You may think that you can’t strike cuttings in winter, but this is incorrect. Some cuttings are BEST struck in winter, such as: Frangipanis, hydrangeas, roses, grapes and wisteria. Note that they are all deciduous plants. Get some manuka honey and dip the base of...
Often herb gardens look drab and miserable in winter, but there are some herbs that grow and look good in winter. There are many varieties of mint available. They do grow well and look good in winter. A few tips though: True spearmint does not taste like...
Have you ever thought about going nuts? Well, you can, by growing nuts at home. Many nuts do well in home gardens: Almonds, macadamias, pecans, walnuts. … but where and how? Well in cooler areas you can grow walnuts and almonds. In middle to warmer areas you...
Many people have backyard chooks these days. In my opinion the best variety for enormous egg production is a black chicken that is an Australorp cross. However, the ornamental breeds like silkies and araucanas lay for many years longer. You simply MUST fox-proof...
A cheery front door to a home is always a good idea. When you come home you feel happy. When visitors come around they feel welcome and are impressed… So how do you cheer up your entrance? Well it’s very simple. A few colourful pots of plants will do the job. ...
What type of chooks should you get for your backyard? The modern commercial layers or the older, prettier breeds? Well commercial layers only lay well for 18 months or so. Then you are stuck with a poor layer for another 6-8 years. On the other hand, older...
Some days in winter are a bit rainy and miserable… But that is great! This is the perfect opportunity to clean out your garage or shed. There are sure to be products you forgot you had & can use. Maybe chuck out any old rubbish in the shed. Go through...
Do you want more Australian birds in your backyard? If you do, you should remember that there are many plants that attract native birds that you can plant in your garden. Even some foreign plants will attract native birds: Sasanqua camellias, fruit trees,...
Many people contact me during winter saying that their chooks have stopped laying eggs. This is quite normal. Most chooks go off the lay in winter when they have their annual moult. In particular, the older breeds of ornamental chooks don’t lay eggs in winter. ...
Winter, that is July/August is the time to re-pot all bonsai. You simply MUST do it at least every 2-4 years or the plant may get sick and might even die. What do you do? Gently tip the bonsai pot on its side and cajole the plant out of the pot by wriggling its...