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Garden Radio Round Up August 26 - 27

A cool start to a mild, sunny day in the eastern states this weekend.

Rain, unfortunately, not likely to arrive any time soon. Time to keep the water and mulch up in the garden, especially potted plants.

It's the last chance to get a hold of the 2017 Father’s Day Gift Offer, which includes two new weapons on the war against weeds: Hot Devil Weedkiller and Slasher from OCP.

Join or renew your Garden Clinic Membership at Platinum level this weekend and upgrade your Dad's weeding arsenal with the Father's Day offer.

Join today!

 


Upgrade your Dad's weeding arsenal with the 'Hot Devil' weeder in the Father's Day offer (Butane can not included) when you join or renew your membership today.

 

It's time to

Cut some seasonal flowers for the table

We love to see the Pieris japonica flowers at this time of year. Linda has arranged hers on the table, welcoming spring to the house. It's a beautiful cool climate shrub from Japan aptly named 'Temple Bells'. We used to call them 'Andromeda' and they love the same conditions that azaleas do.

 


'Temple Bells' formerly known as 'Andromeda'. Photo - godric/Shutterstock.com

 

Plant

Agapanthus 'Queen Mum' is our favourite of the improved agapanthus hybrids – extra large flower heads of white and blue-rinse, which keep coming throughout December. Fewer seedheads mean it’s not a pest like the ordinary aggies. Plant now and enjoy a stunning display for Christmas.

 

Nothing says 'summer holidays' like agapanthus 'Queen Mum' in full flower. Photo - Linda Ross

 

In the Subtropical Garden

Plan areas for future tree planting to provide shelter from cool, dry August winds that can be damaging to the garden.

Want more winter jobs to do in your garden? Check out the full articles here - It's time to: Temperate gardens, and In the Subtropical Garden


Bugwatch

Whack those winter weeds

With winter chill slowing the growth of your lawn weeds can gain a foot-hold in the cooler months.

Keep an eye out for the most common types of lawn weeds and deal with them before the warmer spring weather becomes consistent.

We all know the most common culprits. They include rye grass, Kikuyu, dandelion, bindii, oxalis, clover and a host of others.

Try one of the organic herbicide sprays like Slasher from OCP, Yates Nature's Way Organic Spray, and Weed Blitz from Amgrow, which smells a bit like Pino-clean.

 


By the time you see the flowers it's too late. Get down and deal with those winter weeds before they go to seed.

 

Bush Garden

Hakea francisiana

Pink Spike Hakea or Emu Tree, not traditional Pincushion Bush

Spectacular large red flower spikes up to 10cms long in winter and spring on a shrub 3-4m tall and 2-3m wide. Native to the sandy soils of WA but adaptable to well drained, sandy and loamy garden soils. Leaves variable from seed but generally lance-shaped and bluish-green.

Cultivated in gardens for decades but less popular today than the grevilleas but flowers alone makes this a very desirable native plant. Tolerant of moderate frosts and prefers low humidity but worth growing even it only last for 4-5 years in a humid garden.

Increasingly being grafted on to the Eastcoast Hakea salicifolia to live longer in humid areas and grow in heavier soils. Flowers exceptionally attractive to honey eaters and other birds and ideal for a windbreak, screen or a quick growing flowering specimen. Prefers to grow in an open sunny position but will tolerate some shade.

 


Hakea francisiana. Photo - Graham Ross

 

Come away with us

Rose Gardens of England

Last year Sandra stayed on after leading the Europe tour to research a new itinerary that she has always wanted to do. The result is a spectacular new tour we are offering for the first time in 2018 - the Rose Gardens of England.

See an England in early summer, up to its knees in wildflowers with roses smothering ancient walls and hedgerows. Gardens on this new tour have been selected for their display of roses by tour leader Sandra Ross with the finale at RHS Hampton Court Flower Show. Rest in deluxe accommodation.

 


One of the many stunning gardens you will see on the Rose Gardens of England tour, 21 June - 5 July 2018.

 

See more of our tours at the 2018 Ross Garden Tours programme launch on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at the Lion Gate Lodge, Mrs Macquaries Rd, Royal Botanical Garden, Sydney at 11am. Meet the Ross Family over morning tea and learn about our Garden Tours for 2018.

Remember, bookings are essential! Go to the Ross Tours website, or call Royce or Roslyn at Ross Tours on 1300 233 200 and book your place today.

 

Garden News

New rose to honour work of the wives of NSW governors past and present

A new rose has been bred to honour the women behind the Governors of New South Wales. The new rose, simply called 'The Governor's Wife', was planted in the grounds of NSW Government House last week by Linda Hurley, wife of the current NSW Governor David Hurley.

 


'The Governor's Wife' rose bred to honour the wives of NSW governor's past and present. Photo - Richard walsh

 

Linda Hurley approached the president of the NSW Rose Society, Colin Hollis to find out if a rose could be bred to commemorate the women behind the office of Governor, and the huge contribution they make.

Colin Hollis said the rose is genuinly one-of-a-kind, not a huge rose, but quite attractive. Planted as a bare roots rose, it should bloom later this year.

Anyone can view the rose during regular visiting hours in the garden at Government House, Sydney

 


Lady Martin, Lady Cutler, and Mrs Linda Hurley after planting 'The Governor's Wife' rose at Government House, Sydney.

 

Graham joins Mrs Linda Hurley ( in red dress), wife of Governor David Hurley, and other guests at the rose planting.

 

Dream gardens and outdoor classrooms become a reality for 25 schools

More than 3,000 students in 25 schools across seven states will soon be donning their gardening gloves and getting stuck into creating their dream gardens thanks to the Yates Junior Landcare Grants for Gardens Program.

 


A new crop of young gardeners from Agnes Waters School.

 

15 x $2,000 grants were originally offered through the Yates Junior Landcare Grants for Gardens program, with extra funding for an additional 10 grants put forward by Yates due to the high demand and high quality of applications. Each school will receive $1,500 in funding, $500 of Yates garden products and a growing consultation with a Yates gardening expert to arm the students with tips and tricks to help their gardens thrive.

Tessa Matykiewicz, Landcare Australia CEO, is looking forward to see the funded projects take root.

“It is so important to have projects such as these available for children to get involved in. The benefits of outdoor learning in a hands on way are vast, and thanks to our partnership with Yates, more than 3,000 students will have the opportunity to learn skills that will stay with them into the future,” she said.

For more information go to www.landcareaustralia.org.au/grants-for-gardens or www.yates.com.au