Gardening Australia episode 37 2020: Sophie Thomson profiles natural pest control, Costa Georgiadis shares watering wisdom to give the perfect drop, Tino Carnevale visits a town of topiaries, Jane Edmanson goes knee-deep into the world of water lilies.
Gardening Australia has always provided practical, trustworthy and credible gardening advice to inspire and entertain. Inspiring, entertaining and full of practical advice, join Costa Georgiadis and the team as they unearth gardening ideas, meet avid gardeners and look at some of the most inspiring gardens from across the country.
Gardening Australia episode 37 2020
Watering Wisdom
Costa gives some expert advice on how to water your garden effectively, and answers age old questions, like is it better to water in the morning or the evening?
Water is critical to plant survival. It carries the dissolved nutrients they absorb, is also used in photosynthesis, runs their evaporative cooling system, and even helps them stand upright! And while splashing it about may seem simple, to do it effectively and efficiently takes some skills.
While we all enjoy an evening garden wander holding the hose, it is important to focus your attention. Grouping plant that have similar requirements together is the first step to watering efficiently. For example, the vegie garden can need more attention and a good drink sometimes more than once a day in summer. By planting thirsty crops together in one place, you don’t have to chase them all over the yard. If you have tender seedlings or small pots that need to be kept moist, put them nearby so you will pass them by on your daily routine.
FAQs – Tomatoes from cuttings | Topdressing | Angiosperms
Millie shows how to grow tomatoes from cuttings, Jerry explains the purpose of topdressing, and Tino sheds light on the term angiosperm.
Lilies and Lotus – Gardening Australia episode 37 2020
Jane dives into the stunning world of water lilies, both exotic and native. Nestled in between the wineries and market gardens in Melbourne’s Yarra Valley, this 14-acre property is home to thousands of exotic and native flowering water plants including waterlilies, lotus and other rare species. Originally a vegetable grower, Geoff Cochrane was looking for an easier and more creative pursuit, so he started growing aquatic plants 15 years ago.
Standing on a bridge over the huge ponds feels like being in a Monet painting, and there’s even a variety that Monet used in his own garden – the Water Lily ‘Gloire Du Temple-Sur-Lot’. This is just one of over 50 water lily varieties, and there’s around 20 types of lotus as well. Water lilies (Nymphaea cv.) and lotuses (Nelumbo cv.) are distinctly different plants. Water lilies grow on or just above the water and have a much greater colour range, whilst lotus grow above the water and the flowers are mainly pink, white or yellow.
While the lakes and ponds here are jam-packed with examples of temperate lotus and waterlilies from the Americas, regions of China, India and beyond, Geoff also has a range of Australian native waterlilies and lotus in a greenhouse, that are not as well known. The flowers of Nymphaea immutabilis are white towards the centre turning to deep purple on the edges;Nymphaea gigantea has blue-purple blooms the size of a dinner plate; and Nymphaea violacea has smaller, pretty blue flowers.
Wrangling Rhurbarb
Millie shares a tip on keeping rhubarb in check and in peak production. Rhubarbs may be grown for their tasty stems, but they are flowering plants and will shoot up tall flower spikes and set seed when they’re ready. Making seeds takes a lot of energy away from the stems though, so you can simply cut the flower spikes right back.
Rhubarb are fast growing and heavy feeders, so to get the plant producing new stems again, Millie spreads a mixture of compost and cow manure around the base of the plant, mulches, and gives it a good soak.
Plant Profile – Flaming Beauty
We profile the Flaming Beauty (Paracarphalea kirondron) – a tropical treasure from Madagascar.
Time to Mend – Gardening Australia episode 37 2020
Clarence meets a gardener who discovered the healing power of plants while recovering from a kidney transplant. Rebecca Anderson and her husband moved into their home years ago and turned a backyard bog into a lawn for their kids. When their son John grew up, he took solace in the garden and began re-designing it whilst recovering from a kidney transplant. It’s “a hobby that’s continued to grow” now that he’s able to do really get stuck in.
The first step was creating a series of four interconnected ponds, to bring back the frogs and other wildlife that originally enjoyed the bog. There are lots of plants packed in around the ponds, including tall Tiger Grass Bamboo and native ferns to help create shade from the sun. A lot of thought was put into creating microclimates and habitats, with bromeliads and pink bananas the perfect shelter for adult frogs, and islands of carnivorous plants within the ponds to attract insects and as a place for tadpoles to emerge as they grow.
Topiary Town
Tino visits a town that has shaped its image around a quirky gardening niche. Railton is 81 kilometres west of Launceston and is home to almost 1000 residents. One resident is Neil Hurley, who runs a shop dedicated to thousands of collectable tins. An ideas man, he thought the town needed something more to draw people in. And what began as a one-plant gimmick to lure passers-by to the small town, has now progressed to a town-wide obsession, with 170 different topiaries! From sharks and octopus to trains, cars and people, it’s become regular practice for locals to have a topiary of any shape or size of their front lawn.
Neil might be the visionary here, but it has been a team effort to make the project come to life. Neil’s wife Erin along with neighbours Rodney and Wendy McCarthy are core members of the local topiary team. Together they propagate plants, build frames, and maintain with regular pruning.
Natural Strategies – Pest Control
Sophie offers sage advice to safely treat pests in your patch.
Berries in Pots – Gardening Australia episode 37 2020
Josh shows how growing berries in pots can yield healthy and delicious results.
My Garden Path – Kris Schaffer
We meet Indigenous horticulturist and educator Kris Schaffer, whose native garden is built on bushfoods and belonging.