Conifers are everyone’s first choice when it comes Christmas trees but if you want a different type of Christmas tree here’s a few hints.
Read MoreReal Living Christmas Trees
Garden Talk
Gardening is a Learning Curve
Rain and humidity can create havoc in the garden—think weeds, pests, yellowing plants, and fungus. This guide shares practical strategies to adapt to wet weather, from liquid fertilising weekly with adjusted ratios to managing pests with neem oil and controlling weeds organically. Embrace the unpredictability of gardening by evolving your plant choices, trimming, mulching, and learning to work with Mother Nature.
Read MoreGet your Garden Party Ready!
Hosting Christmas at your place this year? Get your garden party-ready with this quick and practical guide. Start by decluttering and tidying your lawn for a neat appearance. Trim plants lightly, remove dead flowers, and mulch for a polished look. Add instant festive colour with ready-made flower pots or hanging baskets. With these simple steps, your garden will be ready to impress your guests!
Read MoreNational Tree Planting Day: A Superficial Solution to a Deep-Seated Problem
in Garden Talk
As National Tree Planting Day approaches, I grapple with a deep sense of frustration. While well-intentioned, planting trees feels hollow against the backdrop of ongoing destruction of cherished landscapes like Scott’s Farm in Ripley Valley. Despite the proven mental and physical health benefits of nature, urban sprawl continues to encroach on every green space. National Tree Day, established by Planet Ark in 1996, aims to foster environmental stewardship by encouraging Australians to plant and care for native trees. However, without concrete plans and sustained actions, these efforts risk becoming mere PR gestures. Proper tree management, selecting the right species, and ensuring aftercare are crucial. We need to shift the conversation to comprehensive green growth planning, creating urban jungles rather than concrete deserts, and fostering a genuine culture of environmental responsibility. Only then can we make a meaningful difference.
Read MoreThe Native Garden: A Balanced Approach
Amid discussions about exotic species becoming problematic in Australia, it’s crucial to re-examine native plants' role in our gardens. While I cherish native plants, I also appreciate many exotic species and believe they can coexist harmoniously.
Recognise that native plants can become weeds, like the Cootamundra Wattle (Acacia baileyana), which can invade higher rainfall areas. Native gardens require effort, including soil cultivation, fertilising, and regular maintenance.
Genetic modification to meet consumer demands for constant flowering plants risks diluting native species' genetic integrity, weakening resilience and harming ecosystems.
By prioritising robust genetic traits and educating consumers, we can create sustainable gardens that celebrate both native and exotic species.
Read MoreChange the Conversation
in Garden Talk
We need trees. We need green urban jungles not concrete ones.
Let’s change the conversation
Read MoreGardening after Rain
in Garden Talk
Gardening after deluges of rain can be hard but worth it for our mental health. Recent weather events have lead to our home gardens being inundated with large amounts of water. Unfortunately our productive gardens may not be exactly ready for plantings and other established plants are rotting in the ground. Here are some quick tips for gardening after the rain.
Read MoreMastering Water-Wise Gardening for a Dry Summer
Creating a water-wise garden involves choosing the right plants, caring for the soil, and watering effectively. Healthy soil is essential for proper hydration, and deep watering promotes robust plant roots.
Read MoreFungus Gnats
Fungus gnats, those pesky flying insects hovering around indoor plants, pose a threat to plant health in humid Australian climates. A blend of prevention and management keeps these pests at bay, preserving a healthy indoor garden.
Read MoreMy Favourite Gardening Task
in Garden Talk
Discover the unparalleled satisfaction of tending to your lawn. Dive into the myriad of positive attributes lawns bring to your garden landscape, from recreational spaces to mental well-being. Explore sustainable practices to enhance these benefits while minimizing environmental impacts.
Read MoreMediterranean Gardens in Ipswich
in Garden Talk
I find garden design concepts like ‘Mediterranean Garden’ hard to give actual plants for as it’s a concept, a feeling especially in Ipswich’s ever changing climate and soils. No matter what your garden design is it should be a complete sensory experience and practical for YOU. Here are my tips for creating a ‘Mediterranean Garden’ in Ipswich
Read MoreWhat Seed Do I Buy
Buying open pollinated, no chemical treatment, bio dynamic seeds is ‘the best option’ for starting your thriving vegetable garden. We have chosen Eden Seeds as they are a great Australian company with an ethos we align with. They stock both Organic and no chemical treatment, Bio dynamic seeds and we try to stock a good range of both.
Read MoreHow Do I choose what Seeds to Plant?
Sharing my vegetable gardening experiences with you so hopefully you don't make the same mistakes as me.
Read MorePlanting by the Moon
in Garden Talk
Moon Planting Calendars can help unlock the secrets of the lunar cycles with easy-to-follow directions on the right time to plant, when to fertilise, when to cultivate, when to harvest and when is best to time preserve fruit.
Read MoreGoing Potty
Best Practices for having a Potted Garden
Read MoreThe Winter Lawn
Transform your patchy lawn into a lush green paradise with these expert lawn care tips. Learn how to aerate, use soil wetting agents, fertilize, and control weeds organically. Say goodbye to unwanted invaders and welcome a healthy, vibrant lawn just in time for Christmas. Get ready for backyard cricket and envy-inducing lawns with our comprehensive lawn care guide.
Read MoreWhy you don't grow food from scraps!
I know the current trend is growing fruit and vegetables from scraps. I would never recommend growing anything from scraps or seeds from fruit and vegetables you buy from the shops. .
Read MoreWhat is Companion Planting?
Why attracting some insects to your garden is beneficial for the whole garden's success.
Read MoreA Garden is not a Sick Bay
in Garden Talk
“An economic threshold is the insect's population level or extent of crop damage at which the value of the crop destroyed exceeds the cost of controlling the pest” Which basically means it would cost me more to deal with the problem than it would to replace the plant.
Read MoreImproving Sandy Soils
in Garden Talk
How do you improve any soil? Getting your soil right makes plants more robust and less prone to disease and insect attack, helps them develop better roots and helps the soil retain moisture for longer.
So to Improve Soil my mantra is ORGANIC MATTER, ORGANIC MATTER, ORGANIC MATTER.
Read More