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How To Grow Lilies

Sandra Ross gives us all the tips on growing lovely liliums.

In the Veggie Patch

Sandra and Graham talk about the veggie patch - a great thing to do while at home.

Autumn Garden Tips

Sandra gives us three topics to get your autumn garden productive - Bulbs to plant now, Magic Mulch, and some tips about autumn roses.

The Little World of African Violets

Today we travel to Tanzania, metaphorically, to chat about a forest groundcover that we in Australia grow inside – a plant you’ll see at Nanna’s house – the African Violet.

A mauve-tinted expedition

The Garden Clinic heads off to Japan this week for a very special mauve-tinted expedition to see the wonderful wisteria.

Frangipani My Favourite

I have loved frangipanis as long as I can remember. They fragrance transports me back to simple summer days at the beach collecting flowers for float bowls and smelling like sunscreen.

How to: Grow Tomatoes

More people grow tomatoes than any other fruit or vegetable. But results can be mixed. Set yourself up with the right advice for a bounty harvest in an Australian environment. There is much joy to be had in picking sun-ripened, richly flavoured sweet tomatoes from your own garden. But it’s not easy - with summer temps set to soar into the forties - it’s time to get serious about garden grown tomatoes.

Meet the Geraniaceae Family

Geraniums are an excellent choice for our changing, warming climate. They thrive in bright sunny gardens, hanging out of window-boxes and adorning pots on balconies. And scented varieties are wonderful when picked and placed in a soothing hot bath!

Milkwood

Linda chats to Milkwood co-founder Nick Ritar about harvesting seaweed for the garden, starting a summer tomato patch and growing your own mushrooms.

It takes a village

In their new book ‘The Village’, Matt and Lentil describe connecting to your village may just bring the good health, happiness and longevity you seek.

Lights! Cameras! Therapeutic horticulture in ACTION!

Do you think there is a kindness deficit in the world? I do! But not in this little corner of Australia. Today we visit a not-for-profit community therapy garden and nursery in the west of Sydney where the bees are buzzing and volunteers are laughing in a brand new safe space. And it’s kind and exciting to see it in action.

Growing an Indoor Jungle

Indoor plants are clever things. They filter toxins from our homes to create healthy and happy green rooms for us to live within.

Meet Dr Kate Neale, Garden Health Researcher

What are the therapeutic benefits of gardening in social housing, preschools, schools, health services and aged care? Dr Kate Neale from Southern Cross University is keen to find out, starting with KindyGarden, a program aimed at getting 3-5 year olds growing food.

Meet Sophie Thomson - Garden consultant, media presenter and author

Meet Sophie Thomson - Garden consultant, media presenter and author of Sophie’s Patch

Happy hens & feathered friends

In this podcast Linda and the Chook Lady, Claire Bickle, discuss everything you need to know about keeping backyard chickens.

Meet Highfields Garden plant collector, David Kennedy

Linda chats with her dear friend, plant collector, and Collectors’ Plant Fair exhibitor, David Kennedy - Nurseryman and owner of Clover Hill and Highfields Gardens.

Meet Myles Baldwin, award-winning garden designer

Linda talks to Myles Baldwin, award winning garden designer and horticulturist who designs unique gardens with a sense of place, heritage and character, about a stunning show garden he’s designed for the Singapore Garden Festival.

Meet Paul West from River Cottage Australia

This week Linda Ross talks to Paul West, the star of Lifestyle Channel's (now SBS) series River Cottage Australia, who has swapped his bucolic Tilba home on the NSW South Coast for a city life in Thornbury, in Melbourne’s inner north.

Camellia love Part 2

Linda interviews third generation Camellia specialist Ross Campbell from Sydney’s Camellia Grove. They discuss how to grow camellias- what they like, dislike and how to fix problems and treat troublesome insect attack.

Camellia love Part 1

Linda gets excited about the glamour girls of winter... the gorgeous genus Camellia.

Red Cows Roses

Linda is joined by Ali Mentesh from Red Cow Farm to talk about his garden, incredible collection of roses, his six favourites plus secrets to success.

Linda's Honey-Do List for Winter

Jog your memory with Linda’s list of winter gardening jobs.

Making Magic

Linda Ross chats to special guest Peter Thorburn from Honeysuckle Garden (http://www.honeysucklegarden.com.au). They discuss the secrets to a happy healthy garden and a simple way of preventing plant pests whilst attracting local wildlife and beneficial insects.

Bangin on about bulbs

Linda Ross and special guest Tim Drewitt (www.redearthbulbs.com) discuss how to choose the best spring and summer bulbs to give you the best bang for your buck!

Love your compost - It's all about the layers

In this episode Linda and Sandra Ross discuss their love of dirt and what 30 years of experience teaches you about the perfect compost. Making your own compost is simple following the steps outlined in the podcasts and as Sandra says -It’s like making a lasagna.

How to deal with citrus leaf miner with expert Mark Engall

Linda Ross discusses citrus leaf miner with expert and 3rd generation citrus producer, Mark Engall

Meet Marilyn Abbott of West Green Garden

Graham Ross talks with Marilyn Abbott - garden designer and creator of West Green

Interview with AIH Scholarship winner Kate Grace

Graham Ross interviews the 2014 Australian Institute of Horticulture Scholarship winner, Kate Grace, at the Chelsea Flower Show

Interview with Jim Buttrose

Graham interviews British horticulturist and garden legend, Jim Buttrose at the 2014 Chelsea Flower Show

David Austin Jr interview

Graham interviews David Austin Jr at the 2014 Chelsea Flower Show.

Remembering Alan Seale with Judy Horton

Graham remembers Alan Seale in an interview with Judy Horton

FAQ

Have questions about gardening?

Check out the below FAQ section for expert advice, tips, and answers to all your gardening queries—from planting and care to troubleshooting and seasonal maintenance.

 

When do roses flower in Adelaide?
Spring and autumn (generally September to November and March until May) are when you can enjoy the beautiful classic blooms and fragrance of roses.
What is the best time and method to propagate daphne?
Any time from spring to autumn is suitable for taking daphne cuttings. Take a cutting of approximately 10cm length, including a node (a swollen section of stem where leaves, stems, roots originate). Dip this into rooting hormone gel or powder and place into propagation mix deep enough so that it stands by itself. A plastic cover over the pot will help retain humidity. Place in a protected position out of direct sunlight. Keep moist and expect roots in a couple of months.
We recently had our 30-year-old lemon scented tea tree pruned back. I feel it wasn't a very professional job and the result was very severe. Can you please tell me whether you think it will re-shoot successfully? I'm concerned that it will struggle with new growth from those bare branches
While the pruning does seem severe, tea trees are very resilient, so your tree will recover.
I’ve never had success growing chokos but everyone tells me it’s easy. Any tips?
You’re right. It is easy, so here are my tips.
I always describe myself as a ‘Mug Gardener’ at best, but never cease to be amazed at the surprises nature deals out. I have had agaves for over 30 years and never have I ever had one flower. Isn't this a beauty! I read that it only happens every 10 years, but on my honour this is the first one I have seen. As I say, the joys of gardening never cease to amaze!
We love it Phil, and yes, we too are constantly amazed at what nature provides.
You spoke on the radio a while back about a ‘coffee’ or ‘cappuccino’ coloured rose, but I’ve forgotten its name. My local florist uses it all the time in arrangements but doesn’t know its name either. Appreciate your help.
It’s ‘Julia’s Rose’, an American-bred variety.
Every year my azalea leaves go silvery, and now they’re becoming leggy. What should I do?
I’ve changed my ideas about growing and caring for azaleas after visiting Japan many times. Azaleas should be trimmed straight after flowering, and again once new growth is 3-4cm long.
A pest is producing little black beads all over the stems and leaves of my mandarin tree?
These are the sap-sucking pest, scale, and you have done the right thing by spraying with Eco-oil, as this is good for preventing scale and controlling larvae.

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