Your local nursery is a great place to find bargains. That’s because many plants, especially perennials, can actually be divided straight away. You may only buy one plant, but after dividing you could finish up with 10 or even more! To divide plants simply place the...
There are free plants in virtually every garden in Australia. 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 using a sharp...
If you buy your premium potting mix in 30 litre bags, you’ll pay around $14 per bag. That’s more than $460 for one cubic metre of potting mix (roughly 33 bags). If you take your trailer to the landscape supplier, you can buy premium potting mix in bulk for around $95...
Don received a letter from Research Scientist, Dr Dugald Close, who is associated with the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Production Forestry, at the University of Tasmania. In the letter, Dr Close explains why leaves colour reddish shades in autumn, and...
Don showed a pelargonium that had outgrown the available space and nourishment in its pot. He explained why it is necessary to repot plants every few years, and demonstrated potting techniques using a large yucca (Yucca elephantipes). Don’s tips Repot any plants...
Recently Margaret and Geoff Briggs wrote a letter asking Don to help them with a gardening dilemma. Five years ago they planted over 40 sasanqua camellias (Camellia sasanqua cvs) against their back fence. Some of the plants grew well, but others mysteriously died....
Don looked at a lawn riddled with weeds, moss and lichen. He guessed that the garden owners had forgotten to reset the sprinklers for winter, so the lawn was overwatered. Also, being on the southern side of the house the lawn obviously didn’t receive enough sun...
Plants produce most of their annual growth over the next few weeks, so it’s the perfect time to give your garden some extra care and attention. Spring lawn renovation Aerate: lots of weeds and bare patches indicate that the lawn is compacted. You can fix the...
Don and Cheryl Maddocks teamed up to make a magnificent, succulent ball. While hanging baskets are eye-catching, a hanging succulent sphere is simply riveting. Visitors will be amazed when they see this beautiful ball suspended from a tree or pergola, or taking centre...
Don talked about the importance of keeping your trees and shrubs pruned well back from the footpath. Trees and shrubs growing over the footpath make access very difficult for all sorts of people, including pedestrians, parents pushing strollers and postal workers...