Articles
The star-like flowers of the boronias have long enchanted bush walkers in various parts of Australia from the east to the west coast. Add to this the delicate floral perfumes and cut flower qualities of species such as the brown boronia (B. megastigma) and you have a...
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 realize that a...
A long-lived and hardy 'Bush Gems Landscapers' kangaroo paw with abundant golden flowers. This reliable kangaroo paw from the ‘Bush Gems Landscapers’ series is a great tall paw that will establish easily in the garden and...
New flower colours in waratahs When it comes to waratahs yellow is the new red. Passionate plant breeder Graeme Downe of Melbourne has used a rare yellow form of the...
How to propagate plants from hardwood cuttings Winter is a time when there appears to be little activity in the garden, however, this is far from the case. Even deciduous plants such as hydrangeas, grapes and roses have an amazing capacity to regenerate into new...
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...
Bulbs for indoor decor 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...
Growing Cyclamen indoors 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...