Bonsai artists try to create the impression of very old, ancient trees, but many of these trees are not very old at all. Don showed how to fake up some bonsai using two ordinary plants from the local nursery. The plants Plants traditionally used for bonsai...
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...
Even small projects or small repairs around the home can be expensive. Don looked at some of the great products available at hobby shops, for classy results without costing too much money. Hobby paint: You can buy spray on paints at normal hardware stores. They come...
Don demonstrated how to turn coconuts into some great items for the home, including coconut plant pots, candle holders and soup bowls. What you’ll need: G clamp, vice, hand saw, chisel, rasp, coconuts, candles, cocktail umbrellas, plants. Coconut preparation: 1....
Penny and Paul Cooke-Russell wrote to Burke’s Backyard to tell us how excited they are about their backyard makeover. Over just a few months, they transformed a barren space in the garden into a wonderful oasis where family members and friends can get together,...
Yucca elephantipes, more commonly called the spineless or soft-tipped yucca, is a fast growing member of the agave family. In fact, it can quickly outgrow its original position in the garden, as seen in our segment. Don showed how to prune the yucca without ruining...
Don showed how to propagate bromeliads by simply dividing offsets, or ‘pups’, from the mother plant. Bromeliads are native to tropical America. Many are epiphytes, meaning they live on other plants but do not parasitise those plants. Rather than growing in soil, they...
One of the best ways to save money with plants is to go out into the garden and dig them up! There are free plants in virtually every garden in Australia. Clumping plants such as aspidistras can easily be chopped up and used elsewhere in the garden, potted up and...
The marriage of Duane and Narrelle was on shaky ground – and all over a messy garage! Don stepped in and helped Duane tidy up. He installed a simple tool board, along with a wall-mounted hanging rack for larger gardening tools. Materials: 1 x sheet 15mm plywood...
When most people think of beautiful tropical beaches, they think of swaying coconut palms, seashells and golden sand. Don showed how to create a long-lasting reminder of your tropical holiday by growing a coconut palm in your own home. Surprisingly, coconut seedlings...