Oakey Doke

07 March, 2026  |  Graham Ross

I hear you talking on the radio about your preference for oakleaf hydrangeas in warmer climates. Why is that? And what do you think is wrong with the new ones?

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Leafy Prospects: Growing Liriope in Sydney Gardens

05 January, 2026  |  Graham Ross

Spotted a beautiful groundcover while travelling? Gardening expert Graham Ross answers a reader’s question about growing Liriope muscari ‘Royal Purple’ in Sydney, including climate tips and a more reliable option for temperate gardens.

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Root of the Problem: Honey Fungus in Australian Gardens

05 January, 2026  |  Graham Ross Noticing mushrooms and decline around your trees? Gardening expert Graham Ross investigates a reader’s Canberra garden and explains how Australian Honey Fungus spreads, why it’s so destructive, and what you can do to protect the rest of your garden. Read More

How to grow Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia) at home

24 December, 2025  |  Graham Ross

Learn what the calla lilies planted in Tenterfield, NSW are, how to identify Zantedeschia varieties, and the best conditions to grow these striking flowers at home.

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Mellow yellow

11 December, 2025  |  Graham Ross

Why do my yellow roses always get black spot disease despite using fungicide controls on them?

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Colour Chameleon

02 December, 2025  |  Graham Ross

I’ve had three Iceberg roses for over 10 years – the white, pale pink and deep purple – but now they’re starting to look alike. Even some white ones are turning pink. Am I doing something wrong?

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Scaling problem

17 October, 2025  |  Graham Ross

My son’s star jasmine is smothered in scale. What’s the best way to treat it, and could overwatering be contributing to the problem? Is there a way to prevent it? And how often should he feed the plant, and with what?

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Dividing Clivias

17 October, 2025  |  Graham Ross

I’ve just bought three new hybrid clivias: a green, a yellow and a peach-coloured one. They’re all beautiful but to make space I’ll need to part with my old clump of regular clivias, which I still rather like. When is the best time to dig them up and divide them? My children would love to have some for their own gardens. And will I need to improve the soil before replanting them?

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Greyed out

30 September, 2025  |  Graham Ross

All my Camellia japonica leaves have gone grey and look terrible. I’ve sprayed with Conguard but it’s getting worse. I love my camellias, is there a cure, please?

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Scaly situation

30 September, 2025  |  Graham Ross

This is my Euonymus ‘Tom Thumb’ hedge that I think is infested with soft scale. I’ve sprayed twice in February with Conguard and Confidor. The infestation is much worse in the hedge around the weeping elm. What would you recommend?

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Heavenly bamboo (Nandina) beautiful but poisonous berries

30 September, 2025  |  Graham Ross

Are the berries on my heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestics) poisonous and should I remove the plant from my garden.

 

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Worth the wait

30 September, 2025  |  Graham Ross

I’ve had minimal success with native rhododendrons. Are there any tricks? This one I photographed at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is growing happily in the ground. 

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Avo got a clue

30 September, 2025  |  Graham Ross

Why isn’t our avocado fruiting? It’s a seven-year- old grafted ‘Dwarf Pinkerton’ growing in enriched sandy soil on the NSW North Coast. We fertilise it regularly, and while it produces plenty of flowers, it has only ever set one fruit. Could it be overwatering, a poor graft, or did I accidentally prune the wrong part near the graft?

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Squiggly Trouble

23 September, 2025  |  Graham Ross

What is disfiguring my gerberas?

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Winning the turf war

14 August, 2025  |  Words: Graham Ross | Images: Shutterstock

How to keep your lawn problem-free is easy when you know the best insider tricks.

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How sweet it is

17 October, 2025  |  Graham Ross

At the end of every sweet pea season, my vines succumb to this white powder that eventually kills the plants. I’m afraid to spray them because they’re also covered in ladybirds.Is there a safe control?

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Q&A: Possum tragic

17 October, 2025  |  Graham Ross

Our camellia used to flower beautifully but now it’s been attacked by a possum. Is there anything we can do? Also, should we trim the branches that have been stripped?

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Q&A: Unwanted guests

17 October, 2025  |  Graham Ross

Some of my strawberries have insects inside them. We nearly ate them! What are they, and how can we stop them from invading our crop in the future?

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Divide & Conquer

17 July, 2025  | 

I’ve just bought three new hybrid clivias: a green, a yellow and a peach-coloured one. They’re all beautiful but to make space I’ll need to part with my old clump of regular clivias, which I still rather like. When is the best time to dig them up and divide them? My children would love to have some for their own gardens. And will I need to improve the soil before replanting them?

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Possum Tragic

19 June, 2025  | 

Our camellia used to flower beautifully but now it’s been attacked by a possum. Is there anything we can do? Also, should we trim the branches that have been stripped?

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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?

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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?

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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?

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