Articles
The hot lazy summer months are often disturbed by the buzz of the lawn mower, a chore that drags us away from more sensible pursuits such as cooling off at the beach or taking that well-earned afternoon nap. Lawns are wonderful things for children's games and other...
When it comes to low maintenance plants for the garden and pots, succulents are perhaps the ultimate. These wonderful ornamental plants have been rising in popularity for a number of years not only because of their strong constitution, but also due to the simple...
Permaculture for home gardeners In the late 1970s Australian biologists Bill Mollison and David Holmgren coined the term 'permaculture' to describe a philosophy of ecologically and socially sustainable human settlement. In its broadest sense the concept can be...
There are times when it can be useful to import soil mixes into your garden. Perhaps you have heavy clay or something akin to beach sand, in other words a soil that is just plain difficult whatever you do to it. Bringing in a ready-to-plant soil mix provides a...
Severe droughts and water restrictions are a sobering experience for us all as we realise that good clean water is one of our most precious resources and its supply is not automatic. It is inevitable that we must all take stock and realise that water will start to...
Helianthus Tuberosus - Jerusalem Artichoke, Sunroot, Topinambour The Jerusalem Artichoke is a fast growing perennial, producing bright yellow daisy-like flowers in Autumn. It is closely related to the Sunflower, and quite similar in appearance. Grown for its edible...
Deep planting - better plant establishment in the garden Bill Hicks with one of his long stem trees Every so often you come across an idea that challenges conventional wisdom yet leaves you marvelling at its simplicity. I...
This is a new ground covering form of an old favourite Australian plant the coastal rosemary. It is an ultra-tough plant that will tolerate extremely windy and salty conditions such as near the coast. It also has a dense habit which deters weed growth. A great plant...
Composting is the process of decomposing materials that were once from living organisms. The choice of how to go about it in the home garden will depend on a number of factors such as space, the amount and type of organic material available at any one time and the...
Establishing Native Shrubs and Plants In Your Garden The Australian flora has established a reputation as a tough, drought tolerant group of plants that are very low maintenance in the garden. Whilst this is generally true it is extremely important to realise that a...
A renewed interest in the new millennium in Australian plants has inevitably led to great advances in the genetic improvement of our flora. Sometimes improvements are deliberate through plant breeding techniques such as hybridization while in other cases gardeners and...
LINKS AND RESOURCES FOR PLANT LOVERS GardenDrum is an innovative and international award winning website for serious gardeners. I have a regular blog on there, along with many other plant experts. Birds in Backyards - a comprehensive site for Australian birds, with an...
Plant breeders and nurseries put a lot of work into selecting new plants to release, and they base these selections on many different factors. New flower colours, extended flowering times, more compact growth habit, hardiness and disease resistance are a few of the...
All of these trees are only for parks, farms etc as they are very large both above and below ground. Trees should not be planted close to structures, paths, drainage systems etc as they have root systems that can potentially cause extensive and costly damage, plus...
1 Corymbia 'Summer Red' Because of the iridescent flowers and adaptability to humid climates. 2 Angophora hispida (Dwarf Apple Gum) Because of the stunning displays of...
** Click on the plant name to read more information about the growing needs 1 Grevillea 'Peaches and Cream' Because of its unique bicoloured flowers that are produced in profusion all year round. Note that Grevilleas can...
1 Pandorea jasminoides Because it flowers right through the warmer months with gorgeous large bell shaped flowers in white, pink and dark pink tonings 2 Pandorea pandorana 'Snowbells' [gallery link="file"...
1 Grevillea 'Poorinda Royal Mantle' Because it has proven itself for decades for its adaptability and reliability. Note that Grevilleas can cause skin problems for people with sensitive skin, protective wear is...
1 Backhousia citriodora (Lemon Myrtle) Because of its wonderful lemon-like oils and beautiful white flowers. 2 Austromyrtus dulcis (Midgen Berry or Midyim) Because of its...
1 Acmena The genus Acmena is one of several that is commonly referred to as lilly pillies, a group of plants that has become very widely used for hedging, both in Australia and overseas. Various botanic names have been used for the different lilly pillies,...