Solve a problem, find a plant or look for a design inspiration
The worst problem facing gardeners in Australia today is that when soils dry out, they can become water repellent, or hydrophobic. When this happens, water just runs off instead of soaking into the soil. Don showed an example of a water repellent soil and...
Beverly Duncan wrote to Don asking for ideas on screening a very exposed deck. All the plants she had tried to grow there had died. Don thought that Beverly’s urn-shaped terracotta pots were part of the problem. Terracotta pots act like blotting paper, drawing...
A drought is a tough time for all plants in your garden, especially the poor brown lawn! Here are Don’s tips on what to do, and what not to do, during the drought. Use glazed or plastic pots If you haven’t got much water, grow your plants in glazed or...
Don chose a classic groundcover as this week’s Plant of the Week. Plant details Common name: Australian native violet Botanic name: Viola hederacea Description: A creeping, evergreen perennial from eastern Australia and the Western Pacific Islands. It grows to...
With a few simple steps, Don showed how to transform plastic ‘jelly’ carry bags into sensational pots for plants. You’ll need: jelly bagsbuttonsgalvanised tie wirecordless drillruler or measuring tapepen/markerpotting mixplants How it was done: 1.Don...
This garden at a terrace house in Paddington, Sydney, was planted only three months ago. Designer Ted Whitley chose a clever mix of colourful natives, exotics, grasses and succulents with strong contrasting foliage. These hardy plants require a minimum of watering....
Every year thousands of viewers write to Burke’s Backyard and tell us that weeds are ruining their lives! Don has been through all the letters and compiled a list of the problem weeds, starting with with worst, public enemy number 1, bindii. Bindii: Many parts...
Don visited the Golden Wheel Buddhist Retreat at Galston, in the northern suburbs of Sydney. The Asian-inspired garden is only six years old, but already it is one of the better gardens in Australia. It surrounds a Buddhist Temple where members of the Australian...
Don looked at some ‘must do jobs’ for spring. Repot now Over the next few weeks plants will make about 90-95% of their growth for the year, so repot any plants that need it now. Repot any plants that have been in the same pot for two years or more. This is...
One of the biggest trends in Australia these days is to dine and entertain alfresco. To do that comfortably you need to invest in some quality outdoor furniture. Unlike indoor furniture, outdoor furniture has to withstand the elements, so quality should be a major...