July 8th, 2016
REAL WORLD GARDENER Wed. 5pm 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney,
streaming live at www.2rrr.org.au and Across Australia on the Community Radio
Network. www.realworldgardener.comREALWORLD GARDENER NOW ON FACEBOOK
The complete CRN edition of RWG is available on http://www.cpod.org.au/ , just click on 2RRR to find this week’s edition.
DESIGN ELEMENTS
Climbers for a Tropical Zone
In a Tropical Zone
there are many climbers that will grow well in the warmer climates. One thing I did notice when I was thinking
about the plants suitable for warmer climates is that the climbers suitable for
this area do have brightly coloured flowers.
There’s so much to be said about
climbing plants, even if you have a small garden, climbers can be used to hide
walls, or fence off boundaries, without spreading into the limited space of the garden.
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Mandevilla sanderi
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They are also a cheap and easy way
to cover up something unsightly, such as a shed or water tank, or to soften a
harsh wall, fence or tree trunk.This segment is all about tropical
climbers which by the way don’t always have to grow in tropical climates
because you know, gardeners want to test the boundaries.Let’s find out. I'm talking with Glenice Buck, Consulting Arborist and Landscape Designer.
The Pandorea
species are exceptional because they can tolerate quite a range of
conditions and temperatures even though they’re from tropical zones.
On the other hand, Mandevillas not so much, but then again, indoor is not a bad idea for these if you like them.
Glenice's top 5 tropical climbers are
How about "Bauhinia Corymbosa" Or Butterfly Vine
Butterfly
vine is an evergreen vine in sub-tropical conditions that can be
semi-deciduous in cooler climates with older leaves dropping in cold
winters, a beautiful vine with attractive and unusual foliage and small
orchid-like flowers with unique 2 lobed leaves hints at its placement in
the pea family. All through the warmer months there are plenty of pale
pink flowers with dark veining and ideal for covering a pergola, fence
or over a tree and is spectacular as a groundcover especially when in
flower
July 8th, 2016
REAL WORLD GARDENER Wed. 5pm 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney,
streaming live at www.2rrr.org.au and Across Australia on the Community Radio
Network. www.realworldgardener.com
REALWORLD GARDENER NOW ON FACEBOOK
The complete CRN edition of RWG is available on http://www.cpod.org.au/ , just click on 2RRR to find this week’s edition.
PLANT DOCTOR
If you’ve ever been travelling
through Europe, or even England, Camellias aren’t one of those plants that
you’re likely to come across all that much.
According the English Broadcaster
and gardener Monty Don, over there, the main problem with the Camellia japonica
and Camellia reticulata varieties is that, when their flowers start to fade, they
cling to the shrub, looking for weeks like used tissue. The only way to deal
with this is to dead-head each bloom by hand – otherwise it is like having a
wonderful party then failing to tidy up afterwards.
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Add caption |
The combination of this extra work
and the belief that most camellias were tender and therefore needed special
protection meant that interest in camellias went into decline at the beginning
of the 20th century.
But for us here in Australia, Camellias
are one of the most popular winter- and spring-flowering shrubs, providing a
vivid splash of colour when little else is in bloom.
So today we’re talking how to look
after them when disease strikes these wonderful shrubs.
So let’s find out how to fix this.I'm talking with Steve Falcioni, General
Manager of www.ecoorganicgarden.com.au
In this country the greatest
problems are from wet winters and spring frosts, so to get away from this you
need to add grit and compost to the planting hole so that the roots do not sit
in wet soil.
Freezing conditions dehydrate the
leaves, which lose more water as they thaw, especially if exposed to wind.
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Camellia japonica Lovelight
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The frozen roots mean that no
water is taken up to replace this, and the result is often that the top or
exposed part of the shrub dies back.
The extent of the damage will not
become fully apparent until spring, when new growth appears and, if the roots
are damaged, will drop and die back.
Draping fleece over the plant is a
short-term remedy, but the most importantfactor is to provide permanent
shelter from the wind.
If you have a camellia in a pot,
wrap the pot in bubble wrap or bring it indoors in cold weather.
If you have any questions about problems
with your Camellias or any other shrub, drop us a line to realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644
Gladesville NSW 1675
July 3rd, 2016
REAL WORLD GARDENER Wed. 5pm 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney,
streaming live at www.2rrr.org.au and Across Australia on the Community Radio
Network. www.realworldgardener.comREALWORLD GARDENER NOW ON FACEBOOK
The complete CRN edition of RWG is available on http://www.cpod.org.au/ , just click on 2RRR to find this week’s edition.
PLANT OF THE WEEK
Coleus species: Solenostemon scutellarioides
These plants (Coleus species) have a huge variation in the leaf patterns that you can buy.
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Solonostemon scutellariodes: Coleus plants photo M Cannon |
Once thought of as old fashioned plants along with the Aspidistra and your grandmother’s doillies, they seem to be coming back into vogue with newer colour variations that range from lime green to bright red.
What could this plant be? Let’s find out. I'm talking with the plant panel : Karen Smith, editor of Hort Journal www.hortjournal.com.au and Jeremy Critchley, The Green Gallery wholesale nursery owner. www.thegreengallery.com.au
Coleus have square stems with saw-toothed, scalloped or ruffled leaf edges.
Coleus species are frost tender and need winter protection outside the subtropics.
In cool temperate climates grow these plants in the conservatory, as house plants, or outdoors as annual bedding plants.
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Solonostemon scutellariodes: Coleus plants photo M Cannon |
Easily grown from cuttings, which can be taken at any time of the year, but best in late summer for winter indoor growth, and late winter/early spring from indoor plants for outdoor summer growth. Use young, non-woody stem cuttings, which can be rooted either in potting mix or in water.
Leaf patterns are so bizarre they may have inspired Paisley prints on fabrics.
But you may just want to brighten that dull corner of your garden and this is the plant to do it with.
July 3rd, 2016
REAL WORLD GARDENER Wed. 5pm 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney,streaming live at www.2rrr.org.au and Across Australia on the Community RadioNetwork. www.realworldgardener.comREALWORLD GARDENER NOW ON FACEBOOKThe complete CRN edition of RWG is available on http://www.cpod.org.au/ , just click on 2RRR to find this week’s edition.
DESIGN ELEMENTS
Evergreen or Deciduous Climbers?
Last week it was all about how plants climb, whether it’s from grasping a support with thin shoots that curl around like in Passionfruit plants, or with hooks as in Bouganvilleas and roses.
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Wisteria is a deciduous climber |
But now you need to decide if you want a deciduous climber or an evergreen climber.
Which works best for you?
Let’s find out. I'm talking with Glenice Buck, Consulting Arborist and Landscape Designer
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Stephanotis floribunda is an evergreen climber |
Climbers and scramblers are superb additions to the garden.
Yes you need to think about do you need leaf coverage throughout the whole year?
Evergreen climbers will give you year round shade coverage if you were to grow them over a pergola.
This is ideal for a north facing location where you need shade all year.
Evergreen climbers growing along a fence or on a wire across a window will act as an attractive privacy screen.
Deciduous climbers grown over a pergola or awning will allow you to have summer shade and winter sun.
When the sun is shining they will create a microclimate in your garden to retreat to but when the days are cooler and the sun is lower in the sky the deciduous climber will allow the area to take full advantage of the sun that is available at that time of year.
July 3rd, 2016
REAL WORLD GARDENER Wed. 5pm 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney,
streaming live at www.2rrr.org.au and Across Australia on the Community Radio
Network. www.realworldgardener.comREALWORLD GARDENER NOW ON FACEBOOK
The complete CRN edition of RWG is available on http://www.cpod.org.au/ , just click on 2RRR to find this week’s edition.
WILDLIFE IN FOCUS
Red Whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)
Not all birds featured in this segment are native, so it’s good to know which ones aren’t.
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Red Whiskered Bulbul |
We all know the Noisy Miner bird is a native and the introduced Indian Mynah is not, because they’re so aggressive.
What about a little bird, that’s not that aggressive, doesn’t move to far from its territory and doesn’t make a squawking or screeching sound when it sings?
It has bright red patches at the side of its face, almost like a small dot.
They eat fleshy fruits which is their main food with occasional insects as well.
So let’s not linger any longer and find out all about it.
I'm talking with Dr Holly Parsons, manager of Birds in Backyards www.birdsinbackyards.org.au
Now you know that the Red Whiskered Bulbul is an introduced species.
These birds were deliberately introduced into NSW in the 1880's and later introduced to Coffs Harbour in NSW in 1918.
Then there was yet another release around Melbourne.
They have been known to occasionally pop up around cities like Perth and Canberra also and are probably cage bird escapes.
The Red-whiskered Bulbuls are non-migratory bulbuls found in tropical Asia - from Pakistan and India through to southeastern Asia and China. They typically roost in loose groups.
In parts of India, these birds were popular cage birds, because of their trusting nature so that they were easily captured.
If you have any questions about red whiskered bulbuls or have some information or a photo to share, drop us a line to realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
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