Wood Ash in the Garden Now that those chilly winter evenings are here, lots of people have been stoking up their slow combustion heaters or warming themselves in front of glowing open fireplaces. In fact many of those people have written in to Burke’s...
Yates Anti Rot Phosacid Many of the fungicides that were once used in the garden were quite dangerous to us and to the environment. Many diseases are also resistant to some of the commonly used fungicides. The good news is that there is now a very safe and effective...
Matching Plants to Pots Don visited Michele Shennen’s Willoughby Garden Centre and chatted to Michele about the very latest trends in pots. Michele explained that new ranges of pots are being imported from all over the world these days, giving...
While we all dream of the perfect garden filled with beautiful, exotic flowering plants, the reality is that plants in many gardens don’t perform and often drop dead. Even worse, they don’t die quickly, but linger on for years looking half dead. What to...
Mulching depth If your garden is mulched but you are still having problems with weeds growing through, you probably haven’t applied the mulch correctly. Mulch needs to be at least 75-100mm (3-4″) deep to control weeds. It is very important to mulch your...
The weather has been very unseasonable in Australia recently, particularly along the east coast. Summer didn’t really eventuate. We’ve had the occasional very hot day, but then later that day or the next day it’s been cold again. When temperatures...
Crushed Sandstone The largest horticultural activity that has ever occurred in Australia’s history is taking place at Homebush Bay in Sydney. The development of the Olympic Park and Millennium Parklands areas has been an enormous undertaking, requiring millions...
Dangerous Roots One of the most fashionable plants in Australia at the moment is Ficus benjamina, the weeping fig. Pots of standardised weeping figs clipped and shaped into balls on sticks can often be seen dramatically framing entrances or doorways; left unclipped...
Dividing Plants During autumn and winter many plants, especially perennials, can be divided. They include agapanthus, orchids, bergenias and Japanese windflowers. Use the new plants around the garden, give them to friends, or pot them up and take them along to the...
Don’s Mailbag Don read a selection of letters from the Burke’s Backyard mailbag. They included some interesting photographs and possibly a few records! Great gardens: We always enjoy seeing what you are achieving in your garden, so thanks to Virgilio and...