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Gardening Australia 2025 Episode 23
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00:00Every day, everybody is going to be a good boy!
00:01I'd never forget to check on the rest of the day.
00:02I'm going to go to the next video!
00:04Hi, honey!
00:05Hey, honey!
00:06Maybe I'm gonna do a long time.
00:07Hey, honey!
00:08My boy!
00:09Hey, honey!
00:10Hey!
00:11Hey!
00:12Hey!
00:13Hey!
00:14Hey!
00:15Hey!
00:16Hey, honey!
00:17Hey!
00:18Hey!
00:19Hey!
00:20Hey!
00:21Hey!
00:22Hey!
00:23Hey!
00:24Hey!
00:25Hey!
00:26Hey!
00:27Hey!
00:28Hey!
00:29Hello and welcome to Gardening Australia.
00:36The air is crisp, the light is clear
00:39and it's a beautiful time to be outside.
00:42We've got a cracking show for you this week.
00:45Here's what's in store.
00:49Camellias in the cooler weather brighten up a drab day
00:52and whilst their flowers are fabulous,
00:54they're not well known for their fragrance.
00:56But I'm going to show you some sweet-smelling camellias
00:59to try at your place.
01:01I'm here on stunning Lower Eyre Peninsula
01:04to meet locals that are dedicated to protecting
01:07and regenerating the vegetation
01:09along this wild and gorgeous stretch of coastline.
01:13I'm going to give you the how and why of thinning seedlings
01:17so you can ensure a bountiful and diverse crop.
01:21And we meet some legends of the Australian native plant scene.
01:25It's just like stepping back into a wild sort of a bushland area
01:31but with gardens dotted through it.
01:42Mount Crosby on the western outskirts of Brisbane
01:45is a suburb of bush blocks and spectacular views.
01:49It can be a challenging location for gardeners.
01:55But 11 years ago, horticulturist Claire Bickle
01:58moved here with her young family.
02:00Claire Bickle!
02:02Costa!
02:03Welcome!
02:03I finally get to see your garden.
02:06I know.
02:06Let's have a look.
02:07I'm pumped!
02:09I've known Claire for over a decade.
02:12We bump into each other regularly at gardening shows and events.
02:15Today, I'm in for a treat.
02:19Claire's invited me to see her home garden.
02:23So, what was your vision and idea
02:26when you first set eyes on this place?
02:28I guess it was finally we had our own big block of land
02:32to plant all those plants that I love.
02:35So, what was here when you first arrived?
02:38Not a lot.
02:39It was a huge expanse of dirt
02:41to consider what was going to plant where.
02:44The two-acre block was a lot for Claire and her husband to take on,
02:49with three young children in tow.
02:51There was a lot of juggling of children and money,
02:55so we sort of thought,
02:57what's the most important section?
02:58And that's the eating section.
03:00So, we started with the veggie patch.
03:03Oh, I love the frame here.
03:06Welcome to our engine room.
03:08This is great.
03:09Great.
03:11This is where all the edible stuff happens.
03:16So, how did this begin?
03:19So, there was nothing here.
03:20They'd had a horse on this property for nearly 25 years.
03:24So, lots of lovely ironbarks and brush boxes,
03:27but understory gone, you know,
03:28and trampled really hard soil.
03:30So, my wonderful partner, Carl,
03:32actually hand-terraced this whole area.
03:35And there's so much in here.
03:37Tell us a little bit about what you've got growing.
03:39We're busy, so we both work full-time, three kids.
03:42So, it's kind of got to be easy.
03:44And we kind of try and aim to have something to pick all the time.
03:47So, there's eggplants and tomatoes,
03:49as we head into the warmer season,
03:51the coriander's starting to flower and finish.
03:54But we also have edible flowers and herbs in here
03:56and artichokes, mustard, sweet potato in here,
04:00more for the foliage than the tubers.
04:03And over here, your lettuce.
04:05Yeah.
04:06It's happy.
04:07It's huge.
04:07So, it's probably getting towards the end,
04:09but I always let lettuce be.
04:12Yeah.
04:12Let it go to flower,
04:13because all the pollinators love those flowers,
04:15and the little native bees can still get through our netting
04:18and so forth.
04:18So, this is an important part of why it looks so good.
04:22Yeah.
04:23Well, we have possums and bush turkeys and bandicoots and bush rats,
04:28and even then, they'll sometimes chew through our wire.
04:32But it helps as a preventative.
04:35This is such a rich, green smorgasbord.
04:39So, yeah, we've got a mixture of perennial and annual greens
04:42and really lean into a lot of the sort of subtropical greens as well.
04:48That's the East Timor lettuce,
04:49so that's a really good subtropical lettuce.
04:52One leaf.
04:53Yeah, it's huge.
04:54There's your salad for two.
04:56And up here is our Salon Hill Goodsbury
04:59with its little pink flowers.
05:02And the fruit, about the size of your thumbnail.
05:04They're like raspberry jam.
05:06Just really delicious.
05:07Grape.
05:08Isabella grapes do really well here,
05:09so if you want some dolmades.
05:10Well, that's exactly it.
05:11I'm looking at these nice young leaves.
05:14Lovely for wrapping.
05:15I'm rolling.
05:16Yeah.
05:16I'm rolling already.
05:17It's probably the best in subtropical climates.
05:20And this is kind of a bit of turning into a bit of a forest
05:23because we've got grapevine,
05:24we've got clumps of bananas,
05:26we've got sugarcane.
05:28So were there any fruit trees here originally?
05:30On this bank, there was one mandarin tree
05:34and one macadamia nut.
05:37That was it.
05:38We realised that, you know, when it rained,
05:40we could literally see the soil washing down into the gully,
05:44so we swaled the area.
05:47Swales are trenches dug into a slope to slow the run of water.
05:52It made such a difference to this success
05:55and everything sort of took off.
05:56We have your stock standard citrus,
06:00so we have, you know, oranges, mandarin, lemon, Tahitian lime,
06:03but we've also got mango, we've got whompies,
06:06we've got grumachamas, sea grapes, pomegranate,
06:10custard apple, low-shell stone fruit, jackfruit, black sapotes.
06:14Wow, pomegranate looks happy.
06:17We find up here they have a really full cropping year,
06:20then the second year, maybe not so many,
06:22third, OK, you know, that three-year cycle.
06:25Any favourite fruit that you've been most happy with?
06:27Yeah, yeah.
06:27We've got a soursop, which is related to the custard apple.
06:31I love soursop so much, I've actually planted a second one.
06:34Growing fruit trees in a subtropical climate,
06:37you know, tears, heartache, harsh words, guilt.
06:41What have you done?
06:42I suppose our biggest handbrake in our climate
06:45is the Queensland fruit fly and the fruit-piercing moth,
06:48so we have little exclusion bags that we put on.
06:51But then again, I find even having these on,
06:55if the bags are close enough to the fruit,
06:57the fruit fly will even reverse up,
07:00so you've really got to be on your game.
07:03Claire's feathered friends are also part of her orchard defence team,
07:07controlling weeds and pests and eating fallen fruit.
07:18Claire has created an incredible ecosystem here in just 11 years.
07:24Her passion for gardening was inspired by a very early mentor.
07:29My grandmother was a very big influence.
07:32She's still alive, she's 96,
07:33and Mimi is, you know, she was one of the founding members
07:37of the Australian Native Orchid Society.
07:39She was one of the first members of the Camellia,
07:42Queensland Camellia Society,
07:43and a lot of my childhood was spent with her.
07:46So the crepe myrtleman, that's just about to come into full flower.
07:51The buds on that are just covered in buds.
07:55Yeah.
07:55I think probably the greatest gift that she's given me
07:59and my family has in general,
08:01is to have and instil that curiosity of nature.
08:05So, yeah, that's going to be a picture.
08:07That's lovely.
08:08Yeah.
08:08So that's my hymenosporum flava,
08:14the native ranger penny.
08:16And I planted that as a tube stock probably nine years ago,
08:20and my grandmother had that planted outside her bedroom window.
08:23So, for me, it's such a familiar smell.
08:27I think a garden's not only memories of childhoods
08:31and, you know, from my father, who was from the south of France,
08:34you know, I have lavender and I have olives
08:37and things that remind me of him.
08:39My dad actually made those little ceramic houses on those chairs.
08:44He passed away a couple of years ago, so it's kind of nice.
08:46It's kind of like having him in the garden a little bit as well.
08:49So where does this front garden fit into the overall scheme of things?
08:54Well, this is probably the newest part of the yard that we've overhauled.
08:58It faces west. It's quite a hot spot.
09:01The soil's not the best up here on the highest part of our property.
09:05And I think that's one of the things when people say
09:07you can't have a cottage garden in subtropical Brisbane.
09:10It's like, well, you can.
09:11You just have to choose species of plants that will tolerate that.
09:15I can see you've got a real mix of flowering plants through here.
09:19Yeah, I kind of think that's a bit reflective of me and my personality.
09:23You can plant all sorts of things together
09:25as long as they have the same requirements.
09:28You know, I know I say no-one is going to come and knock on your front door
09:30and go, excuse me, Claire.
09:32We can see that you have an echeveria planted next to a curry bush
09:36and then there's a lemon tree.
09:37You know, that's not allowed.
09:38We're going to fine you for that, you know.
09:40There is no garden place that are going to do that to you.
09:42So you can plant whatever you like.
09:43A garden really is your place to play.
09:46Some of the really hardy salvias.
09:49I love salvias.
09:50The bees love them all, the pollinators.
09:53We've got dahlias, you know, the tree dahlias.
09:57They do well.
09:58But interspersed with native grasses
09:59and things that are just going to keep on surviving.
10:03The old shrimp plant.
10:04Shrimp plant.
10:05That is my mum's mum.
10:09Oh, I'm there.
10:10I know exactly where it was at her house.
10:13Yeah, gee, that's really special for me.
10:15Like Claire, my grandparents were a big influence
10:22on my love of gardening.
10:24I'd give anything to be able to sit with them today
10:27and share some of those memories.
10:31The question is,
10:32who do I give first bite of the lemon myrtle cake to for comment?
10:38I feel like I should go straight to you, Mim.
10:42Oh, you should, should you?
10:43So it's pretty special to be here now
10:48with Claire's grandma, Mimi,
10:51whose passion is alive and thriving
10:53in the younger generation.
10:56You're not governed by rules.
10:59You're governed by what you want.
11:01What you want to grow.
11:03So what's it like to see your eclectic ways
11:08passed down into Claire?
11:10Oh, it's what I expected.
11:15It was never going to be any other way.
11:18No.
11:19No.
11:20I'll bring the mayonnaise.
11:20Sweet potatoes are such a great crop.
11:31But can you eat them when they get large?
11:34Well, this one's probably just big enough and good to eat now.
11:37Some crops, like cucumbers and zucchinis and squash,
11:41the bigger they get, the woodier they get,
11:43and they're horrible.
11:44But not sweet potatoes.
11:46You can eat the big ones.
11:47So go for it.
11:49How do I grow dahlias in the subtropics?
11:52Dahlias love plenty of sunshine and good air movement.
11:56They also love good drainage.
11:58So the best way to grow them,
12:01well-dug, compost-rich, fertile soil,
12:04but don't put too much compost in
12:07because when we get summer rain,
12:09it'll hold on to that moisture a little bit too long
12:12and they may rot.
12:14As a tip, I would put them in a mound,
12:17maybe five centimetres above the soil level,
12:20so when you do get really wet weather,
12:22that water drains away from the base.
12:24Otherwise, they're great.
12:27How do you care for your maidenhair ferns?
12:29They're possibly one of the most popular
12:32of indoor plants and fernery-type plants.
12:35And maidenhair plants, they're just gorgeous.
12:37They look delicate,
12:38but they're actually quite tough and hardy.
12:40Beautiful black stems and this green foliage.
12:43This is one that's a different form
12:45with tiny, minute little leaves,
12:48and this is more of a curly form,
12:50but they're all the adiantums,
12:51the maidenhair ferns.
12:53And to look after them,
12:54they need to have beautiful sunlight,
12:56but not direct hot sun burning their leaves.
13:00They need to be kept moist and away from draughts,
13:03and that's a really important thing.
13:05Once they've found a good spot to live in your house,
13:07they'll be very happy.
13:09And if you ever notice that the leaves
13:11are dying off or browning,
13:13just cut them back to above
13:14those dear little fronds down there.
13:21Let's catch up with Tammy now,
13:23who's reintroducing us to some old-fashioned garden favourites
13:28that have been harbouring a secret talent
13:31for all these years right under our noses.
13:37Ah, winter.
13:40In the cooler months when flowers are few and far between,
13:44camellias bring the party.
13:46Centre stage, they brighten up drab days
13:48with bold blooms and a backdrop of glossy green foliage.
13:51Sydney gardeners just love camellias.
13:56And with our warm, temperate climate just right,
13:58they grow in suburbs from north to south,
14:00from east to west.
14:02And I'm visiting a nursery in the Hills District
14:04on the outskirts of Sydney,
14:06where they're busy keeping up with the demand.
14:10Camellias bloom from autumn into early spring.
14:14A display bench here at the nursery
14:15of freshly picked flowers
14:17hints at the huge range of species and cultivars available,
14:21from the fabulous, the fancy and frilly
14:25to the variegated varieties.
14:28But I'm on the trail for a fragrant camellia,
14:31and they're harder to come by.
14:34In fact, of the roughly 250 wild camellia species,
14:38there's only a special handful that have fragrance,
14:41and they're sensational.
14:43Camellia luchuensis is a species with delicate white blooms
14:54that are tickled pink on the underside.
14:56And the fragrance
14:57can be described as like cloves, a bit spicy.
15:02This little wonder will charm those detractors
15:05who find showy camellias a bit too ornate.
15:08It's got a slightly weeping habit
15:10and can get up to two and a half metres tall.
15:13And it's behind a number of fragrant cultivars,
15:16like this one here at the nursery.
15:19High fragrance is a good example
15:21of the dedication it takes
15:22to bottle that elusive fragrance
15:24and put it into a new plant.
15:26Renowned breeder of scented camellias,
15:28James Finlay, in New Zealand,
15:30took over 22 years
15:32to get high fragrance over the line.
15:35It has a big, loose, ruffled, pale pink flower
15:38and smells like a sweet rose.
15:41With a strongly upright, open habit,
15:44you could try it in a mixed planting,
15:46like here in the woodland garden.
15:50This cultivar has been turned into a hedge.
15:53It's called Monato no Acabono,
15:55and its blooms smell sweet and spicy.
15:59Blooms are lovely in their understated elegance,
16:02with petals in shades of pink and bronze centres.
16:06It'll get up to about a metre and a half to two metres
16:08and has a gentle drooping habit.
16:11To use as a hedge or screen,
16:13plant each one about a metre apart.
16:16Growing here, it's a typical tricky spot
16:18many people have,
16:19between a building and a boundary.
16:21Camellias are so suitable
16:22because they have shallow roots
16:24and they'll not disturb the brickwork or foundations.
16:27All it needs is a light trim after flowering
16:29to keep it narrow and shapely.
16:37Now, this one looks pretty similar to Monato,
16:40with its simple, unfussy flower.
16:42But it's actually Kouto no Kiori,
16:44and it has a delightful fragrance.
16:48It has an upright, semi-open form
16:50and grows to about two metres.
16:54Camellias are versatile.
16:56If you've only got room for something small,
16:57there's fragrant varieties for containers.
17:02Spring mist grows into a medium-sized evergreen shrub,
17:05and its spreading open habit
17:07lends itself beautifully to a large pot.
17:10It also flowers for a long period.
17:13This cultivar is Sweet Emily Kate,
17:16and it's beautiful as well as worth sticking your nose in,
17:20with an abundance of miniature flowers
17:22and a cinnamon fragrance.
17:25It gets to about one to one and a half metres tall,
17:28and about a metre wide.
17:30And it's quite slow growing,
17:31and forms this bushy habit,
17:33so it's perfect for growing under trees
17:35and also in containers.
17:39Camellias love a well-drained,
17:42slightly acidic soil.
17:44Your local nursery will stock
17:46a specially formulated potting mix
17:48for plants like camellias
17:49that prefer slightly acidic growing conditions.
17:53Now I'm taking this camellia out of its pots.
17:58And this container is wide enough
18:00to allow the shallow roots
18:02to spread out and grow.
18:05Now I'm backfilling with the mix
18:06and topdressing with a thin layer of compost
18:10and leaf mulch.
18:12Camellias come from forested woodland areas
18:18and love rich, fertile growing conditions.
18:21The mulch mimics their natural environment
18:23and keeps their roots cool and moist.
18:26A good quality potting mix
18:27will have enough slow-release fertiliser
18:29for the next six months,
18:31but growing forward,
18:32feed your camellias at least twice a year,
18:34after flowering in spring
18:35and again in early autumn.
18:37Use a camellia-specific feed,
18:39like this pelletised fertiliser.
18:43Water in and keep moist,
18:45especially during summer.
18:47But they're not bog plants,
18:48so you don't need to drown them.
18:51They're best in a sunny
18:52or partly shaded position
18:54and protect from cold wind
18:56and hot afternoon sun.
18:57And you can lightly trim
18:58to shape in spring after flowering.
19:02Whilst fragrant camellias
19:03might be overshadowed
19:04by big, bold cultivars,
19:06once you get your nose in,
19:07the scent of these beautiful flowers
19:09on a crisp morning
19:10is one of the best things
19:11about getting outside.
19:20One of Australia's
19:21grandest bush tucker trees
19:23is the macadamia.
19:25And the nuts are as famous
19:26for their rich flavour
19:27as they are for their hard shells.
19:30Macadamias can be a tough nut to crack
19:32and pretty dangerous
19:33if you're not sure
19:34what you're doing.
19:35But the reward is sensational.
19:39But going hell for leather
19:41sprays the goodness
19:42far and wide.
19:46You need a method.
19:49Now, my dear old Pop told me
19:51when I was a little kid,
19:52hit it on the navel,
19:54split perfectly,
19:55nut stays intact.
19:56The navel, of course,
19:57is where the nut joins
19:59to the tree.
20:00Pop's method does
20:01take a little effort.
20:02Oh, finger.
20:03And there is a tiny snag.
20:06You do run the risk
20:07of hitting yourself
20:07on the malmenigas.
20:09But I do have a solution.
20:11The humble pull noodle.
20:13Of course, you still want
20:14to hit it on the navel
20:14or at least the seam,
20:15so we slide it in.
20:17We need a bigger hammer
20:19for this.
20:21Mallet, perfect.
20:23Noodle, nut, mallet.
20:26Whack.
20:32Oh, there you have it.
20:35Macca, whacka, noodle.
20:37Macca, noodle, whacked, eaten.
20:45Next week is Landcare Week,
20:48a time to celebrate
20:49our community
20:50environmental organisations
20:52and the care they put
20:54into preserving and protecting
20:56our precious natural world.
20:59Sophie's hitting the road
21:00to catch up with a group
21:02doing just that
21:03in one of her favourite places
21:06in Australia.
21:06This is beautiful Greenlee Beach
21:14in Coulter
21:14on the west coast
21:16of South Australia's
21:17Eyre Peninsula.
21:20It's a wild and windswept place
21:22with alluring rock pools
21:24and white sands.
21:25But its beauty
21:27has come under threat
21:28in recent years
21:29with a growing number
21:30of campers and tourists
21:32that come off the beaten track
21:33to visit.
21:35And that's come at a price
21:36for the local environment
21:38and coastal vegetation.
21:41So I've come to meet
21:43some of the remarkable volunteers
21:45from the tiny local communities
21:47who are dedicated
21:48to protecting this place
21:50and helping to bring
21:51the bush back
21:52to the beach.
21:54Karen McEwan
21:55from the Lower Air Coast Care Association
21:58has been volunteering
21:59for nearly two decades.
22:02Karen, this is an amazing beach.
22:05Tell me what you
22:06and your other volunteers
22:07do here.
22:09So, Sophie,
22:10we're caring for this area
22:12which has a long history
22:14of degradation.
22:17So we're sort of giving nature
22:19a helping hand
22:20to regenerate this area.
22:23Now, this place
22:25sort of became more popular,
22:28shall we say,
22:29through Instagram
22:30because of a certain
22:31beautiful rock pool.
22:33What impact did that have?
22:35So we saw excessive numbers
22:38of people start to come here.
22:40This was during COVID
22:41and that had an impact
22:42on the vegetation
22:44and erosion.
22:46How did it make you feel
22:48when you came here
22:49and saw huge visitor numbers
22:51of tourists
22:51not respecting
22:53the fragile ecosystem
22:56they were on?
22:58The place just wasn't set up
23:00to handle
23:01the big caravans
23:04and the big vehicles
23:05doing the trip
23:06around Australia
23:07these days.
23:08We had big rigs
23:10trying to get into
23:11small spaces
23:12so clouds
23:13are getting driven on,
23:15tracks were opening up
23:17and, you know,
23:18the damage gets done.
23:19Yeah, there's
23:20environmental impacts.
23:22OK, well let's go
23:23and check
23:23what you've been planting
23:24and doing
23:24to restore
23:25this beautiful area.
23:29This is where
23:30we've been
23:31doing a lot
23:32of our revegetation work
23:34and erosion control work
23:36and you can just see
23:38what a harsh environment
23:41it is.
23:42It must be tough
23:42to get anything to grow,
23:44you know, survive,
23:45let alone thrive.
23:46Yeah, a lot of trial
23:48and error here.
23:50So, Sophie,
23:51we have a few plants
23:53that we call our hero plants
23:55that we grow a lot of
23:56and this one in particular
23:57which is local
23:58to Eyre Peninsula
24:00and York Peninsula
24:01in South Australia
24:02is acacia anseps
24:04or flat stemmed wattle
24:06and we grow a lot of that
24:08and of course
24:09native pig face.
24:11Yeah, amazing
24:13for erosion control
24:14the way it holds
24:15the sand together
24:16so...
24:17You can see that
24:17by its form,
24:18can't you?
24:21So this scovola
24:22is obviously thriving.
24:24Yeah, Sophie,
24:24we're pretty happy
24:25with that one.
24:26They've been grown
24:27from cuttings
24:28and that's our
24:29local cushioned
24:31fan flower.
24:32And I can see
24:33a specimen down there
24:34covered in flower,
24:35it's so pretty.
24:37And tell me about
24:38that low wattle over there.
24:40Yeah, so normally
24:41that acacia longifolia
24:43would grow
24:44as a taller tree
24:46but you can see
24:47how it's keeping
24:48its head down
24:49in this harsh wind here
24:51but, yeah,
24:52it's still providing
24:53fantastic shelter
24:54for all the plants
24:55around it
24:56so we plant
24:57a lot of that,
24:58another of our hero plants.
25:01Now the Lower Eyre Peninsula
25:03is a massive place
25:05with huge areas
25:07of coastline.
25:08The remoteness
25:09of this area
25:10that's actually
25:12been part of the challenge
25:13hasn't it?
25:15Yeah, it is remote
25:16because it's challenging
25:17to get people out here
25:19to do work
25:20but it's a much loved
25:22place by the locals.
25:24There's about 140 hectares
25:26here that we look after
25:28including two and a half
25:30kilometres of coastline
25:31just in this little area here.
25:34My goodness.
25:35Now, this isn't just
25:36a one-woman show,
25:37is it?
25:38No, Sophie.
25:39We've got a team
25:40of volunteers
25:40and including
25:42some fabulous young ones
25:44that we're going
25:44to go and meet now.
25:46Okay, let's go.
25:47Year-round propagation
26:06requires lots of hands
26:08and central
26:09to this huge effort
26:10are the passionate
26:11and enthusiastic pupils
26:13from the local
26:14Lake Whangaree School.
26:16It's about 30 kilometres
26:18south of Greenly Beach
26:19and has a nursery
26:21which is a hub
26:22of hard work
26:23and a classroom
26:24for all sorts of learning.
26:26Hello, everyone.
26:33So today
26:34we are going to be
26:36sowing some acacias.
26:38We're going to put
26:39about three or four seeds
26:41in each.
26:43Then we'll get
26:45some extra soil
26:46and we'll put
26:47a little layer
26:48of soil over the top.
26:56So guys,
27:10you obviously
27:10know what you're doing here.
27:12I can see
27:12you've done this before.
27:13What do you love
27:14about this work?
27:16Knowing that
27:17we're helping the future
27:18and so
27:19say if one of us
27:21has kids and stuff
27:22knowing that
27:23they will be able
27:24to have lots of plants
27:25and native animals.
27:27I love just
27:28getting out
27:28in the nature
27:29and just knowing
27:31that we're helping
27:31the environment
27:32and knowing
27:33that we will
27:35make a better future
27:36for the coastal areas
27:37on the Eyre Peninsula.
27:39I like to go down
27:40the beach
27:40and go for a surf
27:41and have a look
27:42at the nature there
27:43and see how it's going.
27:45Yeah, but it's
27:46pretty disappointing
27:47when you see
27:47somebody's driven on it
27:48and people have
27:50tried to do a turn around
27:51and they've just
27:52like destroyed it
27:54and it's
27:55pretty sad to see that.
27:56Yeah, a lot of us
27:57don't like to see
27:58the areas around here
28:00that are covered
28:01in rubbish
28:02because a lot of us
28:03live here
28:03that go to this school.
28:07Teacher Luke Rowe
28:08runs a schools program
28:09at Greenlee Beach
28:10which beautifully
28:11integrates
28:12conservation work
28:13into the children's education.
28:16So the kids
28:16look like they have
28:17lots of fun.
28:19What do they actually
28:20get out of growing
28:22the plants here?
28:23They get a pretty
28:24unique chance
28:25at seeing it
28:26from the ground up
28:27literally
28:27and then being involved
28:29in the planting out
28:30and the messaging
28:30about how to use
28:31the whole area.
28:32We see huge opportunities
28:33for our kids
28:34to become ambassadors
28:35for how to camp
28:37sustainably
28:38and more broadly
28:39just about how to
28:40use these beautiful
28:41areas we have
28:42in a sustainable way.
28:48Is this Kikia?
28:49Yes?
28:49No, that's a Dianella.
28:51Oh, what do they do?
28:53The learning outcomes
28:53for our children
28:54are really broad.
28:55There's been a strong
28:56focus on biology
28:57but also in maths
28:59and lots of persuasive
29:00writing tasks
29:01and information report
29:02writing.
29:02So we see huge
29:03opportunities to
29:04integrate
29:05all subject areas.
29:10The kids know
29:11so much about
29:12these different species
29:13now and the way
29:14they work
29:14and the importance
29:15of them.
29:15Even though they might
29:16not look like much
29:17they're so important
29:19in our sort of
29:20harsh coastal areas
29:21that hopefully
29:22we see the fruits
29:24of this in the future
29:26to come.
29:26I'm sure we will.
29:28A little later
29:28in the program
29:29Karen and I
29:30will be heading back
29:31to remote Greenlee Beach
29:32to see how the tube stock
29:34being grown
29:35by these fabulous
29:36school kids
29:36is being planted out
29:38by a team
29:39of dedicated volunteers.
29:40Still to come
29:43on Gardening Australia
29:44Jerry grows
29:46a cool climate
29:47classic
29:48in Brizzy.
29:50Hannah gets
29:51into the tomato
29:52starting blocks
29:53and we meet
29:55some native
29:56plant growers
29:57par excellence.
30:04Sometimes when you're
30:06gardening
30:06you've got to
30:07make some big calls.
30:08more isn't
30:10always better.
30:11Sometimes
30:12a few sacrifices
30:14are needed
30:14for the good
30:16of the many.
30:17Here's Millie
30:17to explain.
30:26When it comes
30:27to the productive
30:28garden
30:28making sure
30:29vegetables have
30:30enough space
30:31to grow to maturity
30:32ensures you get
30:33a good crop.
30:35The truth is
30:37I am not
30:38a very disciplined
30:39gardener.
30:40I commonly
30:40forget to do
30:41tasks.
30:42I often just
30:42make it up
30:43and other times
30:44I get it
30:45completely wrong.
30:46But there is
30:47one area
30:47that I'm trying
30:48to be far
30:50more disciplined
30:50and that is
30:51when it comes
30:52to thinning.
30:58I absolutely
30:59love growing
31:01lettuce.
31:02This is freckles
31:03and this brown
31:04one here is
31:05from my brother
31:06and I call
31:06it Ben's best.
31:08And thinning
31:08is a really
31:09important part
31:10of growing
31:10any vegetable
31:11really.
31:12But lettuce
31:12it's pretty
31:13critical.
31:14So when they
31:14first germinate
31:15I come through
31:15I leave
31:16say about
31:17five centimetres
31:18between those
31:19small plants.
31:20Now I don't
31:20want to thin
31:21to their eventual
31:22mature spacings
31:23at this point
31:23because they're
31:24still really
31:24vulnerable
31:25something might
31:26go wrong
31:26so I leave
31:27more plants
31:27in the ground
31:28then.
31:29As they get
31:29a little bit
31:30larger
31:30you can come
31:32through
31:32and thin
31:33to an even
31:33wider
31:34spacing.
31:37Also
31:38just making
31:39sure there's
31:39enough space
31:40for ample
31:41air movement
31:41around the crop
31:42as you water
31:43them more
31:43they're really
31:44susceptible
31:45to fungal
31:46problems
31:46and that is
31:47one of the
31:47real benefits
31:48of thinning
31:49crops
31:49to the right
31:50space.
31:52And then
31:52as these
31:53have gotten
31:53quite a bit
31:54larger
31:54they're a little
31:55bit more
31:55difficult to
31:56pull out
31:56of the ground
31:57without
31:57disrupting
31:57the other.
31:58So a knife
31:59at the very
32:00base
32:00thinning
32:01to about
32:0210-15 centimetres
32:04between plants
32:05will ensure
32:06that those
32:07remaining plants
32:08can grow to
32:08full maturity
32:09but I get
32:10a feed on
32:10the way.
32:14One group
32:15of plants
32:16that you do
32:16need to be
32:16really diligent
32:17about thinning
32:18are the root
32:19crops
32:19because to
32:20develop a
32:21nice straight
32:22thick root
32:22to full
32:23maturity
32:23underground
32:24they do
32:25need a
32:25little bit
32:26of space.
32:27When I'm
32:27doing carrots
32:27I just use
32:28scissors to
32:29thin every
32:29few plants
32:30to get a
32:31good row.
32:32The same
32:32can be said
32:33with parsnips
32:33if you
32:34don't thin
32:34them
32:34they don't
32:35get to
32:36develop
32:36into those
32:37lovely
32:37big
32:38thick
32:38tap
32:39roots
32:39but there
32:40is one
32:40little
32:40myth
32:41that I
32:41want to
32:42bust
32:42and that
32:42is about
32:43beetroot.
32:44Now it's
32:45in the same
32:45camp as far
32:46as being a
32:47root crop
32:47but they
32:48are way
32:48less fussy
32:49about growing
32:50in a crowd.
32:51You see
32:52a lot of
32:52varieties have
32:53a seed
32:54which we
32:54call aggregate
32:55which means
32:55there's
32:56multiple
32:56embryos
32:57two or
32:57three plants
32:58in each
32:59of these
32:59seeds.
33:00When they
33:00germinate
33:01they're
33:01used to
33:02growing
33:02together
33:02and so
33:03you can
33:03thin
33:04to
33:04little
33:04clumps
33:05of
33:05three
33:05beetroot
33:06and they
33:07will
33:07mature
33:07quite well
33:08growing in
33:08together.
33:09When it's
33:10time to harvest
33:10one you just
33:11twist it out
33:11instead of
33:12ripping up
33:12the whole
33:13clump
33:13let the
33:14others
33:14continue
33:14to become
33:15even
33:15bigger
33:16and better
33:16and you
33:17get even
33:18more
33:18beetroot
33:19for your
33:19space.
33:21One area
33:22where you
33:23really need
33:23to thin
33:24mindfully
33:25is when
33:25you've got
33:26a tray
33:26of mixed
33:27varieties.
33:28There's
33:28lots of
33:29varieties of
33:30plants,
33:31flowers and
33:32vegetables that
33:32you can get
33:33in a mixed
33:33seed pack and
33:34it can be a
33:34good value
33:35way to get
33:36lots of
33:36variety in
33:37the patch.
33:38When they
33:38germinate they're
33:39actually going
33:40to do so at
33:41different stages
33:42at different
33:42ages.
33:43It'll take a
33:43longer time for
33:44some than
33:45others and
33:46they will have
33:46different vigor
33:47as well.
33:48Now things like
33:48this is mixed
33:49silver beet.
33:50You can see
33:51really obviously
33:52just by the
33:53colour of the
33:54seedlings that
33:55they are
33:55different varieties.
33:56You've got
33:56yellows and
33:57pinks and
33:58reds.
33:59So in this
34:00case it's
34:00quite simple
34:01to thin to
34:02a nice
34:03representation of
34:04the different
34:04varieties.
34:06But over
34:07here you can
34:07see these are
34:08tomato seedlings
34:09and I sowed
34:10these on the
34:10same day in
34:11the cells from
34:12three different
34:13varieties.
34:14You can see
34:14how different
34:15the vigor is
34:16between these
34:17big strong
34:17plants and
34:18this spindly
34:19little thing.
34:20A gardener's
34:21instinct is
34:22often to
34:23really thin to
34:24those biggest
34:24strongest
34:25plants.
34:25But if I'd
34:26done that
34:27in a mixed
34:27tray then I
34:28would have
34:29only been
34:29thinning to
34:30a single
34:30variety which
34:31would have
34:32meant all
34:32of my
34:33mixed tomato
34:34seedling
34:34varieties would
34:35have been
34:35lost.
34:40I grow lots
34:41of things from
34:42seed not just
34:42vegetables and
34:43here I've got a
34:44lot of native
34:45shrubs,
34:45grasses and
34:46perennials on
34:47the go.
34:48And thinning is
34:49also really
34:50important.
34:50So I'll
34:52commonly sow into
34:53these larger
34:54tubes direct
34:54which means I
34:55skip that step
34:56of having to
34:56prick those
34:57tiny little
34:58seedlings out
34:59and move them
34:59into another
35:00pot.
35:00That's a place
35:01where they are
35:01quite vulnerable
35:02but I still
35:03need to thin.
35:04So once I'm
35:05really confident
35:06that they're
35:06well established
35:07and they've been
35:08through that
35:09really vulnerable
35:09stage I'll
35:11choose the
35:12strongest plant
35:12in each of
35:13those cells.
35:13I can pull
35:15one out and
35:16then I'm
35:17ending up with
35:18a lovely strong
35:19plant in each
35:20of those cells.
35:22When I'm dealing
35:22with plants that
35:23are really really
35:24tiny or
35:25particularly
35:25susceptible to
35:27root disturbance
35:27I tend to use
35:29a pair of snips
35:29that way I can
35:30snip out any of
35:31the excess plants
35:32without pulling
35:33and disrupting
35:34the roots of
35:35the one I want
35:36to keep.
35:37Now it does
35:38feel a little
35:40bit wasteful and
35:40I don't like
35:41chucking out
35:42little plants
35:42but it is
35:43really important
35:45in nature
35:45not every seed
35:46that hits the
35:47ground reaches
35:48the sunlight
35:48so I try and
35:50sort of harness
35:50my inner
35:51lyrebird or
35:51wallaby and
35:52do a little
35:53decisive destruction
35:54to get to
35:56the strongest
35:56plants.
36:01When it comes
36:02to growing lots
36:03of plants for
36:04very little money
36:05there is no
36:06doubt that seed
36:07is the best
36:08way to grow
36:09but if you
36:10want to get
36:10those full
36:11rewards you're
36:12going to need
36:12to spend
36:12a little
36:13bit of
36:13time and
36:14sacrifice a
36:15few of those
36:16seedlings
36:16but I promise
36:17thinning is
36:19winning.
36:24Can I grow
36:25rhododendrons in
36:26Brisbane?
36:27Well yes you can.
36:28You can grow
36:29conventional azaleas
36:30but in my opinion
36:31varaya rhododendrons
36:33are far more
36:34successful.
36:35Varayas are
36:36tropical.
36:37They come from
36:38South East Asia
36:39and Australia
36:40and Australia
36:40has one species
36:41but they grow
36:42in mountainous
36:43conditions
36:44so the best tip
36:46that I can give
36:46you is not to
36:48treat them as a
36:48shrub that grows
36:50in the ground
36:50but a shrub that
36:52grows in a tree
36:53just like these
36:54epiphytic orchids.
36:56In fact their
36:57root systems benefit
36:58from this kind of
37:00open basket
37:01because they
37:02clasp the tree
37:03and just like
37:05epiphytic orchids
37:06you feed them
37:07with a foliar feed
37:08once or twice a
37:09year.
37:10You can give them
37:11iron chelates by
37:12spraying that on
37:13once a year
37:13and that keeps the
37:14leaves really
37:15lovely and green
37:16but most importantly
37:18they grow in
37:19mountainous areas
37:20so they like
37:22humidity,
37:23dappled shade,
37:24protection from
37:25western sun
37:26and strong winds
37:27and while they
37:28like it cool
37:29they don't like
37:30too much frost
37:31so plant them
37:32under a tree.
37:33And if you
37:33collect them
37:34carefully you
37:35can have them
37:36blooming for
37:36many months
37:37of the year
37:38and some of
37:39them have
37:39delicious sweet
37:40perfumes.
37:50In the southern
37:51parts of Australia
37:52tomatoes are a
37:53summer garden staple
37:54but if you want
37:56to grow them
37:56yourself from seed
37:57you have to start
37:58when it's really
37:58cold, anywhere
38:00from mid to
38:00late winter.
38:03over the years
38:05I've grown a few
38:06proven performers
38:07and along the way
38:08I've been saving
38:09their seed.
38:12To raise seed
38:13you need a good
38:13quality potting mix
38:14which needs fine
38:16particles to make
38:16contact with the seed,
38:18moisture holding
38:18capacity and
38:20well draining
38:20composition.
38:22Here I'm using
38:22equal parts compost,
38:24coarse potting
38:24sand and leaf mould.
38:27Fill seed raising
38:28pots.
38:28Make sure they're
38:29not too large
38:30as you don't want
38:30them to stay
38:31cold and wet
38:32although you
38:33must water them
38:33in well to make
38:34sure that soil
38:35gets settled.
38:40Sprinkle the seed
38:41over the surface
38:41or if it's on paper
38:43lay it on the soil
38:44and cover it lightly
38:45being sure not to
38:46bury it too deeply
38:47and water again.
38:50In a climate like
38:53Hobart, these little
38:54pots will need warmth
38:55which can be provided
38:56via artificial heat,
38:58a little hothouse
38:58or a warm windowsill.
39:02The seeds should take
39:03seven to ten days
39:04to germinate.
39:05Once you see the
39:06second flush of leaves
39:07come up, which are
39:08actually the first
39:09true leaves, it's time
39:10to pot up all those
39:11seedlings to give them
39:12more space and more
39:13food.
39:15Also, make sure they
39:16get at least half a
39:17day's worth of sunlight.
39:18As they grow larger,
39:20I'll pot them up again
39:21and again until the
39:22soil in my garden is
39:24finally warm enough
39:25for me to plant them
39:26out.
39:27Raising tomatoes in a
39:29cool temperate climate
39:30takes commitment and
39:31care, but the summer
39:33sellers and sangas are
39:34well worth the effort.
39:42Back to Sophie now on
39:43the stunning Eyre
39:45Peninsula, but there's
39:45no real time for her to
39:47enjoy the view.
39:48because she's rolling
39:50up her sleeves and
39:51getting stuck into it
39:52with the local land
39:54care group.
39:59I've been exploring
40:01South Australia's
40:02stunning lower Eyre
40:03Peninsula to understand
40:04how local volunteers
40:05are supporting the
40:07regeneration of coastal
40:08bushland.
40:09And it's all systems go
40:11here at remote Greenlee
40:12Beach.
40:13So, there's a hive of
40:20activity going on here.
40:22What's happening?
40:24So, today, Sophie, we're
40:26doing some erosion control
40:28with the matting.
40:30We're watering our plants
40:32and we're brushing.
40:35So, what is brushing?
40:36Well, it involves putting out
40:38prunings of local native
40:41plants.
40:42We use it for wind erosion.
40:44So, the soil collects
40:46amongst the prunings, but
40:47also they're laden with
40:49seed.
40:49So, we hope that eventually
40:51we've introduced a seed
40:53source and we might get some
40:54seedlings growing there.
40:55And does it work?
40:56Yes.
40:57Amazingly, we're having some
40:59success with that method.
41:00The prunings are keeping it
41:01moist underneath too.
41:02So, yeah, it's a bit of
41:03mulch on it.
41:04So, yeah, it's working here
41:06at this very windy side.
41:07Amazing, because here it is
41:09baking hot.
41:10It is hellishly windy.
41:12And also, there's no soil.
41:14It's sand and it's just
41:15being blown away.
41:16Now, you also have another
41:18hack to do with planting.
41:20Yeah.
41:21So, Sophie, here we use a
41:23technique which, through
41:24trial and error, led us to
41:26this technique called deep
41:28planting.
41:30So, I'm just going to put
41:35some water in.
41:35So, just with this method, we
41:37want to make sure that it is
41:38moisted down where we're
41:39putting the root ball.
41:41It goes against what most
41:42gardeners think when they're
41:44planting plants from pots.
41:46And that is, we're going to
41:47half bury this plant.
41:50We've pruned the lower leaves
41:52off and so it has several
41:53benefits.
41:55Firstly, with the soil movement,
41:57sand movement here due to the
41:58wind, the roots are lower
41:59down, so less likelihood of them
42:01being exposed.
42:03And also, the root ball is
42:05closer down to the soil moisture.
42:15The regeneration of this
42:16beachside bush is a great
42:18example of the importance of
42:19volunteers.
42:21Over the years, they've
42:22established thousands of native
42:24plants and helped to advocate for
42:26better management of camping sites
42:28and the education of everyone who
42:31visits.
42:33I just think putting trees back in
42:35the environment, in the landscape
42:37is just one of the most important
42:39things that, you know, people can do
42:42for their local environment.
42:44There's such power in that people
42:47power and coming together and
42:48lobbying for protection of what you love.
42:51Well, it's amazing to see how what
42:55started as a revegetation project
42:57has turned into a powerful community
43:00anchor, bringing together people of
43:02all generations to care for this
43:05unique and stunning environment.
43:08And all individuals involved are
43:10learning gardening techniques along
43:12the way in how to grow under these
43:14tough conditions.
43:15I love it when people dedicate their
43:33lives to understanding the beauty and
43:36diversity of plants in this country.
43:39And better still, imagine building a
43:43garden to celebrate those plants.
43:46Well, this is exactly what our next
43:48story is about.
43:49And you better brace yourself for
43:51some serious eye candy.
44:01I just knew when I got here that this
44:04was where I wanted to settle down and
44:06live.
44:13It's just like sort of stepping back
44:17into a wild sort of a bushland area,
44:21but with gardens dotted through it.
44:24It's a wild garden.
44:25It was designed for habitats.
44:27We still treat it as habitat first
44:29and garden second.
44:35My name is Neil and I'm a passionate
44:38conservationist and horticulturalist.
44:41I've written a number of books on
44:44grevillea and grassland plants.
44:47I'm Wendy and I've been a horticulturalist
44:51for 25 years.
44:53I did natural seed resource management,
44:55which made me really want to protect
44:57the natural bush.
44:58And when I moved up here, we began our
45:01environmental consultancy.
45:03We go out and do flora surveys all over
45:06the place.
45:06The two of us combined, you know, we'd get
45:10some pretty comprehensive lists.
45:13He loves to identify things.
45:15And I like writing it down.
45:18So we work really well as a team.
45:20I do the botanical side and Wendy's does
45:23the recording, but she's also an expert in
45:26all the weed identifications.
45:29There's always weeds.
45:30Always weeds, sadly.
45:31This is our beautiful property called
45:39Penrock Ridge, which is in the Black Range
45:41just to the east of the Grampians, which
45:44are about three hours west of Melbourne
45:47in the central west of Victoria.
45:49We've got 200 acres here of just beautiful
45:52heathy and grassy woodland.
45:54I wouldn't like to count how many different
45:58species of plants, but we've got a huge
46:00collection of Grevilleas, a huge collection
46:02of Hakeas and Banksias, Dryanderas.
46:07They all just seem to thrive here.
46:09So we're very, very fortunate.
46:11And this is where we've made our home.
46:16My real passion is Grevilleas simply because
46:19they're so diverse.
46:21You've got ground covers, you've got trees,
46:23and you've got everything in between.
46:26We've got approximately 350 different species
46:29and subspecies growing right here in our property.
46:34This is an amazing Grevillea, Grevillea vestita.
46:38Mulberry midnight is the name that we've given to this.
46:42It's a Western Australian plant which no longer exists,
46:45but thanks to a nursery friend of ours,
46:48she was out wandering in this beautiful bushland area.
46:51Fortunately for us, she took cuttings,
46:53got them going in her nursery,
46:55and that's where I got this one.
46:57And sadly, she went back six months later,
47:00and that whole valley had been bulldozed for a housing estate.
47:03So this plant is now extinct in the wild,
47:06but growing beautifully in our gardens.
47:08This is Grevillea flexuosa, the zigzag Grevillea.
47:17This is another Grevillea which is very, very rare in the wild.
47:22There was one population in the whole world
47:24in a little nature reserve just out of Perth
47:26that grows on granite outcrops,
47:29and we're fortunate we've got granite outcrops here,
47:32and so it's actually self-seeding in our garden.
47:34So we've got probably more here in our garden
47:37than actually occur in the wild, which is amazing.
47:43I grew up not particularly interested in plants at all.
47:47My interest was actually our native birds,
47:50and I just absolutely loved making records
47:53of all the birds coming to visit our garden.
47:56I soon realised that Dad had a lot of Grevilleas in his garden
48:00and a lot of Banksias,
48:01so they were the two genera that I really liked.
48:05Out of my love for our native birds
48:07has become this passion to try and hunt down
48:10and find as many Grevilleas as possible.
48:15This is another beautiful Western Australian Grevillea,
48:19the Christmas Grevillea.
48:21Grevillea insignus, subspecies insignus.
48:23Sadly, it's now almost completely confined
48:27to the roadsides in the southern wheat belt
48:30of Western Australia
48:31due to the history of agricultural clearing.
48:34And it's a real pity when you think about it
48:36because the entire genus in Western Australia
48:38is two-thirds of the whole genus.
48:43About a decade ago,
48:45there were discussions about whether Grevillea
48:49and the very close-related genus Haecchia
48:52should be lumped together.
48:54So I thought, oh, crikey,
48:55if Haecchia's going to be included in Grevilleas,
48:58I'd better get a good collection of Haecchias going here too.
49:02There are approximately 175 different species of Haecchia.
49:06We've got about 165 of them
49:09growing here beautifully in our garden as well.
49:13Many people get confused
49:15between the difference between Haecchias and Grevilleas.
49:19This is a cricket ball Haecchia, Haecchia platysperma.
49:23It's got huge, big, woody seed pods.
49:26But not all Haecchias have great, big seed pods.
49:28There are some like this tiny little one here,
49:31which probably are more typical of Haecchias.
49:34The feature that makes a Haecchia different from a Grevillea
49:37is that Haecchias have these hard, woody nuts
49:40which enclose two seeds.
49:42A Grevillea has a thin, leathery seed pod called a follicle
49:47and that also includes two seed pods.
49:50So it's an easy difference between the two genera.
49:56The diversity in here is really important
49:59for attracting birds and animals for different reasons.
50:04The 200 acres was an old farm,
50:06but the 20 acres that we've enclosed with a vermin fence
50:11means that there's no cats or foxes in here.
50:14The only predator they would have inside here is from above
50:17and that's birds of prey,
50:19but that's part of the web of life
50:21and we're very happy to be helping support all of those.
50:24But it wasn't like that when we first bought the property.
50:28It was just completely flogged out.
50:31All you could see was dirt.
50:33There wasn't even a tussock of grass anywhere
50:35and a lot of my friends said,
50:37why on earth did you buy such a degraded property?
50:40It's just a waste of time and money.
50:43We're very lucky.
50:44Our soils here are beautiful free-draining granite sands,
50:47but that's about 30 centimetres over sticky clay.
50:52So in very, very wet years,
50:54we've had to build the garden beds up to allow for that,
50:57to give a better depth of drainage for the root zone.
51:00It'll never be perfect,
51:02but it's coming back so well
51:03that it's really, really satisfying.
51:08The first garden that I ever planted
51:10was the garden that you see around you here.
51:13It gets the hot, baking, westerly sun
51:16all through the summer months
51:17and so the grevilleas I planted here,
51:20I knew they had to be drought-tolerant
51:22and very, very hardy.
51:25The whole garden got burnt out in the 2006 bushfires
51:29that went right through the Grampians and our Black Range,
51:33but amazingly, this area came back really superbly
51:36and there are still seedlings still popping up to this day.
51:41After the fire,
51:42I never imagined that Neil would be so devastated.
51:45He was as devastated as the land.
51:48So we decided to build a garden here
51:50and we decided on verticordias
51:53and we decided to put white gravel over it
51:55as a contrast between the black and the white, I think.
51:58It worked out very well and we called it Australia.
52:01This property has got a conservation covenant on it
52:06with Trust for Nature so it's permanently protected,
52:09which is really important.
52:11So when we pass on or we sell the property,
52:14we know that it's going to be protected into perpetuity,
52:18which is really, really wonderful.
52:20I could almost live without anything else.
52:24Just being here is very fulfilling.
52:27For me, this is just living in paradise.
52:30We're just out here, surrounded by nature
52:33and it's just so calming and relaxing.
52:37It's great for the soul.
52:38What an amazing couple in such an incredible garden.
52:50It's well and truly got me inspired,
52:52so much so that I've got a gift for you.
52:54Your job's for the weekend.
52:56In cool-tempered areas,
53:03welcome some waddle into your life
53:04with the red-flowering cultivar Acacia Scarlet Blaze.
53:09This early bloomer is frost-tolerant
53:10and is a standout specimen in full sun to dappled shade.
53:15Remove dead raspberry canes,
53:17scratch back the bark and cut down the dead brown ones.
53:21Those that reveal green when scratched
53:23will produce this summer's fruit.
53:26Keep collecting sticks, leaves, straw,
53:29dead foliage and paper to add to your compost.
53:32These brown materials help to balance the compost
53:35and they feed the microorganisms
53:37that break down your veggie scraps.
53:40In warm-tempered areas,
53:42Cineraria can be planted out now.
53:44These bloomers love full sun
53:46but will be happy in part shade on a balcony.
53:49Keep them well-watered for dazzling displays
53:52in spring and summer.
53:53Prune back lavender while it's still sleepy
53:56to encourage bushier growth
53:58and flourishing flowers through spring.
54:01Avoid cutting into the woody stems
54:03and focus on shaping the green tips.
54:06Remove the competition around fruiting trees
54:08by digging a barrier ring around the root zone.
54:12Use a spade to create a 10cm deep trench
54:15so the weeds can't make the jump
54:17to eat up vital nutrients.
54:19In subtropical areas,
54:21it's time to divide and conquer your ginger.
54:24Split rhizomes into chunks
54:26and position 5cm deep
54:28in fertile, well-draining soil.
54:30Protect from wind and harsh sun
54:32and water weakly.
54:33Prepare your gardens for the heat
54:35by digging in an oya.
54:37Terracotta pots buried underground
54:39will seep water out slowly,
54:42avoid water evaporating
54:43and help plants adjust to the heat.
54:46Head to the GA website
54:47to see how to make your own.
54:49So catmint seeds around roses now
54:52to ward off aphids in mid-spring.
54:55This tropical mint
54:56will attract beneficial pollinators
54:58and the aphids will avoid
54:59the sweet, lemon, aromatic foliage.
55:03In tropical areas,
55:04cover fruit trees susceptible to fruit fly.
55:07Ensure that holes are no bigger than 1.6mm
55:10to keep the fruit flies out
55:12and keep our wildlife safe.
55:14Plant out Queensland blue pumpkin seedlings
55:16into mounds rich with compost,
55:19plenty of water and space to sprawl.
55:22Add mulch and a little bit of shade
55:23to stop them drying out.
55:25Having trouble with traditional coriander
55:27in the tropics,
55:28why not try perennial coriander?
55:31Hailing from Mexico,
55:32this humid-loving herb
55:33grows well in heat and shade
55:35and will keep the spice in your life.
55:38In arid areas,
55:39get your grevilleas in shape
55:41with a light trim
55:42between flushes of flowers.
55:43Pinching out buds
55:44may seem like tough love,
55:46but it will encourage the plant
55:47to branch out
55:48and produce more flowers.
55:50It's always a great time
55:52to plant a tree,
55:53but planting now
55:54as temperatures rise
55:55will give tube-stock trees
55:57the best chance to establish.
55:59These fast-growing,
56:01low-cost plants
56:01are fantastic value.
56:03Time to sow some quick growers
56:05to provide fast returns
56:07before the onset of hot weather.
56:10Radish and rocket
56:11not only grow fast,
56:12they're also great companion plants
56:14and will ward off flea beetle.
56:17That should keep your green thumbs
56:18busy this week
56:19and while you're at it,
56:21get your thumbs up going
56:22on our social media pages
56:24where there's plenty of ideas
56:26to get you out in the garden.
56:28And one last thing,
56:30it's the Logies this Sunday
56:31and we're humbled
56:32to have a nomination.
56:34So if you love the show,
56:36we'd love your vote.
56:37Full details on our website
56:39or just Google how to vote.
56:41Well, that's all we have time for this week,
56:49but we've got plenty lined up
56:51for next time.
56:52See you then!
56:56I'm catching up
56:57with a citizen scientist
56:59whose imagery
57:00is a window
57:01into this hidden wonderland.
57:04Getting native plants
57:06to adapt to conditions
57:07that don't normally suit them
57:08gives us more choice
57:09for our gardens.
57:10But how is it done?
57:12Today, I'm meeting a specialist
57:13in plant grafting
57:14to find out.
57:16And I feel like
57:17I'm in an oasis.
57:19This fascinating arid garden
57:21has a huge range of aloes
57:23and lots more.
57:25I'll be right back to you next time.
57:29I'm going to see you then.
57:30I'm coming back.
57:31I'm coming back.
57:32I'm coming back.
57:34I'm coming back.
57:37I'm coming back.