Welcome to your summer magazine,
Last year’s Garden Clinic summer edition was all about the weather and its projected outcomes –what a disaster that was. Horrendous bushfires, floods, cyclonic conditions for some and many still in severe drought. Then along came COVID-19. Enough said.
Gardeners fared better than most, except maybe in Victoria, where unheard of sums were spent to keep gardening. Vegetable and herb seeds and seedlings, shrubs, climbers, trees, all walked out of garden centres, even annual flower colour made a welcome return. We experienced the highest weekend radio ratings across Australia in 40 years and The Garden Clinic Helpline was non-stop, answering your queries 7 days a week.
It’s been a busy and chaotic year, but we hope gardening has made you feel grounded. And if you’re looking for inspiration or even a moment of escape, we have a great issue for you.
Our colleague, Michael McCoy, tours one of my favourite places, Canada, Sandra details her favourite roses with a few surprises, and also recommends some excellent shade trees for summer.
I take you into the veggie garden with tips on growing sweet corn and zucchini, and Sandra shows you how to protect your growing bounty from thieving hands.
Tony Matson shares his ideas about secateurs, and I put them to good use with tricks about taking semi-hardwood cuttings – yes now’s the time.
We meet two rising horticultural stars, plus the monthly seasonal guide, your Garden Clinic questions answered and more.
If you’re looking for more seasonal tips, tune into The Garden Clinic weekend radio show. It can be heard on 2GB greater Sydney, 4BC greater Brisbane, 2ST NSW Illawarra South Coast, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands, 2LT NSW Tablelands and Lithgow, 2BS Bathurst, Orange, Oberon, 8HA Alice Springs, KLFM Bendigo Victoria, and globally on www.2gb.com. You can also listen to our podcast, Digs Deeper, anytime on our website