by Mark Evans
Gardening columnists like to hand out rules. Prune here, plant then, wait for this, avoid that. Advice pages tend to work that way because readers like certainty. But too many rules can make gardening sound intimidating, so it may come as a relief, or an annoyance, to hear that many of those rules are really just guidelines.
Of course, some rules … Read more »
Most people assume the best time for planting out and expanding the garden is when spring arrives. It feels logical. Plants come alive again after winter, nurseries fill with colour and renewal is in the air.
We plant enthusiastically and, sure enough, growth follows. But as spring turns to summer and temperatures climb, that flush of new growth often struggles to cope. Despite our best watering efforts, plants wilt because the growth above ground … Read more »
As summer ends, gardeners become very aware of how much water they have used just to keep plants alive. At this time of year, water is usually seen purely as a necessity, applied carefully and often anxiously. Yet water plays another role in gardens that is equally important.
Since people first shaped land into gardens rather than fields, water has been held, channeled and reflected for reasons far beyond … Read more »
Red, green and white are among the most popular colours associated with Christmas. This iconic combination is often linked to the English holly (Ilex aquifolium), with its evergreen leaves and bright red berries. Amid the European snow, holly symbolised hope during the depths of winter and was central to ancient solstice celebrations long before Christmas as we know it was celebrated.
In Australia, however, holly berries ripen between May and August, making the … Read more »
Rather than risking overwatering our indoor plants and having water spill out of their saucers, we water them from below, filling the saucer and letting the soil absorb the water. If the plant is really dry, this needs to be repeated several times until an equilibrium is reached, with some water remaining in the saucer to be slowly taken up over the ensuing days. This same principle underpins wicking beds, an … Read more »
Growing your own vegetables is one of the most rewarding forms of gardening. It combines the joy of working with plants with the satisfaction of producing fresh, nutritious food. October is the perfect month to get started, as it’s when the widest variety of vegetables become ready for planting. There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing seeds and seedlings transform into vibrant, edible plants and the spring sunshine in October provides ideal … Read more »