Ask Us! | The Garden Clinic

Spot the Difference

13 March, 2025 | Kevin H., Oran Park, NSW

We have several African violets all group together inside. They all flowering well and look great but this one has developed these white spots on the leaves and flowers. Can you please advise what the problem could be?

Brown and Out

13 March, 2025 | Silvana D.V., Greenfield Park, NSW My Japanese maple was nice and healthy green and leafy, after going away for the weekend I returned and leaves are all soft and brown, am I able to save it? Read More

Rhubarb Ruined

13 March, 2025 | Wayne H., Kiama Downs, NSW I’m having trouble with two of my rhubarb plants. I lost two others last year in the same way. Read More

Cycad Confusion

13 March, 2025 | Carol B., Yarrawarrah, NSW

I have a cycad that's over 25 years old, and it has grown so large that it's being squashed by other plants in the rockery. The fronds are hanging over the path, and I need to cut them back. Now, I've discovered two 'things' growing at the base. What are they?

Disappearing Act

13 March, 2025 | Barb Mcl., St Kilda East, Vic

Two years ago, I purchased a lilac, and I’m fairly certain it was ‘Sensation.’ However, it has barely flowered, and now it doesn’t even look like a lilac. The first photo shows about one year of growth, while the second shows what it looks like now. I’d appreciate your thoughts.

Get the Blooms Going

30 January, 2025 | ANNE M, GOLD COAST, QLD

I’ve been given a hoya in flower but have never grown them before. Are there any tricks with this amazing climber? ANNE M, GOLD COAST, QLD

Holey Maple

30 January, 2025 | JENNIE, WESTLEIGH, NSW

I have a 50-year-old maple tree with a large hole where a branch was cut many years ago. There are no signs of borers or sawdust. Should I be concerned? Is there anything I should do? JENNIE, WESTLEIGH, NSW

Fraught with Fruit Fly

30 January, 2025 | LAUREN B, DURAL, NSW

Every year my peaches get stung by fruit flies to the point I’m thinking of taking the trees out. I love the home-grown fruit philosophy but is it really worth growing them? LAUREN B, DURAL, NSW

Kiss of Death

30 January, 2025 | JAMES, BLUE MOUNTAINS, NSW

I’ve been experiencing this problem with my hellebores for a couple of years. As the new growth appears, it turns black, becomes contorted and ultimately dies. I’ve sprayed with fungicide, but it hasn’t helped. Now my neighbour has the same issue with her hellebores, and I’m afraid it will spread to all of my other hundreds of hellebores. JAMES, BLUE MOUNTAINS, NSW

Good Riddance Caterpillars

30 January, 2025 | JOHN K, BENTLEIGH, VIC

Every year my cliveas get decimated by grubs. When should I start controlling them and what with please? I was considering buying some of the new green varieties but won’t until I can stop this grub. JOHN K, BENTLEIGH, VIC

Mystery Solved

30 January, 2025 | ANGELA L, PORT MACQUARIE, NSW

Many years ago in Queensland, I had a stunning blue flowering creeper. It had a slightly wild appearance but when it bloomed, it captivated everyone who passed by. I never learned its name but its star-like flowers formed clusters reminiscent of small wisteria blooms. Do you have any idea what it might be?
ANGELA L, PORT MACQUARIE, NSW

In full bloom

22 September, 2024 | Gay J., Garden Clinic Listener Hi Sandra and Graham,Sending you a shot of my small suburban garden, full of sasanqua camellias. I heard on the show last week Sandra speaking of espaliered camelias. Mine is only small but covers up the shed nicely. It's about 27 years old. Thanks to you both. I have listened religiously and learnt a lot. Read More

Cracked and dry

22 September, 2024 | Kevin H., Oran Park, NSW My eggplants have leathery marks on the base of the fruit. It is on them from the time they start to grow. I’ve sprayed with eco-oil, Success Ultra and BioGuano. What’s causing this scaling? Read More

Blooming beautiful

22 September, 2024 | David K., Wollongong, NSW I was given this orchid many years ago and it has now flowered. My neighbour says it’s a native orchid. Is it better to grow it in the garden or on a tree? I nearly pulled it out five years ago but left it alone, now I’ve been rewarded, quite exciting really. Read More

Squash season

22 September, 2024 | Alan L., Drummoyne, NSW My squash fruit are all diseased this year. Is it due to all the earlier rain or a disease I should have sprayed for? Read More

Rainbow carrots

22 September, 2024 | Frank J., Liverpool, NSW I’m intrigued to grow purple carrots. I see there are seed packets of multi-coloured ones. Do they just look attractive or is there a reason why they’ve suddenly appeared in supermarkets and in seed racks? Read More

Friend or foe?

22 September, 2024 | Alison J, Castle Hill, NSW

I’m confused about what pests I have and whether I need to worry about them. Can you tell me what these are, please? I found the darker one in my flower garden while looking for what was attacking my seedlings. The white one came from both my compost heap and the soil in my veggie garden.

FAQ: Rosy outlook

17 September, 2024 | Julie A., Bowral, NSW

I recently visited a garden that was full of this gorgeous rose, it was in full flower and spreading everywhere. The owner wasn’t sure of its name and just called it Anna after the lady who gave her the original cutting.

Avo look at this!

21 July, 2024 | Nobby, GCC Member

I’ve got a problem with my avocados. This is the first year I’ve got a decent crop, however the majority of them are flawed. What’s happened to them? What can I do to prevent this happening? Also, any quick methods for ripening them?

Palm off

21 July, 2024 | Phillipa M., Port Macquarie, NSW

We live near the Hastings River and the lower property was flooded in 2021. Our Kentia palms are all slowly dying. What can we do to save them?

Seeing red

21 July, 2024 | Peter M., Penrith, NSW I heard you talking on radio recently about Grevillea ‘Molly’ being better than G. ‘Robyn Gordon’. What does it look like and why is it better, please? Read More

Space invaders

30 June, 2024 | Graham Ross

I love my Buffalo lawn but every year it is filled with a short weed with small feathery flowers. I keep mowing it, even now in winter, but it keeps getting worse.

Lily Lover

03 June, 2024 | Graham Ross

I’m a new gardener inspired by your lovely magazine to try lilies. Should I plant them in the garden or in pots?

Divide and conquer

02 June, 2024 | C. Kelly, Sutherland NSW

I have a huge bed of orange and some hybrid yellow clivias. They are now growing on top of each other. When and how can I divide them?

Flaming good

15 March, 2024 | Garden Clinic Club member, Liz C.

Last summer was an excellent year for the trifecta of flowering trees including the silky oak (Grevillea robusta), jacaranda and the Illawarra flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolius).

Whip it, snip it

15 March, 2024 | Ann T., Chatswood, NSW My young flowering gum has produced long whippy stems from the root stock. My worry is they are coming from the actual graft point not below. The above growth is also weak, please help. Read More

Struck gold

15 March, 2024 | Neville A., Gold Coast, Qld

Several years ago, I was given a cutting of a rare yellow mandevilla. I managed to strike it and planted it in the garden and now it’s a beautiful golden flowering plant in our garden, but it won’t climb. How can I get it to grow up a trellis?

Unhappy hoya

15 March, 2024 | Jenny, Nelson Bay, NSW

My hoya leaves are turning yellowish, not a good shade of green. It flowered well, and I was wondering if it is hungry. What should I feed it?

Mango madness

15 March, 2024 | Peta L., Mona Vale, NSW

My neighbour has an old mango tree that fruits prolifically every year and he shares the fruit with everyone. He told me he follows your suggested eco-oil spraying the flowers every year. Sadly, he’s going into care and leaving the garden. He’s given me two seedlings from his tree, will they be as good as his?

Fruitless passionfruit

05 March, 2024 | Colin H., Maryborough, Qld

I have two very vigorous Panama Passionfruit. When planted, I gave them a good dose of long-acting slow-release nitrogen. They are growing beautifully but won’t flower. What do you suggest to balance the nutrients so they flower and fruit?

Bronzed over

11 January, 2024 | Kelly L. St. Ives NSW

My camellias were decimated last year with an insect. I assume that’s what it is. Now it’s spreading to our roses. What is it and what can I do to stop it? Please help.

Stranger things

11 January, 2024 | Peter and Kristy J., Port Macquarie, NSW Our gum tree has a strange growth on it, what is it and how do we treat it? Read More

Solve the mystery

11 January, 2024 | Grace G., Mosman, NSW You might be able to answer a mystery for me. I’ve seen two shrubs in different states that look the same but with different flower colours. They grow in very different climates, but look easy to grow, yet, I’ve never seen them for sale. What are they and why aren’t they in garden centres? Read More

Mellow yellow

11 January, 2024 |

Please help! I’ve tried Popul8, Whoflungdung and Seamungus but my gardenia hedges are still yellowing.

By the seaside

11 January, 2024 |

I’ve heard there is a rose that grows close to the seaside. Is this true and is there one with white flowers?

Purple Haze

11 January, 2024 | Barbara B., Hornsby, NSW

I keep planting purple carrots, purple cauliflowers and other purple vegies. But why are they better, and can you tell me how to safely stop grubs from eating my crops, please?

Most Recent

Garden Clinic Members can chat with our friendly horticulturists.

Phone 1300 133 100 (10am - 2pm)

Remember to quote your membership number on your card.

Speak soon, Graham Ross

Garden Helpline

Ready to help 7 days a week

Speak soon,
Graham Ross