outdoor plants

Balcony gardens may be bijou, but make no mistake - they can also be a challenge. Getting plant choices correct on a balcony is much like furnishing a small space to make it seem larger than it is. Everything needs to be selected carefully. In the case of a balcony garden, the chosen plants not only need to look good...

Do you want a beautiful garden, but find yourself short on time to give it the attention it deserves? Perhaps you've tried gardening in the past and, through being busy or distracted, you've lost your plants. Or maybe you have a holiday house that is only inhabited periodically. With clever plant selection, even the most forgetful, absent, neglectful gardener can...

With its heat and drought tolerance and ease of growing, salvia is a plant family riding a wave of popularity in gardens. Salvias are small, shrubby perennials that range in height from around 30cm high up to more than 2-3m, but most grow to a manageable 1m high and wide. They suffer few pests or diseases and are easy to...

A visit to a garden centre to buy plants for your garden can be an overwhelming experience. For me, it’s like being a kid in the candy store with so many pretty things begging to go in my trolley. While it can be great fun, plant selection is key - otherwise, when you get home you may find that there’s...

Have you ever noticed how plants growing near the coast or on windy hillsides are often small and gnarled? They look as if they’re hanging on with all their roots, trying to keep their branches low and out of the wind. The very same plant growing in a sheltered spot usually stands tall and upright. If your garden, or even...

If you are new to gardening in containers on a balcony or other confined space, you may not know quite where to begin. Here are the answers to many frequently asked questions about small-space and balcony gardening.   Q. What kind of pots should I be using on my balcony? A. There are many different pots that are suited to...

A shady garden is a cool place to while away hot summer days. Gardens that are filled with lush foliage look cool and feel cool too. Use trees, clumps of palms or a plant-covered pergola to create summer shade in sunny areas or plant shade-loving foliage plants in courtyards or gardens with a shaded southerly aspect. There are many plants...

There's nothing better in summer than fresh, juicy tropical fruit - especially if you've grown it yourself! No, you don't have to be a commercial grower on a beautiful Queensland plantation to reap a great harvest. It is definitely possible for you to grow your own tropical fruit, even in less-than-tropical Sydney. Here are our five top tips.   Influence...

While traditional vegetables are grown in the veggie patch and fruit trees often planted in an orchard, native Australian edible plants can be grown throughout the garden as shrubs, trees and even ground cover plants. With edible plants in every part of Australia from the coldest to the tropics, there are lots of tasty treats available for gardens. Some like...

Do you have a balcony you don’t use because it’s overlooked? Perhaps you feel too exposed or uncomfortable to relax on your balcony, and this lack of privacy is why you never venture out! The right plants can transform an under-used and over-exposed balcony, sheltering it from the elements as well as from prying eyes. Plants act as green screens...