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  • 5/11/2025
Gardening Australia 2025 Episode 11
https://hdclump.com/gardening-australia-2025-episode-11/
Transcript
00:00.
00:10Ooh.
00:20Hey, money.
00:21Bravo!
00:23Yay!
00:30Hello and welcome to Gardening Australia.
00:36It's Mother's Day this weekend
00:38and I hope you get to spend some time in the garden
00:42with the matriarchs in your life.
00:45We've been hard at work cultivating a curated crop
00:48of incredible stories for you this week
00:51and I know you're going to love them.
00:56I'm going to introduce you to some big, showy, tropical
00:59native blooms, perfect for small gardens and courtyards.
01:04I reckon this is a lovely little fence
01:06and it's so easy to make by weaving hazelnut branches together.
01:11I'm going to show you how.
01:13I'm going to take a deep dive into shade in my garden
01:17to show you how to successfully grow plants
01:20even in the deepest, darkest recesses at your place.
01:25I'm visiting a garden in central Victoria.
01:27It's a gorgeous cottage style
01:29and it's been designed to celebrate every single one of the seasons.
01:46When 11-year-old Noah contacted Gardening Australia,
01:50you could say that the floodgates opened.
01:52We found a young man who avidly watches the show,
01:57has created his own edible and native garden,
02:00reads all the latest books on gardening
02:03and he's been doing it since he was seven years old.
02:11Noah lives in the New South Wales coastal village of Therool,
02:16south of Sydney.
02:16Hello.
02:32Costa, how are you?
02:34Good.
02:35How are you, Costa?
02:36Costa.
02:39I was not expecting this.
02:41And you did the floral beard.
02:43That is perfect.
02:44Rebecca.
02:46Hi.
02:47Hi, Lee.
02:48How's it going?
02:49Noah, what's the beard and hat all about?
02:54Well, we do this thing every year called Book Week at my school
02:58and we have to dress up as our favourite character from our favourite book
03:03and that year it was you.
03:06Oh, that is really special.
03:09What was the response like at school?
03:11Well, everyone just kept looking at me and I'm not used to that.
03:18And they were asking, what character are you?
03:20Then when I said Costa, they were like, oh, yes, I know him.
03:24Tell us, what's it like, Rebecca, to see Noah into gardening?
03:31Yeah, it's really special.
03:33It's so nice to know that he's not just inside on a device.
03:37I mean, I don't mind if his head's in a book reading gardening or whatever else.
03:42Yeah, it's just nice that he's got his hands in the soil and out in nature.
03:46It means a lot as a parent.
03:48Yeah.
03:49So can you remember when your interest in gardening began?
03:53When we walked up the road, I saw like lots of little verge gardens and stuff
03:59and that sort of motivated me to make my own.
04:04Oh, wow.
04:05Verge Gardens.
04:06That's my happy place.
04:07I love Verge Gardens.
04:09So shall we go and have a look?
04:11Sure, let's go.
04:12So, Costa, I would like to introduce you to some of my friends.
04:25That's Millie, Josh, Hannah and Costa.
04:29So your friends talking about those four olive trees.
04:33Yes.
04:33I've been watching Gardening Australia for a few years now
04:37and I've been inspired most by those four presenters.
04:43So, yeah, that's why I named them.
04:45Wow.
04:46I mean, they're going to make a beautiful screen across there
04:49and then you get to learn about pickling and preserving olives.
04:53Yes.
04:53Now, you realise I haven't had a tree named after me,
04:56so can I go and give myself a hug?
04:59Of course.
04:59Yes.
05:03Hello, Costa.
05:07I reckon we're going to be really good buddies.
05:10I think he's going to produce a really good harvest.
05:13I can feel it.
05:15Definitely.
05:18What else can I have a look at?
05:20Where did the garden all begin?
05:22So this bed, we did this in 2022
05:26and this was just as like an experimental bed.
05:30So we've got a verbena and an apple tree
05:33that we planted from a real apple, the seeds,
05:36and we just sowed them directly into the soil here.
05:41This has grown quite a lot since we first planted it,
05:45obviously because it was from seed.
05:47I think we're planning to probably pot it
05:50because it's lifting up the pavers here.
05:52These two raised beds look really healthy and happy.
05:58The first step was to remove all of the grass that was here
06:03and then we looked into building raised beds.
06:07So we looked into Hannah's book
06:10and learnt hugelkultur is a good method for nutrient-rich soil.
06:17It's a German mounding method.
06:20We used, like, old wood lying around
06:23and we placed that at the bottom of the bed
06:26and then watered it in to make it nice and soggy
06:29to hold nutrients in the soil.
06:32So what was your planting plan for these beds
06:35once you did all that preparation?
06:38Well, we knew green manure crops were good from your book,
06:42so that was a crop of cost lettuce and marigolds
06:46that we tilled into the soil
06:48and then let it sit for maybe three to four weeks.
06:52And then we could get planting with stuff like rainbow chard,
06:56silver beets, cost lettuce, chives, leeks
07:00and then later on crop rotation.
07:04Now, I can see the other raised bed over there
07:06has got plenty growing in it.
07:08So we've been saving the radishes for you to come and see.
07:14Whoa!
07:15Here's a big one here.
07:17Whoa!
07:18It's got a big split down the bottom.
07:21Look at that.
07:22That's a monster.
07:23How long's that been in for?
07:25I think about five weeks.
07:27Can I harvest this one?
07:28Sure.
07:29That one looks ready.
07:30Whoa!
07:31Look at it.
07:32Look at the colour.
07:33That's fantastic.
07:35I've also got some cucumbers
07:38that I wanted to show you over here.
07:40Oh, okay.
07:41Oh, yeah, I can see them.
07:43Have you been holding off on harvesting these as well?
07:46Yes.
07:47When did you plant these cucumbers?
07:49Well, about six weeks ago,
07:51so they're definitely ready to be harvested.
07:53Yeah, I think if you left them for another week,
07:55we'd be able to use them as a canoe.
07:57Yes.
08:00That's a beauty.
08:01Do you like cucumbers, Noah?
08:02Yeah, I love cucumbers in salads and stuff, yeah.
08:08Which variety is this one?
08:09This is a bush crop cucumber.
08:11Looking at all the flowers here,
08:13you're going to get a lot of cucumbers.
08:15Can you eat them all?
08:16What do you do with them?
08:17We usually share them with friends and neighbours.
08:21How do you feel when you get to share your produce?
08:24Well, it makes people lighten up quite a lot
08:29and they seem to love how it tastes.
08:33Noah, one of the best things about gardening
08:35is the give and take.
08:37And so I thought,
08:39I can't come to your garden without giving you something,
08:41so I've got some plants I want to share,
08:44which I think will help with pollination.
08:46Yes, thank you.
08:52Now, I don't know about you, Noah,
08:54but when I go to nursery, I can't help myself.
08:57And I thought, what, I'll buy you one or two plants?
09:00That's not enough.
09:02So I decided I'd buy you one plant for every year of your life.
09:06So is 11 correct?
09:08Yes.
09:09All right, well, we've got 11 plants here.
09:11There's plenty to choose from.
09:13And for this area,
09:14I wanted to get lots of wildflowers.
09:18So I thought we could start here
09:20and put in this beautiful pink spider grevillea.
09:24The native bees love this.
09:26Yes.
09:27It's actually almost purple, isn't it?
09:29Yeah.
09:29Oh, this is nice and sandy.
09:36Yeah, we spent a lot of time and effort
09:38trying to get good native soil.
09:47Also, this heart-leafed shaggy pea.
09:51And it'll spread all around
09:53and we can put other things in between.
09:56Well, Noah, thanks so much for showing me around your garden.
09:59I mean, I can't wait to see it
10:00continue to grow and develop over the years ahead.
10:04Thank you, yes.
10:05I'm quite excited as well.
10:11Noah's achievements grow on and on.
10:13He recently entered his garden
10:14into the Illawarra Edible Garden Trail
10:17and he's been asked to speak
10:19at Sydney's South Permaculture Group.
10:22This garden is his happy place.
10:24He loves getting his hands in the soil
10:27and who knows where gardening
10:29and growing will take him.
10:38Can I prune conifers?
10:41Absolutely.
10:42But it's best to do it lightly and a little.
10:46Most conifers don't respond well to a hard prune.
10:49If you cut too deep,
10:52it will reveal this dark brown wood
10:54where there is no fresh growth.
10:56Most conifers don't re-sprout from this old wood.
10:59So if you cut back to that layer,
11:01you can accidentally create dark, dead spots.
11:05Many will actually tell you
11:06how big they'll grow in 10 or 20 years on the label.
11:10So the best thing you can do
11:12is to choose the size and shape
11:14that suits your eventual requirements
11:15and then you don't have to do anything.
11:18Are Epsom salts good for plants?
11:21Epsom salts are often talked about
11:22as the miracle garden ingredient
11:24and they do cure magnesium deficiencies in plants,
11:27which shows itself as yellowing between leaf veins.
11:31However, steer clear of Epsom salts
11:33if the plant is healthy
11:34because it can cause leaf scorching
11:36and a buildup of unused salts in the soil.
11:39So treat your plants with a complete feed
11:42suited to their needs
11:43and save your Epsom salts for bath time.
11:46What's the white stuff on the interior of my terrarium?
11:49Well, it's most likely white mould or fungus mycelium
11:53and it's caused because the terrarium has been over-watered.
11:58Very often a terrarium becomes very humid and crowded
12:01with lots of leaves that die off,
12:04creating sort of decomposing matter
12:06and hence you get that excessive condensation,
12:09especially around the glass
12:10and that leads to the white mould.
12:13And so if you cut out the watering,
12:15just let it dry out,
12:16give it good air circulation,
12:18you'll find your terrarium will grow again.
12:21If you find that the whole terrarium
12:23is really masked with white mould,
12:26well, you'll have to start again.
12:27Take the plants out,
12:29get new plants, new soil,
12:30clean the glass really thoroughly
12:32and hopefully your terrarium will be fungus-free.
12:35While the hibiscus with big, showy, tropical blooms
12:46you usually see are from the Pacific Islands or China,
12:49we have about 40 species that are native to Australia.
12:53Native hibiscus are not only gorgeous,
12:55they're a useful flowering plant
12:57for any small garden or courtyard.
12:59They're low maintenance,
13:01yet brimming with fabulous multicoloured flowers
13:04for most of the year.
13:05There are plenty of options for your garden design
13:08and the great thing about them
13:09is they adore our climate.
13:12Here are some of my favourites.
13:14If you're looking for a small tree for a courtyard,
13:17hibiscus insularis is an excellent choice.
13:19It features dense growth, stunning flowers
13:22and its resilience makes it a top contender
13:25for warm coastal gardens
13:26as it can handle strong winds.
13:29Gerry loves his compact hibiscus hedge
13:31for the privacy it provides
13:33whilst also adding a structural boundary
13:35to his Brisbane garden.
13:37The extraordinary feature of this hibiscus
13:39is its eye-popping multicoloured flowers.
13:42These unique blooms appear from spring through to autumn
13:45and its long flowering season
13:46provides months of visual delight
13:49and attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies
13:51enhancing the garden's biodiversity.
13:55Gerry also uses them to make a delicious jam.
14:01Another stunning native hibiscus
14:03that never stops flowering
14:04is the lilac hibiscus,
14:06Aligine hujellii.
14:07This is the purple variety
14:09but it also comes in pure white,
14:11pink and a dwarf ground cover form.
14:14This native hibiscus is also drought tolerant
14:16and has become really popular in recent years
14:18for its silky mow flowers.
14:20Now I love these so much
14:22I've got one in my own backyard.
14:24It's native to South Australia
14:25and Western Australia
14:26and enjoys full sun
14:28and is happy in a range of soils
14:30and locations.
14:31Make sure you prune them back hard each year
14:33because the leggy growth
14:35tends to break off in windy conditions.
14:37So keeping the plant compact
14:38and choosing its location carefully
14:41will pay off.
14:42This plant grows between one and two metres
14:45and the funnel shaped flowers
14:46are open during the day
14:47encouraging pollinators
14:49to venture deep inside
14:50in search of nectar.
14:52The flowers close up at night
14:53to deter critters
14:54from destroying their pretty purple blooms.
14:56The petals are edible
14:58and have a lovely floral flavour
15:00when added to salads.
15:02Native hibiscus benefits
15:03from an annual application
15:04of organic poultry manure
15:06or organic pellets
15:07specifically for natives
15:08to support the plant's health
15:10promoting lush foliage
15:11and abundant flowering.
15:14Light pruning after flowering
15:15will keep the plant shapely
15:17and compact.
15:18So if you're looking for something
15:19a little different
15:20in the hibiscus family
15:21why not try one of these native beauties
15:23at your place?
15:26I'm a big fan of plants
15:37that can do more than one thing.
15:39I grow hazelnuts
15:40for their delicious
15:41and nutritious nuts
15:42but I also grow them
15:44because they produce
15:44these great water shoots
15:46which I can do fun projects with
15:47like weave this cool fence with.
15:50I reckon it looks pretty good.
15:51I reckon this guy
15:52looks pretty good too.
15:56The fence helps define
15:58our garden edges
15:59and it also stops
16:01our little dog
16:02from running through parts
16:03of the garden
16:04that I don't want him to.
16:06When you're getting started
16:07the first step
16:08for a simple fence like this
16:10is the posts
16:10that will anchor
16:11the woven stems.
16:13Something that you can drive
16:14easily into the ground
16:15with a mallet.
16:17Next, time to do some pruning.
16:19My hazelnut shrubs
16:23grow these water shoots
16:25every year
16:26also known as water sprouts
16:27I come and harvest them
16:28every winter
16:29unless I want to have them
16:31bigger and thicker
16:32in which case
16:33I prune them
16:33every second year.
16:34When you first prune them
16:54they're really nice
16:55and supple and bendy.
16:56I like to go
16:57for a width
16:58approximately close
16:59to my thumb
17:00because they're great
17:01to weave with.
17:01Prepare your stems
17:29just rip off any leaves
17:31and twigs
17:31and they're really good
17:33for mulching
17:33or composting.
17:44Once you've prepped
17:45your stems
17:46you can get weaving.
17:51These hazelnut branches
17:52are extra flexible
17:53but if yours are a bit stiff
17:55then you can actually
17:56soak them in water
17:56to make them nice
17:57and supple.
17:58And of course
17:59if they're really
18:00dead and dry
18:01don't bother using them
18:02because they'll just
18:03snap when you try weaving.
18:07Look now
18:07obviously this fence
18:08is pretty rustic
18:09but I'm cool with that
18:10because once I get
18:12all the different lengths
18:13and the thicknesses
18:14woven together
18:15I reckon it looks
18:16pretty good.
18:19One of the great things
18:20about a fence like this
18:21is that you can
18:22always undo it
18:23and start again
18:24if you don't like the look.
18:26As these water shoots
18:27are quite young
18:28I'm using every single
18:29bit of them
18:30which involves
18:31weaving their little tails
18:32back into the fence
18:33to keep it nice
18:34and secure.
18:37The other reason
18:37why I love this style
18:38of fence making
18:39is that it's so easy
18:41and needs minimal tools.
18:43All you need
18:43is your stems
18:44your stakes
18:45something to bang them in with
18:46like a mallet
18:47and off you go.
18:48The simple solutions
18:49are often the best.
18:52If you don't have
18:53hazelnut stems at hand
18:54you can also use
18:55twigs and branches
18:56that are nice
18:57and flexible
18:58and easy to bend
18:59like birches
19:00and wattles.
19:01In fact
19:02this style of fence
19:03is known
19:03as a wattle fence
19:05and the technique
19:06has been around
19:06for centuries.
19:12Now obviously
19:13this fence
19:13will not last forever
19:14but luckily
19:16my hazelnut shrubs
19:17have many years
19:18of life left in them
19:19which means
19:20each winter
19:20I'll keep harvesting
19:21these shoots
19:22to keep this fence
19:23going strong.
19:25Come on Lily.
19:27Come on boy.
19:29It's right here.
19:36Are you struggling
19:38with some of those
19:38darker spots
19:39in your garden?
19:41Well what you need
19:42in your life
19:42are some shady
19:44characters
19:45and Jerry's here
19:46with some surefire
19:48subtropical shady
19:49stunners.
19:55Most plants
19:57need sunlight
19:57to perform
19:58photosynthesis
19:59to create the energy
20:01they need to grow
20:02but not all light
20:04falls equally.
20:05At one end
20:06of the scale
20:07is full sun
20:08where light is abundant
20:10easy to capture
20:11and convert
20:12into food.
20:13At the other end
20:14of the scale
20:14where light
20:15is filtered
20:16weakened
20:17or obscured
20:17and it's difficult
20:18for plants
20:19to access it
20:20that is also known
20:22as full shade.
20:23There are various
20:24free smartphone apps
20:26which can chart
20:27the passage of the sun
20:28with a given location
20:30and season
20:31and I'm going to show you
20:33how I tackle shade
20:34in my garden
20:35where square meterage
20:37is definitely
20:38at a premium.
20:38What will work
20:44in dappled light?
20:46The signature
20:47planting I chose
20:48for my backyard
20:49is my
20:49Pandanus
20:50tectorius.
20:52This is
20:53textbook
20:53dappled shade.
20:55It's not
20:56full sun
20:56for six to eight
20:57hours a day
20:58nor is it
20:59full shade.
21:00This tree
21:01has given me
21:02the opportunity
21:02to grow plants
21:04that I otherwise
21:04wouldn't have
21:05and it's more
21:07hail resistant
21:08than a shade house.
21:10As it's matured
21:11I've pruned
21:11and shaped it
21:12to preserve
21:13the morning light
21:14it allows in.
21:15The result
21:16is the base
21:17of the tree
21:17is now a perfect
21:18microclimate
21:19of bright light.
21:21Littered at the base
21:22enjoying this light
21:23is a motley crew
21:24of various potted plants
21:26and hanging baskets
21:27bulging with orchids,
21:29cacti,
21:30ferns and bromeliads
21:31strung up with wires
21:33into the branches.
21:35Now if you don't have
21:36a feature Pandanus
21:37at home
21:38think jacaranda
21:39they're a classic
21:41example of dappled shade.
21:46And then there's
21:47other more challenging
21:48areas where there's
21:50no direct sunlight
21:51that's full shade.
21:54Shade adapted plants
21:55have evolved
21:55various methods
21:56to eke out a living
21:58on the darker end
21:59of available light.
22:01Things like growing
22:02huge ornate leaves
22:03to capture every
22:04tiny bit of light
22:05they can
22:06or using windows
22:08in their leaves
22:09to refract
22:10and amplify light
22:11or using particular
22:13colourful pigments
22:14to expand the type
22:16of light
22:16they can capture.
22:18Take this begonia
22:19for example.
22:20Beautiful plant
22:21grown for its foliage
22:23but begonias
22:24are forest floor dwellers
22:26and at the bottom
22:28of the forest
22:29there's not much light.
22:31Begonias are one
22:32of a group of plants
22:33which exploit
22:34a purple pigment
22:35on the undersides
22:37of their leaves
22:37and that makes them
22:39extra efficient
22:40at capturing sunlight
22:42which is bounced off
22:43the forest floor.
22:45I have a range
22:46of plants
22:47that thrive
22:47in the darkened
22:48corners of my garden
22:50everything from
22:51back-scratter gingers
22:52to mattress buttons
22:54but there's one
22:55that's got my
22:56begrudging vote
22:57for Miss Congeniality.
23:00I've become
23:01what I most wanted
23:02to avoid
23:03a hoarder
23:04of bromeliads
23:05because now
23:06I fully understand
23:08their irresistibility.
23:11They have such
23:12practical value
23:13they're colourful
23:14and have a predictable
23:16growth habit.
23:17They don't go crazy
23:19with growth
23:19and they don't
23:20sell seed.
23:22My garden
23:23is a testament
23:24to their adaptability
23:25and resilience.
23:28These rosette
23:29forming plants
23:30are available
23:30in every shade
23:32under the subtropical sun
23:33and their internal
23:34water well
23:35means they can
23:36store their own water.
23:38They're adapted
23:39to growing
23:39under the canopy
23:40of subtropical forests
23:42so they're an ideal
23:44fit for a dark
23:45corner that needs
23:46some visual interest.
23:48So if you've got
23:49a shady bed
23:50or border
23:51or pot
23:52slip in
23:53a bromeliad
23:54or two
23:54but be warned
23:56it is a slippery
23:57slope
23:57and you may
23:58become a hoarder
23:59just like me.
24:02An even bigger
24:03challenge is
24:04gardening in dry shade
24:06where you're dealing
24:07with two factors
24:08a lack of water
24:10and a lack
24:10of sunshine
24:11which are
24:12really important
24:13for healthy plant
24:14growth.
24:15But fortunately
24:15there's a couple
24:16of picks here
24:17which I can
24:18highly recommend.
24:19This plant
24:20is the crown
24:21of thorns
24:22and it's not a plant
24:23I would have expected
24:24to enjoy these conditions
24:26but
24:27as the pandanus
24:28has grown
24:29it's adapted
24:30and it's now
24:3120 years old.
24:33Its neighbour
24:34is this basket fern
24:36and it's a plant
24:37that I've loved
24:37ever since I was
24:38a child
24:39and you can see
24:40it's very happy
24:41growing here
24:42under the dry shade
24:43of this pandanus
24:45cookie eye.
24:46It grows on rocks
24:47trees
24:48and in soil
24:49and this fern
24:50can weather drought.
24:52It gets by
24:53on local rainfall
24:54and the stingiest
24:55of sunlight rations.
24:57Don't let shade
24:59hamper your attempts
25:00to garden.
25:01There is something
25:02for everywhere.
25:04With the ripe plants
25:05and a little bit
25:06of planning
25:06you can have
25:07a stunning display
25:09even in the deepest
25:10darkest corner
25:11of your garden.
25:17Still to come
25:19on Gardening Australia
25:20Josh adapts his garden
25:22to the changing needs
25:24of his growing family.
25:27We meet a pair
25:28of Pelargonium pals
25:30and we get you
25:32sorted out
25:33for the weekend ahead.
25:35Partnerships in the garden
25:43are always fruitful
25:44and when a gardener
25:46and a garden designer
25:47set their sights
25:48on a country cottage
25:50you know the fruits
25:51are going to be
25:52worth a look.
25:54Millie's taking the tour.
25:55I'm just over an hour's drive
26:03northwest of Melbourne
26:04in the beaut little town
26:05of Trentham.
26:08Not far from these
26:09historic shopfronts
26:10is a gorgeous
26:11country cottage garden.
26:13It's home to Rhonda Watson
26:22who's gardened here
26:24for the past four years
26:25after arriving in Trentham
26:26nearly a decade ago.
26:29In the morning
26:30I usually come out
26:30with a cup of coffee
26:31and do a bit of a twirl
26:33have a look at everything
26:35all the colours
26:35and see what
26:37the weather's doing
26:37look at the trees
26:38especially
26:39the big trees.
26:43I just love
26:44the way it moves
26:44and the colours
26:45and how it changes
26:47and the seasons.
26:47The garden
27:04was created
27:04by family friend
27:06horticulturist
27:07and designer
27:08Tim Pilgrim.
27:10I remember
27:11when Tim first came
27:13I said
27:14I can picture
27:14a winding path
27:16and I can picture
27:17mounds of soil
27:18and I'd like
27:19some grasses.
27:20That's all I said
27:21really.
27:22Yeah I think
27:23she put a lot of trust
27:24in kind of
27:25the aesthetic
27:25that you know
27:27in previous gardens
27:29I'd built.
27:30We'd talk about
27:30how wide we wanted
27:31the path
27:32and we'd walk down
27:33and just see
27:34I said I want
27:35wide enough
27:35for two people
27:36and we're always
27:37doing something
27:38together weren't we?
27:39Yeah I mean
27:39it's just as well
27:40that we made
27:41the paths that wide
27:42because you can barely
27:43get through them
27:44now.
27:44Yeah yeah yeah.
27:47But Rhonda's
27:49grandchildren
27:49always find
27:50a way through.
27:55The site
27:56did throw up
27:56some challenges
27:57when designing
27:58the garden.
28:00So tell me
28:00about this
28:01long narrow block.
28:04The house
28:04is taking up
28:05the southern boundary
28:06it runs east-west
28:08and takes in
28:09all of the northern light
28:10so we had this
28:12you know
28:12relatively short pocket
28:13thin strip
28:14eight metres wide
28:15in the kind
28:16of narrowest part.
28:18I think it was
28:18important from the
28:19narrowness of the block
28:20to insert those winding
28:21paths because it kind
28:22of gave us some depth
28:23that allowed us to
28:25kind of hill up some
28:26soil and add a bit
28:27more height and depth
28:27to the planting
28:28and it blends in
28:29really well now.
28:30I think the garden
28:31and the house sit
28:31nicely together.
28:32you've got
28:40not a great deal
28:41of depth here
28:42but looking over
28:42at that beautiful maple
28:43it feels like it's
28:45part of this garden.
28:46Yeah absolutely
28:46and we tried to
28:48borrow some of that
28:49in the garden
28:50so we injected
28:51some small trees
28:53to kind of play
28:53on the tree lines
28:54in the distance
28:55as well as some
28:56topiary form
28:56to kind of bring
28:57that formality
28:58and play with
28:59informality
29:00down to the ground.
29:01As much as I love
29:05the frothy
29:06free-flowing perennials
29:07I also like form.
29:10I think it almost
29:10makes the loose
29:12free-flowing stuff
29:13pop a bit more
29:14when there's contrast.
29:15Because you need
29:15something to kind of
29:16ground it don't you?
29:17Yeah.
29:17This is an absolutely
29:18bomb-proof plant.
29:20This is Teucreum
29:21fruticans
29:21from the Mediterranean
29:22region.
29:23Loves the wet soils
29:24here and the short
29:25seasons but yeah
29:26equally it likes it
29:28down in the goldfields.
29:29And I can see that
29:30you've almost
29:30repeated the shape
29:32of these gorgeous
29:33grey spheres
29:34with the clipping
29:35of the pears.
29:36Yeah.
29:37They're quite formal
29:37by themselves
29:38if they were
29:38you know
29:39framing entrance
29:40but as repetition
29:42there's kind of
29:43some whimsy
29:43playfulness about them
29:44kind of floating
29:45down the line.
29:46It's a garden
29:47that feels really
29:47emotive and
29:48like it moves
29:49around a lot
29:50but is there
29:51really a descriptive
29:52style to what you do?
29:54Well it's
29:55naturalistic I suppose
29:56if we wanted one word
29:57but it's all
29:58sight-dependent here.
29:59I got to use
30:00perennial plants
30:01that suited the climate.
30:02We're not planning
30:03for one scene
30:05for one time
30:06of the year
30:07we're trying to
30:08balance that out
30:09through the year
30:09so even when
30:10the herbaceous
30:11perennials come down
30:11there's that restful
30:13period when there's
30:13not much happening
30:14but we've got
30:14this evergreen form
30:16and structure
30:16in the topiary balls
30:17and shrubs
30:18and trees
30:19that kind of
30:20hold that
30:21until spring
30:22comes again.
30:22Not often
30:36when we say
30:37when's the garden
30:37at its best
30:38do people respond
30:40why don't you come
30:41when it's falling apart
30:42but that's exactly
30:44what you celebrate here.
30:45Absolutely
30:46it's the longest
30:47scene that we have
30:48long after colour
30:49has gone
30:50we rely on
30:51the form of
30:52seed heads.
30:53This one's
30:54an oregano
30:55so it's an ornamental
30:56oregano
30:57this is a rosencouple
30:58this one
30:59there's a few
30:59different forms
31:00but this is a really
31:00kind of nice
31:01high one
31:02you can use it
31:03for culinary purposes
31:04as well
31:05and it smells
31:05quite nice
31:06as you walk past
31:07or brush past it
31:08when it's like this.
31:08And the sea hollies
31:09are always
31:10they're gorgeous
31:11in bloom
31:11I can see a few
31:12hanging on there
31:13but then
31:14this fantastic
31:15thistley form.
31:16It's so great
31:17it's a real
31:17light catcher
31:18it looks excellent
31:20next to grasses
31:20and you only need
31:21one or two
31:22it's almost like
31:22the European teasel.
31:32Where did your
31:33interest in gardens
31:34come from?
31:35You're a central
31:35Victorian from birth
31:37yeah?
31:37Yeah yeah
31:38my grandparents
31:38were avid gardeners
31:39my father's a gardener
31:41I don't know
31:42I dropped out of school
31:43when I was
31:43in year 11
31:44you know
31:45I wasn't enjoying it
31:46and I jumped straight
31:47into a horticultural
31:48course
31:48at the TAFE there
31:50and didn't look back
31:51really
31:51my love is in
31:52plant composition
31:53I hope that my design
31:55is considered
31:56but for me
31:57it's really about
31:57the plants
31:58and the picture
31:58they create
31:59In amongst the plants
32:03Rhonda has added
32:04her own special touch
32:06I love this area
32:10Rhonda
32:10it feels like
32:10a little secret
32:12look
32:12actually
32:12it is one
32:13of my favourite
32:14parts
32:14because for the
32:15first 12 months
32:16it laid dormant
32:17just grass
32:18and then when Tim
32:19came back
32:20to cut down
32:21for the winter
32:21we said
32:22let's bring
32:23some of that
32:24garden up here
32:25right
32:26so it was left
32:26as an empty space
32:27yeah
32:28but I had already
32:29bought the bath
32:29and had
32:31organised an arbor
32:32so yeah
32:33it just all came
32:34together very simply
32:35and do you actually
32:36use this bath
32:37we do
32:38and the grandkids
32:39love it
32:39on a hot day
32:40and we've bathed
32:41the dog in it
32:42so yeah
32:43it gets used
32:44and what happens
32:45around the back
32:45I mean again
32:46there's only a narrow
32:47space there
32:48but it looks like
32:49it's really heavily
32:50planted
32:50yes
32:50and worked really well
32:52does it feel nice
32:54to have created
32:54this home
32:56and garden
32:56that everyone
32:56comes to
32:57yeah
32:57it really does
32:58it surprises me
32:59every day
33:00yeah
33:01Tim comes
33:09well
33:09once a year
33:10to cut it all
33:11back in the winter
33:12and before we know
33:13it spring will
33:14start popping
33:15but I get to come
33:16back
33:16and you know
33:17swan in
33:18and take photos
33:18and you know
33:20still be a part
33:22of it
33:22get my hands dirty
33:24and cut things back
33:25and if gaps need
33:26filling we can
33:27talk about that
33:28together
33:28so I feel like
33:29it's obviously
33:30it's Rhonda's garden
33:30but I get to feel
33:31like it's mine as well
33:32I'm not very good
33:33at letting go
33:34of gardens either
33:35so she probably
33:36won't get rid of me
33:37that's good
33:38growing your own homegrown
33:56veggies is always
33:57really rewarding
33:58and even as the
33:59temperatures start to fall
34:01there are still
34:02plenty of things
34:03that you can grow
34:03and if you're looking
34:05for something
34:05easy to grow
34:06versatile
34:07well
34:08look no further
34:09than the mighty kale
34:11it's been around
34:13for a very long time
34:15but came into vogue
34:16about a decade ago
34:17with kale
34:18it's all about
34:19the edible leaves
34:20which can be eaten raw
34:22sautéed
34:23in soups
34:24and stews
34:25and even baked
34:26into crispy kale chips
34:28unlike most members
34:30of the brassica family
34:32like this broccoli
34:33kale doesn't form
34:35heads or florets
34:36but it can be used
34:38as a cut and come again
34:39vegetable
34:40for something different
34:41in the garden
34:42kale really adds
34:43that difference
34:44of colour and texture
34:45this is a beauty
34:47grey leaves
34:48and I just love
34:50that purple
34:50of the stem
34:51a little bit bohemian
34:53if you like
34:53the green kale
34:55is equally lovely
34:56just got nice
34:57structure to it
34:58and a lovely green
34:59for winter
34:59and this one
35:00is terrific
35:01the purple burgundy kale
35:03very curly
35:05it looks like
35:05it's had a perm
35:06it's best to plant
35:08through the cooler months
35:09find a spot
35:10that gets full sun
35:11and use a rich soil
35:12or potting mix
35:13when planting
35:14throw in some compost
35:16and slow release
35:17fertiliser
35:17like you would
35:18with other leafy vegetables
35:20kale needs
35:21a good supply
35:22of nutrients
35:22especially nitrogen
35:24and of course
35:25keep up the moisture
35:26in the soil
35:27as the temperature
35:29warms up
35:29you'll find
35:30that the kale
35:30may go to flower
35:31and that means
35:32that the leaves
35:33can become bitter
35:34and rather tough
35:35so just eat them
35:36beforehand
35:37and as the seasons
35:38do change
35:39keep a watch out
35:40for cabbage white
35:42butterfly
35:42and aphids
35:43just check it
35:45all over
35:45so why not
35:49be cool
35:50and grow
35:50some crazy
35:51colourful kale
35:53gardens are never
35:59static
36:00they grow
36:01and change
36:01as our lives
36:02change
36:03whether that's
36:04due to a growing
36:05family
36:05or a newfound
36:07interest in different
36:08plants
36:08gardens evolve
36:10with time
36:10and Josh's garden
36:12well
36:12it's no exception
36:14when a garden
36:22is home
36:22to a young
36:22family
36:23it will
36:24change
36:24over time
36:25according
36:26to how
36:26the space
36:27is used
36:27my family
36:29has clocked
36:30up 11 years
36:31in this garden
36:31now
36:32so we've
36:33certainly
36:33experienced
36:34some of
36:34that change
36:35particularly
36:36how the kids
36:36interact
36:37with the garden
36:38well
36:38the next chapter
36:40is about
36:41to get underway
36:41with the kids
36:43being older
36:43now
36:44we're finding
36:45that we need
36:45more living space
36:46and less trampoline
36:48space
36:48so we're going
36:49to extend
36:50the footprint
36:50of the house
36:51just a little bit
36:52now that will
36:53mean losing
36:54a few square
36:55metres of garden
36:56but don't worry
36:57the new structures
36:58will incorporate
36:59plenty of greenery
37:00and in the meantime
37:02I need to set
37:03about moving
37:04some plants
37:04to get ready
37:05for the build
37:06when you think
37:08about it
37:09the process
37:10of relocating
37:11can be quite
37:12stressful
37:12cutting the roots
37:14reduces the plant's
37:15ability to access
37:16water and nutrients
37:18there are measures
37:20that can take
37:20some of the edge
37:21off transplant shop
37:22like preparing
37:23a new home
37:24before the plant
37:25leaves the old one
37:26a quick move
37:28is a good move
37:29timing
37:32is really important
37:34for example
37:35with evergreen plants
37:37like citrus
37:38it's best to move
37:39them when conditions
37:40are mild
37:41such as late autumn
37:42or early spring
37:44now it's also a good
37:46idea to give the plants
37:47a hard prune
37:49before you move them
37:50this kumquat is the
37:52first candidate
37:52for relocation
37:53now I'm going to cut
37:54about half of the
37:55material off
37:56to reduce the
37:57transpiration load
37:58on the plant
37:58in preparation
37:59for when I cut
38:00the roots
38:01and I've also given
38:02the root ball
38:02a really good soak
38:04before the move
38:05when digging out
38:14the plant
38:14you want to take
38:15as much of the root
38:16ball as practical
38:17a sharp shovel
38:19should cut cleanly
38:20through the outer roots
38:21although you may need
38:23secateurs
38:23or loppers
38:24for thicker ones
38:25lift it out gently
38:28keeping as much
38:29soil around the roots
38:30as possible
38:30and put it straight
38:34into the new hole
38:36backfill
38:40with free draining
38:41soil
38:41and water in well
38:43to flush out
38:44any air pockets
38:45as you go
38:45I'm giving the roots
38:55a drench
38:56with diluted
38:57liquid kelp
38:58which helps to reduce
38:59transplant shock
39:00I'll also give it
39:01a regular water
39:02until it starts
39:03to reshoot
39:04and settles in
39:05now the process
39:07looks a little bit
39:08brutal
39:08but trust me
39:09it will do
39:10just fine
39:11these viburnums
39:16are compact enough
39:17to buy me some time
39:18I don't have to
39:19make a decision
39:20on which garden bed
39:21they'll move into
39:22just yet
39:23after pruning them
39:24back
39:24I'm digging them out
39:26and transplanting them
39:27into pots for now
39:28they can be planted
39:30out later
39:30the trick
39:32is to use
39:33free draining
39:33potting mix
39:34keep them well watered
39:37and put them
39:38in a sheltered position
39:39until they've re-established
39:40grasses are easy
39:45to move
39:45and will re-establish
39:47quickly
39:47so I can do the same
39:48with these
39:49smaller mandras
39:50trim them back
39:52dig them out
39:53and pop them
39:54in quality potting mix
39:56a short stay
39:57accommodation
39:58these pots
39:59will do nicely
40:00for now
40:00friends have already
40:05put their hands up
40:05for these large
40:06lamandras
40:07and next weekend
40:08they'll be coming over
40:09to help dig them up
40:10and divide up the clumps
40:11for now
40:12I'm cutting them back
40:13hard
40:14in preparation
40:15but the dinellas
40:18they are coming out
40:19today
40:19I've got just the spot
40:22for them along the driveway
40:23now you might be wondering
40:27about the two bigger trees nearby
40:29the crepe myrtle
40:30and the quince
40:32being deciduous
40:34now is not the right time
40:35to relocate them
40:36I'll have to wait
40:37until the cooler months
40:39when they're closer
40:40to being dormant
40:40these will also go to friends
40:44but for now
40:45I'll give them
40:46a preparatory prune
40:48taking cuttings
40:52is another way
40:53to salvage plants
40:54especially from
40:55quick growing
40:56soft shrubs
40:57like this corrier
40:58the result being
41:00the cuttings
41:01become clones
41:02of the parent plant
41:03now
41:03I could also
41:04transplant
41:05a small corrier
41:06like this
41:07but I won't bother
41:08because I'll have
41:09so many plants
41:10from the cuttings
41:11this is one
41:14of the less
41:14strenuous methods
41:15of keeping a plant
41:17going in your garden
41:18not a shovel in sight
41:19you want each cutting
41:21to measure about
41:2210 centimetres
41:23and again
41:24take off most
41:25of the leaves
41:26to reduce moisture loss
41:28dip the bottom end
41:30in rooting hormone
41:31pop it into a pot
41:33filled with propagation mix
41:35and keep them moist
41:36in a sheltered position
41:38until they start to shoot
41:39and then pop them on
41:40until you're ready
41:41to plant them out
41:42sometimes gardens
41:48go through change
41:49and sometimes
41:50you'll just put something
41:52in the wrong spot
41:53don't be afraid
41:54to move plants
41:55if you need to
41:56with the right preparation
41:57and aftercare
41:58they're likely to handle
42:00the change just fine
42:01and be ready
42:02for the next chapter
42:03you'll see you next time
42:05next time
43:44Collecting plants is one thing, but when you start joining plant groups and meeting like-minded
43:50people, you realise that what really matters is the friends you collect along the way.
43:56Our next story is with a duo who are dedicated to a plant that's a garden classic, but they're
44:04taking things up a notch.
44:06Sometimes I drive long distances because of my love of plants, but today it's just a short
44:20drive.
44:21I'm visiting a friend who loves plants as much as I do.
44:25Hi, Janet.
44:34Look what I got.
44:35How are you?
44:36I'm fine, thank you.
44:37Look what I got at the sale.
44:38I brought you some cuttings.
44:40But that's another one to add to our collection.
44:43I'm Janet Martin.
44:44And I'm Jenny Brennan.
44:45And together we love pelargoniums.
44:49She's a beautiful flower.
44:50I think the variety of pelargoniums available to us to grow is just breathtaking.
44:58And the flowers are so different from each type of pelargoniums.
45:02The pelargonium family stretches from what people call geranium, which really isn't a geranium
45:23that everybody has in their garden, to ivies.
45:27And then we have species and perfume flowers and perfume plants.
45:33We have different types of colours of leaves.
45:37And it just goes on and on and on.
45:3920 years ago, I bought 10 plants.
45:43Those 10 just started an obsession that I've never recovered from.
45:48And I've loved them ever since.
45:50You could never be bored with them.
45:52The problem is stopping because you just want to collect them all.
45:56Yeah.
45:57When I started collecting them, I found there were background stories behind many of these
46:06plants, which is really interesting.
46:08And I loved finding out about the people who had bred the plants or collected the plants and
46:14brought them here.
46:16Jenny has a different role entirely.
46:18She does all the growing.
46:20She grows from seeds.
46:21She propagates.
46:22She grows them on.
46:23And then she sells them.
46:24She sells them all around WI.
46:26Which is great, because I just want to collect them, really.
46:31I have a Facebook page, Perth Pelargoniums and Geraniums.
46:35On that page, I've invited experts from all over the world who also contribute information.
46:43And now you can put it into the pot.
46:47I do small tutorials to show people how to do cuttings.
46:50It doesn't matter if it goes on the outside, just so long as it gets wet.
46:55That's it.
46:56Talk to people about the best ways to grow, how to keep their plants alive, what will make
47:03them flower more than any other way.
47:05We take it at an order.
47:08I have made amazing friends through that group.
47:11It's been wonderful.
47:12One day I posted a sale in the page, Janet's page.
47:17And then he said, oh, coming to my house, I have lots and lots, hundreds of them, different
47:24colour review.
47:25He gave me all, many lots of cuttings and from then, I bought all my collection from
47:31Janet.
47:32That's the start of the friendship with Janet.
47:35One of my favourite called Rainbow Hannah Jane.
47:38Yes.
47:39I love that one too.
47:40It's the nicest flower.
47:41You're wanting to have a flower on your plant, you need to have it in a good potting mix.
47:47You need to have it six hours minimum in the sun for it to flower.
47:52And you need to not overwater it.
47:54That's what kills most of them.
47:56The seeds are all coming off.
47:57Yeah.
47:58They will go without water for a long time.
48:01For Perth, they're a perfect plant because they are actually South African plants.
48:05So they're used to the heat and our conditions.
48:08That's why I want to bring them back to be more popular again, because they are very beautiful
48:14and easy to grow and then you just stick them in the floor and then just, yeah, that's
48:19why I love them because they are drought to our lands.
48:22The real name for them is Pelargonium, but now people call them as the geranium and then,
48:32I don't know why, but maybe Janet can explain it.
48:35He know about this one because I not really know about the history.
48:39I just, that's why.
48:41She just likes to grow them.
48:42Yeah.
48:43I just love to grow them, but I'm not really know about them.
48:45Okay.
48:46So the Pelargonium is the species that covers the umbrella of all these different plants.
48:55We have geranium as part of it, but a true geranium does not look like a Pelargonium and it has
49:01a different style of leaf altogether.
49:04The Geranaceae family is vast and we've even got succulent members of the family.
49:12I think about a hundred years ago, they decided to split it into Pelargonium and true geraniums.
49:18Most people don't know the difference.
49:20So all of the plants we are growing here with a few exceptions are Pelargoniums and not geraniums.
49:27The main one that most people will know is the zonal Pelargonium and that's the one people put in the gardens.
49:36It has a leaf like this with a dark zone around it, but nowadays you can buy them with all sorts of differences
49:44like a variegation like this one, which has the cream on it.
49:48And then we can move on to this one, which is a species and they will grow in your garden just as well.
49:55In fact, they're really happy in the garden and they come in all different colours.
49:59So this is a scented variety.
50:02The oils are distilled and used in almost every perfume that you'll have ever bought before.
50:08And then we have the ivies, which are the ones that I have collected in the past and they just go on and on.
50:16Even within one type of Pelargonium, you have different types of flowers.
50:22So this is a rosebud flower on an ivy, but this one isn't, it's a double.
50:27And this one is a veined variety.
50:29Now what happens with this?
50:30It has a benign virus introduced into the stem and that causes the veins to go light coloured in the winter.
50:38A lot of people love having regals.
50:44They are called regals because their flower is the biggest of all of the Pelargonium family.
50:50In the springtime, they grow in a mass on the top of the plant.
50:55There's even miniature ones of these called angels.
51:01I grew up in Glasgow.
51:03My mum was a very keen gardener.
51:05She loved her garden, she liked her roses.
51:07When I came to Australia, I felt I'd come to the other side of the moon
51:11because the plants were so foreign to me.
51:14It was like looking at something I'd never experienced in my life before.
51:18So it's been a big learning curve for me being here.
51:23And I've loved every minute of it because I think the plants here are just fantastic.
51:31I grew up in Sumba, Indonesia, called Sumba Timur.
51:36My parents, they are farmers.
51:38I grow mostly the ivy one.
51:42And I grow sonal and regalus.
51:44I bred my own as well.
51:45And this one I have bred guys from myself.
51:48It's called Madame Lorraine Brennan.
51:51I named her after my beloved mother-in-law who passed away just one and a half a year.
51:58So I named after her.
52:03I have two boys.
52:05I think the first one is mostly interesting in what I'm doing.
52:15He loves gardening as well.
52:18I love the fact that we play different parts but we work very closely together as a partnership.
52:25I always have something new from her.
52:27Every time she got new ones, she always give it to me to grow.
52:36That's why I build a collection.
52:38My partner in crime is definitely Jenny.
52:41I talk to people about my partner and I mean Jenny and not my husband.
52:46She's generous and she's very willing to help no matter what is going on.
52:51She'll say to me, if you're too busy, I'll come and look after your plants.
52:54It's flowered.
52:55Oh really?
52:56Yes.
52:57She's beautiful.
52:58And I know I can rely on her to have looked after the plants I've given her so that we can have them to share with as many people as possible.
53:07I love your loading shovels, Alex.
53:08Oh they're great.
53:09Nice and light.
53:10It's good for some winter mulching.
53:11Yeah.
53:12So load up everyone.
53:13Here comes your list of jobs for the weekend.
53:28In cool areas, persimmons are starting to ripen.
53:38Remember, astringent varieties can only be eaten when fully ripe.
53:42The skin will be translucent and the flesh like jelly.
53:46Flowering now are native prostanthra.
53:49With heaps of species and cultivars available, why not find room for these adaptable showy cottage perennials at your place?
53:59If the rain has your garden paths turning into mud, lay down some wood chip mulch to stop the slip and save the soil underneath.
54:07In warm temperate areas, if your dahlias are finishing flowering, cut off the heads to stop energy being spent on producing seed.
54:16Try growing warm season herbs like basil on a sunny kitchen windowsill to extend the season.
54:23Looking to keep aphids out of your veggie patch?
54:26Plant out trachymean incisor.
54:28Their large flat white flowers will bring in the predatory beneficials.
54:33In the subtropics, Musayenda hybrids are putting on a lurid show of autumn colour.
54:39They can suffer from nutrient deficiency, so apply liquid fertiliser at half strength to keep them glowing.
54:47As we head into drier weather, top up mulch around plantings and throw down some pelletised manure to stop nitrogen drawdown.
54:56Now's a good time to take cuttings from begonias.
55:00Put cuttings into equal parts of coconut fibre, potting mix and sand and expect new plants by spring.
55:08In the tropics, cutlias are putting on a jaw-dropping show.
55:13Fertilised with a weak dilution of specialty orchid fertiliser every week to keep them going.
55:20Also flowering is lemon myrtle.
55:23Its fragrant creamy white flower is a beacon for butterflies and bees.
55:28Tip prune after flowering to prevent seed setting.
55:32Hoyas are a tropical must-have.
55:34They're tough climbers that don't need much space and are well suited to your veranda or keeping your company indoors.
55:43In arid zones, if you're looking for some shade and a sweet crop, plant a grapevine.
55:49Seek out heat-tolerant cultivars which will do better in your climate.
55:55In the flower garden, annual flowers like violas, poppies and delphinium can all be planted now.
56:02Lettuce can continue to be planted now.
56:05Plant every fortnight for a staggered harvest.
56:08It's go time in the garden, so let's get to it.
56:13And remember, if you ever get stuck, you can always head to our website for all the how-to you need.
56:19Well, that's all we have time for this week, but the next crop is well and truly on its way.
56:31Take a look.
56:33I've got some great tips for making the grass greener on your side of the fence.
56:39I'm meeting a group of volunteers whose weekly social catch-up is helping to rebuild ecosystems.
56:47And I'm going to show you how to create your own little piece of high country in your backyard.