Tag Archives: mulching

10 Apr

* Food Forests of New Zealand (www.foodforests.nz)

Designing a Low-Maintenance Food Forest: Tips for Te Puke’s Climate

• April 14, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Welcome to the Troppo.nz blog! For those of us lucky enough to call the beautiful Bay of Plenty home, particularly the fertile lands around Te Puke, the idea of a thriving, edible garden is often top of mind. But who has endless hours to dedicate to weeding, watering, and pest control? The good news...

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01 Feb

Vegetable Gardener's Diary

Action Items for the Month of February Vege Planting in Bay of Plenty, NZ

• April 12, 2025
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Welcome back to the Tropo blog! February in the Bay of Plenty is a fantastic time to get your hands dirty and plant some delicious veggies. The heat of summer is starting to ease, and the soil is still warm, creating perfect growing conditions for a variety of crops. Whether you're a seasoned garden...

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13 Jul

Landscaping & Lawns

A little guidance on selecting plants for a specific purpose, such as privacy screening, erosion control, and attracting wildlife in New Zealand

• July 15, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Selecting the right plants for landscaping in New Zealand requires considering the specific purpose of the landscaping project. Here are some recommendations for different purposes: Privacy Screening Pittosporum tenuifolium (Kohuhu) Features: Dark green to purple-black leaves, small fragr...

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09 Jul

Interesting Articles

Planting different species together to enhance growth, repel pests, and improve soil health.

• July 9, 2024
• By Troppo
• 7 comments

Companion planting is a gardening technique where different plant species are grown together to benefit one another. This method can enhance growth, repel pests, and improve soil health. Here’s a guide on how to use companion planting to create a thriving and harmonious garden. Benefits of Companio...

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27 Jun

Monthly Gardening Checklists

Fruit Gardener’s Diary for the Year in New Zealand

• February 17, 2025
• By Troppo
• 13 comments

New Zealand’s diverse climate allows for a wide range of fruiting plants to be grown throughout the year. Here is a month-by-month guide to help you plan your fruit garden, including planting, caring, and harvesting activities for the most common fruiting plants grown in New Zealand. January P...

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27 Jun

Flower Gardener's Diary, Monthly Gardening Checklists

Flower Gardener’s Diary for the Year in New Zealand

• June 27, 2024
• By Troppo
• 5 comments

New Zealand’s diverse climate allows for a wide range of flowering plants to thrive throughout the year. Here is a month-by-month guide to help you plan your flower garden, including planting, caring, and enjoying the blooms of the most common flowering plants grown in New Zealand. January Pla...

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27 Jun

Monthly Gardening Checklists, Vegetable Gardener's Diary

Vegetable Gardener’s Diary for the Year in New Zealand

• June 27, 2024
• By Troppo
• 5 comments

New Zealand’s temperate climate allows for a wide variety of vegetables to be grown throughout the year. Here is a month-by-month guide to help you plan your vegetable garden, including planting, caring, and harvesting activities for the most common vegetables grown in New Zealand. January Pla...

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27 Jun

Flower Gardener's Diary, Monthly Gardening Checklists, Vegetable Gardener's Diary

Fruit Tree, Vegetable, and Gardening Planting Calendar – A Broad Brushstroke for our NZ climate

• February 17, 2025
• By Troppo
• 5 comments

The Bay of Plenty region enjoys a temperate climate with warm summers and mild winters, making it ideal for growing a wide range of fruit trees, vegetables, and other garden plants. Here is a comprehensive planting calendar to help you plan your garden activities throughout the year. Fruit Tree Pla...

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11 Sep

Growing Guide

Growing Guide for Mini Black Heirloom Popping Corn in New Zealand

• June 26, 2024
• By Troppo
• 5 comments

Mini black heirloom popping corn is a unique and fun variety to grow in your garden. This type of corn is not only decorative but also produces delicious popcorn. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you successfully grow mini black heirloom popping corn in New Zealand. Choosing the Right Location ...

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01 Dec

Flower Gardener's Diary

December – Flower Gardener’s Diary for New New Zealand

• June 27, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

December is the height of summer in New Zealand, and your flower garden will be bursting with color and activity. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you manage your flower garden during this vibrant month. Planting Summer Annuals: Continue planting summer annuals such as marigolds, zinni...

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01 Nov

Flower Gardener's Diary

November – Flower Gardener’s Diary for New Zealand

• July 23, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

November is a busy and exciting month for flower gardeners in New Zealand. With the onset of warmer weather, it's the perfect time to get your garden ready for summer. This diary will guide you through essential tasks and tips to ensure your flower garden thrives this season. Early November 1. Soi...

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01 Aug

Flower Gardener's Diary

August – Flower Gardener’s Diary for New Zealand

• July 23, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

August marks the transition from winter to spring in New Zealand, making it an exciting time for flower gardeners. With the promise of warmer weather and longer days, there are plenty of tasks to prepare your garden for a vibrant spring bloom. This diary will guide you through essential tasks and ti...

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01 Jul

Flower Gardener's Diary

July – Flower Gardener’s Diary for New Zealand

• July 23, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

July is a mid-winter month in New Zealand, and while it may be cold, there are still plenty of tasks to keep flower gardeners busy. This diary will guide you through essential tasks and tips to ensure your flower garden is healthy and ready for the upcoming spring. Early July 1. Soil Preparation ...

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28 Apr

Growing Guide

Bok Choi Growing Guide for New Zealand

• July 23, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

Bursting with goodness, these hardy no fuss vegetables are brilliant crops to plant in the winter garden. Bok choi is a very quick growing Asian green that is sweet, tasty and exceptionally easy to cultivate and cook. It is sometimes referred to as pak choi or Chinese celery cabbage.

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01 Dec

Monthly Gardening Checklists

Gardening Checklist for December in New Zealand

• June 27, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

December is a busy month in the garden as the weather warms up and plants thrive. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you stay on top of your gardening tasks and ensure your garden flourishes throughout the summer season. General Garden Maintenance Watering: Ensure all plants receive adeq...

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01 Nov

Monthly Gardening Checklists

Gardening Checklist for November in New Zealand

• June 27, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

November is late spring in New Zealand, and it's a bustling time in the garden as the weather warms up and plants enter a vigorous growth phase. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you make the most of your gardening activities this month. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Regularly rem...

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01 Oct

Monthly Gardening Checklists

Gardening Checklist for October in New Zealand

• June 27, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

October marks the middle of spring in New Zealand, and it's a busy time in the garden as plants begin to grow vigorously. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you stay on top of your gardening tasks this month. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Regularly remove weeds to prevent them from...

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01 Sep

Monthly Gardening Checklists

Gardening Checklist for September in New Zealand

• June 27, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

September marks the beginning of spring in New Zealand, and it’s a vibrant time for gardeners as the weather warms up and plants begin to flourish. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you manage your garden tasks in September. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Regularly remove weeds to ...

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01 Aug

Monthly Gardening Checklists

Gardening Checklist for August in New Zealand

• June 27, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

August is the tail end of winter in New Zealand, and it's a crucial time to start preparing your garden for the upcoming spring. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you get your garden ready for the new growing season. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Keep on top of weeds to prevent th...

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01 Jul

Monthly Gardening Checklists

Gardening Checklist for July in New Zealand

• June 27, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

July is mid-winter in New Zealand, and while the weather can be cold and wet, there are still plenty of gardening tasks to keep you busy. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you maintain and prepare your garden during the winter months. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Keep on top of w...

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01 Jun

Monthly Gardening Checklists

Gardening Checklist for June in New Zealand

• June 27, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

June marks the beginning of winter in New Zealand, and it's a time to protect your garden from the cold while preparing for the upcoming spring season. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you manage your garden tasks in June. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Keep on top of weeds to...

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01 May

Monthly Gardening Checklists

Gardening Checklist for May in New Zealand

• June 27, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

May marks the beginning of late autumn in New Zealand, and it's time to prepare your garden for the upcoming winter months. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you keep your garden in top shape during May. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Regularly remove weeds to prevent them from com...

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01 Apr

Monthly Gardening Checklists

Gardening Checklist for April in New Zealand

• June 27, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

April marks the middle of autumn in New Zealand, and it’s a crucial time to prepare your garden for the cooler months ahead. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you maintain your garden and get it ready for winter. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Regularly remove weeds to prevent them...

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01 Mar

Monthly Gardening Checklists

Gardening Checklist for March in New Zealand

• June 27, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

March marks the beginning of autumn in New Zealand, and it’s a time to start transitioning your garden from the summer heat to cooler autumn weather. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you maintain and prepare your garden during March. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Regularly remove...

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01 Feb

Monthly Gardening Checklists

Gardening Checklist for February in New Zealand

• June 27, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

February is the last full month of summer in New Zealand, and it’s an important time to keep your garden thriving and start preparing for the cooler months ahead. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you manage your garden tasks in February. General Garden Maintenance Watering: Ensure your...

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01 Jan

Monthly Gardening Checklists

Gardening Checklist for January in New Zealand

• June 27, 2024
• By Troppo
• 0 comments

January is the height of summer in New Zealand, and it's a busy time in the garden. The warmer weather and longer days mean plants are growing vigorously. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you manage your garden tasks in January. General Garden Maintenance Watering: Ensure your garden i...

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