Using Australian native plants in the home garden is one of the true joys of gardening in our sun-baked country. However, many gardeners are often discouraged from using native plants because they have a reputation for being fussy and think they need to be kept separate from exotic plants in their garden. While this is true for some native species, many can be treated as regular garden plants. The reason they have acquired this reputation is that some native plants are sensitive to phosphorus. Understanding this distinction can make using natives in your garden easy and rewarding.

Fertilising Australian native plants has sparked debate among gardeners for years. Historically, many believed these plants didn't need fertilising due to their evolutionary adaptation to grow in nutrient-poor soils. However, this myth has been debunked; In the garden, Australian native plants benefit significantly from feeding. While chemical fertilisers often pose risks due to high phosphorus levels, organic methods offer a safer alternative. By using compost, mulches, and specific organic liquid feeds, gardeners can nourish their native plants effectively and safely.

Foraging for mushrooms is a delight of the autumn season. It reconnects us back to our ancestral roots when we lived within a hunter gatherer societies. It connects us to our geographical location, environment and ecosystems around us. It grounds our soul deep within the earth almost as though the mycelium in the soil is reach up and grabbing hold of us and our inner world, holding us still, present and safe for just a moment. Sounds a bit hippy dippy, yes, but it’s true, when I forage, I feel mindful and present. I feel wild.

A key identifier of Azalea Lace Bug infestation is the presence of dark fecal spots on the undersides of affected leaves. These spots, often resembling cracked pepper, are a telltale sign of lace bug activity. Additionally, if you observe bronzing, silvering or metallic foliage, especially on the top of the leaf surface, it may indicate a severe infestation.

Autumn always feels a little low for me, I feel like my plants do, starting to pack up shop for the growing season. the gays are getting shorter the nights and days are getting cooler. Waking up and gardening in the mornings becomes a little harder. but realically when I think about the type of gardening that happens in Autumn its some of my favorite of all!

Easy 3 ingredient home-made tool disinfectant spray. Keep your garden tools clean and your plants healthy. Protecting them from pathogens and diseases!

Easily, the most divisive plants in the Blue Mountains local community are Agapanthus, or "aggies" as we call them. As a horticulturist, I have never seen as much division or uproar about a plant in my life. Personally, I have witnessed heated exchanges in the street between residents over their purple verge plantings. I’ve seen neighbors sneaking around in the dead of night armed with secateurs, beheading blooms before they get the chance to unfurl their petals.

These vibrant purple flowers effortlessly infuse your native landscape with immediate bursts of color and whimsy. Indigenous to New South Wales, they seamlessly complement various garden styles, radiating beauty in cottage gardens while flourishing in the untamed allure of native bush-blocks and coastal, windswept landscapes.

Mallee Eucalyptus have an attractive and unique habit makes them perfectly suited for Australian native and mediterranean style gardens. They aretough and drought tolerant making them ideal for waterwise gardens. They attract native birds and wildlife to your garden.

The Narrow-Leaved Mallee Ash, scientifically known as Eucalyptus apiculata, is a small tree belonging to the Myrtaceae family. With a compact habit as a Mallee, it typically reaches a height of 4-6 meters and spans a width of 3-4 meters. The tree produces charming flowers in various shades including white, cream, and yellow, with recorded blooming periods in January, March, October, and December. Thriving in temperate to cool-temperate climates, this species prefers full sun exposure and exhibits moderate frost tolerance while showcasing commendable drought resistance. The Narrow-Leaved Mallee Ash is adaptable to poor soils, particularly those comprised of sandstone. Its resilience and aesthetic appeal make it a noteworthy addition to diverse landscapes.

The Faulconbridge Mallee Ash, scientifically known as Eucalyptus burgessiana, is a small tree with a compact mallee habit. It typically reaches a height of up to 7 meters and spans a width of 3-5 meters. The plant is characterized by a lignotuber root system. Its flowers, appearing in white, cream, and yellow hues, bloom has been recorded in various months, including May, August, September, November, and December. Thriving in temperate climates, this species prefers full sun skeletal sand on sandstone soils with an Noteworthy for its frost tolerance and drought resistance, the Faulconbridge Mallee Ash is well-suited for garden styles inspired by Australian native or Mediterranean landscapes.

Eucalyptus cunninghamii, commonly referred to as Cliff Mallee-ash, is a shrub to small tree Ranging from 0.5 to 2 meters in height and 1 to 4 meters in width, this species features densely held foliage atop numerous stems and roots characterized by a lignotuber. Its delicate white and green-white flowers grace the plant in recorded intervals during April, September, and December. Thriving in the natural habitat of Blue Mountains' Mallee Heath, steep slopes, and cliff edges, this resilient species is naturally restricted to cool-temperate climates on the upper Blue Mountains. It flourishes full sun and tolerates light shade, and enjoys eroded skeletal sandy soil on sandstone. Notably frost-hardy and drought tolerant.

Eucalyptus Stricta, commonly known as the Blue Mountains Mallee Ash, is a small Mallee tree or mallee. This resilient plant, with a height ranging from 5 to 7 meters depending on the substrate, boasts a width of 3 to 5 meters. It forms roots system know as a lignotuber. The Blue Mountains Mallee Ash exhibits elegant small flowers on previous seasons growth in hues of white to cream. Thriving in temperate to cool-temperate climate zones, this species is somewhat versatile in its light requirements, flourishing in full sun and tolerating light shade. It proves to be hardy thriving in sandy, poor soils, with a preference for acidic to neutral pH levels. Notably frost-hardy, this plant showcases its hardiness in our tough australian climate.

Our houseplant spa day takes place over one day— one very busy day. Once the weather has warmed up enough and our houseplants are starting to wake up after their winter dormancy, We set aside a full day to give our plants a real treat! We pamper and preen them to get them ready for the growing season ahead.

Our gardens and many of our plants are in for a rude awakening! El Niño is back and the abundance of water is fast diminishing. This article will look in-depth at the signs you need to be looking out for and how to build resilience in your garden once again.

A beautiful reason to keep a live tree is that it will grow with your family throughout the years. It’s magical to look back and see photos of your tree with your family and know it’s the same majestic tree year on year sharing in the holiday spirit, it brings a sence of joy knowing our tree has been apart of years worth of fond memories.

Your tree needs a full sun position with even light. Full sun means a position that gets a minimum of 6 hours of direct sun light each day, the more the merrier. Even light refers to the plant being able to get the light from all aspects.