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Bird’s Nest or Crow’s Nest ferns (Asplenium australasicum) are lovely plants which are easy to use in the garden. Don Burke suggests using them creatively in a jungle setting. Experiment at the local nursery by mixing around the ferns with some different...
Burke’s Backyard recently visited the 2 acre native garden on a 5 acre property belonging to Merv and Olwyn Hodge in Queensland. The natives include a large number of grevilleas (about 160 species and many hybrids that Merv Hodge has bred himself) as well as...
There is a wide variety of pots available in most parts of Australia ranging from traditional terracotta from Italy, glazed ceramic in oxblood red, greens, blues and whites and terracotta from south-east Asia, natural rustic granite pots from China, traditional cast...
A wheelbarrow is essential equipment for any gardener or handyperson, but which is the right one for you? It is important to feel comfortable when using the barrow. Here are a few guidelines. Shape: There are three shapes of wheelbarrow available – the home...
Built in the 1853, Clifton is a bluestone homestead set in a traditional English garden with many established trees and an extensive spread of manicured lawns. The garden Jock and Jill Whiting began work on the two acre garden in the late 1980s and have created a...
Wisterias are beautiful flowering plants but Peter Valder noted that some people seem surprised to see this plant with seed pods. Peter Valder recently looked at these plants when he visited some Mt Wilson gardens. Ornamental pods Wisteria is a legume, like peas and...
Burke’s Backyard visited an example of colourful inner city living in a series of individual townhouses in Sydney with an innovative landscape. The townhouses incorporate a pedestrian street with a communal garden along the street. Car parking is underground,...
Decks are a classic part of the Australian home whereby you can enjoy the outdoors but still have the convenience of being close to the house. Often, however their poor design does not encourage one to use them to their potential. The Burke’s Backyard team...
Elevated decks are common in Australian homes but creating a garden underneath the deck can be challenging to the average gardener. Dry and shady conditions limit the range of plants which can be grown and people often make the mistake of trying to incorporate too...
Don visited a suburban back garden which was looking like a dust bowl disaster and was in need of a complete renovation. The main existing problems were: retaining wall without drainage and weep holes which allowed the area behind to become waterlogged during wet...