Rosemary

Long dry conditions, water restrictions and the high cost of water are all here to stay. It's not all bad news, though. Low-level water restrictions shouldn’t restrict gardening, as they actually reflect best practice when it comes to watering. The cool of the early morning, or overnight when evaporation is low as mandated by water restrictions, are the best times...

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...

Living in an apartment or small home without space for a garden doesn’t mean growing your own food isn’t possible. Most plants, including edibles, can grow happily in a pot on a balcony or in a courtyard. Pots can be placed on hard surfaces or suspended from railings or walls. If there’s a little more space, grow a few vegetables...

Sandy soil is literally soil that’s made up of mainly sand particles. On the positive side, sandy soils are free draining and easy to dig. On the other hand, they can also be hard to wet, hard to keep moist (as sand dries out quickly) and a challenge to enrich with organic matter such as compost and manure. Sandy soils...

Night scent Scented plants add an extra dimension to the night garden. Perfume is one of the lures plants use to attract pollinators to their flowers. Those plants that rely on night-flying insects for pollination (such as moths and beetles) may be extra fragrant at night or may only open at night, furling their flowers by day. To enjoy plants...

Next time you’re at the beach where there’s natural bushland, take a moment to scan the sand dunes and look at the trees and shrubs that lie behind them. These are true seaside plants. They’ve evolved to withstand salt air and battering wind. Although there are many different plants, they have some things in common including tough leaves - leathery...

If you're a keen gardener but lack time, want to save money (or you’re just plain forgetful) you'll love xeriscaping. We're so confident you'll love it, we've even created a beautiful xeriscaping garden plan to inspire you.   What is xeriscaping? The term xeriscaping was coined by Denver Water, Colorado’s water utility, in 1981. Combining the words "landscape" and "xeros" (Greek for dry...

Growing your own herbs is a good way to get started with productive plants and provides flavour at your fingertips for the kitchen. Herbs are easy to grow in a sunny, well-drained bed or container and can be used in many ways in the kitchen. Herbs are readily available for planting as seeds, seedlings or small pots. Herbs are grown...