosen for the bedding display are called Tulipa sp. “Pink Diamond”and the white tulips are called Tulipa sp.“White Dream”.

Three thousand bulbs are planted for the spring display.

Contact a nursery which specializes in bulbs to ascertain a price for your bulb selection

Some of the bulbs chosen for the bedding display are called Tulipa sp. “Pink Diamond”and the white tulips are called Tulipa sp.“White Dream”.

Three thousand bulbs are planted for the spring display.

Contact a nursery which specializes in bulbs to ascertain a price for your bulb selection

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Planting bulbsPlanting bulbs

Place the bulbs randomly in the middle of the bedding plot, around 15 cm apart.

In most cases bulbs and annuals will come with spacing directions but if in doubt ascertain what their mature size will be so you can allow enough space for each plant to flourish.

Place the bulbs randomly in the middle of the bedding plot, around 15 cm apart.

In most cases bulbs and annuals will come with spacing directions but if in doubt ascertain what their mature size will be so you can allow enough space for each plant to flourish.

Planting bulbsPlanting bulbs

If no planting information is available, you can follow the general guideline of planting the bulb three times as deep as the bulb is tall. For instance, a 4 cm. size bulb would be planted 12 cm. deep. This is a general recommendation, however, and it is always best to follow the care recommendation for your particular species of bulb.

(There is a good guide in The Yates Garden Guide on pages 229-231)

If no planting information is available, you can follow the general guideline of planting the bulb three times as deep as the bulb is tall. For instance, a 4 cm. size bulb would be planted 12 cm. deep. This is a general recommendation, however, and it is always best to follow the care recommendation for your particular species of bulb.

(There is a good guide in The Yates Garden Guide on pages 229-231)

Planting annualsPlanting annuals

The bedding display at the DBG requires approximately 4,000 annuals for three bedding plots.

The annuals are sourced from a local nursery:

Christies Burnside Nursery

7 Koremata St. Green Island

488 2785

Jason can provide information on bedding displays and take orders for large displays like the DBG’s.

The bedding display at the DBG requires approximately 4,000 annuals for three bedding plots.

The annuals are sourced from a local nursery:

Christies Burnside Nursery

7 Koremata St. Green Island

488 2785

Jason can provide information on bedding displays and take orders for large displays like the DBG’s.

Planting Planting annualsPlanting Planting annuals

There are 96 annuals per tray and each tray will cost you $20.00 plus GST wholesale.

Space the annuals on the marked lines in a formal arrangement.Use a measure that is quick and easy for you - perhaps half the length of your trowel or whatever spacing is recommended.The third row should be in line with the first row and the second row in between the plants in the first row….you know what I mean?

There are 96 annuals per tray and each tray will cost you $20.00 plus GST wholesale.

Space the annuals on the marked lines in a formal arrangement.Use a measure that is quick and easy for you - perhaps half the length of your trowel or whatever spacing is recommended.The third row should be in line with the first row and the second row in between the plants in the first row….you know what I mean?

Viola sp. “Springtime Black” Viola sp. “Matrix White” Primula elatior “Rumba Mix” Viola sp. “Springtime Black” Viola sp. “Matrix White” Primula elatior “Rumba Mix”

(Clockwise)(Clockwise)

Bedding DisplayBedding Display

Replace wire fences to keep ducks and pedestrians from tip toeing through the tulips.

Always water - in new plantings.

What other maintenance tasks will there be?

Replace wire fences to keep ducks and pedestrians from tip toeing through the tulips.

Always water - in new plantings.

What other maintenance tasks will there be?

Voila!Voila!

This presentation made for Otago Polytechnic students.

Images and information provided by Kim Thomas, 2008

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