Gardening

While honeybees are the most obvious pollinators in most gardens, there are many insects - along with larger animals such as birds and even bats - which also act as pollinators. To check out a bat-pollinated plant, see the sausage tree (Kigelia africana). There’s a specimen in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens, but you’re not likely to find one in your...

What better way to enjoy entertaining at home than in a garden full of flowers? Summer has plenty of colourful and easy-to-grow options. Here are some of our summer favourites to plant in your garden to bring it to life during the festive season. Gardenia (Gardenia augusta) With its creamy white blooms and dark green foliage, gardenia is a shrub...

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...

Having a beautiful garden doesn't have to take a lot of effort - you just need to pick the right plants. Want a garden full of flowers without too much work? We can help with that! We've put together a list of low-maintenance flowering plants that are perfect for Sydney gardens. Ready to discover your new favourite plants? Keep reading...

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 plants! Purple adds boldness and flair, while contrasting well with other colours such as lush green. Purple includes a...

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...

The Bureau of Meteorology has now declared an El-Niño weather pattern for the summer of 2023-2024. This means we're looking at a warmer, drier period than our gardens have experienced recently. Certainly, it looks as though those La Niña downpours are a thing of the past - at least, for now. If you're in Sydney and looking for tips on...