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Garden that hangs around
HANGING gardens are ideally suited for balconies and townhouses. Note, I say “hanging gardens”, not hanging baskets. I see plenty of hanging baskets in gardens, often with plants long since dead!...
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Strip show to lift the soul
VISITORS to Canberra often comment to me about the endless dreariness of our nature strips, usually unmown and unkempt. Nature strip to lift the soul… in Ebden Street, Ainslie.The householder’s lament...
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A peony for your thoughts
THE stunning flowers of the peony provide the “wow” factor, but some people say they are difficult to grow and take seven years to flower. Incorrect, on both counts. I have planted peonies that have...
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Gardening: When feeding goes to pot
FEEDING plants is possibly one of the most misunderstood aspects of gardening, especially in pots. Have you noticed, when using liquid fertilisers for outdoor pot plants, how much simply runs straight...
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The hardy, softy plants
SOME of the softest and most delicate looking plants – often termed English cottage garden plants – belie their hardiness. The stunning new Dianthus “Sugar Plum”.A recent SBS program looked at the Ice...
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Cheerfully going to water
THERE is nothing more soothing than the sound of water on a hot day. And a water feature, with a small fountain and water plants, such as water lilies, is becoming popular among people with limited...
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Time to get out and enjoy other gardens
DESPITE the difficult spring, with hugely varying temperatures and rainfall, the petunias are in, the early flowering shrubs have been pruned and it is a time for relaxation. Banksia “Birthday Candles”...
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Gardening: Happy new garden!
Starting a new garden? Look for ideas around the neighbourhood. WELCOME to a new year in the garden and if you’re new to gardening in Canberra or starting a new garden, it’s a good idea to observe...
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Heatwave: Don’t panic in the garden
Most hand watering is a waste of time, says Cedric Bryant. IN heatwave conditions the aim is not to panic, plants are much tougher than most of us think. It is important that trees and shrubs are...
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It’s hot, don’t panic!
IN heatwave conditions the aim is not to panic, plants are much tougher than most of us think. It is important that trees and shrubs are watered out at the drip line, not by the trunk. Recently, I saw...
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Give climbers the big chop
MANY climbing plants in your garden will possibly be getting completely out of hand. How do you deal with them and when is the best time to deal with this rampant growth? Time to start summer pruning...
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Woman hospitalised after two-car crash
A WOMAN has been hospitalised with minor injuries after a two-car accident in Gordon this afternoon. Police were notified about the incident at about 12.08pm, which took place at the intersection of...
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Hardy evergreen that loves hot weather
THE Escallonia bifida is an extremely hardy evergreen shrub flowering in summer/early autumn. Close-up of Escallonia bifida.Its synonymous name, E. montevidensis, gives a clue to its origin in South...
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Hang on to scorched foliage
WITH the distinct possibility of more extreme heat before autumn, it is important not to cut back heat-affected foliage. Browning on the tips of the leaves… an indication of a plant needing water.This...
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Prickly surge as gardens go cactus
AS we go into a Mexican-type climate, there is resurgence in the interest of cacti and succulents, with their flowers of outstanding variety and colour. This was evident with the display by the Cactus...
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Gardening: Howard’s way with tomatoes
Howard Hollingsworth’s basket of just a few of the tomato varieties he grows.TOMATOES are the most popular grown vegetable or fruit, whichever you prefer, around the world. The range of varieties is...
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Gardening: The joy of perennial favourites
THE soft ground from the wonderful (and so welcome) recent rain makes it an ideal time to dig and divide perennials. The long-flowering Campanula “Telham Beauty”As opposed to annuals and biennials,...
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Gardening: Making scents of a plant survey
THE UK’s Royal Horticultural Society recently invited its members to list their favourite scented plants for each season Thousands of online entries poured in for “Scents of the Seasons” as members...
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Gardening: Unexpected herald of autumn
LOOK for potted Cyclamen hederifolium, just coming into flower. These delightful miniature pink cyclamen pop up unexpectedly in gardens at this time. Cyclamen hederifolium… the true herald of autumn.I...
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Gardening: Heat brings on pruning push
WITH consistently high temperatures for this time of the year, it is shaping up to be something of an Indian summer, which can be a tricky time for gardeners. A stunning Laburnum arch…Time to prune...
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