TV show onVEGIE c 7.30pm Friday PREP YOUR August 2022 fPorAsTpCriHng LIFE n he TREETOPS CREATURES THAT LIVE IN THE CANOPY how o ett ng s rte th FRANGIPANI DSCl s peperomia RE POT DWARF hardenbergia BANKSIA REJUVENATE & YOUR GARDEN PROTEIN from the PATCH ONLY $7.80 08 Jackie French Sophie Thomson 9 312966 128997 If you love it, grow Expert tips and lots – in praise of tricks for planting garden obsessions up a new garden
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EDITOR’S LETTER el o e T here’s a saying in p if So, this is my last issue, and I’m delighted to hand the trowel to in doubt, leave it ou re Elizabeth Wilson. You’ll be in excellent hands with this keen talking gardening, we might say: gardener and experienced editor. There’s also a changing of the if in doubt, take it out. (Or prune guard as our horticultural editor Phil Dudman steps aside for it back, or move it.) Gardens grow and long-time contributor AB Bishop. Phil and I will still pop up here and change over time – trees become too big, there – you’ll find Phil, for example, in his beloved Patch pages, which casting shade over everything else; you this month take a different format, with stories on getting your patch realise a particular bush in bloom really primed for spring, and the meaty topic of growing protein in the clashes with its neighbours; the path is so patch – no actual meat required. overgrown you can’t get through without What else is in this late winter issue? Well, there’s a beginner’s guide to walking sideways (on tippy toes). What’s orchids, which, as Steve Falcioni writes, is one of those groups of plants that gets us needed is a good old garden edit, and on all in the end. When given my first orchid plants last year, I was both disarmed and page 50, Jennifer Stackhouse outlines a alarmed. There was a faint echo of that day you drive home with your first newborn few key ways you can pare things back. in the backseat. “Are they really entrusting me to care for this living creature? So I’ve lately been doing a bit of editing beautiful and so alien. Is there a manual?” The responsibility to keep those orchids in my garden, and also my life… and I’ve thriving weighed heavily, but with a bit of advice from the team, they’re budding decided to step out of the editor’s role. up for a spring bloom. If you’re a newbie to orchids, or perhaps still sizing them up It’s not that I’ve become overgrown (despite the large blocks of chocolate for achievability, turn to page 12 to get the basics under your belt. that form our stress-metric in here – Elsewhere, we continue the series speaking of which, I love how Jackie on creating a garden from scratch, with advice from Sophie Thomson on the fun French measures her writing tasks in bit: the actual planting. Hannah Moloney shows how to grind dandelion root to apples – see page 58). And it’s not about make a hot cuppa, Tammy Huynh profiles and propagates one of the sweetest clashing colours – I love our colourful, indoor plants, peperomia, and Len Cronin gives us a bird’s eye view of life in the sunny office, and the colourful, sunny treetops. So, settle in for your monthly dose of gardening goodness, farewell people in it – or the constant jumble of for now, and may your orchids always bloom with vigour and verve! books and papers on my desk that needs serious weeding… It’s more a yearning to pull up the entire garden (of life) and make a new one, for the thrill of starting out again. After all, there are a lot of plants in this world to have a crack at, and only so much time and space to do it. PHOTOS BRENT WILSON, ISTOCK TOUCH SOCIAL MEDIA STAY IN SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 361 146 facebook.com/ EMAIL [email protected] ABCGardeningAustraliamagazine MAGAZINE EDITORIAL (02) 9901 6325 @gardeningaustraliamag TV SHOW (03) 8646 2875 GARDENING AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2022 3
AUGUST 2022 70 CONTENTS For all your top jobs in the garden this month, turn to page 74 30 PHOTOS BRENT WILSON, ISTOCK, HYNESITE PHOTOGRAPHYCOVER COVER STORIES COMPETITIONS + READER OFFERS ON THE Discover the beautiful world of 12 Getting started with orchids orchids, and how to get started 22 Peperomia 42 Subscribe now to receive growing your own. (See page 12) 26 Hardenbergia a fertiliser from Worm 38 Planting up a new garden Hit, valued at up to $25 Photo: Alamy 44 Life in the treetops 49 Win a copy of Leonard 50 Rejuvenate your garden Cronin’s new children’s 58 Garden obsessions book, Wild Australian Life, 64 Prep your patch for spring valued at $29.99 70 Protein from the patch 88 Solve the crossword for a 2278 Re-pot dwarf banksia chance to win one of four tool packs from Forestry 82 Prune frangipani Tools, worth $105 each GARDENING AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2022 5
AUGUST 54 12 44 26 38 64 FEATURES 30 Perfick in every way REGULARS PHOTOS GETTY IMAGES, NATALIE MENDHAM, ISTOCK, LUKE SIMON, OZBREED This gorgeous mountain property with 12 Getting started with orchids 8 Marketplace Plants and books An introduction to this huge plant waterfront views is simply... Perfick! 58 At home with Jackie Why stop at group, the best types for beginners, 38 Make a garden from scratch just one? Jackie celebrates garden How to tackle one of the best parts and tips for care and re-potting obsessions of every kind of creating a new garden: planting 20 Do the twist 63 In the patch With its striking twisted form and 44 Life in the canopy • Get your spring patch going What’s going on in the treetops, home cascades of yellow flowers, the • Sow & plant chart for August to half the world’s plants and animals? corkscrew hazel makes an impact • How to choose a raised vegie bed 50 The garden edit 22 Pep talk Take back control of a garden that’s • Grow protein-packed produce Cute, compact and colourful become cluttered and overgrown 74 Action planner Jobs for this month peperomias to grow indoors 84 Mailbox Your letters, photos 54 Try this! 26 Winter wow Grow, roast and brew dandelion roots and questions A hardenbergia in bloom is a feast to make a delicious, hot beverage 88 Crossword for the eyes, as well as wildlife 90 TV & radio guide Your ABC 91 The directory ABC Gardening Australia magazine acknowledges Aboriginal 98 The big picture and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and traditional custodians of the lands where we live and work. 6 AUGUST 2022 GARDENING AUSTRALIA
Garden from the co of home, online or by mail. At Tesselaar we only supply plants that are We send seven seasonal, full colour, free garden worthy, plants that we have trialled and catalogues each year. We also ofer additional tested to ensure they meet our high standards online specials and limited release rare plants. and yours. We are so sure of our products, Our friendly staf are always happy to help out we ofer a full money back guarantee on with your garden questions. All our products are everything we sell. We search far and wide to accompanied by detailed growing instructions find the best plants for your garden, then we and tips to help you along your way to creating package them with care so they arrive safely at the most beautiful garden for your home. your door, no matter where you live in Australia. ORDER YOUR SIGN UP NOW FREE CALL 1300 428 527 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE TESSELAAR CATALOGUE www.tesselaar.net.au Mail order gardening at its best. 357 Monbulk Rd, Silvan, Vic 3795. Ph: 1300 428 527 Fax: 03 9737 7798 Email: [email protected]
EDITOR Jenny Baldwin ON THPLANTSE SHELF HORTICULTURAL EDITOR Phil Dudman A selection of new releases for ART DIRECTOR Rachel Henderson garden lovers nationwide ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sally Feldman CHIEF SUBEDITOR Sofia Charalambous Begonias are such useful plants. They come in an array of shapes SUBEDITORS Gina Hetherington, Kirsten Wilkins and sizes, have attractive foliage, and are adorned with brightly HORTICULTURAL CONSULTANT AB Bishop coloured flowers through the warmer months. The award-winning EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Carole Gridley ‘Double Up Red’ and ‘Double Up White’ are vigorous, dense forms of Begonia semperflorens, also known as bedding begonia. Growing DIGITAL EDITOR Karen Burge 20–45cm tall and 20–35cm wide, they would make a welcome addition to a colourful verge garden, or you could plant them in ABC TV HOST Costa Georgiadis a dull spot where their striking foliage and double flowers can PRESENTERS Josh Byrne, Tino Carnevale, Jerry Coleby-Williams, be appreciated from inside the house. These plants look great in containers, grown alone or with grasses or trailing companions, and Jane Edmanson, Millie Ross, Clarence Slockee, Sophie Thomson they don’t need deadheading, as they’re bred to be ‘self-cleaning’. Suitable for tropical, subtropical and temperate climates. CONTRIBUTORS aussiewinners.com.au Steve Ball, Leonard Cronin, Steve Falcioni, Jackie French, Judy Horton, Anna Hutchcroft, Tammy Huynh, Gerard Hynes, Michael McCoy, Natalie Mendham, Hannah Moloney, Martyn Robinson, Jennifer Stackhouse, Brent Wilson ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Anabel Tweedale, [email protected] Phone (02) 9901 6371 ADVERTISING SALES Donna McIlwaine, [email protected] Phone (02) 9901 6384 Iris McPherson, [email protected] Phone (02) 9901 6160 Annya Azzopardi, [email protected] Phone (02) 9901 6320 PRODUCTION MANAGER Peter Ryman PRODUCTION AND DIGITAL SERVICES MANAGER Jonathan Bishop EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ABC TV Gill Lomas HEAD PUBLISHING AND LICENSING ABC COMMERCIAL Lisa Hunter BRAND MANAGER ABC MAGAZINES Jenni Powell SUBSCRIPTION SALES AND ENQUIRIES 1300 361 146, gardeningaustralia.com.au EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES [email protected] Phone (02) 9901 6325 NEXTMEDIA PTY LTD Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards NSW 1590 Phone (02) 9901 6100 GM CONSUMER PUBLISHING Carole Jones MANAGING DIRECTOR Arek Widawski ISSN: 1325-1465 ABC Gardening Australia magazine is published by nextmedia Pty Ltd (ACN 128 805 970) under licence from the publisher, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), and is subject to copyright in its entirety. ‘ABC’ and the ‘Wave’ and ‘Gardening Australia’ trademarks are used under licence from the ABC. The contents may not be reproduced in any form, either in whole or part, without written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved in material accepted for publication unless specified otherwise. All letters and other material forwarded to the magazine will be assumed intended for publication unless clearly labelled not for publication. nextmedia and the publisher do not accept responsibility for damage to, or loss of, submitted material. Opinions expressed in ABC Gardening Australia magazine are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of nextmedia or the publisher. No responsibility is accepted for unsolicited material. No liability is accepted by nextmedia, the publisher, nor the authors for any information contained herein. All endeavours are made to ensure accuracy and veracity of all content and advice herein, but neither ABC Gardening Australia magazine nor its publisher or contributors is responsible for damage or harm, of whatever description, resulting from persons undertaking any advice or using any product mentioned or advertised in ABC Gardening Australia magazine or its website. PRIVACY POLICY We value the integrity of your personal information. If you provide personal information through your participation in any competitions, surveys or offers featured in this issue of ABC Gardening Australia magazine, this will be used to provide the products or services that you have requested and to improve the content of our magazines. Your details may be provided to third parties who assist us in this purpose. In the event of organisations providing prizes or offers to our readers, we may pass your details on to them. From time to time, we may use the information you provide us to inform you of other products, services and events our company has to offer. We may also give your information to other organisations, which may use it to inform you about their products, services and events, unless you tell us not to do so. You are welcome to access the information we hold about you by getting in touch with our privacy officer, who can be contacted at nextmedia, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590.
TEXT AB BISHOP MARKETPLACE The unmistakable flower spikes of aloes inject vibrant colour into the winter garden, and provide a sweet feast for nectar-loving birds and insects. These three compact hybrids are frost and drought tolerant, and can be positioned in full sun to semi-shade. Growing to 35cm tall and 40cm wide, with 60cm-high flowers, ghty Coral’ (right) is the largest. Its lti-stemmed orange and cream flowers e on a coral pink hue and are held well ove its mid-green succulent leaves, rfect for a mixed bed. ‘Sea Urchin’ r left) forms dense, 30cm tall and de clumps of blue-green foliage, with ntrasting orange flower spikes that ach 50cm high. Its clean, architectural ok suits a contemporary garden; try it ass planted, interspersed with a softer liaged plant such as Lomandra ‘Pacific ky’. Reaching a relatively diminutive 5cm high by 35cm wide, ‘Mighty Gold’ eft) makes a sensational edging or ockery plant, or you could feature it in a pretty container, where its speckled oliage can be easily appreciated. These aloes aren’t suitable for tropical climates. ozbreed.com.au Despite its pretty flowers and lovely perfume, daphne is quite a finicky plant. Daphne odora x bholua ‘Perfume Princess White’, however, has proven itself as a robust and reliable cultivar, after rigorous in-house trials that included excessively hard pruning and summer transplanting. Growing to about 1.2m tall and 1m wide, this dense shrub holds onto its large, deep green leaves throughout the year, making it an attractive specimen in any season. Clusters of large, crisp white flowers adorn the plant from midwinter to late spring (sometimes summer), emitting a luscious fragrance with citrus undertones. Position this fast-growing variety near the front door, beside a garden seat, under a window or even next to the letterbox where the postie can enjoy its fragrance! Grow it in a pot on a balcony or as an evergreen hedge. This disease-resistant plant suits any climate. tesselaar.com GARDENING AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2022 9
MARKETPLACE ON TH BOOKSE SHELF THE CHARMED GARDEN AT BROUGHTON HALL Philip Hunter Hardie Grant Books Sumptuously illustrated with gorgeous photographs, this book chronicles the inspirational story of how Philip Hunter and his partner, garden designer David Musker, worked together to transform their 1.6ha farm in West Gippsland, Victoria, into a charming home with beautiful gardens. The couple bought the house and land in 1996 and spent more than 20 years designing and creating their vision of a garden paradise. The result is a celebration of idyllic natural landscapes, passion, hard work and the beauty of rare and magnificent horticultural offerings, including an exquisite rose garden filled with THE KITCHEN GARDEN Lucy Mora rare and highly scented roses. Broughton Hall attracts many visitors, who enjoy the splendour of the gardens and their environs through the changing seasons. ames & Hudson Australia Author and illustrator Lucy Mora THE WOMEN WHO CHANGED COUNTRY AUSTRALIA has created an engaging guide to Liz Harfull growing edible plants using simple Murdoch Books and practical techniques. The book Subtitled Celebrating 100 years of the Country features detailed profiles of more Women’s Association of New South Wales, this than 55 plants – from the everyday is the story of how, in 1922, a group of women to the unique – each including an from city and country areas joined forces to illustration and a table detailing change the lives of Australian families in the essential information, such as when bush. Many had fought for the right for women to sow and harvest, growing time, to vote, and they all chose not to sit quietly in space needed between plants, their homes while women and children were optimal soil pH, whether the plant suffering and dying from preventable causes. can tolerate pots and frost, and each Over the past 100 years, CWA members have plant’s companions and dislikes. baked, sewed and raised money for worthy There’s also a recipe included for causes. This book celebrates the CWA’s each plant, for home gardeners who achievements, and the women who led it like to cook. The main content is while living with their own personal tragedies. categorised by planting season, with the final section providing a wealth of information on what you need to RAINBOW THE KOALA grow a successful kitchen garden. Remy Lai Allen & Unwin The first of a new children’s graphic novel series, Surviving the Wild, written and vividly illustrated by Remy Lai, this is the story of a young koala called Rainbow, who is trying to survive the Australian bushfires. Rainbow begins life in the safety of his mother’s pouch, TEXT CAROLE GRIDLEY before growing large enough to live independently. He has eventful encounters with other wildlife before suffering injuries and coming close to death from a bushfire, then being rescued and cared for by humans. The book is inspired by the real-life stories of ecological devastation from bushfires in Australia, and concludes with some factual information and ideas about how to protect animals and bush habitats.
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SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE getting started h O DS Sooner or later, most gardeners fall under the spell of orchids, and there are myriad species, shapes and colours to enjoy, writes STEVE FALCIONI
PLANTS PHOTOS THE GARDEN COLLECTION/FP/VISIONS, ISTOCK, SHUTTERSTOCK My first orchid was a moth CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE pieces of bark to ensure water runs orchid, which I purchased Tropical Phalaenopsis orchids are a popular through quickly, and roots have plenty to brighten my college room gift and easy to care for, but need protection of air around them. Mixes for epiphytic while I was at university. Its from cold weather; Oncidium spp.; epiphytes, orchids have the largest pieces of bark exquisite flowers were pure white, and which naturally grow on trees and rock faces, and are used in hanging baskets and lasted for weeks and weeks. I’m not are the most popular type of orchid. regular pots. Mixes for terrestrials have sure it helped my studies at all, but it smaller pieces and added compost did get me hooked on orchids for life. Terrestrial orchids – as their name to help them hold more moisture. Orchids are like that… addictive! suggests – grow in soil, preferably moist and free-draining. While they’re not as care & maintenance The orchid family is a big one. With well known as the epiphytic types, they nearly 30,000 species, and countless include some exquisite species and Some orchids thrive in full sun and some cultivars, the Orchidaceae family offers cultivars. These orchids often die down prefer deep shade, but for the most part, something for everyone – including completely during their resting phase. orchids do best in bright, dappled light. beginners. With such diversity, it’s difficult Place them in spots that give them good to generalise about what they need to Both orchid types can be grown in pots light without exposure to harsh, burning grow well. Still, if you’re just starting out, filled with specialty potting mix. If orchid sun. Also ensure good airflow around there are some basics to get under your roots are wet for extended periods, they them to minimise fungal infections. belt, and then there’ll be plenty of time to rot, so orchid mixes are made with chunky explore particular species, collect specialist books, attend dedicated plant fairs, and join a local orchid club. Much fun awaits! the basics First, let’s look at the life cycle of orchids. Most types follow a distinct annual growing cycle. There is the growth phase, when new leaves and shoots are produced. Then comes the flowering stage, with the production of flower spikes and blooms. This is followed by a period of rest before the cycle starts over again. The timing of each stage depends on the particular orchid species, so if you build up a good mix of these plants in your collection, it’s possible to have flowers year round. Next is the matter of epiphyte versus terrestrial orchids. Most of the popular orchids are epiphytes. In nature, these cling to trees and rock faces with fully exposed roots or a light covering of leaf litter. They may grow from a single stem or have multiple stems with distinctive swollen bases called pseudobulbs. Either way, these are the orchids you can tie to pieces of board and tree branches, or ‘plant’ into tree boughs. G A R D EN I N G AU S T R A L I A AU G U S T 2 02 2 13
Frequency of watering depends on Orchids need feeding, and respond best the type of orchid, its growth cycle and to low doses of nutrients applied regularly. weather conditions. Broadly speaking, A liquid organic fertiliser given every two during the hotter months you should water weeks is ideal, but only during their growth 2–3 times a week, even daily for tropical period. Stop during their resting phase. orchids and in regions with low humidity. Reduce watering to weekly or less during Potted orchids that produce pseudobulbs the cooler months, when many orchids become congested over time. To improve are resting. If your orchid is still actively vigour and flowering, divide plants every growing at that stage, keep the water up 3–4 years into smaller pieces, and re-pot. to it, but remember to allow the mix to Do this at the end of the resting phase in almost dry out between waterings. late winter, just as they’re about to move into growth mode. ORCHIDS for BEGINNERS CYMBIDIUM (Cymbidium spp. and cultivars) Loved for their long sprays of winter flowers, cymbidiums are a great place to start a collection. Plant them in pots and place in a well-lit spot. This can be either gentle morning sun with afternoon shade or all-day dappled light. Under a deciduous tree is perfect. Suitable for a broad range of climates except the tropics and regions with extremely cold winters, they tolerate neglect, but will, of course, grow better if fertilised and watered well. MOTH ORCHID (Phalaenopsis spp. and cultivars) This orchid is hard to resist, thanks to its large blooms found in a variety of colours and patterns. Sadly, many a gardener has purchased one, then killed it. These are tropical orchids and need protection from temperatures below 15˚C. Grown indoors, they need very bright light and regular watering to keep up the humidity. Grow in small pots filled with a coarse bark mix, and don’t worry about wandering roots. Poorly growing plants with shrivelled leaves need more frequent watering. Healthy plants that refuse to flower can be given a nudge by exposing them to cooler nights. 14 A U G U S T 2 02 2 G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
PHOTOS ISTOCK, GETTY IMAGES PLANTS CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.) enjoy bright indoor light; crucifix orchid (Epidendrum spp.); cymbidium orchid; a purple vanda orchid. CRUCIFIX ORCHID (Epidendrum spp. and cultivars) This virtually indestructible orchid produces canes up to 1m long, with clusters of small blooms at the ends. Its traditional colours are orange, red and purple, but modern cultivars come in white, pink and yellow. They are epiphytes, so they can be tied to trees or grown in pots. Older varieties can handle full sun, but most prefer dappled light. In climates with mild winters, they flower all year. Protect from frost, and thin out the older canes every few years. G A RD ENIN G AUS TR A LI A AU G U S T 202 2 15
PLANTS PHOTOS GAP PHOTOS/HOWARD RICE, ISTOCK, ALAMY ZYGOPETALUM (Zygopetalum spp.) This epiphytic orchid has flowers that are an unusual combination of purple, green and burgundy, with mottled markings. The most commonly available plants flower in autumn, but there are some that bloom in winter and spring, and they are all strongly perfumed. Give them the same treatment as cymbidiums, but with slightly warmer winter conditions (minimum 10˚C). CHINESE GROUND ORCHID (Bletilla striata) Easy to grow, this terrestrial orchid thrives in tropical regions right through to cooler areas. It has lovely creased leaves and spikes of small pink flowers appearing in late winter and spring. Reaching only about 50cm high, this is a great orchid for pots or mass plantings under trees, as long as the soil drains freely. It dies down completely for winter. KING ORCHID (Dendrobium speciosum syn. Thelychiton speciosus) This magnificent native orchid (also called Sydney rock orchid) forms large clumps on rock faces and in trees along the east coast, from Victoria all the way to tropical Queensland. It has masses of perfumed, creamy yellow flowers in spring, and the foliage reaches 60cm long. Give it a very bright position, and protect from frost. If space is limited, try the smaller pink rock orchid (D. kingianum), which grows up to 20–30cm, and thrives in similar conditions. 16 AU G U S T 202 2 G A RD ENIN G AUS TR A L I A
CLOCKWISE Connect FROM MAIN with Nature Zygopetalum ‘Merlin’s Magic’; a Dendrobium on National Tree Day species; this hanging cymbidium orchid is ourishing in a bright conservatory; the king orchid (Dendrobium speciosum) is a native; Chinese ground orchid (Bletilla striata). the next level Once you have your first taste of success, you might like to add to your collection, including other plants that need a bit of extra care. Consider building a shadehouse or bushhouse to increase the humidity and protect plants from harsh sunlight. If tropical orchids are your passion, a glasshouse might be needed to trap extra warmth. Whichever orchid path you tread, it pays to join a local club and visit specialist nurseries. You’ll get to learn more about what grows well in your region, and make some like-minded friends along the way. Plant a tree this National Tree Day. Help regenerate Australia. Sunday 31 July Since 1996, over 26 million trees have been planted by over 5 million people through National Tree Day events and that number continues to grow with the help of our dedicated volunteers around the country. This year we are asking for your help to plant a million more. Join Planet Ark and Toyota Australia and get your hands dirty for a better environment. treeday.planetark.org @nationaltreeday
PLANTS STEP-BY-STEP 1 RE-POT AN ORCHID When an orchid is literally busting out of its container, it’s time to give it a little nip and tuck. Here’s how to service a moth orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.), but you can apply this same process to any other type of orchid. 1 PULL the plant gently out of its pot and remove the old potting mix. 2 TRIM off any rotting or damaged material from the roots, using sharp scissors or secateurs. Sterilise the blades with methylated spirits between cuts to avoid spreading infection. 2 3 RETURN the bare-rooted plant to the 3 same container (or the next size up), and backfill with a specialised orchid potting PHOTOS GAP PHOTOS, ISTOCK mix. Don’t worry if a few rogue roots pop out the top – that’s quite normal, and as they are epiphytes, they like it that way. 4 DUNK the pot into a larger container of water to saturate the potting mix (leave it there for five minutes or so). Add a little seaweed solution to the water to help reduce transplant shock and encourage root development. Allow the excess water to drain out before returning the pot to its saucer or decorative outer pot. GA 18 AU G U S T 202 2 G A RDENIN G AUS TR A LI A
PROBLEM solver Watch out for sap suckers, including aphids, mites, scale insects and mealy bugs. Chewing pests, such as caterpillars, grasshoppers and dendrobium beetle, can also attack plants. To control, physically remove the pests or spray them with neem or other horticultural oils, following the label instructions. Black spots on leaves and rotting stems are fungal issues caused by poor drainage or foliage that is wet for too long. Re-pot into coarse bark mix and improve airflow around the plant. Regular doses of fertiliser and seaweed solution also help to keep plants healthy. If problems persist, spray with organic fungicide. Poor flowering can be due to a lack of light, so move to a brighter spot. If light levels are sufficient, increase fertilising. Crowded clumps may need dividing, too. 4
D ith the sT This winter-lovin fabulous name thrives in cold weather. Just make sure it has enough room to show off, writes JUDY HORTON
PLANTS RARE & COLLECTABLE PHOTOS ALAMY, SHUTTERSTOCK One plant that never fails to there is clear space around it; it can at a glance catch the attention of visitors also be trained into an interesting but to cool climate gardens is unusual bonsai display. common name the curious corkscrew hazel corkscrew hazel, crazy filbert, (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’), also called I’ve grown corkscrew hazel in my Harry Lauder’s walking stick crazy or contorted filbert. It has another temperate climate with minor success, botanic name intriguing name: Harry Lauder’s walking but I must admit, it always performs at its Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’ stick – a reference to the crooked cane best in an area with a sharp autumn and plant type (or cromach) carried by the popular early cold winter. Another recommendation is medium deciduous shrub 20th-century Scottish vaudeville performer. to avoid purchasing and planting a grafted specimen, if possible, or you’re likely 3–4m With its naturally twisted trunk decorated to face an ongoing battle in controlling 3–4m with similarly contorted secondary stems, the upright suckers that continually full sun, semi-shade corkscrew hazel makes a striking garden emerge from the rootstock. spring, autumn, winter feature throughout the year. The light green, winter heart-shaped leaves with their toothed care & maintenance edges turn a golden yellow before falling in suitable autumn. Winter provides possibly the most In the garden, corkscrew hazel grows dramatic display, when cascades of yellow slowly to about 3–4m tall, and just as wide. FROM FAR LEFT TO RIGHT male catkins dangle from bare branches. If desired, established plants can be lightly In winter, corkscrew hazel (Corylus avellana Corkscrew hazel is used in floristry, with pruned in late winter. Follow your artistic ‘Contorta’) produces dangling yellow catkins; its catkin-decorated stems particularly instincts when pruning, taking out the this shrub works best as a prominent garden valued by floral artists. oldest shoots, and removing anything feature with lots of extra space around it; its that’s crowded or messy. At the same twisted branches are valued by floral artists. getting started time, cut off any borer-affected stems, or use a sharp wire to skewer the borers Plant your corkscrew hazel in a sunny in their holes. Also remove any of those or lightly shaded spot with good drainage. dreaded upright suckers that emerge Prepare the soil well before planting by from the root area. digging in organic compost. It should be sited in a prominent, show-off position; Feed in spring and late summer with don’t crowd it in with other plants or its a slow-release fertiliser. In acid soil areas, effect will be lost in the shrubbery. It can give the plant a dressing with garden lime be planted into a large pot, as long as or dolomite every second winter. Keep the plant well watered in dry periods. GA G A RDENING AUS TR A LIA AU G U S T 2022 21
GREAT INDOOR PLANT PEP talk Cute and colourful, peperomias are perfect for brightening your indoor space, writes TAMMY HUYNH
CONTAINERS PHOTOS GAP PHOTOS/NOVA PHOTO GRAPHIK, GAP PHOTOS/FRIEDRICH STRAUSS Bigger isn’t always better. We rounded, teardrop-shaped leaves with OPPOSITE & ABOVE might lust after the large and silver and green markings, like those on A recent cultivar, Peperomia caperata verdant leaves of monsteras, figs a watermelon rind. Over time, the plant ‘Rosso' has shiny green leaves with red and alocasia, but there’s beauty to develops a neat, rounded, compact habit. undersides, and long flower spikes that be found in smaller plants, like peperomias. Leaf sizes vary, from 1–2cm to some that produce tiny, unscented flowers in spring Growing only 20–30cm tall, their impact are the width of your palm. You’ll need to and summer; for a dramatic potted display, is found in their vibrant colours, patterns handle the delicate leaves and stems with group together species with different leaf and textures, and easy-care personality. care, as they can break easily. patterns, such as (left to right) P. clusiifolia (white and green variegated), P. argyreia There’s a good chance you’ve seen a Red watermelon (P. turboensis) has (silver and green) and P. caperata (burgundy), pep without knowing it. There are more a similar pattern in silvery blue and dark along with other complementary foliage. than 1000 known species, and while they green, with a rich burgundy underside. share similar characteristics, they differ Emerald ripple peperomia (P. caperata) spoon-shaped, waxy leaves that can be vastly in appearance. The best thing is that features deeply wrinkled, heart-shaped green, blushed red, mottled or variegated. they have similar care requirements, so foliage that may be green (both light and it’s a case of master one, master them all. dark), burgundy-pink or variegated. It forms If you prefer plants of the trailing kind, a neat clump of foliage and is perfect for cupid peperomia (P. scandens ‘Variegata’) popular varieties decorating an office desk or a side table. cascades beautifully over a pot edge and The latest cultivar, P. caperata ‘Rosso’, has can reach 90cm long. Elevate it in a My personal favourite – and no doubt also shiny green leaves with red undersides. hanging basket or on a plant stand so you a popular choice among other indoor plant A more upright form, called baby rubber can appreciate the flowing foliage. The enthusiasts – is the watermelon peperomia plant (P. obtusifolia), is made up of thick, trailing jade plant (P. rotundifolia) is sweet, (Peperomia argyreia). It features smooth, too, with tiny, circular, solid green foliage, and string of turtles (P. prostrata) is similar but with mottled colouring, like a turtle. G A RD ENIN G AUS TR A L I A AU G U S T 202 2 23
care & maintenance THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT Cupid peperomia (P. scandens ‘Variegata’); Peperomias are native to tropical and P. turboensis has similarly patterned leaves subtropical regions in Central and South to watermelon peperomia (P. argyreia), America, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa and but the undersides are a rich burgundy; even Australia, including P. tetraphylla P. prostrata has strings of leaves that look and P. blanda var. floribunda, found in the like tiny turtles, hence its common name. coastal rainforests of New South Wales and Queensland. This widespread genus the home drops too low – usually if the can be found growing on the forest floor, air conditioning or heating is on – foliage or as epiphytes clinging to trees or rotting may droop and brown along the leaf edges. wood. Species with fleshy, waxy leaves To increase humidity, group plants and tend to be from high altitudes and are more mist the foliage regularly with an atomiser. tolerant of heat and drought-like conditions. Position peperomias in a spot with bright, Most varieties thrive indoors in ambient indirect light. They will tolerate lower light humidity; however, if the humidity within levels, but variegated forms need bright light to maintain their colour. Most don’t like the cold, so keep them away from draughts. Peps won’t tolerate being overwatered, and will rot if the potting mix is continually wet. Allow the top 5cm or so of the mix to dry out before watering, but take care not to let it dry out too much between waterings, or the stems and leaves will droop. Water as soon as you notice this, and try not to allow it to dry out completely again. Liquid-fertilise your peps in the warmer months, and tip-prune to encourage a bushy habit. They are slow-growing plants and will be quite happy to remain in the same pot for a few years. GA IS IT A GONER? dry out between waterings because they may never fully recover. If stems Your peperomia will soon let you know don’t recover, it’s a goner. if it’s losing its pep. Here are the signs If it’s too wet, let it dry out, but if it’s you should look out for. completely saturated, consider re-potting into a fresh, well-draining mix. If the PROBLEM: Wilting stems roots are complete mush, it’s a goner. This can mean one of two things: dehydration or overwatering. PROBLEM: Corky brown spots Depending on how damaged it is, on the leaves you may be able to help it recover. Also known as oedema, this is the result For dry plants, give it a good, deep of overwatering. Excess water causes soak and only water again when the cells to rupture, leading to corky brown top 5cm of the potting mix is dry. patches. Reduce watering before it Avoid letting your plants completely becomes a root rot issue!
CONTAINERS STEP BY STEP LEAF CUTTINGS Here’s another way to increase your PROPAGATE stock of P. argyreia and P. caperata. A PEPEROMIA Take a plump, healthy leaf, with a few millimetres of petiole (leaf stalk) There are several ways to attached. Cut it in half horizontally propagate a pep from cuttings. and insert the exposed halves into TAMMY HUYNH shows how. a pot or tray of well-draining potting mix. Gently tamp down on the mix STEM CUTTINGS to help secure the leaves. Lightly Select a firm, healthy 10–15cm mist the mix with water, and cover long stem. Cut the base of the with a plastic bag or lid to maintain stem just below a leaf node, and warmth and humidity. Keep just moist remove the lower leaves. Plant in (don’t overwater), and wait for baby a pot filled with potting mix, place plants to appear. You can propagate in a warm, shaded spot, and keep baby rubber plant (P. obtusifolia) in moist. Roots and shoots form in a similar way. Take a large leaf with a month or so. You could also the petiole attached and insert the strike these in water. Pot them up petiole end into the mix. when roots appear at the nodes. PHOTOS SHUTTERSTOCK, ISTOCK, JANNE NILSSON/BAMBOO LAND, TAMMY HUYNH, For peperomias that don’t have nodes GAP PHOTOS/FRIEDRICH STRAUSS, GAP PHOTOS/MARTIN HUGHES-JONES along the stem, such as P. caperata and watermelon peperomia (P. argyreia), simply cut the stem near the base of the plant. Insert the cutting into a jar of water, and pot it up when roots form in 8–12 weeks. Alternatively, you can dip the base in rooting hormone gel, and plant into a pot filled with a 50:50 blend of perlite and premium potting mix. You know it’s all working well when baby plants appear. G ARDENING AUS TR ALIA AU G U S T 2022 25
PLANTS LOOKING GOOD WINTER NOW Offering dramatic floral impact through winter and spring, this versatile climber grows up, down and sideways, writes AB BISHOP Isometimes take for granted the plants the laterals sideways or you’ll end up with PHOTO AB BISHOP that flower all year. However, seasonal a leafy lump on top of a bare structure. performers never fail to capture my attention. Currently, it’s the striking For a visual feast, grow a few different blooms of hardenbergia that are giving coloured forms together, or combine with me whiplash when I’m out driving. These other winter-flowering climbers, such as pretty native climbers (and small shrubs) wonga wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana) produce masses of small, 1cm-wide pea or coral vine (Kennedia coccinea). flowers in purple, white or pink, creating picture-postcard scenes on otherwise dull Climbers are also handy for covering fences, pergolas and retaining walls. large, tricky spots such as embankments, but avoid growing them near small shrubs. There are three species, but only However, they can be permitted to scramble two are commonly grown. The false up large, living or dead trees. sarsaparilla (Hardenbergia violacea) is the more variable of the two – there are Groundcover forms of H. violacea, such climbers, groundcovers and low shrubs – as ‘Sea of Purple’ (30cm x 2–3m) elegantly because it occurs naturally along the coast trail over retaining walls. They also prefer from subtropical Queensland down to sprawling to climbing, so they can be grown South Australia and Tasmania. Native lilac among shrubs without devouring them! (H. comptoniana) is a vigorous climber only, and it’ll hightail it over anything in its The more upright, dense habits of ‘Mini path! It grows on the coastal sand plains Ha Ha’ (35cm x 1m), ‘Meema’ (50cm x 2m) and dunes from Perth to Albany, including and ‘Regent’ (1m x 1–1.5m) suit rockeries, within the jarrah and karri forests. mixed beds and pots. All purple-flowering, they can be combined with fine-leafed Climbing forms of H. violacea grow to lomandras for textural contrast, and can 1.5–4m tall and wide (sometimes more), be pruned to create a neat, low hedge. which makes them ideal for decorating a sturdy pergola, wall, fence or archway. And there’s another bonus: from a Attach wire or lattice to solid structures habitat point of view, hardenbergia’s got it to give them something to scramble up. going on! When grown as a groundcover, Cover a mesh fence or reo (reinforcing it provides protection for lizards and frogs, steel) screen by allowing the main shoot and the climbers offer nesting real estate to head straight up, but take time to train potential for little birds. Nectar and pollen are on the menu, while parrots and pigeons will feast on its seeds. Caterpillars don’t miss out either, as the plant is a larval 26 AU G U S T 202 2 G A R D EN IN G AU S T R A L I A
at a glance common name false sarsaparilla, native lilac botanic name Hardenbergia spp., including H. violacea and H. comptoniana plant type climber, groundcover and small shrub 30cm–4m 75cm–4m full sun, semi-shade spring, autumn winter to spring suitable
host for the common grass blue butterfly PHOTOS ALAMY, ISTOCK, AB BISHOP, OZBREED (Zizina labradus), found across most of the country. You’ll want to enjoy the butterflies, so try to identify any caterpillars you find rather than simply removing them. Also be on the lookout for ants; rather than being predators, they protect the larvae of many species in the ‘blues’ family. growing tips Both species are fast growing, have low to moderate frost tolerance, prefer soil that is well drained, and respond to watering during extended dry spells. Plant in late winter in a sunny to semi-shaded position, and water weekly for 2–3 months with added seaweed solution. Prune hard after flowering or to rejuvenate a mature plant. Apply native fertiliser in early spring or late summer. Hardenbergia isn’t overly prone to attack, but it may be targeted by thrips or leafminer, which can be controlled with neem oil, and powdery mildew, which can be treated with a registered fungicide. GA POPULAR CLIMBING VARIETIES Indigenous nurseries should stock your local form, which will be more suited to the specific climate. Otherwise, look out for these stunners. ‘Happy Wanderer’ 1–5m 1–2m. Purple flowers. ‘Purple Spray’ 1–2.5m 1m. Purple flowers. ‘Pink Spray’ 1.5m 1.5m. Pink flowers. ‘Edna Walling Snow White’ 3–4m 1–2m. White flowers. ‘Free ’n Easy’ 2–3m 2–3m. White and lavender flowers. ‘White Out’ 2.5m 2.5m. White flowers. ‘Happy Duo’ 2–3m 2–3m. Two plants growing together in one pot! One has deep purple flowers, and the other, lacy white flowers. ‘Zan Mauve’ 4m. Mauve flowers. 28 AU G U S T 2022 G A RDENING AUS TR A LIA
PLANTS CLOCKWISE FROM MAIN A purple-flowering form of Hardenbergia comptoniana with sprays of blooms; the common grass blue butterfly; a pink-flowering form of H. violaceae; ‘Meema’ has a more upright habit; hardenbergia contrasts beautifully here with yellow wattle; native lilac (H. comptoniana); ‘Happy Wanderer’. PREVIOUS PAGE A glorious display of white ‘Free ’n Easy’ and purple ‘Happy Wanderer’. G A RDENING AUS TR A LIA AU G U S T 2022 29
Perfick in every way A mountain property with waterfront views? For one couple, this chance discovery proved to be the best of both worlds words JUDY HORTON photography BRENT WILSON
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GARDEN On a day trip to the Blue Mountains in 1999, John and Annette Bryant came across a ‘Land for Sale’ sign in Bilpin, a garden-friendly area about 100km west of Sydney. They had been thinking of moving from the suburbs and buying a property in a cooler climate, so they decided to investigate. They were certainly not looking for a waterfront, but when they drove in and saw the enormous dam, they realised they could have a mountain garden and a house with water views as well. Bilpin, long renowned for its cool-climate orchards, is still known colloquially as ‘The Land of the Mountain Apple’. These days, many of the orchards have gone, but in the 1950s, in order to support a plantation of some 20,000 apple trees, the property’s then owners constructed a dam so big it would definitely be christened a ‘lake’ if set in a grand English estate. Having fallen in love with the dam, Annette and John soon found themselves the owners of a 10ha sloping piece of land that, having been cleared of the apples, was little more than a bare grazing block dotted with cattle and blackberries. Over the ensuing years, the couple built a comfortable home with as many windows as possible overlooking the water and its beautiful reflections. At the same time, they began planting. At first, their idea was to confine the garden to a small area around the house, but the luxury of space and the deep mountain topsoil soon sent them into a planting frenzy. “We put in 75 ornamental cherries, 70-plus crabapples and 150 rhododendrons,” says John, shaking his head. “And, in an attempt to have something productive, we added 80 black walnuts for future timber harvest, and 30–40 hazelnuts.” Annette, who’d inherited her gardening genes from her family, relished being able to make the most of the good soil and the ample supply of water. With her love of flowers and colour, she first began creating beds of her favourite CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Annette gradually extended the flower-filled garden beds further from the house; John never thought he’d become a gardener, but eventually caught the gardening bug from Annette; clumps of bearded iris and species gladioli provide accents in the garden against a backdrop of roses in bloom. PREVIOUS PAGE The house and large gazebo take advantage of the water view. G A R D ENIN G AU S TR A L I A AU G U S T 202 2 33
GARDEN perennials. “Even though they’re a lot of work, there’s nothing more delightful than seeing a perennial you thought you’d lost popping out of the ground in spring,” she says. She also planted flowering shrubs and trees with coloured leaves. As time went on, she became a dedicated plant addict and joined a number of garden clubs and a permaculture group. And the garden beds gradually expanded further and further out from the house... the power of a tower John had sworn he’d never become a slave to the garden. “Although I always did my bit by mowing, weeding and trimming hedges, I wasn’t all that interested in the plants,” he admits. In fact, he’s been known to describe Annette’s treasured perennial border as “full of weeds”. But all that changed after the birth of ‘TowerBloke’. In 2003, Annette and John travelled to France, England and Scotland to see some of the sights and visit the great gardens. John, fascinated by the abundance of cathedrals, castles, abbeys and follies they saw, came home fired with ambition to construct something similar. “I realised I didn’t have the skills or strength to build a cathedral,” he says with a wry smile, “So I settled on a tower.” After first practising by constructing a vegetable enclosure with grand entrance gates, John began building the 15m-tall, three-storey tower. It took a number of years, and cost a total amount he won’t admit to Annette, but eventually, John had his own “creative man cave”. He documented the tale on his website, towerbloke.com. The tower was supposed to be a place of relaxation, where John could do his own thing, but he decided he needed to “put in a few plants to decorate the outside”. He started by grabbing a few of Annette’s discards from the compost heap and, almost unwittingly, discovered the joys of propagation. The tower is now ornamented by beds of hydrangea, salvia, lavender, mock orange (Philadelphus spp.) and deciduous hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus), and it overlooks a decorative pond with a fountain. “I was conned,” says John. “Somehow I became a gardener.” CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Water from the property’s huge dam helped save the garden and many others in the 2019–2020 Blue Mountains bushfires; Annette says even though growing perennials is a lot of work, they’re worth the effort; trees and shrubs with colourful leaves, such as this Japanese maple, add interest for many months of the year; John built his own three-storey tower that he uses as his “creative man cave”; he also constructed a gated grand entrance for the vegie patch. G ARDENING AUS TR ALIA AU G U S T 2022 35
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for better or worse Tulips With A Difference Despite the garden’s many natural advantages, creating Summer Flowering Bulbs and caring for it presented many challenges. “A lot of & Food Crops the spill from the dam excavation was dumped near the house site,” Annette says, ruefully. “So I have to put a lot Free Mail Order Catalogue of effort into preparation and improvement before planting anything in that area.” And having such a large property www.wabulbs.com means that nothing can be done on a small scale. Even potting mix has to be purchased by the truckload and 08 97673069 / 0427673069 moved by a front-end loader. 294 Chambers Road Maintenance also becomes more difficult as time goes Boyup Brook WA 6244 on. John and Annette are now looking critically at the decorative hedges that punctuate the slope, and deciding whether the work involved in their care and clipping can still be justified. And they have now employed a small flock of sheep to mow the far meadows. Some (mostly) loved visitors – swamp hens, wallabies, bowerbirds – can be annoying at times. But the number one garden destroyer is their beloved dog, Ozzie, who somehow always chooses to lie on the garden bed filled with the most precious plants. The greatest threat to the garden, however, came in December 2019, when the Black Summer megafire burnt many houses, buildings and properties in Bilpin, as well as some of the surrounding townships. Fires threatened the property from three sides, but thankfully, the dam formed a natural barrier that not only saved the garden, but also supplied the fire-fighting helicopters with water to douse some of the flames in the area. Still, Annette and John have never regretted their move to Bilpin. So much so that, in selecting a name for the property, they recalled Pop Larkin, the lead character in H.E. Bates’ book and, later, the TV show, The Darling Buds of May, who was given to using “perfick” to describe his satisfaction with life. Annette and John have always felt the same about their mountain home and garden, so Perfick it became. GA CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Deep purple lavender, mauve-blue salvia and hot pink rhododendron in full bloom – Annette’s efforts to improve the soil near the house have produced an abundance of flowers in the garden beds; a formal pond and fountain surrounded by hedges of box (Buxus spp.) and barberry (Berberis spp.) adorn the forecourt of the tower; chooks add a decorative touch to the garden and help keep insect pests under control; a wisteria-draped arbour over a path creates a beautiful transition from one area of the garden to the next.
fro srcdreantchsspeRercieiasl PART 5: GET PLANTING
BACK TO BASICS It’s time! You’ve chosen and purchased your precious plants, and those garden beds are beckoning. SOPHIE THOMSON guides you through the planting process to make sure you set your plants up for success PHOTO GETTY IMAGES Of all the different activities a semi-shaded position, but don’t make involved in gardening, I’d say it too shady, as it may be too much of that planting is the best part. a shock when the plants go back out There’s so much anticipatory into the baking full sun. excitement when you plant something small, knowing that it will grow and Ideally, don’t leave your plants sitting get bigger and better as it develops around at all. Be ready to plant them into a full-sized plant. But there are a when you get them home. I hate to admit few things to keep in mind to ensure you it, but in many cases, I’d have been better give your plants the best chance to thrive, off putting my new purchases straight starting right from when you buy them. onto the compost, as that’s where they ended up, anyway! 1lpouorkchaaftseersyour Many a time I’ve gone into a 2place your plants plant-buying frenzy, taken my new Before you put them in the ground, purchases home, failed to plant them arrange all of the plants where you immediately, then completely forgotten want them to go, and visualise how about them. I didn’t mean to neglect they’ll look growing together. Think your them – it was just carelessness – but combinations through, and try to mentally I should have been taking good care double-check that they’re in the right place. of them until I got around to planting. Have you got the right mix of colours? A The main activity we see nursery staff good balance of form and foliage? Enough doing is watering plants, which provides space for them to grow? Are your hedges a clue as to what we should be doing. straight? I’ve never managed to plant a In the warmer weather, you might need straight row of plants in my life, but it to water small pots twice a day. I like to doesn’t really bother me, whereas some think of these small plants as tender people can become irritated looking at a babies – premmies if you like – which row that’s crooked or unevenly spaced. need extra care and attention, and lots of TLC, until they’re in the ground and There will be times when you don’t can fend for themselves. have all the plants you want. This might If you’ve bought a lot of plants that you be because the plants aren’t available at can’t plant immediately, keep them in a the time (for instance, a bare-rooted tree sheltered spot, where you’ll see them or rare plant), or the seasonal conditions every day. In hot weather, put them in aren’t ideal for them to get established. That’s okay – you can plant them out later. Just save a space for them by using a stake or something similar as a placeholder. G A R D EN IN G AU S T R A L I A AU G U S T 202 2 39
3plant them up Okay, this really is the easy part. Dig a hole about twice the width of the pot, and just a little deeper. If you haven’t already done any soil preparation, mix some compost into the soil that you’ve excavated. Soak your plant in a bucket of water for 5–10 minutes to saturate the mix. Remove the plant carefully from its pot, place it in the hole, then backfill around it, taking care to line up the surface of the root ball with the surrounding soil level. Tamp the soil down gently around the plant, then shape the soil to create a dish shape to catch water, and water well. Finish off by covering the soil with a 5–7cm layer of mulch to help conserve soil moisture and inhibit weed growth. oops-WRONG SPOT! Sometimes, down the track, we realise that we haven’t allowed enough space, or put the plant in the right position to start with. Sometimes, for whatever reason, the conditions of your garden may have changed. Most plants can be relocated easily and successfully within the first year or so – just keep these six basic principles in mind. 4Spray remaining growth with an anti-transpirant spray, such as Envy IMove deciduous plants, including or Droughtshield. This reduces moisture roses, ornamental trees, grapevines loss from the foliage while the plant is and deciduous fruit trees, in winter, busy establishing new roots, and is when they’re dormant and leafless. particularly important if you have to 2In southern Australia, where it’s move something in warmer weather. cooler, only transplant tropical and subtropical plants, such as citrus, 5Water the plant in well to remove air pockets that remain around the hibiscus, passionfruit, frangipani and root ball. Keep moist for the first few palms, from spring to autumn, when months, as you would a new plant, until the ground is warm. it’s established in its new position. 3 6Before moving, prune plants back Apply seaweed solution regularly by one third to a half, to compensate to help the plant overcome any for root loss when you dig them up, and transplant shock and encourage it get as large a root ball as you can. to develop a strong root system. 40 AU G U S T 2 02 2 G A R D EN I N G AU S T R A L I A
BACK TO BASICS PHOTOS ISTOCK, LUKE SIMON 4watch out for to reduce transplant shock and encourage water levels root development. Once they’ve settled in, Attention to watering should be the main focus as your 5give them some fertiliser as a kick along. happy growing! newly planted babies settle in. Water I’m forever buoyed and encouraged them frequently until their roots are by the fact that plants want to established and they can either fend for grow. In fact, it makes me look themselves, or be watered on a regular basis as needed – depending on the like a good gardener! When we choose plants, their position and your climate. the right plants for the position and aspect, provide them with appropriate water and Most new plants will benefit from a nutrition, and maintain them the way they regular application of seaweed solution demand, they’ll grow into peak specimens, and reward us with a great looking garden. CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Watering is of the utmost importance for A final word… It might sound like I know new plants; digging and planting is the easy what I’m doing as a gardener, but if truth part; Sophie has lost her fair share of plants be told, I’d say that I’ve killed more plants in her time – but it’s all just a learning curve! than anyone I know! I reckon that’s what makes me a good gardener – every time you lose one, you learn a little more about what a plant needs. There are so many reasons a plant may fail – from climatic extremes, to planting it in the wrong place, or not giving it enough attention. If you lose a few, don’t worry too much. It’s the perfect excuse to go out and buy some more! GA G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A A U G U S T 2 02 2 41
SUBSCRIBE NO BvalOG$e2INF5UT Sto & rece ve BONUS ro WORM HIT Subscribe to ABC Gardening Australia magazine before August 14, and you’ll receive a bonus gift from Worm Hit! New and renewing subscribers will receive either a 2.5kg pack of Worm Hit Quickstarter, or a 2.4kg Worm Hit Brick twin pack, each with a sample pack of Worm Hit Pellets. NEW WORM HIT QUICKSTARTER WORM HIT BRICK Fast-release Quickstarter helps get a new lawn off This Australian-made, vermicast-based fertiliser to a good start, or boost an existing one. The 2.5kg is 100% certified organic, rich in key minerals and pack of milled pellets, comprised of 100% certified nutrients, and contains live micro-organisms to organic ingredients, covers an area of 200m2. improve soil structure and water retention. Each Like the bonus Worm Hit Pellets sample pack, this twin pack provides slow-release goodness to four product contains beneficial soil micro-organisms, trees or vines. Simply snap each compressed brick including ‘good’ bacteria, fungi, protozoa and in half, then place each half at the base of a tree or nematodes, to encourage nutrient uptake. vine, and water in. The bricks disintegrate slowly over a month, but continue to work for up to six. The bricks are suitable for any plant, and there’s no risk of root burn, so you can’t overdo the application. For more information about Worm Hit products, visit wormhit.com.au VISIT MYMAGAZINES.COM.AU TO SUBSCRIBE OR
Subscribe to ABC Gardening Australia magazine SUBSCRIPTION OFFER this month and get 12 issues for $65 or 24 issues for $125, plus a BONUS GIFT from Worm Hit, SUBSCRIBING IS EASY 1300 361 146 valued at up to $25! The offer is open to new, Overseas callers dial +61 (0)2 9901 6111 renewing or extending customers who subscribe for one year or more. Send the original or a copy of this coupon to: ABC Gardening Australia Subscriptions HURRY! Locked Bag 3355 OFFER ENDS St Leonards NSW 1590 AUGUST 14, 2022 HOW TO SUBSCRIBE S$A6V2toE I would like to subscribe to ABC Gardening Australia s bscl b Join our Subs Club to magazine for (tick one only) WIN prizes every month! Me Gift Subscribe to ABC Gardening Australia magazine and you’ll 1 year (12 issues) Australia $65 – SAVE $28 go into the draw to win great prizes every month. All our 2 years (24 issues) Australia $125 – SAVE $62 current subscribers have a chance to WIN! This month, 1 year (12 issues) New Zealand A$65.95 our Subs Club prize pack includes a gentle guide to living 1 year (12 issues) Overseas A$139.95 sustainably, a true story about a talking dog, and a tribute to the rare beauty of the forests in the Victorian Central I already subscribe. Please extend my subscription with this offer. Highlands The total prize ac is valued at over $115! PLEASE PHOTOCOPY THIS ORDER FORM FOR ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIPTIONS. MY DETAILS Mrs/Ms/Miss/Mr/Other Address Postcode Telephone ( ) Email PLEASE PROVIDE PHONE OR EMAIL IN CASE OF DELIVERY ISSUES GIFT RECIPIENT DETAILS Mrs/Ms/Miss/Mr/Other Address Postcode Telephone ( ) Email PAYMENT DETAILS Cheque/money order for $ is enclosed payable to nextmedia Pty Ltd or charge my ■ Visa ■ Mastercard ■ Amex Card number Cardholder’s name (please print) Cardholder’s signature Expiry date / Price offer open to Australian residents only, ending 14/8/22. Savings based on cover price, including GST. Subscriptions commence with next issue to be mailed. Please allow 6–8 weeks for delivery of first magazine. This form may be used as a Tax Invoice; nextmedia P/L (ABN 84 128 805 970). Worm Hit offer open to Australian residents only subscribing in print to ABC Gardening Australia magazine for a minimum of 1 year between 11/7/22 and 14/8/22 and only while stocks last. Each valid subscriber will receive at random either a Worm Hit Brick twin pack, valued at $13.20, or a Worm Hit Quickstarter pack, valued at $20. Each pack will also come with an additional Worm Hit Pellets sample, valued at $4.95. Worm Hit packs will be sent after 16/8/22. Please allow up to 6–8 weeks after this date for packs to arrive. ABC Gardening Australia Subs Club: Open to Australian and New Zealand residents only, ending 16/8/22. Prize pack valued at $115.97. One winner will be drawn from the entire ABC Gardening Australia magazine Australian and New Zealand subscription base on 16/8/22. The promoter is nextmedia P/L. NSW Authority No. TP/01427; ACT Permit No. TP 21/02081. Full competition terms at mymagazines.com.au. Please tick if you do not wish to receive special offers or information from nextmedia or its partners via [ ] mail [ ] email or [ ] phone. Our Privacy Notice can be found at nextmedia.com.au. If you prefer to receive communication electronically, please ensure we have your current email address. MA/GDN PHONE 1300 361 146 FOR THE COST OF A LOCAL CALL
ECOSYSTEMS claifne IoN TpHEy What goes on up there, among the branches, where half of all the world’s plant and animal species hang out? LEONARD CRONIN looks at the unique ecosystems and comings and goings of creatures in the treetops It begins, as so many intriguing collection of plants and animals. the sugars and other organic materials PHOTO ISTOCK stories do, with the planting of They are also a reservoir of water required to build and maintain the forest. a seed. In our story, the ‘seed’ is and nutrients rich in phosphorous, microscopic – a miniscule spore – nitrogen and other minerals that are Such a cache of energy-rich fare lodged in a fissure in the bark, high essential to plant growth. attracts hordes of chewing and sucking up in the leafy crown of an enormous herbivores and, in turn, a multitude rainforest tree. Nurtured by rainwater Canopy soils can weigh several of predators. Some birds glean insects and nutrients leached from particles tonnes, and they would seem to be an from the foliage and grubs from beneath of dust and organic debris, the spore excessive burden on their host trees. the bark, and others are attracted by the sends out fine roots that adhere to While some trees actively discourage nectar of brightly coloured flowers or cracks and crevices on the surface epiphytes growing on them by shedding the succulent fruits of the canopy trees, of the branch. As months turn into their bark – along with the epiphytes – pollinating flowers and distributing their years, a magnificent bird’s-nest fern others provide rough, retentive bark and seeds. Beetles, bugs and chewing insects develops, its whorl of spreading fronds strong lateral branches that encourage of all kinds feast on the sugar-rich sap capturing all the water and minerals the growth of epiphytes. These trees and leaves, their detritus raining down it needs from the moisture and organic take advantage of their canopy gardens on the forest floor, where it is processed detritus cycling through the leafy canopy. by sending out adventitious roots from by insects, fungi and microbes into the lateral branches beneath the epiphytic rich soils that sustain the towering trees. Mosses, lichens, ferns and other mats. The roots penetrate deep into the epiphytic plants slowly populate nearby canopy soil, giving the host tree access Countless species usually thought of branches. As they accumulate and to supplies of water and nutrients that as ground dwellers have adapted to life decay, their root systems intertwine would normally be unavailable and which in the canopy – including worms, frogs, to form spongelike mats that trap even may prove vital in times of drought and lizards and kangaroos – where they more detritus and create ideal sites for other environmental stresses. feed on the abundance of fruits, seeds germination. Fungi and microbes begin and leaves, or predate on the animals to break down the leaf matter, eventually creatures of the canopy attracted to these foods. Many creatures forming canopy soils up to 30cm deep have evolved in concert with certain in places. These amazing sky gardens, Twenty metres above the gloomy forest held aloft by interlaced canopy branches, floor, sunlight is plentiful, and the billions MAIN provide food and refuge for a diverse of leaves create a vast solar panel that Tree kangaroos inhabit a small area of captures energy from the sun to produce north-eastern Queensland, and spend most of their time feeding in the rainforest canopy. 44 AU G U S T 2022 GARDENING AUSTR ALIA
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ECOSYSTEMS trees, and they play intimate roles in CLOCKWISE FRO the life cycles of each other. A particular e distinctively blue ulysses butter y tree may be dependent on a number of animals to complete its life cycle: an insect (Papilio ulysses); a striped possum for pollination, for example, and a bat to (Dactylopsila trivirgata); a green tree snake process and disperse its seeds. In fact, it (Dendrelaphis punctulatus); bird’s-nest fern has been estimated that up to half of all (Asplenium nidus); an ant plant (Myrmecodia species on the planet exist in the canopy. tuberosa); the northern leaf-tailed gecko (Saltuarius cornutus) lives on tree trunks and When day turns to night, the forest uses camo age to ambush its insect prey. canopy plays host to a cohort of nocturnal animals. Flying foxes arrive soon after absence of birds, microbats flit in and sunset, leaving their daytime camps in around the canopy, using echolocation swarms of beating wings, rising from to navigate their way in the darkness, the treetops to scatter over the forest. and pluck moths, mosquitoes and other Attracted to both the sweet fruits and night-flying insects from the air. night-blooming flowers by their strong, musty odours and copious amounts of Possums and gliders also leave their nectar, flying foxes carry pollen from nesting hollows, leaping between trees flower to flower and also disperse seeds and crashing through the foliage. A scrub throughout the forest. Meanwhile, with the python, perhaps coiled in the fronds of a luxuriant bird’s-nest fern, lies in wait for warm-blooded prey, which is detected by the snake’s uncanny ability to see 46 AU G U S T 2022 G ARDENING AUS TR ALIA
GREEN TREE SNAKE Slipping silently through the treetops, this agile, slender, arboreal snake is non-venomous and lies in wait for frogs, geckos and any other small creatures that come within range of its razor sharp, backwards-facing teeth. It’s active during the day, and is often seen in urban areas looking for food. Green tree snakes are harmless, but if provoked, they will rise up, inflate their throat and release a foul smell from their anal glands. ANT PLANT PHOTOS ISTOCK, ALAMY, SHUTTERSTOCK The ant plant (Myrmecodia tuberosa) is an epiphyte that provides ready-built accommodation for ants in the form of hollow tubes and chambers in its tuberous base. In return for being housed high up in the canopy, the ants defend the plant from natural enemies (even a slight tap against the outside of an inhabited plant causes the ants to come rushing out). They also fertilise the plant and disperse its seeds. The plant also benefits, as it uses the ants’ waste as fertiliser.
ECOSYSTEMS in the infrared. In a chorus of croaking, CARPET PYTHON tree frogs materialise from their cool, moist daytime retreats beneath the bark, in leaf Carpet pythons can be bases and among the epiphytes, calling massive, growing to 4m from the treetops, hunting for insects, or long and weighing 15kg. making their way to the ground to breed. They are ambush hunters Arboreal geckos join the night-time action, and squeeze the life out too, emerging from peeling bark, cracks of their victims. Active and cavities, searching for grubs, spiders, at any time of day, they beetles and any other small animal that have the remarkable comes within reach. ability to see in the infrared, enabling them the last frontier to catch warm-blooded prey in complete darkness. Carpet pythons spend much of their time in the treetops, coming down to the ground to Until recently, biologists based their ideas bask in the sun. They frequently prey on backyard chickens, and take up about forests on observations made at residence in roof spaces in houses and outbuildings, feeding on rodents. ground level. Accessing the canopy was very difficult, and studying the treetops satellites are the latest additions to the CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT was not part of forestry research until researcher’s toolkit, and a movement A topknot pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus) the 1980s, when biologists started to use to construct canopy walkways has seen feeding on the fruit of a bangalow palm; a rope systems used by mountaineers, as skywalks and bridges constructed in huge basket fern (Aglaomorpha spp.) growing well as suspended walkways, to access forests around Australia and the world. in the rainforest canopy; a striped possum the canopy. Over the past 30 years, Scientists, educators and eco-tourists and a family of sugar gliders out foraging researchers have constructed cranes and now have unprecedented access to what after dark; the mistletoebird (Dicaeum towers in the forest, and even used hot has been described as the last frontier of hirundinaceum) helps to disperse mistletoe air balloons to reach the top of the canopy. biological research on the planet. GA seeds; the carpet python (Morelia spilota) Drones, remote-controlled pulley systems, spends lots of time hunting up in the treetops. LIDAR remote-sensing technology and 48 AU G U S T 2022 G A RDENING AUS TR A LIA
PHOTOS SHUTTERSTOCK, ISTOCK, MATT WRIGHT WIN Leonard s book COMPETITION OPEN TO AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS ONLY. STARTS 11/07/22 AT 00:01 (AEST) AND CLOSES 14/08/22 AT 23:59 (AEST). FIVE WINNERS WILL EACH RECEIVE A COPY OF WILD AUSTRALIAN LIFE BY LEONARD CRONIN (ALLEN & UNWIN), VALUED AT $29.99. TOTAL PRIZE VALUE IS $149.95. ENTRIES JUDGED ON 16/08/22 AT 14:00 (AEST) AT NEXTMEDIA, LEVEL 8, 205 PACIFIC HIGHWAY, ST LEONARDS We have five copies of the new NSW 2065. THE JUDGES’ DECISION IS FINAL AND NO CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE ENTERED INTO. PRIZE SENT TO THE ADDRESS PROVIDED ON THE ENTRY. FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS AT children’s book Wild Australian Life GARDENINGAUSTRALIA.COM.AU. PRIVACY POLICY AVAILABLE AT NEXTMEDIA.COM.AU. PROMOTER IS NEXTMEDIA PTY LTD; ABN 84 128 805 970; 205 PACIFIC HIGHWAY, ST LEONARDS NSW 2065. by Leonard Cronin to give away. MISTLETOEBIRD Illustrated by Chris Nixon and published by Allen & Unwin, The mistletoebird is the each book is valued at $29.99. principal seed disperser of To enter the competition, take a Australian mistletoes, and it photograph of a canopy dweller lives on little else. The berries in your garden and email it to have a laxative coating and pass comp@gardening australia.com.au through the bird’s digestive system with ‘Leonard’s Book’ in the subject in less than 25 minutes. To ensure line by August 14, 2022. Include their greatest chance of germination, the seeds have a sticky coat your name, address and daytime and stick to the bird’s tail feathers, encouraging the bird to rub itself contact number in the email. on canopy branches to dislodge them. Complete with their own natural fertiliser, the seeds end up in exactly the right place for growth. G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A A U G U S T 2 02 2 49
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