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Hedge Pruning

...Don recommends pruning every 4 weeks or so. Regular light ‘haircuts’ keep hedges tidy and prevent them getting out of hand. If you wait too long before you prune, your hedge will start to look scruffy and it will become difficult to manage. You’ll then have to do a full renovation prune, which means spending a lot of time setting up string lines and trying to work out where to cut. Don’s tip: save work and time by pruning hedges more, rather than... read more

Hedges & Topiary

...should be kept razor perfect. Don recommends keeping your head against the hedge so that you can see the bits that need to be cut off. When hedges are in active growth during the warmer months of the year, Don recommends pruning every 4 weeks or so. Regular light ‘haircuts’ keep hedges tidy and prevent them getting out of hand. If you wait too long before you prune, your hedge will start to look scruffy and it will become difficult to manage. You’... read more

Dwarf Lilly Pilly ‘Hedgemaster’

...n the courtyard is ‘Hedgemaster’, a new dwarf lilly pilly. Acmena smithii ‘Hedgemaster’ ‘Hedgemaster’ was developed by Don Burke. It is a dwarf from of Acmena smithii and clips well into a low hedge to 1m (3′) tall. It has an extremely compact, dense habit and coppery coloured new growth. Unlike many other lilly pillies, ‘Hedgemaster’ is resistant to attack by the lilly pilly psyllid. It responds very well to trimming, and will grow in most areas... read more

Don’s Landscaping Tips: Homeworld Hedges

...rn, creating a focal point when viewed from the bay window. Low and medium hedges (Buxus sempervirens and Photinia robusta) follow the curves around, giving a sense of containment and intimacy, and drawing the eye away from the irregular shaped block. This is further disguised by a large hedge (Waterhousea floribunda) which hides the back wall, and gives the courtyard a soft green appearance. Alternanthera dentata planted at the base of the Waterh... read more

Sasanqua Camellias

...hite formal double flowers with a pearly blush on outer petals. Good for a hedge or espalier. Otome-Sazanka: Delicate pink, informal double flowers. Good for low hedge or tub. Dwarf shishi: Very dark red flowers with a lighter coloured centre. Rosette: Small well proportioned flowers which are rose pink with fluted petals. Getting started: Camellia sasanquas cost around $17 for 200mm (8") sized pots. They are available at specialist camellia nurse... read more

Bushfire Gardens

...‘Rose Queen’ and ‘Redwing’. Don and Brian replanted the ‘Star Above Star’ hedge. When planting a hedge, always use a string line to ensure your hedge is straight, and use a measure (a stick cut to length will do) so that the plants will be evenly spaced. Native garden On Boxing Day the bushfire swept through the property of John and Collette Taccori. It destroyed their native garden, the garden shed and burnt part of the house. Don presented the... read more

Best Garden Tools

...ed secateurs. Felco secateurs cost $77 – $120. Hedge trimmers: for pruning hedges, shrubs or topiarised plants. Buy good quality hedge trimmers that feel comfortable to use. Don recommends Freund hedge trimmers, which have a curved blade to stop branches sliding out when cutting. Freund hedge shears cost $60 – $80. Fork: for turning and breaking up clumps of soil, and aerating compost. Today’s forks are adequate, but older designs are more suitabl... read more

Best Lilly Pilly Varieties

Lilly Pilly leaves
...bs Syzigium lilly pilly leaves Raindrops on lilly pilly leaves Lilly pilly hedges Trimming a lilly pilly hedge Untrimmed lilly pilly Lilly pilly fruit Lilly pilly Christmas tree Native lilly pilly - Acmena hemilampra Native lilly pilly flowers - Acmena hemilampra The lilly pilly is one of the most popular plants in Australia today, particularly for hedging and topiary. Lilly pillies are evergreen rainforest plants with glossy green leaves. Many va... read more

Yellow Makeover

...′) tall. It responds well to pruning and can easily be maintained as a low hedge or grown as a tall screen. Hedging tip To work out the spacing between plants when putting in a hedge, divide the length of the bed by one more than the number of plants. So taking the example of the duranta hedge, the length of the bed was 3.6m and there were 5 plants: 3.6 divided by 6 = 600mm. Therefore the separation needed between each plant was 600mm. The makeove... read more

Don’s Expert Answers: Climbing plant on dead pine trees.

...n here is that you need to observe your plants during nasty weather patterns. That row of trees could still be doing fine. Install a watering system for the new hedge and use it every week. Sorry to be so honest, but I can see your new hedge dying too. Don... read more

Ship Shape

...add organic garden mix if too low. Lay out the turf, cutting to shape with hedge shears, roll and water. Step 4 – Mingo grass Use a rake or topsoil leveller to level the area. Evenly space out the pots of grass about 150mm apart. Remove from pots and plant. Mulch with a 50mm layer of mulch (we used sterilised rice hulls) and water thoroughly.Blitz Tipz: Rice hulls are best suited to mulching sheltered places. To keep them in position they should b... read more

Dwarf Murraya

...d is different, and of no use to people who want to grow a uniform murraya hedge. Don pleaded with nursery propagators to stop growing murrayas from seed. These plants should only be grown from cuttings. It may also be wise to avoid planting murrayas, even the new dwarf variety, if you live in northern Australia and particularly if you live near bushland areas. Care: Murrayas prefer a sunny position in well-drained soil enriched with organic matte... read more