Articles
Best Australian Rainforest Plants for the Garden Stream lily (Helmholtzia glaberrima) This is a strappy leafed plant that can fulfill the same role in the garden as the Clivea, namely a clumping habit that...
What is causing lines on my Citrus leaves? Citrus leaf miner (Phyllocnistis citrella) is a pest whose larvae burrow under the leaf surface. This causes the new growth to distort and have characteristic 'squiggles' all over the leaf surface. A very low toxicity...
Possums and Other Pests In Your Garden This is not a story about Dame Edna and her Moonee Ponds garden. It is about the joys of discovering wildlife inhabiting your backyard and the pain that the little devils inflict on your prize plants. This is a two edged sword,...
arm weather pests and how to control them in non-toxic ways Summer is a time when pest activity is often at a maximum so keep a careful watch for sucking pests such as aphids and thrips. The first sign is usually the appearance of distorted growth in the growing tips...
Rainwater Tanks Have you ever observed how a fall of rain will green up the garden and spark new growth in your favourite plants? Rain water is a great garden tonic, and is especially good during a thunder storm, as it can change nitrogen gas to nitrogen compounds-...
How do I water plants? A very good indicator of when plants need to be watered lies in the appearance of the plant. Subtle changes in the colour and attitude of the foliage are indicators of water stress. As soon as the foliage goes slightly limp the plant is...
How do I use less water in the garden? Severe drought is a dramatic reminder of the vulnerability of gardens that require lots of water to look their best. Garden technology has developed rapidly in recent times such that modern irrigation equipment makes it very easy...
How do I keep my plants watered when I am away? If you know you are going to be away from your plants over holiday times, it is an excellent idea to gradually reduce the amount of water that garden plants are receiving. Most plants are able to adapt to a low water...
In every garden and neighbourhood there is an abundance of organic matter around such as deciduous leaves, strips of bark, prunings and accumulated lawn clippings. There are a few ways of recycling this valuable resource for your garden. One of the easiest ideas is to...
Composting made simple Bury your scraps- If it is impossible to have a compost bin or heap a simple alternative is to dig a shallow hole and bury your organic waste. The earthworms will multiply in the soil and digest the added material as well as cultivate it for...
If you feel a twinge of guilt every time you throw those organic materials such as vegetable peelings into the bin then it is time to consider starting a worm farm. Anything organic can be put into a worm farm, however, it is important not to drown the worms with too...
Getting started with bush foods Traditional Australian histories have painted Aboriginal people as hunter-gatherers who did not develop agricultural systems or have permanent settlements. However, recent publications such as Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe have presented...
Modern potting mixes often feature large amounts of organic materials such as composted pine bark. Such mixes can gradually break down and also run out of nutrients, particularly if they are required to last beyond 12 months. If you have a pot plant that is looking a...
A fantastic way to brighten up your living areas is through potted bulbs that can be brought into the house when they are in flower. Now is the perfect time to plant a range of spring flowering bulbs that will provide a wonderful feature for your coffee table or...
Cyclamen is one of the best winter flowering pot plants suitable for indoor decoration. By purchasing a nice healthy plant in late autumn or early winter you can have blooms for months during the cooler time of year when not much is happening in the botanical...
Potted plants provide opportunities to grow some easy care perennials which will provide long term colour. There are some fabulous choices in smaller perennial plants which are made for long term container growing: Kangaroo paws- the smaller varieties of kangaroo paws...
This technique is handy way to propagate plants that are very difficult from cuttings. It is like doing a cutting but it is left attached to the plant. Thus it still receives the benefits of being attached (ie food and water) but is stimulated to form roots by...
There are a host of wonderful low growing natives that can add a splash of colour to even the smallest garden in the dead of winter. Almost all native plants are evergreen which means they tend to keep growing all year round and clearly many have found an evolutionary...
Bush Regeneration in Western Sydney The western area of Sydney bounded by the area from Parramatta to Penrith is one of the most populous in Australia. It is also home to an ever diminishing population of plants and animals. By preserving and regenerating what is left...
Step by Step Guide to Establishing Australian Native Shrubs 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 realize...