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Don visited Mick and Anna Perri at their home on Sydney’s northern beaches. Mick is an expert gardener who has been growing fruit and vegetables on his property for 24 years. Don asked Mick to take part in a trial of some new and unusual fruit trees. These are...
A beautiful plant in the wrong pot can look awful. In our segment, Don showed how to coordinate plants and pots for great designer looks. Waterwise style If you’re too busy to look after plants, think about potting up a succulent such as Agave attenuata. It...
Pitcher plants, or Nepenthes, are amongst the most bizarre plants in the world. There are around 90 recognised species and most grow in moist, humid areas where they receive year-round rainfall. Many can be found in Borneo, Sumatra and the Philippines, growing in...
Don planted a stunning, white camellia (Camellia japonica ‘Nuccio’s Gem’) in a white, glazed pot. The combination of a white flowering camellia in a white pot looks fabulous against a dark background, brightens up a dull area, and adds a touch of...
Coriander grows better during the cooler months of the year. During summer, coriander plants change rapidly from leafy to seedy (this is called ‘bolting to seed’) and it’s almost impossible to have a crop on hand for use in the kitchen in the hot months. During...
Every week, parts of Burke’s Backyard are filmed in Don’s garden. It is a native garden, which includes many plants that are indigenous (that is local) to the area. Over 200 species of birds visit the garden throughout the year, including silver eyes,...
Japanese maples are usually grown for their magnificent displays of autumn colour. However, in Australia they also look wonderful in spring, when they are covered in lush, new growth. There are hundreds of cultivars available, and they come in a huge range of leaf...
Don looked at a new flowering cherry, Prunus ‘Millennium Sunset’, which has been developed at the University of Western Sydney. This is the first release in what is hoped will be a whole series of early flowering and low chill stone fruit, suitable for...
Don looked at Cupressus sempervirens ‘Glauca’, one of the very best pencil pine varieties. Plant details Common name: Pencil pine Botanic name: Cupressus sempervirens ‘Glauca’ Description: Very tight habit Best climate: Sydney, Perth and areas...
Jackie French loves sitting down to a feast of delicious, home-grown beetroot. She grows all different kinds – red, white, yellow, long, round, and even a sweet, candy-striped variety. Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) Beetroot grows in a wide range of climates. Sow seed...