Episodes
Wednesday Sep 08, 2021
Spotting Plant Deficiencies in Plant Doctor
Wednesday Sep 08, 2021
Wednesday Sep 08, 2021
PLANT DEFICIENCIES:
But still the plants look sickly, or perhaps a bit yellow, or they’re just not putting on any growth.
Does that sound familiar?
- So what’s the problem?
Basic pH test kit |
- Ideally the ideal pH range that gardeners should strive for is pH 6 - 7.5
- This is the range that the major nutrients of NPK are available to the plant the most.
- Some plants such as rhododenrons and azaleas like a like a low of pH6.
A good tip when taking soil samples from your soil is to get a sample from just below the surface for an accurate reading.
I'm talking with Kylie Last, horticulturist and TAFE teacher.
If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
Wednesday Sep 08, 2021
Plant Nutrition: What Plants Really Want in Plant Doctor
Wednesday Sep 08, 2021
Wednesday Sep 08, 2021
PLANT NUTRITION UNPACKED
Major Nutrients
Have you ever asked yourself "how do plants take up nutrients when you spread fertiliser around them on the ground or dilute it into liquid ?"
- What went wrong?
- So What Are These Nutrients?
- Nitrogen:Phosphorus:Potassium or NPK:
A selection of fertilisers - Kylie's main mantra is NPK refers to shoots:roots;fruit
Without the major nutrients, your plants may not grow and develop roots, stems leaves and flowers properly.
If you know what and how much to give your plants, the plants will be healthier and more productive.
Just remember to read the NPK amounts on the bag or packet of fertiliser.
Let’s find out more about what plants really need.
I'm talking with Kylie Last, horticulturist and TAFE teacher.
PLAY: Major Nutrients_21stJuly 2021
If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Woolly Tea Tree in Plant of the Week
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Scientific name: Leptospermum lanigerum
lanigerum, is named using the Latin word for wool-bearing, describing the silky hairy leaves and hairy buds, shoots and young capsules.
- Not all tea trees have green leaves, and this one has pewter grey or silver tiny leaves with typical 5 petalled tea tree flowers.
- May be limbed into a small tree. Light summer water though very drought adapted. Excellent background shrub or screen or large informal hedge.
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Aussie Blue Devil in Plant of the Week
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Monday Aug 30, 2021
- When heavily if flower, the plant, not just the flowers turn blue. "By mid summer the flowering stems extend to 60 cm and a mass of crowded bright blue flowers is produced with long, spiky bracts to 2.5 cm in globular, thistle-like heads on rigid branched stems. " (from anbg.gov.au)
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Aussie Coastal Rosemary is Plant of the Week
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Westringia 'Grey Box' |
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Two Silver leafed Eucalypts in Plant of the Week
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Monday Aug 30, 2021
PLANT OF THE WEEK
All About Australian Native Plants with Silver Leaves.
Eucalyptus perriniana |
pt1 A Couple of Eucalypts with Silver Leaves.
- Two great silver leafed gums were our picks:Eucalyptus perriniana and Eucalyptus cinerea
Silver leaves can be so attractive in the garden, in the vase or just in the landscape.
The add texture and structure to a garden. But they also can brighten a dark spot in a garden where dark green would just disappear in the gloom.
Eucalyptus cinerea |
Other fabulous silver leafed eucalypts
- You could also try Eucalyptus pulverulenta, known as the Silver-leaved Mountain Gum.
- There’s a dwarf form of this one called Baby Blue which only grows to 3m.
- The Silver-leaved Mountain Gum is an unusual Eucalypt (especially for eastern Australia) because it hangs onto juvenile foliage into maturity. Plants rarely produce adult leaves.
Thursday Aug 19, 2021
What's The Difference: Garden Snips vs Hand Pruners or Secateurs
Thursday Aug 19, 2021
Thursday Aug 19, 2021
Garden Snips vs Secateurs
You would think that gardening tools would have all the same name pretty much all around the world.
What else would you call a spade ?
Perhaps a trowel may have a few different names, but what about secateurs and garden snips?
Are they the same thing?
- Secateurs are sometimes called pruning shears or hand pruners .
My Toolkit: Felco No8 secateurs - Secateurs can be bypass style, where the cutting blade passes a curved non-cutting 'anvil.'
- Secateurs can also be anvil style where the cutting blade cuts into a 'anvil.'
- Good quality secateurs will cut easily, feel comfortable to hold and spare parts are able to be purchased.
- Secateurs are used for the 'green' wood on plants cutting easily up to the diameter of a person's fingers.
- Garden snips are best used for trimming off spent flowers on plants such as calibroachoa, petunias, and other annuals and perennials. Light trimming of soft 'green' plant material is OK as long as the stems or branches are not too thick. Garden snips don't have the cutting power of secateurs.
PLAY: snips vs secateurs_18th August 2021
Like me, a lot of gardeners would have both types of secateurs-anvil and bypass as well as a pair of snips.
After all, not everything can be pruned with the one tool.