Don Burke says the secret to growing great natives is to use crushed rock instead of soil. Here’s how it’s done. Planting natives into rock rubble works because it duplicates the natural, wild conditions where most of these plants evolved. Refer to the diagram (at top...
Question I would like to have a try at creating my own standard grevillea. Is it possible to plant the rootstock in situ then trim off and graft onto it when it reaches the appropriate height? What method of grafting would you recommend? – Jo-Anne Britt,...
Bromeliads are native to tropical America. Many are epiphytes, that is they live on other plants but do not parasitise those plants. Rather than growing in soil, they are found up in the forks of tree branches, surviving mainly on the moisture and nutrients they...
In an outer Sydney suburb, Don and the Burke’s Backyard team transformed a daggy Aussie backyard into a Tuscan inspired entertainment area. They tackled several problem areas including an old swimming pool and an ugly fibro garage. The spectacularly stylish...
Flowering: Acanthus Ajuga Aquilegia (columbines) Azaleas Begonias Bromeliads Camellia japonica Clivia Daphne erigeron (seaside daisy) Eupatorium megalophyllum (blue Ageratum-like flowers) Hoyas Japanese anemone (Hupehensis – x hybridum) Kalmia (cold areas) Linum...
Gardening and cooking for good health and great taste. On sale now in newsagents and all good bookstores
Gardening Information Services CONTACT SHEET There are many places which provide advice on your garden and on specific plant problems. Most nurseries which employ qualified horticulturists will also offer advice on plant problems, and many Botanic Gardens have...
The most high maintenance part of any garden is the lawn, so many people are opting for lawn substitutes, such as timber decks or paving. Still, it is hard to beat the effect of a beautiful, green lawn. Don believes the answer to the problem of lawn maintenance lies...
Don’s new book, ‘Indigenous’, is the story of his own garden. It describes how he transformed a bush block with virtually no soil into a family retreat with a lush, native garden that looks as if it’s been there forever. As the story of the...
Don received an email from Trina Quadrio, who lives at Floreat in Western Australia. Trina purchased a large urn and plinth for the entrance hall of her home. However, once the urn was in position, it didn’t have the impact that Trina had imagined. She asked Don if he...