Last time we looked at bare-rooted plants for sale at nurseries. Today we are going to dig up our own plants. Many people want to move large shrubs and trees that are in the wrong place in the garden. Now is the time to DO IT! As a general rule try to dig a root ball...
One of the great miracles happens at this time of the year. Nursery people dig up plants, shake ALL of the soil off them and send them all over Australia. Isn’t it amazing that plants can tolerate this much abuse! Fruiting plants such as apples, peaches, nectarines,...
Sooner or later most of us will need to set a post in the ground. To hold up a gate or a letter box or a cubby house or set of swings for the kids. It is so easy to do these days. First, dig a hole about 60cm (2 ft.) deep. Get 2 or 3 bits of scrap timber about 1-2...
Have you ever wondered why we often use reinforced concrete? Well concrete is brittle and can break apart when it settles or even expands. So metal reinforcing is placed in the area to be concreted prior to pouring the concrete. The reinforcing may not always stop...
We get many emails about fruit that split open – from oranges and lemons to tomatoes. The cause is almost always due to erratic watering. If you let the soil around fruiting plants dry out, when it rains or when you water it really well, the fruit will rapidly engorge...
Winter is a good time to grow carrots. There are many varieties of carrots that you can grow at home. Some are round like golf balls, but the best in my opinion are the various different coloured carrots. These are sold in seed packets usually with the name Rainbow...
Are you troubled with a damp spot? Well worry no more. Almost all gardens have a damp spot or a full-blown wet spot. These are areas that create superb opportunities for adventurous gardeners. You can put a fish pond into damp areas and plant around it with...
Today’s Old Husbands’ Tale is a cracker! We are told to meticulously prune your roses in winter each year. Cut to an open vase shape with all of the top buds facing outwards. Cut back to 3 or 4 vigorous stems etc. etc. Roses do need annual pruning in winter, but all...
You’ll hear some pseudo animal experts saying that you should not put food out for wild birds. They say that this does them harm. Research around the world has shown that the vast majority of wild birds that are fed by people survive better and breed better. In...
Today’s furphy is that all plants need tender loving care. Most plants like to be looked after with water and fertiliser but some don’t. Most native plants do best when left alone. Water and fertiliser can poison them or make them grow too fast, causing a shorter life...