Backyard Fruit Trees Growing fruit trees to maturity is among the most rewarding of backyard activities. The truth is, you don’t even need a backyard – a sunny balcony or courtyard will do the trick, thanks to the growing range of compact trees on the market. With a little planning, patience and TLC, you’ll be
Pruning trees Trees are an important part of creating a flourishing garden, offering benefits ranging from structure and shading to animal habitat and maintaining soil health. Mastering the art of pruning lets you guide your trees to grow in ways that will keep them healthy and manageable. Left to their own devices, though, they can
If you want to create full, lush plant coverage across all parts of your garden, you’ll need to contend with those shadier areas that don’t get as much sun. Fortunately, there are plenty of plants that thrive in these conditions, just waiting to fill in those gaps under tree canopies, along fence lines and even
Growing your own produce Growing your own edible produce at home is a worthy goal for any gardener. Not sure where to start? Go for easy-to-grow, high yielding varieties suited to the conditions you have available in your garden. Here are a few beginner-friendly suggestions for those looking to flex their green thumbs over winter.
Roses Roses really need no introduction. Prized the world over for the beauty of their flowers, which are often richly fragrant, these woody perennials are beloved by gardeners, romantics, poets and perfumiers alike. There are more than 300 rose species and thousands of cultivar varieties, with growing habits ranging from upright to climbing and trailing.
Roses are far less work than many people think – in fact, they’re generally quite hardy. That said, they are vigorous growers, and regular pruning is essential to keep rose bushes tidy and manageable, as well as minimise pests and diseases. Timing is important when it comes to pruning roses. Australia has a less severe
What Are Seed Potatoes? When you first hear the term ‘seed potatoes’, you’d be forgiven for thinking it refers to potatoes grown from seed. That’s not quite the case, though. Seed potatoes are actually potato tubers – specifically, ones that are used to propagate a new plant with the same traits. Seed potatoes are effectively
We embrace technology and change in so many parts of our lives. However there is one piece of equipment, integral to our gardening that has remained unchanged for centuries. Until now … We met with Michael Paino, a builder by trade, and former construction company owner, whose keen eye for detail and preoccupation with how
As the weather cools, hopefully bringing the right balance of rain to your region, the soil still remains warm which makes Autumn such an ideal season for planting. We show how investing in some simple soil preparation will ensure your garden beds or vegetable patch gain the most success from your Autumn planting. Spring may
Succulents are not a particular species or even a family of plants. Instead, they are a diverse group that shares some particular traits, the most recognisable of which is their pleasingly thick, fleshy stems and leaves. These plants are adapted for survival in extreme conditions such as deserts and steppes. As well as giving them
