Solve a problem, find a plant or look for a design inspiration
Wattles, also called acacias, are wonderful native plants. More than 850 species of wattle grow in Australia, ranging from ground covers and charming shrubs to giant trees that provide fine timber and screening. With this number of species and many cultivars there is...
Broccoli is a productive vegetable that can be grown as a cool climate crop in all parts of Australia (see climate map 1). For most people it is a short lived crop but, with the right care and regular harvesting, broccoli plants will last for several seasons. Caring...
[metaslider id=31322] Citrus trees were an integral part of an Australian backyard and still have an important place in today’s garden. Not only does the Vitamin C in their fruit protect against colds and flu in the colder months, citrus are also highly...
Free Vegie Garden Not all seeds are dry when they are first collected from a plant. Some, particularly the seeds from many fruits and salad vegetables such as cucumbers and tomatoes, are incased in a mush or pulp. In order to plant the seed, it is necessary to...
Iris Book One of the most spectacular achievements in plant breeding this century is the development of modern irises. There are many different iris species and within the main garden irises such as tall bearded and Japanese iris, exist a myriad of colour and forms....
Everyone eats potatoes, but almost nobody grows their own. Jackie French demonstrated a simple way of making a potato patch in a corner of your backyard, that will produce kilos of potatoes. Potatoes can be grown in all areas in Australia although plants grown in...
Driveway Tips ‘Burke’s Backyard’ visited a home in Sydney where a recently-constructed driveway had begun to disintegrate. The gravel drive had become pot-holed after only four years of use. This prompted advice on the correct way to make a driveway....
Trees, particularly native trees, in gardens need care and attention so that they stay healthy and safe. A tree that is living in your backyard is under a lot of stress compared to the same species in the bush. To highlight this, Don contrasted the growth of a large...
Layering is an easy method for propagating a plant. Unlike other methods (such as cuttings) the piece that is being propagated remains attached to the parent plant while it develops its own root system. To layer a plant a supple branch is bent down to the ground while...
Listen to your Plants In recent years there has been much said about talking to your plants, despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting the idea. However, there is good scientific evidence that listening to your plants does help enormously. Of course when you...