About the Garden Magazine Autumn 2015

the secret is....

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3, 5-6

le Con Sear

Front Cover Photography:

Osteospermum ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’.

Available from your local garden retailer this autumn!

Managing Director: Conway Searle Contributors: Noel Burdette, Wendy Keating & Ashley Searle.

Magazine Manager: Alana Searle Design & Layout: Alana Searle ATG Group Co-ordinator & Advertising: Jason Searle SCAN FOR FACT SHEET

About the Garden is published seasonally by About the Garden Pty. Ltd. ABN 21 076 919 992 • 4914 D’Aguilar Highway, Kilcoy or P.O. Box 70, Kilcoy Qld. 4515 Phone: (07) 5422 3090 • Fax: (07) 5497 2287 Email: atg@aboutthegarden.com.au The material appearing in About the Garden is subject to copyright. Other than as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part of this magazine may be reproduced without the permission of the publishers. No responsibility is accepted by About the Garden Pty. Ltd. for the accuracy of information contained in the text, illustrations or advertisements. Although believed to be accurately and correctly sourced, thereof disclaims any liability against itself, editor/s or employees arising from any person acting on the material herein. The opinions expressed in the magazine, or by contributors, do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. ©Copyright 2015 About the Garden Pty. Ltd.

The About the Garden Magazine is proudly produced from sustainable resources.

Gardening trends come and go over the years, yet there is one garden style that has never lost its shine and that is The Cottage Garden.

Noel Burdette

4

For many new to gardening, they are drawn to the free and easy charm and delicate nature of this style of garden, yet are often confused as to some strong plant choices to begin.

Plants chosen for cottage gardens should be able to grow naturally into softer shapes without the constant requirement for pruning apart from occasional deadheading. Look for plants that bring natural elements of strong, but soft, architecture such as vertical and horizontal lines, spherical or bold shapes as these will complement each other well and bring long-lasting visual interest throughout the year.

Take a casual approach to placement of plants when planting and use drifts rather than straight lines. If space permits, try using the same species of plants together in groups of three or more. This works incredibly well when planting varieties with smaller flowers, or to create a bold feature with taller flowering plants such as Agapanthus.

Remember to place the likes of shrubs around the edges of the garden with at least one (or two) feature small trees in corners or as central features.

If planting a border, place taller growing or flowering species towards the rear of the garden bed and graduate the height down towards the front of the garden bed. This will enable everyone to fully enjoy the variety of species.

5

I have striking two-toned florets!

6

7

This march, give your body and mind a release from the stresses of modern living and participate in one of the many fun-filled activities planned at your local garden centre to celebrate gardening as a healthy way to improve mental health.

The garden RELEAF weekend, (7-8th March) will have around 100 key garden centres around Australia running activities that people can enjoy over the weekend. There will be mini gardening and other goings-on including sausage sizzles, tai chi demonstrations, information about what to do in the garden as autumn sets in and much, much more.

Funds raised will go to Beyondblue to raise awareness of depression and anxiety, and assist people to get help if they think they may be experiencing symptoms of these conditions.

Garden Centres of Australia President, Karen Moad says “feeding your body healthy food and sleeping well are two things that most people aspire to, but a third, equally important factor should be included – making sure you have access to nature”.

‘feeding your body healthy food and sleeping well are two things that most people aspire to, but a third, equally important factor should be included – making sure you have access to nature’ It’s not hard to find some gardening space in Australia. Whether people live in the inner city or the country, getting into the garden (or balcony or kitchen windowsill) and planting is something everyone should try to incorporate into their lifestyle.

Gardening is good for you. Try it!

A recent study shows beyond a doubt that gardening is good for people’s health and wellbeing. They include improvements to: -

Stress relief and self-esteem Heart health and stress risk Hand strength and dexterity Brain health and risk reduction for Alzheimer’s Immune regulation Depression and mental health

Wendy Keating

8

9

10

PROUD SUPPORTER OF MAKE-A-WISH® AUSTRALIA

Salvia ‘Wish’ Collect ion

‘Love and Wishes’, ‘Ember’s Wish’, & ‘W endy’s Wish’ Flowering: Deep pu rple flowers appear right through the wa rmer months.

Habit: Large flower spikes grow above lush deep green foliage .

Size: 80cm H x 80cm spread.

Position: They do be st in full sun.

Features: This fast gr owing plant is grea t for new gardens, lar ge containers and low maintenance displa ys if planted en mas se.

Dry tolerant once es tablished. Prune by one third to mainta in shape.

Salvia ‘Heatwave ’ Collection

Flowering: Has an extensive flower ing season throughout warm er months.

Habit: Very com pact, rounded ra nge of savlias.

Size: 70cm H x 1m spread.

Position: Select a sunny location in are free draining most soil types w . hich Features: This ev ergreen plant w ith aromatic folia waterwise and co ge is ideal for astal gardens, us ed for mixed bo container displays rders and for lengthy colour .

Varieties: They ar e available in a range of brilliant including white, colour oranges, reds an d pinks. ‘Blaze’, ‘Glitter’, Sparkle’ Siz zle’, , ‘Glimmer’, ‘Bla st’, ‘Glow’, ‘Glare & ‘Brilliance’. ’, ‘Radiance’

11

Osteospermum ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’ Osteospermum ecklonis Flowering: Osteospermum Blue Eyed Beauty’s butter-yellow blooms with a strong central eye, puts a modern twist on a garden classic.

The purple tinged, sky reflected blue in the central blotches creates a luminous and truly stunning appearance. You will be rewarded with an abundance of flowers over a long period, from spring through to autumn.

Habit: The compact, bushy form makes Osteospermum Blue Eyed Beauty ideal for containers, baskets, garden beds and an absolute winner in garden landscapes.

Size: 25 to 36cm H x 35 to 50cm spread.

Position: They do best in full sun to part shade. Will grow in any climate, are strong and weather-tolerant.

12

we

‘Plum Gorgeous’ Loropetalum

Flowering: Spring and Autumn Habit: Pendulous, compact form W Size: 1.2m H x 1.5m shade rt Position: Full Sun to pa red lou Foliage: Deep plum co foliage all year.

love

round Mass plant for a year r. Great display of garden colou d an for informal hedging s to tub container planting in the in nt suit small spaces. Pla . ast ntr garden for foliage co ll wi l soi A moist well drained ce on h ug give best results, altho nt. era established, it is dry tol

Happitunias® BubblegumsTM Flowering: These free flowering petunias flower over many months of the year.

Habit: Profuse flowering, compact and spreading.

Greater resistance to diseases than earlier varieties.

Size: 30cm H x 100cm W in gardens.

Position: Easy to grow in sunny positions to part shade. They excel planted in large containers, baskets and in garden beds.

Colours: Blush, Fuchsia and Pink.

BubblegumsTM look superb in containers, hanging baskets, courtyards or planted in the garden. Individual colours can be planted alone or in combinations or mix and match BubblegumsTM with other flowering plants. They can be planted in garden beds for a mass display, for eye-catching highlights or as great ground cover. Plant in rich well composted soil. Dig 5IN1TM Organic Plant food into the soil before planting. If planting in hanging baskets and containers use Searles Peat 80 Potting Mix for the best results. Prune plants every few months to remove spent flowers. This will rejuvenate the plants if done several times during the year when they are getting leggy. Feed these heavy flowering plants with Searles Flourish Soluble Plant Food every month.

Lipstick® Maple Trees

includes ‘Autumn Blaze’, ‘October Glory’ & ‘Fairview Flame’.

These well-structured and very adaptable trees feature some of the best autumn foliage of the hybrid red maples and are an excellent medium to large shade tree ideal for car parks, amenity areas around buildings, medium to large properties and for street, avenue or park plantings.

Size: 7m to 10m H x 10m to 13m wide.

Position: Tolerants a wide range of soil and climatic conditions including relatively wet sites, heat, low levels of drought and cold conditions.

Prefers full sun for best growth and colour development.

13

14

Great for filling wraps

15

16

This is the lovely scarlet-sided pobblebonk (Limnodynastes terraereginae). This Australian native burrowing frog is active after heavy rain and can be discovered hiding under logs or uncovered while you dig in the garden. It can usually be identified by the scarlet colouration on its groin area. Don’t mistake it for a cane toad!

stemon Golden Penda ‘Fairfill Gold’ (Xantho ring owe fl ular ctac chrysanthus) is a spe north shrub (3–4mH), originating from soil in d aine l-dr wel in Queensland. Plant keep and l wel lch mu de, full sun or part sha acts Attr . hing blis esta le it well watered whi nectar-feeding birds.

Dwarf Fuchsia ‘Shadow Dancer ’ TM

Shadow Dancer™ Fuchsias are a new generation of hybrid Fuchsias that have been bred to be more sun and heat tolerant than the Fuchsias of yesteryear, while still retaining the characteristically charming flowers of these popular plants. Shadow Dancer™ will add welcome colour and life to partially shaded areas, but gardeners can now also enjoy them in sunny spots too, as long as they are protected from hot midday sun. They will produce masses of flowers through winter and into summer. Great for garden beds and well lit outdoor situations.

The culprit!

African black beetle larvae - lawn grub.

Damaged lawn

Treat with...

For more information on garden hint & tips and what’s on visit

www.aboutthegarden.com.au

17

Lower growing bulbs such as jonquils, ipheion and ranunculus make excellent pot plants. For best results, plant them in pots of Searles Peat 80 Mix. Be sure to plant them ‘pointy end’ up, cover and keep moist but not wet. Keep them in a cool, dark place through winter and only start watering them again when the green shoots appear in spring.

Daffodils and jonquils can grow as far north as Brisbane.

David Grays Garden Problem Solvers • Premium Quality • Effective Response • Value for Money AVAILABLE FROM ALL LEADING NURSERIES, GARDEN CENTRES & HARDWARE STORES.

18

Thrips are tiny (about 2mm long), sap sucking insects that attack roses, azaleas, fruit trees, tomatoes, onions and beans. Thrips also spread plant viruses. They lay their eggs inside plant tissue so put affected plant parts in the bin - not the compost system.

Predators are ladybirds and lacewings. For organic control, use Searles Bug Beater or for 3–4 week residual control use Searles Conguard.

Angelonia Angelfaces Flowering: The Angelface series bears tall spikes of flowers in vibrant colours and bloom constantly from spring to late autumn.

Habit: Angelonias are members of the foxglove family and resemble tubular flowers.

Size: 35cm High x 20cm Wide.

Position: They are sun lovers that revel in the heat.

Varieties: Sky Blue, Blue, Pink, Wedgewood Blue, White & Bi-colour.

Angelonias grow and flower quickly once they are established. They are well suited as cut flowers for floral arrangements. Angelonias will add colour to the garden in mixed plantings or in massed displays. They can be planted in pots with Searles Peat 80 Potting Mix.

19

pretty & petite

Daisies, pansies and violas are coming into their showy season. Look out for these traditional favourites to colour up any tired spot in the garden or on the patio.

Traditionally seen as a symbol of innocence, daisies offer so much in the way of variety that there’s one for everyone, whatever your style.

They’re also easy-care, it’s little wonder they’re an enduring favourite.

Some daisies, such as the federation daisies, chrysanthemums and Australian native brachyscome, have a style of classic beauty and elegance. Pretty, feminine flowers in gentle shades of mauve, pink, yellow or white give these long-time favourites a sense of grace.

Federation daisies are easy-care, compact shrubs (60cmH x 1mW) and have long-lasting floral displays in autumn and spring. Brachyscome daisy flowers throughout the year. These daisies are great in Tuscan or cottage-style gardens and are beautiful teamed with rosemary hedges or lavender. Excellent in pots.

You will start to see pansies and violas available in store in just about every colour of the rainbow.

They can be planted from seed or bought as seedlings, including advanced seedlings that are already in flower. An advantage of the latter is that seeing the blooms first hand can make it easier to select your favourites. Choose seedlings that are bushy and robust and if they are in flower, select the ones with more buds than blooms. They look best in pots and small gardens around the house where they can be appreciated up close.

Daisies, pansies and violas prefer full sun or part shade and a rich, well-drained soil, so dig plenty of 5IN1TM Organic Plant Food into the garden before planting or use Searles Pots & Tubs Mix for pots and tub planting. Deadhead spent blooms to promote continuous flowering.

Pansies need good nutrition to support their profuse flowering, so feed them fortnightly with Searles Flourish® Soluble Plant Food. For daisies, as they are a native, use at half the rate or try Searles Flourish®- Native Plants. This excellent fertiliser is specially formulated for boosting blooms and will absorb quickly through the leaves for fast results. For an excellent fertiliser that is fully organic, use SeaMax® Fish & Kelp Liquid Fertiliser.

Darwin

20

Cairns Broome Townsville Whitsundays

N.T.

Mackay

Mt. Isa Longreach

Alice Springs Carnarvon

Rockhampton Gladstone

Blackall

W.A.

Hervey Bay

QLD

Gympie Roma Toowoomba Warwick

Coober Pedy

Geraldton

S.A.

Kalgoorlie

Port Augusta

Perth Esperance

Mt Gambier

Armidale

Tamworth

Orange

Adelaide Victor Harbour

Sunshine Coast

Brisbane

Gold Coast

Moree

N.S.W.

Bunbury Albany

Emerald

Grafton Port Macquarie Newcastle

Sydney

Canberra Wodonga

Vic.

Melbourne

Tas.

Hobart

Go to your local, nursery and see what selection they have for the new season.

Plant new camellias in Searles Azalea, Camellia & Gardenia Specialty Mix for in the garden and in pots.

Look out for brown spots to browning off of the whole petal very quickly on your azaleas, camellias and roses. This may be an indication of the fungal disease petal blight which is common in wet and cool weather during flowering. The fungus spreads very quickly to other blooms, so remove affected blooms early and spray with Searles Mancozeb Plus every 10 days.

It is important to thoroughly spray the whole plant and when watering normally, avoid wetting the petals.

For more information on garden hint & tips and what’s on visit

www.aboutthegarden.com.au

21

Callistemon ‘Hot Pink’ are grown for their hot pink bottlebrush-like flowers on the end of the branches during spring and autumn. This variety is similar to other callistemons but more compact. (1.5m H). Can be planted in most soil conditions in garden beds or large containers. Loves full sun. Feed with Robust® Native Plants for better plant growth and more blooms.

Plant spring flowering bulbs now, like daffodil, jonquil, freesia, snowflake, anemone and bluebells.

Keep your lawns well cared for this coming winter by strengthening their roots and keeping the soil healthy by using Searles Robust Lawn Booster now.

22

Flowering: This tough grevillea variety has a compact form with an abundance of crimson flowers showing in autumn through to spring.

Size: 80cm H x 80cm spread.

Position: It grows well in dry and irrigated areas. Proven to be less fussy and copes well with frost and moderate humidity. Not suitable for tropic and subtropic areas. Plant in full sun to light shade.

Water regularly and mulch with chunky size mulch. Feed in early spring with Robust速 Native Plants. Prune lightly every year or two for best performance.

Cymbidium orchids are flowering now until spring. Place them in a sunny position protected from strong winds, hail and frost. Liquid fertilise prior to flower bud formation and up to and during flowering with Searles Flourish Orchid Bloomer every 7 to 14 days.

Water diluted mix over foliage and potting mix.

This striking compact ornamental changes its foliage with the season.

From bright yellow with light green centres and soft pink petite flowers in spring to darker foliage in summer, then bright orange foliage in autumn turning into fiery red in the winter months. Plant in full sun to take advantage of the foliage colours.

70cm H x 90cm W. Great as an informal hedge. Low maintenance.

23

Protect herbs, vegetables, trees and shrubs from possums, kangaroos, wallabies, rabbits, hares, bandicoots, deer, foxes and other wildlife.

Protect vegetables, fruit trees, ornamentals, seedlings and buildings from cockatoos, crows, ducks, pigeons, rosellas, starlings, swallows, other birds & bats.

Protects homes, gardens, patios, shop fronts and paved areas from both dogs and cats or rats and mice.

Protect one plant or a whole area — perimeter &/or band sprays.

Repels — without harming animals or humans.

Not considered a poison — no withholding period.

Easy to use — spray on. Effective when dry.

Safe, Proven and Effective.

is unique. Reject products said to be "just as good", nothing is at all "like it". For further information send 2x60c stamps to:

D-TER, Dept. A, PO Box 3, Oyster Bay, NSW 2225.

Enquiries: Phone: (02) 9589 0703. Fax: (02) 9589 0147

Darwin

Cairns Broome Townsville Whitsundays

N.T.

Mackay

Mt. Isa Longreach

Alice Springs Carnarvon

W.A. Kalgoorlie

S.A. Port Augusta

Perth

Gympie Roma Toowoomba Warwick

Mt Gambier

Armidale

Tamworth

Orange

Adelaide Victor Harbour

Moree

N.S.W.

Bunbury Esperance

Rockhampton Gladstone Hervey Bay

QLD Coober Pedy

Geraldton

Albany

Emerald

Blackall

Canberra Wodonga

Vic.

Melbourne

Tas.

Hobart

Sunshine Coast

Brisbane

Gold Coast

Grafton Port Macquarie Newcastle

Sydney

GG20-260/02

Available in 100g, 1Kg & 4Kg Sizes.

www.searles.com.au Ask for these great Searles products at your nearest gardening outlet. Ph: 07 5422 3000