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Summer2007–2008

ISSUE 43

Courtyard ideas

Climbing plants

Capsicum

Indoor plants

Mini gardens

For more gardening hints & tips, visit www.aboutthegarden.com.au

Issue 43Summer 2007–2008

About this issue...FeaturesSocial climbers 4A touch of Mexico with capsicums 6Snap shot! — digital photography 9Indoor plant problem solvers 10Gardening with disabilities 16Create a potted mini garden 18Crazy for courtyards! 19Winning gardeners! 21Ashley’s pest watch — ant control 22

Special interestPlants from Redlands 8 Take a garden tour... 9The perfect party animal! 20

RegularsSubscribe to About the Garden 7Summer handy hints & tips 12 Summer 2007–2008 Garden Diary 14

•ManagingDirector:ConwaySearle•Contributors:NoelBurdette,NicoleGrant, FridaForsberg,RenéeNugent,AlanaSearle andAshleySearle•MagazineManager:AlanaSearle•Design&Layout:FridaForsberg AbouttheGardenGraphicDesignDepartment•BusinessDevelopment&Advertising:RenéeNugent

ThematerialappearinginAbouttheGardenissubjecttocopyright.OtherthanaspermittedbytheCopyrightAct,nopartofthismagazinemaybereproducedwithoutthepermissionofthepublishers.NoresponsibilityisacceptedbyAbouttheGardenPty.Ltd.fortheaccuracyofinformationcontainedinthetext,illustrationsoradvertisements.Althoughbelievedtobeaccuratelyandcorrectlysourced,thereofdisclaimsanyliabilityagainstitself,editor/soremployeesarisingfromanypersonactingonthematerialherein.Theopinionsexpressedinthemagazine,orbycontributors,donotnecessarilyrepresenttheviewsofthepublisher.©Copyright2007AbouttheGardenPty.Ltd.

In the morning, prayer is the key that opens to us the treasures of God’s mercies and blessings; in the evening, it is the key that shuts us up under his protection and safeguard. —Anonymous

Once again summer is upon us, the hot weather is here, everyone is full of festive cheer and the magazine is jam packed with great advice. Learn how to create a cool summer haven with our favourite climbing plants on page 4 or fire up the

barbie for our great barbecue fajita recipe on page 6! Have a wonderful holiday season and God bless, Con Searle

AbouttheGardenispublishedseasonallybyAbouttheGardenPty.Ltd.ABN210769199924914D’AguilarHighway,KilcoyorP.O.Box70,KilcoyQld.4515Phone:(07)54972313•Fax:(07)54972287Email:atg@aboutthegarden.com.au

Featuredonourfrontcover,thegardenofKayandAllenSchultzofTannumSandsisarichandtranquiltropical-styleretreat.BrightlycolouredBalineseflagsattheentrancesignaltheexoticoasisthatawaits

visitors.Thenaturallyslopingblockhasbeentransformedintoamulti-layeredgardenwithseveral,privatelysectioned-offcourtyardsettingswithlinkingpassageways.Lushfoliage,tallpalmsandthesoundofrunningwaterarekeyfeaturesofthislovelygarden—itreallyisafeastfortheeyes.TheSchultzs’useofhand-madeartworksbylocalartistsgivethegardenawarmandpersonaltouch.For more of our prize winning gardens, turn to page 21.

About the Garden is proud to introduce the winners of our ‘About the Garden Turns 10 — Celebrate with us!’ competition...

Winning gardeners!

Allen & Kay

Of course it would be unfair not to include the rose in this short list of summer climbers. Roses come in all shapes, sizes and colours and are still the world’s most loved flower. Although sometimes considered high maintenance, they make up for this with romantic beauty, fragrance and charm that many believe unmatched by any other plant. Being greedy feeders, they respond well to regular applications of Searles Kickalong Rose & Flower Food and plenty of organic manure and compost such as Searles 5IN1 Plus and Searles Cow Manure prior to planting. Be sure to add a generous handful of either dolomite or gypsum as all roses enjoy a slightly alkaline soil with extra calcium. Some good repeat flowering forms include ‘Crepuscule’ (apricot), ‘Climbing Pinkie’ (pink), ‘Climbing Iceberg’ (white), ‘Dublin Bay’ (scarlet) and ‘Climbing Cecile Brunner’ (miniature shell pink). Roses can be planted at any time of the year if bought already growing in pots, although a larger and more varied selection is usually found throughout the winter as bare rooted specimens.

If you’re looking for a climber that provides shade but also bears fruit, consider passionfruit. This vigorous evergreen plant will grow at a great pace if given optimum growing conditions and provide luscious fruit in the autumn and into early winter. Passionfruit require a strong support with good drainage and plenty of organic material incorporated into the soil. Plant them over a pergola near

Other highly successful evergreen climbers to use around the home include the Allamanda schottii with its golden, peach or cherry coloured blooms. Pyrostegia venusta orange trumpet vine flowers profusely throughout the winter and into spring and literally drips with burnt orange clusters of flowers. Mandevilla ‘White fantasy’ flowers non-stop from mid spring through to the following winter with large, pure white blousy blooms. All three stand up well to the heat, providing abundant shade and colour.

Summer is upon us and the hot, heavy days call for languid hours spent relaxing in the shade of a leafy garden. Lets face it, most of us would prefer to think that the garden can fend for itself over the coming few months, but a few strategically placed shade plants can make relaxing or entertaining outdoors so much more appealing for years to come. No matter which you choose, climbing plants help protect our living environments from intense summer heat and at the same time add beauty and value to our homes.

Although well past its spring flowering by now, the leafy summer foliage of wisteria can create a beautiful and effective cover over even the simplest of structures. Wisteria creates interest in the garden at any time of year, bearing an abundance of fragrant racemes in all shades of purple and white in spring. This is followed by lush foliage throughout the summer. In autumn its leaves turn soft shades of gold and amber before fully disrobing to reveal its magical winter tracery of gnarled and twisted branches. Many gardeners shy away from wisteria in the fear that it will take over their homes, but with a little care it can be one of the most useful and drought hardy of climbers. It is best grown over strong supports such as pergolas or across the front of the home. Apply Searles 5IN1 Plus and super phosphate to send them off to a terrific start in life and encourage a strong root system.

Another strong growing plant is the cardinal creeper (Ipomoea horsfalliae). This semi-deciduous climber will flower from early summer until early July and its large, glossy foliage is the perfect foil for its satiny, carmine coloured blooms. Its hardiness comes from its ability to store moisture within its tuberous

Trees and shrubs are an obvious choice for turning the garden into a shady haven, but a great alternative are the climbing plants. Planting a vigorous climber over an arbour, pergola or simple archway can create the shade you need as well as bring a new level of interest, beauty and charm.

Social climbers

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root system. It can be easily grown in large pots — use a good potting mix such as Searles Peat 80 Plus which will feed it for many months. Cardinal creepers are useful over archways or on ballasts near balconies or anywhere their eye-catching clusters of trumpet shaped flowers can be appreciated.

The vibrant and hardy bougainvillea is a great choice for its vigour and low water needs. These star performers require discipline to keep them tamed to the confines of pergolas, arbours and gazebos but when this is achieved they will flower from month to month with little assistance. Their magnificently coloured blooms can bring a sense of excitement to any garden. Some of the best are ‘Raspberry ice’, ‘Scarlet O’Hara’ and ‘Singapore pink’. Bougainvilleas require regular applications of Searles Liquid Potash to enable them to produce plenty of flowering bracts throughout the growing season. Good drainage is essential as they detest water logged conditions.

entertainment areas for leafy shade and easy access to the delicious fruit. The best forms for growing in and around Brisbane are ‘Panama Red’ and ‘Panama Gold’. Both produce large, egg-shaped fruit in abundance. Hang Searles fruit fly traps in and around the plants to protect from the dreaded fruit fly. For cooler regions, try the black passionfruit as it is more tolerant of lower temperatures.

More climbers...

Passionfruit

Rose

Wisteria

Cardinal creeper

Bougainvillea

Mandevilla ‘White Fantasy’

Allamanda schottii

Orange trumpet vine

4 5

‘Dublin Bay’ rose

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the developing fruit as soon as it is ripe enough. Diseases such as spotted wilt and powdery mildew can be minimised by rotation planting.

Companion plantingEggplants, onions and tomatoes are ideal to companion plant with capsicums.

HarvestingCapsicums can be picked as soon as they are large enough to be useful. The more you pick them, the more fruits are produced. Remove the fruit with some stalk attached to improve its keeping qualities.

Ingredients:3 medium capsicums4 bacon short cuts2 medium chicken breasts2 medium brown onions3 medium carrots1 medium zucchini10 snow peas4 slices jalapeños1 container Sour Cream1 jar salsa1 packet burrito tortillas (pack 10)Canola Oil

Once onion has become translucent, add the rest of the vegetables. Allow them to sit for

about 60 seconds before you start tossing to let the BBQ add flavour to the capsicum.

Toss the fajita mix until the onion caramelises and the capsicum is softened. Whilst waiting for the mix to finish, lightly toast the tortillas on the second BBQ plate.

Once finished, serve all the fajita ingredients on platters for guests to make their own fajita pockets.

Place onion, carrot and jalapeños on BBQ. Keep tossing to prevent burning.

Step 6.

Step 9.Step 8.Step 7.

a stake next to each young plant to support it as it will get heavy when laden with fruit.

How to maintainKeep the roots cool by covering with a light mulch throughout the warmer months. Ensure the soil is kept constantly moist and weed free. Fertilise fortnightly with Searles Fish & Kelp Plus and Searles Flourish Soluble Plant Food right up until fruit set. If growing in containers, increase fertilising to a weekly routine. In mild, frost-free climates, capsicums can be treated as perennial plants, performing best in their second year. Simply cut them back after fruiting has finished in late autumn and they’ll shoot again the following spring.

Pests and diseasesRipening fruit can suffer from sunburn if exposed to sun for prolonged periods and should be hidden among the foliage on very hot days. Few pests and diseases affect capsicums. If fruit fly is a problem, remove affected fruit and install fruit fly traps. Pick

1. Pour one scoop of fajita mix onto a tortilla.

2. Pour one teaspoon of salsa and sour cream onto the fajita mix. Leave one end of tortilla free of mix.

3. Fold the fajita into an edible pocket. Fold the empty end over contents and fold over two sides. Goce! (enjoy).

Serves 4

Step 10. Making fajita pockets:

When & where to plantIn spring or summer, choose the sunniest part of your vegetable patch to plant capsicums. They require heat to enable their fruit to ripen. Make sure the soil is deep enough to anchor their extensive root system. Do not plant them where other members of the Solanaceae family (eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes) have previously grown. Capsicums are highly ornamental and make ideal container plants providing they are not allowed to dry out, so mulch them well.

How to plant If growing in containers choose a moisture-retentive potting mix such as Searles Herb & Vegetable Potting Mix. If sowing directly into garden beds, dig in some Searles Garden Soil Mix and add lime if the soil is more acid than 6.5. Add Searles Kickalong Organic Vegie & Herb Plant Food to the soil to facilitate good root development, and give the bed a long, deep soak of water before planting. Plant seed or seedlings, following the packet or label directions and make sure young seedlings never dry out. If you are growing any of the taller varieties of capsicums, place

A touch of Mexico with

Barbecued fajitasMethod: Chop chicken breasts

into 2cm squares and bacon into 1cm squares.

Slice capsicum, carrots, zucchini, onion and snow peas. Keep carrots and onions separate from other vegetables.

Step 1.

Step 2.

Step 3. Dice jalapeños. (Prepare extra jalapeños if you enjoy spicy food.)

Preheat BBQ.

Lightly cover BBQ plate with oil. Once heated, place chicken and bacon on plate and toss till chicken has been sealed.

Step 4.

Step 5.

Bring a touch of Mexico to your summer entertaining by adding some fresh home grown capsicums to your dishes. Cook up our barbecued fajitas and you will know summer is here.

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What you need

CapsicumsHOME DELIVERY!

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Spring

2007

ISSUE 42

Flowering trees

Organic vegies

Courtyard ideas

Watermelon

Italian herbs

For more gardening hints & tips, visit www.aboutthegarden.com.au

Ixora Gold Fire™™

Pots of gold A plant with true flower power, flowering for most of the year in frost-free areas. This tried and tested old favourite has compact, glossy green foliage covered in large golden blooms and is ideal for a shady garden or in a pot under the shade of a patio. It looks superb mass planted or grown as a low hedge. In cooler areas offer protection in winter, a sheltered patio or sunroom is ideal. An easy to grow plant that looks good all year.

From the rich exotics of New Guinea, Cordyline Caruba™ Black is grown for its outstanding shiny purple-black foliage. This compact growing plant is ideal for the garden with other tropical plants or grown in a pot on the patio. Caruba™ Black prefers a warm climate but

‘Emerald Arch’ is an ornamental flax lily displaying grand broad arching mid green leaves. Bears delicate blue and yellow flowers and it grows to 45cm tall. Ideal foliage plant for a tropical feel but has only a low water requirement and is very cold hardy. Mass plant in a shady position for a low maintenance garden.

‘Baby Bliss’ is a blue native flax lily which grows to 25cm–30cm tall making it an ideal low ground cover. As a bonus ‘Baby Bliss’ displays blue and yellow flowers above the attractive blue foliage. Tolerates a wide range of climatic conditions from full sun to part shade, very hardy, excellent drought and frost tolerance. A truly low maintenance plant.

‘Utopia’ is a native flax with distinctive blue and purple foliage offering a good contrast to other foliage plants. Growing up to 50cm tall, ‘Utopia’ tolerates a wide variety of climatic conditions, full sun to part shade, very hardy, drought and frost tolerant. An easy care plant requiring very little attention.

‘Utopia’

Cordyline Caruba™ BlackShiny, exotic foliagein cooler climates can easily be grown as a stunning indoor plant or patio feature. An easy care plant that looks great against a light coloured wall with contrasting foliage. Outside in tropical climates this plant will grow to 120cm high and 30cm wide.

The beautiful dipladenia has incredible flower power, displaying masses of colour in white, pink or red. This flowering climber is hardy, yet easy to control and train and should flower year round in frost-free areas. Grow it in patio pots on the deck or around the pool and barbecue area. Also makes a showy hanging basket.

DipladeniaIncredible flower power

Redlands Nursery plants areavailable from all good garden centres.

‘Baby Bliss’

‘Emerald Arch’

‘Guinevere’

‘My Fair Lady’

‘Scarlet Pimpernel’

DianellaTough grasses fortough conditions

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Some of the most famous garden shows in the world are right here in the southern hemisphere, including the Melbourne International Flower Show, the Carnival of Flowers in Toowoomba and the Ellerslie Flower show in New Zealand.

The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show is in it’s 14th year and is a must-see event. Hundreds of exhibitors and leading edge designers make it a stunning show. The Exhibition Buildings set in the formal beauty of the Carlton Gardens give this show a truly magical quality, allowing designers to showcase their work in full sized gardens.

Another must-see is the Ellerslie Flower Show in New Zealand. Originating as a fund raiser for Auckland Rotary, the show has raised over a million dollars for various charities. Each year in November the 5 hectare site in the Auckland Botanic Gardens at Manurewa becomes one of the finest garden shows in the world.

The mecca of all garden shows is the Chelsea Garden Show in England. The Chelsea show has a 156 year history and is like a ‘catwalk’ for new designers, new plants and gardening trends. Over five days in May, the show’s grounds welcome over 157,000 guests — this show can be a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle!

Taking photos at a garden show is a fantastic way to capture your day and there’s no need for a large, cumbersome camera or expensive equipment. Good photography is more about having the right know-how and a compact digital camera that fits nicely into a ladies’ handbag or in your pocket can take the best of photos. Here’s some advice on how to take that winning shot.

Tip 1: The best time for a photographSome of the best photos are taken in the early morning. The light is less intense at this time which eliminates excessive contrasts of light and shade. Bright, cloudy days are also excellent as the cloud cover diffuses the light and can make it possible to take great shots all day. So if visiting a garden show at mid-day, pray for some light cloud cover and your photos should turn out terrific!

Tip 2: Safety in numbersAnother great tip is to take as many shots as you can. The beauty of the digital camera is that if images are not as spectacular as you hoped, you can view them on your computer screen and delete them without incurring the development costs associated with traditional photographic film.

Mass plantings of flowers can make great photos.

Take a garden tour...

Snap-shot!a close-up on digital photography

A great way to make friends and find new ideas for your garden is to visit a garden show. These shows highlight new plant species and trends in garden design.

Maidenhair fern

Hot spotsMany homes have a room which experiences very hot conditions in summer, especially in the afternoons. This will usually be a room on the western side of the house. Plants selected for these areas need to be very hardy and it is advisable to refrain from flowering varieties unless you are willing to rotate the pot plant seasonally. Two great all year round foliage plants for hot areas include philodendron ‘Xanadu’ and for a bit more height, the golden cane palm. Be sure to plant these in a nice big pot and use a high quality potting mix such as Searles Peat 80 Plus.

Dark conditionsDark rooms in the middle of the home can be difficult to decorate with plant life as plants require light to photosynthesise their food. Lush foliage plants such as philodendron ‘Xanadu’, aspidistra ‘Cast Iron Plant’ and spathiphyllum ‘Sensation’ can survive these light starved conditions, but will need to visit outside filtered light every few weeks to stay healthy. A trick for

great indoor pot plants is to keep two sets of pot plants; one set can be indoors while the other set is growing in a shady position outdoors. Whenever the set indoors starts to look a little tired, it can swap positions with the outside set. While the plants are outside, take the opportunity to give them a dose of Searles Fish & Kelp Plus to keep them looking healthy, clean and glossy. If rotating plants regularly in this way, it is advisable to keep plants in plastic pots which can slide inside the indoor display pot. This will make the job of moving them so much easier as you won’t need to carry the heavy ceramic pots around.

Indoor plant problem solvers

Using plants to furnish your home is a great way to introduce green life into indoor areas. However, as with gardening outdoors, some consideration needs to be given in selecting the appropriate plants to suit the varying climates within the home.

Indoor tipTo stop timber polished floors being damaged from ceramic pots either cover pot base with carpet or use plastic stoppers.

Moist zonesBathrooms are moist environments which are often located in a lighter area of the home and are therefore ideal for plants such as maiden hair ferns and asplenium bird’s nest fern. If your ferns start to turn yellow there could be a few problems that need to be addressed (see the table below for symptoms, cause and solution).

Air conditioningWhilst air conditioning makes the summer heat tolerable, the unit actually sucks the moisture out of the air to cool the space. This can result in plant dehydration, making the plant foliage wilt and potting mix dry out. To ensure that your plants do not suffer too badly from moisture depletion, give the plant and foliage a good water when the soil starts to dry out.

For more great tips on indoor pot plants purchase a copy of the ‘All About Pot Plants and Hanging Baskets Guide’ from your ATG outlet.

For more great tips for potted plants, visit www.aboutthegarden.com.au

Spathiphyllum

Symptoms Possible cause Solution

Leaves yellowing with Soil too dry Water thoroughly. If brown or dense tips and potting mix does notmargins absorb water, apply Penetraide and water again. Leaves gradually pale into Sun scorch or light Relocate plant away yellow and brown, too bright/direct from direct sunlightparticularly on side nearest but maintain in a lightto light/window. area. Leaves yellowing and Too little light Move to a brightersuddenly falling. Leaves may area with more lightbe smaller and paler than usual. Spindly and lanky long spaces between leaves.

Leaves turn yellow and fall. Plant may be Move away from Leaves curl and fall. Leaves affected by air draught.have brown tips on edges. draught.

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Heavenly heliconias!In warmer zones, gingers and heliconias are the flowering jewels of the garden at this time of year. They also make excellent cut flowers. Cut off spent blooms and stalks to keep them tidy and feed with Searles Flourish every fortnight to promote growth and flowering. Now is the time to purchase new plants.

If you're looking for a tough flowering plant that will power through the heat and rarely need watering, look no further than the oleander. Don't eat its leaves as they are toxic; otherwise it has few shortcomings. Hack it back at the end of winter and watch it spring back beautifully in spring.

From the little shop of horrors...Carnivorous plants can appear to be from tiny alien worlds, like the vicious sundew which ensnares insects in its sticky tentacles. As the hapless insect struggles, other tentacles close over it, sealing its doom!

Sun-smart gardeningWear a broad-rimmed hat, sun screen and long-sleeved shirt whenever in the sun and keep a bottle of drinking water handy. Alternatively, allocate your gardening activities to early mornings or evenings to avoid the heat of the day.

Organic pest controlNever underestimate good nutrition as a means of helping your plants win the war against pests, disease and heat stress. Searles Fish & Kelp Plus and Searles 5IN1 Plus provide excellent organic nutrition. Healthy plants are able to resist pests and disease. You'll be surprised at the difference it makes!

Summer life is rosy...Avoid pruning roses during the summer as this may cause plant stress. Spray with Searles Rose Pro every 10 days to safeguard against black spot and the resulting leaf loss. Keep roses mulched and feed with Searles Kickalong Organic Fruit & Flower Food.

Tie stockings over mangos as they are ripening on the trees to protect them from marauding birds and flying foxes. This will allow them to ripen fully on the tree and prevent them from hitting the ground when they fall off. After harvest, fertilise trees generously with Searles Kickalong Fruit & Flower.

Poinsettia trimming tipsGive poinsettias a generous pruning to promote bushier growth and more flowers once the cool season arrives. The plants will ooze a milky sap when cut which can cause skin irritations in some people, so avoid touching it or getting it in your eyes. This is the time to buy poinsettias from garden centres.

Take lawnmowing to new heightsRaise the blades on your lawnmower to cut the grass higher. Longer grass will keep the soil cooler, preventing moisture loss and dead patches which will welcome weeds. Grass should never be less than 2.5cm high.

Decorating for ChristmasEncourage flowering plants to look their best in time for Christmas by dead-heading (removing spent blooms). Apply Searles Flourish, a nutritionally balanced fertiliser boosted with potassium to enhance flower development.

Summer handy hints & tips

12

Lessen the effects of heat stress on your plants with a fortnightly application of Searles Liquid Seaweed. This organic fertiliser can help increase your plants’ resistance to wind, sun, heat and prolonged dry periods.

Gardenia magicGardenias bear beautiful, fragrant flowers through spring and summer and have handsome, shiny leaves throughout the year. Keep them well mulched and feed occasionally with Searles Flourish Azalea, Camellia & Gardenia for great results.

The summer holidays mark the peak of the gardening season in southern areas while in warmer districts it's a time to kick back, relax and enjoy the results of your hard work earlier in the year. Wherever you live, this is the time of year when plants will benefit most from having a watchful eye over them so the secret this season is to garden smarter, not harder...

Companion plantingPlanting flowering annuals such as nasturtium and marigold amongst your vegie patch can do more than liven it up with colour. These flowers are also believed to help repel or act as a deterrent to many insect pests.

Sundew 'Drosera'

Nasturtium excursionsHardy annuals like nasturtiums serve as a great 'living mulch' when planted under trees and shrubs as they use relatively little water and nutrients and their leaves shade the soil from the sun.

The milkypoinsettia sap.

Tropical

Sub tropical

Temperate

Cool

Arid

Nasturtium flowers and foliage are edible and look great in summer salads.

ALL ZONES

ALL ZONES

ALL ZONES

ALL ZONES

ALL ZONES

ALL ZONES

ALL ZONES

Summer advert FINAL.eps 28/9/07 3:57:52 PM

13

Defend against fruit flyThis is the time of year when fruit fly will be out with a vengeance, so avoid disappointment by hanging Searles Fruit Fly Traps on all your fruit trees and tomato plants.

Tropical foliage delightsIn the tropics it's the perfect time to propagate philodendrons, calatheas, alocasias, cordylines and draceanas. To take tip cuttings, snip them off, dip them into rooting powder and plant them into propagating mix. Voila! New plants!

Sydney

FlowersPlant ageratum, alyssum, boronia, calceolaria, cleome, cyclamen, Iceland poppy, linaria, malope, marigold, pansy, schizanthus, stock, verbena, vinca, viola and wallflower.

HerbsPlant basil, chives, coriander, fennel, gotu kola, heliotrope, lovage, mint, parsley and tarragon.

Fruit & VegetablesPlant beans (dwarf and climbing), beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, celery, chicory, chilli, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, endive, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, okra, parsnip, potato (tubers), radish, rhubarb (crowns), shallots, silver beet, spring onion, sweet corn, sweet potato and zucchini.

More advice...Mulch the entire garden thoroughly. Before laying turf, sprinkle one handful of Searles Kickalong Organic Plant Food per square metre and rake in well. Water well after laying turf to help it establish. Prune wisteras. Feed all food crops fortnightly. Feed azaleas, camellias and gardenias fortnightly with Searles Flourish Azalea, Camellia & Gardenia. Avoid overwatering watermelon once it starts to set fruit as this can result in a watery, tasteless crop.

Temperate areas

DIARY MAP

MelbourneCold & Southern Tableland areas

FlowersPlant ageratum, alyssum, cineraria, cleome, cyclamen, forget-me-not, Iceland poppy, lobelia, lupin, marigold, pansy, petunia, phlox, primula, stock, verbena, wallflower and zinnia.

HerbsPlant basil, chives, coriander, lemongrass, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, tarragon and thyme.

Fruit and vegetablesPlant beans, beetroot, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, English spinach, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, onion, parsnip, pumpkin, radish, silver beet, spring squash, swede, sweet corn, tomato, turnip and zucchini.

More advice...Water flowering annuals and vegetable gardens as required. Snap off withered rhododendron trusses. Watch potted house plants for dry-out and feed with diluted Searles Fish & Kelp Plus after watering. Apply Searles Flourish fortnightly for better vegetables and blooms. Keep an eye out for pests such as aphids, snails and caterpillars. Give Japanese and Siberian iris clumps a deep watering as they come into flower.

South-east Qld & Northern NSW

FlowersSow ageratum, aster, balsam, celosia, cockscomb, coleus, gomphrena, impatiens, marigold, salvia, sunflower, torenia, vinca and zinnia.

HerbsPlant basil, chives, coriander, fennel, gotu kola, heliotrope, lemongrass, mint, parsley, tarragon and winter savoury.

Fruit & VegetablesPlant artichoke, beans, capsicum, celery, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, melons, okra, onion, potato (tubers), pumpkin, radish, rhubarb (crowns), rosella, silver beet, spring onion, squash, sweet corn, sweet potato and tomato.

More advice...Spray roses with Searles Rose Pro to prevent black spot. Cut back excessive growth on herbs to prevent them becoming lanky. This will also reduce fungal infections caused by humidity.

Subtropical — Coastal

FlowersSow balsam, celosia, cockscomb, coleus, gomphrena, marigold, petunia, salvia, sunflower, torenia and vinca.

HerbsPlant basil, coriander, lemongrass, mint and tarragon.

Fruit & VegetablesPlant artichoke, beetroot, capsicum, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, pumpkin, radish, shallots, spring onion and tomato.

More advice...Prepare garden beds in readiness for next season’s vegetables. To discourage hibiscus beetle, pick up and dispose of spent hibiscus flowers. Keep the water up to sweet corn when it becomes waist high and keep it well-nourished with a fortnightly application of Searles Fish & Kelp Plus to encourage a bumper crop. Keep the fertiliser up to citrus trees as nutrients are constantly being lost with the rain.

North QueenslandTropical — Wet & Dry Tropics

Basil 'Sweet Selection'Australian gardeners love their basil and are always ready to try new and interesting varieties. That’s why Oasis has developed this selection of colourful and aromatic basils comprised of Red Leaf, Thai and Sweet Green varieties. Ready to harvest in just 6 8 weeks. Available in Oasis B Code vegetable range.

Lettuce 'Mini Cos'Where would your summer salads be without the cool crisp flavour of cut-and-come-again lettuces like Oasis ‘Mini Cos’? This loose leaved lettuce is great for sandwiches or salads. Ideal for containers or the vegie

patch. Available in Oasis B Code vegetable range.

Geranium ‘Upright White’Geraniums are some of the most reliable summer performers. New Oasis Geranium ‘Upright White’ is long-flowering with masses of flowers in pure, crisp white. Sensational in garden beds, patio pots, hanging baskets and window boxes, it requires little water once established and loves hot spots. Available in Oasis Code C punnets.

Summer 2007–2008Regional Garden Diary

Vinca 'Raspberry'Vinca ‘Raspberry’ is great for hot summer colour. This heat-loving plant flowers all summer long. Once established, Vinca is a proven water-wise selection for pots, window boxes and border plantings in full sun positions. Available in Oasis Code C punnets.

Madeira DaisiesVersatile Madeira Daisies are hardy perennials that are ideal for cottage gardens, dry embankments and rockeries and may even be planted to create an informal hedge within just a few short months. These neat daisies are self-cleaning, extremely adaptable and highly floriferous, performing best in full sun positions. Available in Oasis D range punnets.

Madeira Daisies 'Double White'

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Snippety snippetsThe hot weather can cause herbs to bolt (set seed) quickly if unpruned, soon after which they will die. Use herbs continually or give them a regular pruning to keep them compact and to prolong their life.

ALL ZONES

Code:Tropical

Sub tropical

Temperate

Cool

Inland

Fruit fly can be a serious menace.

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ALL ZONESALL ZONES

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ALL ZONES

As we age, the bones and soft tissue of our joints become easily fatigued or sore with repetitive, heavy or prolonged work, but don’t put away your tools just yet. With some simple adjustments to your gardening habits you can continue to enjoy gardening.

Pace yourself when tending to the garden. There is no need to remain engaged in a task until you are fatigued and sore. Pacing yourself may include may include doing some of the following:

• Break tasks into smaller time periods with regular rest breaks in between. For example if mowing the lawn, spend 30 minutes on a small area, then turn the mower off and rest for an hour or so. Come back and finish the job a little later on in the day, or the following day.

• Don’t kneel until all the weeds are pulled from a flower bed. Spend 10 minutes or less on this task then move away onto something else. Come back later and see how much better your knees and hips feel when you alternate this task with other activities.

• It is a good idea to ‘warm up’. A few stretches before commencing any activity can help to prevent injury.

• Avoid gardening in extreme heat or cold to prevent fatigue and aggravation of joint pain. Choose a time of day when you will be most comfortable and you will enjoy your gardening so much more.

If you are considering introducing new plants to your yard or garden beds, opt for plants that are lower maintenance and position them to enable easy access. Raised garden beds, tall pots and plant stands can help minimise the

Gardening with disabilities

It can be very rewarding to nurture a garden by hand and see it bloom with the seasons that pass. Unfortunately the effects of injury or illness can make gardening difficult. Conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome can cause aching in the joints, fatigue and loss of function. The good news is that we can continue gardening by making a few changes to how we do things. b

y N

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rant

Padding the handle makes tools easier to hold on to.

Using a velcro strap means tools don’t have to be gripped so tightly.

Don’t bend down to garden. Instead, raise the garden bed.

Joint disease and fatigue management

Simple adjustments...

need for bending. Your local nursery should be able to recommend appropriate items.

Specialised equipmentSome companies make specialised equipment such as long handled tools which can prevent excessive bending or stooping.

Find a padded mat or cushion to kneel on while weeding or planting to protect your knees and use trolleys or carts to move equipment and plants rather than lifting or carrying them yourself.

You may find that some gardening activities can only be undertaken with assistance from others, particularly those tasks requiring strength such as pruning thick stems and branches. Do not be afraid to ask for help and be realistic about your abilities when undertaking activities.

Your local garden centre and disability support groups are a great source of information for modified equipment or techniques to ensure you can continue to enjoy working in your garden for many years to come.

Nicole consults to individuals, organisations and businesses with regards to facilitating independent living. For further information contact Nicole on 0417 879 461.16

Cacti and succulents are ideal for this type of project as they are hardy and can create an excellent impression of miniature trees, grasses, corals — even alien life forms. Other possible themes are farmyard, under the sea, prehistoric or moonscape.

Select a pot in the type of colours and materials that suit your theme.

Fill the pot with Searles Cacti & Succulent Potting Mix.

Use pebbles, pieces of wood and other items to build the landscape.

Place your figurines in their positions in the garden.

What you will need:1 or more large pots4 cactus varieties1 cactus potting mix2kg pebbles3 Mexican-themed ornaments

Creating a mini-garden in a pot can be a great holiday activity. At the ATG office we created a mini Mexican garden to show you how it’s done...

Create a potted mini-garden

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Step 1. Step 2.

Step 3.

Step 5.Step 4.

Plant care tip:Remember that plants are living organisms and need sunlight and water to survive, so use only weather-proof materials and arrange a permanent position outdoors where your mini-garden can spend most of its life. (Never keep cacti or succulent plants indoors for more than two weeks at a time.)

Experiment by placing your plants and ornaments in various arrangements to help determine your layout. Once the layout is finalised, plant your plants in position.

Arthropodium cirratum

Asplenium nidus Bird’s Nest FernAjuda reptans ‘Catlins Giant’

Bergenia cordifolia

Clivia miniata

Cycas revoluta

Nandina domestica

Heuchera micantha

Pavers

Liriope muscari ‘Evergreen Giant’

Strelitzia reginae

Yucca recurvifolia

Small pebbles

Magnolia grandifolia ‘Saint Mary’

Pogonatherum paniceum ‘Bamboo Bambini’

Luculia gratissima ‘Fragrant Cloud’

Hosta undulata ‘Francee’

Impatiens Walleriana hybrids

Ligularia dentata ‘Britt Marie Crawford’

Feature Topiary

Feature Pot

Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’

Hosta undulata ‘Francee’

Designed to inspire a sense of escape, this small space becomes a lush, secluded oasis to soothe the senses. Informal planting with foliage of varying form and texture provides maximum effect with splashes of colour for impact. The coiling path, of cool tones, completes the illusion with the ascending spirals helping the spirit and imagination to soar.

Construction notes:• Prepare site by removing any

plant material present; add quality soil or organic matter as required and level.

• Measure and mark out the space to be occupied by the pathway.

• Lay pavers and pebbles.

• Commence planting the larger specimens at the back of the bed, working towards the front with the smaller shrubs and plants last.

• Install feature pot and plant.

• Plant the Black Mondo Grass within the path.

Shady CharacterDesigned by Nick Alderson — Holmesglen

courtyards!Crazyfor

• Ensure everything is watered in and apply good quality mulch.

• Enjoy!

Canna ‘Tropicanna’

Eucomis comosa ‘Oakhoust’

Strelitzia reginaemagnoliaClivea miniatacanna ‘Tropicanna’cycad19

Find more courtyard design ideas at www.lifeisagarden.com.au

Buy direct or locate your nearest stockistPO Box 317, Nambour QLD 4560. Enquiries: 1300 30 29 38

Fax: (07) 5448 6714. http://www.termitebaiting.com.auEmail: info@termitebaiting.com.au

SPECIAL: Mention this ad and get FREE Delivery

Party animal!The perfect

Party animals are out to impress at this time of year and it’s not just the two-legged kind. Whether it is breakfast in the park, a backyard family gathering or a drive with the wind in their fur, party animals love to tag along. Dogs especially, will be happy to join in the fun and games and will stay to the very end if you let them.

Keeping in mind some proper party ‘petiquette’ will help everyone enjoy the festivities. Here are some tips for keeping your pet-inclusive silly season stress-free:

• It can be fun to dress up your pet for a Christmas party. Tinsel or small baubles attached to a pet’s collar are fine and many dogs won’t mind humouring their owners by dressing in hats or reindeer ears while under supervision. However, pets generally prefer the ‘less is more’ approach to Christmas finery.

• If you are going to a party where your host’s pet will be in attendance, think about taking along a present for their furred, feathered or finned friend. This will show that you understand their pet is part of the family.

• Guests usually prefer not to be greeted ‘paws and all’. Keep dogs from jumping up on guests by putting them on a leash as guests arrive. Even a well-trained dog can get carried away in the excitement of the festive season.

• If you receive an invitation to an outdoor event, check whether your dog is welcome. Don’t just assume they are invited, especially if the host’s pets are attending the party. If your dog is invited, always take along a leash and water bowl.

• Edible Christmas decorations on the tree can be irresistible to a dog, as can be any presents containing food left underneath! Cats can be

attracted to shiny baubles and can end up in a tangle. Ensuring such items are placed out of reach can keep pets from disgracing themselves!

To keep pets calm, it is important that two-legged party animals remember not to over-excite pets during the festive season. With the right party petiquette, a good time can be had by all!

For more information on caring for your pet, pick up a free copy of Your Pet Magazine from your vet or pet store. Copies can also be collected from the RSPCA, dog groomers and wherever pet owners meet!

For details, visitwww.yourpetmagazine.com.au

or phone 07 3394 1607. Distribution enquiries are welcome.

When Noelle and Douglas Todorou moved to their Surat home in outback queensland it was little more than a bare yard with a few straggly natives lining the front. They are now well on their way to turning it into a relaxing retreat with a fish pond, chicken runs, groves of fruit trees, a greenhouse and rows of elegant potted bougainvilleas and flowering plants. It’s sure to become a welcome haven as summer temperatures regularly reach 38˚C!

The outback cottage...

Mrs. Rewa Jarman of Coraki in New South Wales has a garden which is a haven to frogs, possums, koalas, reptiles and of course, myriads of different wild bird species. Quirky sculptures and whimsical creatures made from plants and recycled materials abound the grounds. All organic materials are composted in on-site compost bins. Nary a pesticide is needed in this garden with the number of helpful critters keeping pests in check, including a friendly python called ‘Rat trap’ who is in charge of rodent control!

The wildlife haven...

Errol and Dot Crane from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast have what is possibly this country’s most impressive collection of bromeliads. So devoted are they to their collection that when they moved from Gympie to Wurtulla 6 years ago, every one of their bromeliads had to make the 50km trip, too! How many bromeliads they own is anyone’s guess — and their collection is still growing — but it took 5 trailer loads and 25 trips in the back of the ute to get every last bromeliad to their new home. There’s much to be said for growing your plants in pots!

The mobile bromeliad garden...

We visit the winners of our ‘About the Garden Turns 10 — Celebrate with us!’ competition...

Congratulations to our winners — we hope you enjoy your gardening books — and a special ‘thank you’ to everyone who wrote to us to share their stories.

Douglas & Noelle

Dot (right) with daughter, Judy

A relaxing verandah retreat

A bromeliad shrine!

Winning gardeners!Coconut ducks!Rewa

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Ant problemsAnts can create many problems in the garden such as building mounds in lawns and causing soil to become dry and water repellent (especially in pot plants) — not to mention the painful bites of many ants, such as the green ant or bull ant.

Associated ant problemsAnts are also known to be responsible for the spread of other pests, such as scale and aphids. Ants are like farmers; they harvest the sugary secretions from scale and aphids and take this back to their nests to feed the colony. The ants can be responsible for taking scale and aphids from one plant to another, hence spreading the pest activity.

If you observe ant activity in or on plants and shrubs, carefully look to see if there is scale or aphid activity

AVAILABLE FROM ALL LEADING NURSERIES, GARDEN CENTRES & HARDWARE STORES.

When it comes to gardening, ants can be troublesome and sometimes downright painful, but did you know there is an easy solution to controlling these biting menaces?

Ashley’s Pest Watch

Ant control

by

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as well. You may need to treat for these other pests in conjunction with the ants. Conversely, if you notice scale or aphid activity in the garden, look out for the ants and treat all at the same time.

Controlling antsAnts are very easy to keep under control. Sprinkle Searles® Ant Kill-50 Granules around the garden and lawn, wherever you notice their activity. If you notice ant trails or nests, be sure to sprinkle Searles® Ant Kill-50 Granules around these areas. Repeat applications may be necessary, depending on the amount of ant activity in your garden. So keep ants at bay in your garden all year round with Searles® Ant Kill-50 Granules.

Colourwave®

beautiful flowering plants

With over 50 varieties to choose from, there is a Colourwave® plantthat is just right for putting flowers back into your garden. People whoneed reliable, tough plants can also count on Colourwave plants. Forover 10 years, Colourwave has put millions of flowers in homes and

public spaces all over Australia. From Cairns to Hobartthere are Colourwave plants just right for your place.

Tapien® Lilac PassionTapien® Lilac Passion

about_the Garden_ad 25/9/07 9:19 AM Page 1

Protect herbs, vegetables, trees and shrubs from possums, kangaroos, wallabies, rabbits, hares, bandicoots, deer, foxes and other wildlife.

Protect vegetables, fruit trees, ornamentals, seedlings and buildings from cockatoos, crows, ducks, pigeons, rosellas, starlings, swallows, other birds & bats.

Protects homes, gardens, patios, shop fronts and paved areas from both dogs and cats or rats and mice.

is unique. Reject products said to be "just as good", nothing is at all "like it". For further information send 2x50c stamps to:

D-ter, Dept. A, PO Box 3, Oyster Bay, NSW 2225.Enquiries: Phone: (02) 9589 0703. Fax: (02) 9589 0147

Protect one plant or a whole area — perimeter &/or band sprays.

Repels — without harming animals or humans.

Not considered a poison — no withholding period.

Easy to use — spray on. Effective when dry.

Safe, Proven and Effective.

Available in 100g, 1Kg & 4Kg Sizes.

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60/0

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Use David Grays’ Antex to control ants, cockroaches, fleas, spiders and silverfish. Carbaryl will help control grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles and other bugs. Read side of packaging for more information.

Ants in yer pants?Say goodbye to nasty critters with David Grays pest control.

Not justbeautifulplants, it’s a

lifestyle.

Give your gardena Kickalong®

- Organically

Ask for these great Searles productsat your nearest gardening outlet Ph: 07 5497 2022

www.searles.com.auPLANT FOODS

Kickalong ®

ORGANIC