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Mulch Path The garden path is usually given a hard surface of bricks, pavers or concrete. Occasionally softer surfaces such as grass or gravel are used. Another option is a eucalyptus mulch path: it looks sensational and costs next to nothing. The path is soft and...
Mushrooms and toadstools As a mycologist (a botanist with an expertise in fungi), Peter Valder is often asked how to tell the difference between a mushroom and a toadstool. All can be broadly described as the fruiting body of a fungus. As there are thousands of...
Each year blossom trees announce the arrival of spring and gaily declare that winter is over. To bring the song of spring into your garden, Don suggests a visit to your local nursery to find a blossom tree which appeals to you. Flowering plum is just one of many...
New Products: PestOil and Glykill There are some new products available at your local nursery which will help keep your garden pest and weed free: 1. PestOil PestOil is petroleum-based spray. Although similar to products such as white oil and winter oil that...
The kentia palm (Howea forsteriana ) is one of the most beautiful palms in the world, and is suitable for growing either indoors or outdoors. An Australian native palm, the kentia has been grown in Europe since the 1850s. During the 19th and early 20th century it was...
Michelia doltsopa is one of the best ever flowering trees. A new variety has made this tree even more suitable to the home garden as it is more compact and yet flowers more profusely. Details Common name: Silver Cloud Botanic name: Michelia doltsopa ‘Silver...
Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp.megalocarpa Our native gum trees are an essential part of Australian life, particularly for wildlife. While many are too large to consider planting in the average garden some are of a small to medium size and offer attractive and...
If you are thinking about having silkworms for your kids then you need access to a mulberry tree to have a ready supply of leaves to feed the silkworms. (See ‘Silkworms’). Details Common name: Mulberry tree, black mulberry Botanic name: Morus nigra. The...
Tree Waratah The tree waratah in flower will stop you in your tracks. It is a native tree that comes from the Queensland rainforests. It is striking in flower when it is laden with bold scarlet red waratah-like flowers. At other times it has dark green leaves. Details...
Deciduous magnolias produce their spectacular winter and early spring blooms on naked branches. Although expensive plants to buy they are long-lived, slow growing trees which bring a stunning display to your garden each year. The exciting news about magnolias is that...