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As a builder, Scott Cam uses power tools such as chainsaws every day, and he thinks they are fantastic. Although he jokes about ‘toys for the boys’, he actually doesn’t regard power tools as toys. Scott thinks chainsaws are potentially very...
Quang Tran is a Vietnamese Australian who is passionate about bonsai. He first became interested in the idea of creating miniature trees and landscapes when he went to a bonsai show, liked what he saw and thought “I could do that”. Ten years later Quang is...
Clover in Lawn Now that the cold days of winter are behind us there’s no excuse for putting off all those outdoor jobs. Spring is the ‘make or break’ time for beautiful lawns, and your lawn is sure to need some urgent attention. Don looked at a...
Come and See My Garden – Newcastle Anne Johns of Kotara, New South Wales, wrote to Burke’s Backyard asking for help. She moved into her house nine years ago. Since then, she has noticed to her dismay that all of the pencil pines (Cupressus sempervirens)...
Crushed Sandstone The largest horticultural activity that has ever occurred in Australia’s history is taking place at Homebush Bay in Sydney. The development of the Olympic Park and Millennium Parklands areas has been an enormous undertaking, requiring millions...
Dangerous Roots One of the most fashionable plants in Australia at the moment is Ficus benjamina, the weeping fig. Pots of standardised weeping figs clipped and shaped into balls on sticks can often be seen dramatically framing entrances or doorways; left unclipped...
Dividing Plants During autumn and winter many plants, especially perennials, can be divided. They include agapanthus, orchids, bergenias and Japanese windflowers. Use the new plants around the garden, give them to friends, or pot them up and take them along to the...
Don’s Mailbag Don read a selection of letters from the Burke’s Backyard mailbag. They included some interesting photographs and possibly a few records! Great gardens: We always enjoy seeing what you are achieving in your garden, so thanks to Virgilio and...
Drills People often ask Scott Cam, the builder on the Backyard Blitz team, for advice about buying cordless drills. His recommendation for anyone purchasing just one electric drill is to go for a good quality mains powered drill (that is with a cord), rather than a...
Fertiliser Manure Horse manure is very fibrous, rots down quickly and is regarded as being useful for heavy clay soils because of its fibre content. It also works well on sandy soils. It can be incorporated into the soil, or used as a mulch to about 5cm (2″)...