Jennifer Stackhouse

White flowers work with any colour scheme and have wide appeal in a garden. Concentrating on a favourite colour is a great way to personalise a garden while creating a theme to unify plantings. One of the most famous white gardens is at Sissinghurst, an estate in the UK. It was created by Vita Sackville West when she designed and...

Concentrating on a favourite colour is a great way of not only personalising a garden, but also creating a theme to unify your plantings. Red is a colour that many people love and a bold choice for a planting scheme. Make it even hotter by combining red plants with other hot tones such as orange and yellow. For a calmer...

It is disappointing when a plant promises lots of blooms, but then its buds turn brown and fail to open. This problem is commonly called 'bud ball', 'bud balling' or 'flower balling'. If the buds disappear rather than turn brown, then chances are it’s a possum that’s the cause of the vanishing flowers! If the flowers open but then turn...

Including a favourite colour in the garden can be a great way of not only personalising a garden, but creating a theme to unify your plantings. One of the top themes to include in gardens (both indoors and out) is purple! Purple flowers and leaves add boldness and flair, while contrasting well with other colours such as lush green. Purple...

Weeds! They are everywhere, and only get worse if we ignore them. So, what are the smart techniques we can use to get rid of weeds – or at least reduce their impact on our gardens and lawns? If you're looking for tips on exactly how to deal with weeds in your lawn and garden, read on! There are many...

Many gardeners think that more is better when it comes to water – but it is possible to give plants too much! An overwatered plant can be just as problematic as an underwatered one. As a guide, water when the soil or potting mix is beginning to feel dry. Check soil before watering, as it may look dry on the...

Lots of us want to include our favourite colour in our garden. One of the top colours to include in gardens both indoors and out right now is pink! Pink is also popular for plants where a garden wedding will be held. There are plenty of pink indoor and outdoor plants to choose from. A quick way to add your...

Thrips are a common plant insect pest. They often occur in large numbers, causing damage to buds, flowers, fruit and foliage. There are many different types of thrips, some of which are specific to certain types of plants, while others attack a wide range of ornamental and edible plants. There are also some thrips that are beneficial insects, but these...

Lilly pillies are Australian native evergreen shrubs and trees, mainly from moist and rainforest areas of eastern Australia, that have become popular modern garden plants. They are extremely useful screen, hedge and topiary plants, but are also valued for their white flowers and colourful and edible berries, which are usually bright pink to purple. Thanks to plant breeding and development...

Creating perfect garden soil isn’t something you do once and it's perfect forever! Maintaining healthy soil is an ongoing job, but one that's well worth it. Here’s some advice on how to create healthy soil and keep it that way over time. It's all about keeping the soil topped up with organic matter and avoiding compaction.   Rich, healthy soil...