Gardening Australia – June 2022
English | 102 pages | pdf | 68.97 MB
We’re here! And look at this sumptuousness! That’s what I was thinking, standing in this avenue of silver birches and oak-leafed hydrangeas at the
Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. After two years of cancellation, it was wonderful to finally be rubbing shoulders with fellow gardeners, and drinking in the designs and artistry of plant whisperers. More than 100,000 people attended across the fi ve days of the show, and it felt great to be out and about again.
As always, there were obvious trends in garden design and plant use, and some good ideas to steal. You’ll fi nd a selection of what caught our eye on page 30.
And for a different kind of whispering – chook whispering – check out the tales and tips from Costa and the gang on wrangling the more wilful birds in your flock. I’ve been in stitches hearing how Feral Beryl, who insisted on sleeping in the apple tree instead of the coop, was repeatedly moved, while asleep, to the correct location until she got the hang of the proper bedtime ritual. I can only imagine what goes on in a chook’s head, but the concept of her waking up each morning and thinking, “How did I get here?” really makes me giggle.
Less of a giggle are the many popular garden plants that have become a bit weedy. Foxgloves, which we featured a couple of months ago, are among them, as well as murraya, arum lily and even olive trees. Don’t think, “I’ll just avert my eyes in case my favourite plants are on the list,” as often, it isn’t necessary to remove these plants, but rather to manage the way they seed or multiply in the garden. Turn to page 42 for expert advice.
Other plants this month include the larger-flowered grevilleas; ferns that are more or less fail-safe (just follow the directions on page 22); and plants that work their butts off. By this, we mean the ones that give us a rolling feast of goodies across the year, from flowers and fruit, to autumn foliage and good-looking bark.
They’re always on the job, and are just what you need if you have limited space and your plants have to earn their keep. If your space is still looking minimalist (that is, not much is going on and you’re not sure where to start), jump into Sophie Thomson’s series on starting a garden from scratch. She explains how to plan your hardscaping, and how to leapfrog this stage if funds and time aren’t on your side. In the patch, you’ll fi nd tips for growing broccoli, dealing with pawpaw rot, growing vegies in sandy soil, and keeping a fruit tree compact for easy harvesting.
All this, plus your usual checklist of jobs to do in the monthly planner, means there’s something for everyone. So, settle in for plenty of inspiration, then grab your spade and get cracking!
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