Don found some old flyscreen doors at a salvage yard, attached them to a wall and used them as trelliswork to support climbers. The doors would usually cost $30 each from a salvage yard, but a wrought iron trellis of the same size costs around $600! As well as saving...
Some of the best garden designs have little touches of fun and humour amongst all the seriousness and formality. In fact, there is a long tradition of having fun in gardens, and therefore including elements that give people a bit of a laugh and make them happy. Don...
Here is Don’s list of five stylish plants suitable for gardens in many areas of Australia. Evergreen magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) The evergreen magnolia, or Bull Bay magnolia as it is commonly known, grows to around 20m (60′) in cultivation. It has dark,...
Cast iron pots When Don tried to lift a beautiful old cast iron pot, he was amazed to discover that it wasn’t cast iron at all. In fact, it was a cheap plastic pot that had been coated with a rusting paint. Rusty plastic mouldings Rusting paint can also be applied to...
Don looked at a citrus tree with a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is moved in plants from old leaves to new growth and to developing fruit. When a magnesium deficiency is present, the young citrus leaves appear green and normal, but older leaves turn yellow and often...
The potato or Solanaceae family contains some of the most poisonous plants in the world, as well as some of the most important food plants. There are about 90 genera and 2600 species in this amazing family, including annuals, perennials, climbers, shrubs and small...
The tiny courtyard in our segment was dominated by a rock wall. Many people think that the best approach for an area like this is to use small pots that won’t take up too much space. However, a jumble of little pots and plants usually just looks messy. Don created a...
Clumping plants such as aspidistras and agapanthus can easily be chopped up and used elsewhere in the garden, given to friends or sold at the local fete. Don demonstrated the technique by dividing a clump of clivias (Clivia miniata). How it was done Using a sharp...
Aloe vera is a clump-forming perennial with dense rosettes of thick, spiky grey-green leaves and tubular yellow flowers in summer. The young leaves are often spotted red. A. vera var. officinalis has softer leaves, which are spotted and streaked white. Medicinal...
Autumn is a great time to do garden improvement and maintenance, for example constructing a pathway or a pergola, sharpening your tools, improving your soil or mulching the garden beds. A little time spent on jobs now will help your garden power away in the spring....