The Garden Clinic

My veggie patch

09 March, 2022 | WORDS AND IMAGES: LEE SULLIVAN

Let us introduce you to Lee Sullivan, an organic gardener who believes anyone can grow their own food. Here, she shares her cool season favourites.

Meet: Angus Stewart

08 March, 2022 | INTERVIEW: SANDRA ROSS | IMAGES: BRENT WILSON AND ANGUS STEWART

Well known through his appearances on Gardening Australia, Angus Stewart has moved to Tasmania where he is experimenting and hybridising new and even better kangaroo paws.

Autumn Favourites

08 March, 2022 | WORDS: SANDRA ROSS | IMAGES: GRAHAM ROSS & SHUTTERSTOCK

Does your garden need a facelift? Autumn is the best time, so get busy with this special selection.

Warrigal greens with fettuccine

23 November, 2021 | RECIPE: SARAH GLOVER Make this fresh green sauce ahead of time for quick summer dinners. It will keep for a week in the fridge. Read More

Warrigal Greens

23 November, 2021 | Words: Linda Ross Top chefs are going wild for this antioxidant-rich native spinach that grows like a weed. Read More

Meet: Paula Benneian

22 November, 2021 | INTERVIEW: Graham Ross Read More

Begonias - On angel’s wings

22 November, 2021 | WORDS AND IMAGES: GRAHAM ROSS Read More

22 November, 2021 | WORDS: SANDRA ROSS, IMAGES: GRAHAM ROSS When two gardeners settle into a home and garden there could be fireworks. In our case, it’s been a joyful 35-year journey, which we hope will last forever. Read More

Pumpkin patch

23 November, 2021 | Words: Angie Thomas (Images: Shutterstock) Discover how you can grow these delicious gourdes at home. Read More

True blue

23 November, 2021 | Words: Sandra Ross (Images: Shutterstock) Forget buying a punnet of blueberries this summer. Here’s how to grow your own! Read More

A new leaf

21 October, 2021 | Words: Sandra Ross | Image: Shutterstock

Toss up your traditional salad by growing a mix of greens. So many tasty new salad greens are now available in seed packets or seedlings from your garden centre.

A moveable feast

21 October, 2021 | Words: Sandra Ross | Images: Oasis Horticulture Don’t let small space cramp your gardening style. Here’s how to grow a thriving vegie patch without a plot. Read More

Fragrant Fennel

21 October, 2021 | Words: Sandra Ross It may not look like much, but this bulbous stem has the most beautiful, but subtle aniseed flavour – perfect in roasts and salads. Read More

Banksia spinulosa 'Birthday Candles'

18 March, 2021 | Ally Jackson

This prostrate banksia hugs the ground to a height of about 50cm. It bears pale yellow flower heads with lilac styles from late summer to winter. These are held above the foliage and provide much-needed food for birds when there is little else in flower.

Camellia ‘Desire’

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

Is this the prettiest camellia of all?

Canna ‘Australia’

18 March, 2021 | Libby Cameron

The popularity of cannas is due to their long display of bold foliage and vibrant flowers. This hybrid is one of a new series called ‘Show Off’, which has been bred for resistance to disease and for clean, sculptural foliage.

Geraldton Wax

18 March, 2021 | Ally Jackson

The unerringly fake-looking flowers of Geraldton wax appear now and emphasise the beauty that can be found outdoors in winter.

Native bluebell

18 March, 2021 | Ally Jackson

Spring sees the stunning blues of our native bluebell appearing in the bush and in gardens. The blue becomes electric when it’s teemed with an acacia ‘Limelight’ in a rockery or garden bed.

Pink Waratah

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

New cultivars of pink waratahs have been developed by plant breeders to offer better garden performance than the wild flower.

Queensland firewheel tree

18 March, 2021 | Ally Jackson

These stately trees brighten autumn with their wheel-like inflorescence, aflame in reds, yellows and oranges.

Rhodanthe ‘Paper Stars’

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

This pretty daisy is covered in tiny white paper flowers with a yellow centre. It’s ideal for gardens with a cottage feel.

Showy Honey Myrtle

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

The contrast of the pinkish/purple flower heads, the deep green shiny foliage and the light-coloured, almost-smooth paperbark makes this an excellent feature for the bush garden.

A story about the breeding of grafted gums

18 March, 2021 | Graham Ross

Graham Ross tells the inspiring story of Queensland nurseryman Stan Henry’s determination to create a flowering gum that anyone could grow.

Acacia cognata 'Limelight'

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

We have successfully grown the shrub form of ‘Limelight’ in Sydney for ten years – through drought and flooding rains! – and love its waterfall of luminous lime leaves.

Agapanthus

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

The sparkling blue and white flowers of agapanthus cool the summer garden, and new colours are a real thrill.

Ajuga

18 March, 2021 |

This reliable blue spring carpet deserves its go-to reputation. Let’s take a closer look.

Algerian iris

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

Also called the winter iris, this plant originates from the Mediterranean and North Africa and consequently enjoys impoverished soils. It produces flowers on and off throughout the winter.

Alyogyne huegelii

18 March, 2021 | Libby Cameron

This gorgeous plant will stop you in your tracks in a garden of either native or exotic plants. It’s a spectacular new form of the native hibiscus, or ‘blue hibiscus’ with attractive blue-green foliage, and masses of deep mauve flowers.

Angel's Trumpet, Brugmansia

18 March, 2021 | Sandra Ross

It’s easy to see why the common name for the dramatic Brugmansia is angel’s trumpet. These sub-tropical beauties offer months of flowers and fragrance, all in an easy-care package.

Arno's South East QLD Report

18 March, 2021 | Arno King

The days are starting to cool off and it's a very pleasant time to get stuck into the garden. Before you know it, the day has gone. We’ve been waiting patiently for the ‘wet’ to finally arrive and, and moisten the soil. Now that it’s started to rain, there has been a great surge of growth.

Arnos Subtropical Kitchen Garden

18 March, 2021 | Arno King

Looking for herbs and vegies that are well suited to the subtropics? Arno has you covered.

August Jobs

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

Daffodil displays are the prize in August. It's time to get out there and enjoy them.

Australia’s First Camellia?

18 March, 2021 | Graham Ross

Her journey and namesake, has criss-crossed the oceans and lands from Australia, China, England and Europe for four centuries creating one of gardening’s most intriguing stories. But is she Australia's first camellia? Graham Ross finds out.

Autumn crocus

18 March, 2021 | Libby Cameron

This tough little bulb flowers in profusion after rain – hence its sometime alias, the storm lily. It has shiny evergreen foliage and the flowers are white and open, like fragile crocuses.

Autumn-toned Climbers

18 March, 2021 | Sandra Ross

Leafy deciduous climbers give fabulous summer shade when trained to cover a pergola, and some of these colour in a dramatic way once temperatures drop in autumn.

Banksia

18 March, 2021 | Graham Ross

Visitors to Empress Josephine’s garden at Malmaison outside Paris were wowed by her banksia collection. Two hundred years later gardeners still thrill to these bold and beautiful flowers, but have cold feet about growing them. Graham Ross explains why, and reports on the new cultivars now available.

Beautiful Bamboo

18 March, 2021 | Graham Ross

Bamboozled over whether bamboo is a garden pest or a garden saviour? Graham explains why this lovely group of plants can be both – and how to choose the right one for your needs.

Beauty Bush

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

A vase-shaped deciduous shrub, grown for its outstanding purple berries, which cluster along the stems in autumn, following the tiny lilac flowers.

Begonias

18 March, 2021 | Sandra Ross

You might be most familiar with the sun-hardy bedding begonias, the ‘wax flowers’ whose red and white blooms shine on through hot weather. But there are many other types of begonias, some with beautiful patterned leaves as well as those simple, charming, waxy flowers.

Best bulbs for...

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

Follow our guide on what to plant.

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