Summer - About The Garden Magazine

PRINT POST APPROVED PP 424022/00409
Courtyard ideas
Climbing plants
Capsicum
Indoor plants
Mini gardens
Summer
2007–2008
ISSUE 43
For more gardening hints & tips, visit www.aboutthegarden.com.au

Issue 43
Summer 2007–2008
About this issue...
Features
Social climbers 4
A touch of Mexico with capsicums 6
Snap shot! — digital photography 9
Indoor plant problem solvers 10
Gardening with disabilities 16
Create a potted mini garden 18
Crazy for courtyards! 19
Winning gardeners! 21
Ashley’s pest watch — ant control 22
Special interest
Plants from Redlands 8
Take a garden tour... 9
The perfect party animal! 20
Regulars
Subscribe to About the Garden 7
Summer handy hints & tips 12
Summer 2007–2008 Garden Diary 14
Once again summer is upon us, the hot weather
is here, everyone is full of festive cheer and the
magazine is jam packed with great advice. Learn
how to create a cool summer haven with our
favourite climbing plants on page 4 or fire up the
barbie for our great barbecue fajita recipe on page 6! Have
a wonderful holiday season and God bless, Con Searle
In the morning, prayer is the key that opens to us the
treasures of God’s mercies and blessings; in the evening, it is
the key that shuts us up under his protection and safeguard.
— Anonymous
• Managing Director: Conway Searle
• Contributors:Noel Burdette, Nicole Grant,
Frida Forsberg, Renée Nugent, Alana Searle
and Ashley Searle
• Magazine Manager: Alana Searle
• Design & Layout: Frida Forsberg
About the Garden Graphic Design Department
• Business Development & Advertising: Renée Nugent
About the Garden is published seasonally by
About the Garden Pty. Ltd. ABN 21 076 919 992
4914 D’Aguilar Highway, Kilcoy or P.O. Box 70, Kilcoy Qld. 4515
Phone: (07) 5497 2313 • Fax: (07) 5497 2287
Email: atg@aboutthegarden.com.au
The material appearing in About the Garden is subject to copyright. Other than as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part of this magazine
may be reproduced without the permission of the publishers. No responsibility is accepted by About the Garden Pty. Ltd. for the accuracy of
information contained in the text, illustrations or advertisements. Although believed to be accurately and correctly sourced, thereof disclaims
any liability against itself, editor/s or employees arising from any person acting on the material herein. The opinions expressed in the magazine,
or by contributors, do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. ©Copyright 2007 About the Garden Pty. Ltd.
Winning gardeners!
About the Garden is proud to introduce the
winners of our ‘About the Garden Turns 10
— Celebrate with us!’ competition...
Allen & Kay
Featured on our
front cover, the
garden of Kay
and Allen Schultz
of Tannum Sands
is a rich and
tranquil tropicalstyle
retreat.
Brightly coloured
Balinese flags
at the entrance
signal the exotic
oasis that awaits
visitors. The naturally
sloping block has
been transformed
into a multi-layered
garden with several,
privately sectionedoff
courtyard
settings with linking
passageways. Lush
foliage, tall palms
and the sound of
running water are key
features of this lovely
garden — it really is a
feast for the eyes. The
Schultzs’ use of handmade
art works by
local artists give the
garden a warm and
personal touch.
For more of our prize
winning gardens, turn
to page 21.

Trees and shrubs are an obvious choice for turning the
garden into a shady haven, but a great alternative are the
climbing plants. Planting a vigorous climber over an arbour,
pergola or simple archway can create the shade you need
as well as bring a new level of interest, beauty and charm.
Summer is upon us and the hot, heavy
days call for languid hours spent
relaxing in the shade of a leafy garden.
Lets face it, most of us would prefer to
think that the garden can fend for itself
over the coming few months, but a few
strategically placed shade plants can
make relaxing or entertaining outdoors
so much more appealing for years to
come. No matter which you choose,
climbing plants help protect our living
environments from intense summer heat
and at the same time add beauty and
value to our homes.
The vibrant and hardy bougainvillea
is a great choice for its vigour and low
water needs. These star performers
require discipline to keep them
tamed to the confines of pergolas,
arbours and gazebos but when this
is achieved they will flower from
month to month with little assistance.
Their magnificently coloured blooms
can bring a sense of excitement to
any garden. Some of the best are
‘Raspberry ice’, ‘Scarlet O’Hara’
and ‘Singapore pink’. Bougainvilleas
require regular applications of Searles
Liquid Potash to enable them to
produce plenty of flowering bracts
throughout the growing season.
Good drainage is essential as they
detest water logged conditions.
Bougainvillea
Social climbers
by Noel Burdette
Another strong growing plant is
the cardinal creeper (Ipomoea
horsfalliae). This semi-deciduous
climber will flower from early summer
until early July and its large, glossy
foliage is the perfect foil for its
satiny, carmine coloured blooms.
Its hardiness comes from its ability
to store moisture within its tuberous
Although well past its spring flowering
by now, the leafy summer foliage of
wisteria can create a beautiful and
effective cover over even the simplest
of structures. Wisteria creates interest
in the garden at any time of year,
bearing an abundance of fragrant
racemes in all shades of purple and
white in spring. This is followed by lush
foliage throughout the summer. In
autumn its leaves turn soft shades of
gold and amber before fully disrobing
to reveal its magical winter tracery of
gnarled and twisted branches. Many
gardeners shy away from wisteria
in the fear that it will take over their
homes, but with a little care it can be
one of the most useful and drought
hardy of climbers. It is best grown over
strong supports such as pergolas or
across the front of the home. Apply
Searles 5IN1 Plus and super phosphate
to send them off to a terrific start in life
and encourage a strong root system.
Cardinal creeper
root system. It can be easily grown
in large pots — use a good potting
mix such as Searles Peat 80 Plus
which will feed it for many months.
Cardinal creepers are useful over
archways or on ballasts near
balconies or anywhere their eyecatching
clusters of trumpet shaped
flowers can be appreciated.
Wisteria
Passionfruit
If you’re looking for a climber that
provides shade but also bears fruit,
consider passionfruit. This vigorous
evergreen plant will grow at a great
pace if given optimum growing
conditions and provide luscious fruit
in the autumn and into early winter.
Passionfruit require a strong support
with good drainage and plenty of
organic material incorporated into the
soil. Plant them over a pergola near
Of course it would be unfair not
to include the rose in this short
list of summer climbers. Roses
come in all shapes, sizes and
colours and are still the world’s
most loved flower. Although
sometimes considered high
maintenance, they make up
for this with romantic beauty,
fragrance and charm that
many believe unmatched by
any other plant. Being greedy
feeders, they respond well to
regular applications of Searles
Kickalong Rose & Flower Food
and plenty of organic manure
and compost such as Searles
5IN1 Plus and Searles Cow
Manure prior to planting. Be sure
to add a generous handful of
either dolomite or gypsum as all
roses enjoy a slightly alkaline soil
with extra calcium. Some good
repeat flowering forms include
‘Crepuscule’ (apricot), ‘Climbing
Pinkie’ (pink), ‘Climbing Iceberg’ (white), ‘Dublin
Bay’ (scarlet) and ‘Climbing Cecile Brunner’
(miniature shell pink). Roses can be planted at
any time of the year if bought already growing
in pots, although a larger and more varied
selection is usually found throughout the winter
as bare rooted specimens.
entertainment areas for leafy shade
and easy access to the delicious fruit.
The best forms for growing in and
around Brisbane are ‘Panama Red’ and
‘Panama Gold’. Both produce large,
egg-shaped fruit in abundance. Hang
Searles fruit fly traps in and around the
plants to protect from the dreaded
fruit fly. For cooler regions, try the black
passionfruit as it is more tolerant of
lower temperatures.
Rose
‘Dublin Bay’ rose
More climbers...
Mandevilla
‘White Fantasy’
Allamanda schottii
Orange trumpet vine
Other highly successful evergreen
climbers to use around the home
include the Allamanda schottii with
its golden, peach or cherry coloured
blooms. Pyrostegia venusta orange
trumpet vine flowers profusely
throughout the winter and into spring
and literally drips with burnt orange
clusters of flowers. Mandevilla ‘White
fantasy’ flowers non-stop from mid
spring through to the following winter
with large, pure white blousy blooms.
All three stand up well to the heat,
providing abundant shade and
colour.
4 5

Bring a touch of Mexico to your
summer entertaining by adding some
fresh home grown capsicums to your
dishes. Cook up our barbecued fajitas
and you will know summer is here.
When & where to plant
In spring or summer, choose the sunniest part of your
vegetable patch to plant capsicums. They require
heat to enable their fruit to ripen. Make sure the soil
is deep enough to anchor their extensive root system.
Do not plant them where other members of the
Solanaceae family (eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes)
have previously grown. Capsicums are highly
ornamental and make ideal container plants providing
they are not allowed to dry out, so mulch them well.
How to plant
If growing in containers choose a moisture-retentive
potting mix such as Searles Herb & Vegetable Potting
Mix. If sowing directly into garden beds, dig in some
Searles Garden Soil Mix and add lime if the soil is
more acid than 6.5. Add Searles Kickalong
Organic Vegie & Herb Plant Food to the soil to
facilitate good root development, and give
the bed a long, deep soak of water before
planting. Plant seed or seedlings, following
Capsicums
the packet or label directions and make
sure young seedlings never dry out. If you are
growing any of the taller varieties of capsicums, place
Barbecued fajitas
Ingredients:
3 medium capsicums
4 bacon short cuts
2 medium chicken breasts
2 medium brown onions
3 medium carrots
1 medium zucchini
10 snow peas
4 slices jalapeños
1 container Sour Cream
1 jar salsa
1 packet burrito tortillas
(pack 10)
Canola Oil
Step 7.
Method:
Step 1. Chop chicken breasts
into 2cm squares
and bacon into 1cm
squares.
Step 2.
Once onion has become translucent, add the
rest of the vegetables. Allow them to sit for
about 60 seconds before you start tossing
to let the BBQ add flavour to the capsicum.
Slice capsicum,
carrots, zucchini,
onion and snow peas.
Keep carrots and
onions separate from
other vegetables.
Step 8.
by Alana Searle
Step 3.
Step 4.
Step 5.
A touch of Mexico with
Dice jalapeños.
(Prepare extra
jalapeños if you enjoy
spicy food.)
Preheat BBQ.
Lightly cover BBQ plate
with oil. Once heated,
place chicken and
bacon on plate and
toss till chicken has
been sealed.
Toss the fajita mix until the onion
caramelises and the capsicum is softened.
Whilst waiting for the mix to finish, lightly
toast the tortillas on the second BBQ plate.
Step 6.
Place onion, carrot and
jalapeños on BBQ. Keep
tossing to prevent burning.
Step 9.
Once finished, serve all
the fajita ingredients on
platters for guests to make
their own fajita pockets.
a stake next to each young
plant to support it as it will get
heavy when laden with fruit.
How to maintain
Keep the roots cool by covering
with a light mulch throughout
the warmer months. Ensure the
soil is kept constantly moist and
weed free. Fertilise fortnightly
with Searles Fish & Kelp Plus and
Searles Flourish Soluble Plant
Food right up until fruit set. If
growing in containers, increase
fertilising to a weekly routine.
In mild, frost-free climates,
capsicums can be treated as
perennial plants, performing
best in their second year. Simply
cut them back after fruiting
has finished in late autumn and
they’ll shoot again the following
spring.
Pests and diseases
Ripening fruit can suffer from
sunburn if exposed to sun for
prolonged periods and should
be hidden among the foliage
on very hot days. Few pests and
diseases affect capsicums. If fruit
fly is a problem, remove affected
fruit and install fruit fly traps. Pick
Step 10. Making fajita pockets:
1. Pour one scoop of fajita
mix onto a tortilla.
2. Pour one teaspoon of salsa
and sour cream onto the
fajita mix. Leave one end
of tortilla free of mix.
the developing fruit as soon as
it is ripe enough. Diseases such
as spotted wilt and powdery
mildew can be minimised by
rotation planting.
Companion planting
Eggplants, onions and
tomatoes are ideal to
companion plant with
capsicums.
Harvesting
Capsicums can be picked as
soon as they are large enough
to be useful. The more you
pick them, the more fruits are
produced. Remove the fruit
with some stalk attached to
improve its keeping qualities.
What you need
3. Fold the fajita into an
edible pocket. Fold the
empty end over contents
and fold over two sides.
Goce! (enjoy).
Cacti & succulents. The natural way.
Manufactured by:
VIRGIN MULCH
186 Glenmount Rd
Tanawha Q 4556
Ph: (07) 5476 6245
Fax (07) 5445 6364
AVAILABLE FROM ALL LEADING NURSERIES,
GARDEN CENTRES & HARDWARE STORES.
HOME DELIVERY!
Subscribe and have the About the Garden
Magazine delivered to your door!
Name: .....................................................................................
Age: 25–35 36–45 46–55 55+
Address: ..................................................................................
City: .............................. State: .............. P/code: ..................
Phone: ...................................... Fax: ......................................
Email: .......................................................................................
Enclosed is a cheque for:
1 year ($18.00)
OR charge this to my:
2 years ($30.00)
Bank card
Card no:
Visa Mastercard
Card holder’s name:......................... Expiry date: ................
Signature: .................................................................................
Please send this form to:
About the Garden
P.O. Box 70 Kilcoy Qld 4515
Phone: (07) 5497 2313
Fax: (07) 5497 2287
Email: atg@aboutthegarden.com.au
www.aboutthegarden.com.au
6 Serves 4
7
PRINT POST APPROVED PP 424022/00409
Flowering trees
Organic vegies
Courtyard ideas
Watermelon
Italian herbs
ISSUE 42
Spring
2007
For more gardening hints & tips, visit www.aboutthegarden.com.au

Dipladenia
Incredible flower power
The beautiful dipladenia has
incredible flower power, displaying
masses of colour in white, pink or red.
This flowering climber is hardy, yet
easy to control and train and should
flower year round in frost-free areas.
Grow it in patio pots on the deck or
around the pool and barbecue area.
Also makes a showy hanging basket.
Ixora Gold Fire
Pots of gold
A plant with true flower power, flowering
for most of the year in frost-free areas.
This tried and tested old favourite has
compact, glossy green foliage covered
in large golden blooms and is ideal for a
shady garden or in a pot under the shade
of a patio. It looks superb mass planted
or grown as a low hedge. In cooler areas
offer protection in winter, a sheltered patio
or sunroom is ideal. An easy to grow plant
that looks good all year.
Redlands Nursery plants are
available from all good garden centres.
‘Scarlet Pimpernel’
‘My Fair Lady’
‘Guinevere’
Cordyline Caruba Black
Shiny, exotic foliage
From the rich exotics of
New Guinea, Cordyline
Caruba Black is grown for
its outstanding shiny purpleblack
foliage. This compact
growing plant is ideal for the
garden with other tropical
plants or grown in a pot on
the patio. Caruba Black
prefers a warm climate but
‘Emerald Arch’
‘Baby Bliss’
‘Utopia’
in cooler climates can easily
be grown as a stunning
indoor plant or patio
feature. An easy care plant
that looks great against
a light coloured wall with
contrasting foliage. Outside
in tropical climates this plant
will grow to 120cm high and
30cm wide.
Dianella
Tough grasses for
tough conditions
‘Emerald Arch’ is an ornamental
flax lily displaying grand broad
arching mid green leaves. Bears
delicate blue and yellow flowers
and it grows to 45cm tall. Ideal
foliage plant for a tropical feel but
has only a low water requirement
and is very cold hardy. Mass
plant in a shady position for a low
maintenance garden.
‘Baby Bliss’ is a blue native flax
lily which grows to 25cm–30cm tall
making it an ideal low ground cover.
As a bonus ‘Baby Bliss’ displays
blue and yellow flowers above the
attractive blue foliage. Tolerates a
wide range of climatic conditions
from full sun to part shade, very
hardy, excellent drought and frost
tolerance. A truly low maintenance
plant.
‘Utopia’ is a native flax with
distinctive blue and purple foliage
offering a good contrast to other
foliage plants. Growing up to 50cm
tall, ‘Utopia’ tolerates a wide
variety of climatic conditions, full sun
to part shade, very hardy, drought
and frost tolerant. An easy care
plant requiring very little attention.
Snap-shot!
a close-up on digital photography
Taking photos at a garden show is a fantastic
way to capture your day and there’s no need
for a large, cumbersome camera or expensive
equipment. Good photography is more about
having the right know-how and a compact digital
camera that fits nicely into a ladies’ handbag or
in your pocket can take the best of photos. Here’s
some advice on how to take that winning shot.
Tip 1: The best time for a photograph
Some of the best photos are taken in the early morning.
The light is less intense at this time which eliminates
excessive contrasts of light and shade. Bright, cloudy
days are also excellent as the cloud cover diffuses the
light and can make it possible to take great shots all day.
So if visiting a garden show at mid-day, pray for some
light cloud cover and your photos should turn out terrific!
Tip 2: Safety in numbers
Another great tip is to take as many shots as you can.
The beauty of the digital camera is that if images are
not as spectacular as you hoped, you can view them on
your computer screen and delete them without incurring
the development costs associated with traditional
photographic film.
is proud to invite you to its
APRIL 2008 –
Melbourne International Flower Show
Departing in March 2008 for three nights, this
is Australia’s premium garden and ower show.
This Tour features: Entry, Airport transfers, 3 nights
accommodation inc breakfast & day tour to the
Mornington Peninsula including lunch with entry to
the famous Heronswood Estate.
Land costing only costing $655.00*
Mass plantings of flowers
can make great photos.
Our Tours are small group of 30 passengers,
with a fully Inclusive sightseeing program & most meals.
APRIL 2008 –
Cherry Blossoms in Japan
World of Gardens 2008
Programme
Japan is a land of contrasts, ancient traditions merge
with modern technology. Join us as we explore grand
temples, tranquil gardens. This exciting tour includes:
7 nights 4 star accommodation, return airfares, full
sightseeing program & most meals.
Cost per person $6995.00*
Take a
garden tour...
A great way to make friends and find
new ideas for your garden is to visit a
garden show. These shows highlight
new plant species and trends in
garden design.
Some of the most famous garden shows
in the world are right here in the southern
hemisphere, including the Melbourne
International Flower Show, the Carnival of
Flowers in Toowoomba and the Ellerslie Flower
show in New Zealand.
The Melbourne International Flower & Garden
Show is in it’s 14th year and is a must-see
event. Hundreds of exhibitors and leading
edge designers make it a stunning show. The
Exhibition Buildings set in the formal beauty
of the Carlton Gardens give this show a
truly magical quality, allowing designers to
showcase their work in full sized gardens.
Another must-see is the Ellerslie Flower Show in
New Zealand. Originating as a fund raiser for
Auckland Rotary, the show has raised over a
million dollars for various charities. Each year in
November the 5 hectare site in the Auckland
Botanic Gardens at Manurewa becomes one
of the finest garden shows in the world.
The mecca of all garden shows is the Chelsea
Garden Show in England. The Chelsea show
has a 156 year history and is like a ‘catwalk’
for new designers, new plants and gardening
trends. Over five days in May, the show’s
grounds welcome over 157,000 guests — this
show can be a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle!
Direct: 07 3369 9937
www.seektravel.com.au
MAY 2008 –
British Gardens & Chelsea Flower Show
This exciting 21 day tour oers a full touring
programme to some of Britain’s most famous &
historic gardens. Includes: Return airfares, quality
4 star accommodation, breakfast & most meals, full
sightseeing & entry to the Chelsea Flower Show
Cost per person $9995.00*
* Per person twin share
Licence number 3082342

Using plants to furnish your home is a great way to
introduce green life into indoor areas. However, as with
gardening outdoors, some consideration needs to be
given in selecting the appropriate plants to suit the varying
climates within the home.
Maidenhair fern
Hot spots
Many homes have a room which
experiences very hot conditions
in summer, especially in the
afternoons. This will usually be a
room on the western side of the
house. Plants selected for these
areas need to be very hardy and it
is advisable to refrain from flowering
varieties unless you are willing to
rotate the pot plant seasonally. Two
great all year round foliage plants
for hot areas include philodendron
‘Xanadu’ and for a bit more height,
the golden cane palm. Be sure to
plant these in a nice big pot and
use a high quality potting mix such
as Searles Peat 80 Plus.
Indoor plant problem solvers
Dark conditions
Dark rooms in the middle of
the home can be difficult
to decorate with plant
life as plants require light
to photosynthesise their
food. Lush foliage plants
such as philodendron
‘Xanadu’, aspidistra ‘Cast
Iron Plant’ and spathiphyllum
‘Sensation’ can survive these
light starved conditions,
but will need to visit outside
filtered light every few weeks
to stay healthy. A trick for
great indoor pot plants is to
keep two sets of pot plants; one
set can be indoors while the other
set is growing in a shady position
outdoors. Whenever the set indoors
starts to look a little tired, it can
swap positions with the outside
set. While the plants are outside,
take the opportunity to give them
a dose of Searles Fish & Kelp Plus
to keep them looking healthy,
clean and glossy. If rotating plants
regularly in this way, it is advisable
to keep plants in plastic pots
which can slide inside the indoor
display pot. This will make the job
of moving them so much easier as
you won’t need to carry the heavy
ceramic pots around.
Symptoms Possible cause Solution
Leaves yellowing with Soil too dry Water thoroughly. If
brown or dense tips and potting mix does not
margins absorb water, apply
Penetraide and water
again.
Leaves gradually pale into Sun scorch or light Relocate plant away
yellow and brown, too bright/direct from direct sunlight
particularly on side nearest but maintain in a light
to light/window. area.
Leaves yellowing and Too little light Move to a brighter
suddenly falling. Leaves may area with more light
be smaller and paler than
usual. Spindly and lanky
long spaces between leaves.
Leaves turn yellow and fall. Plant may be Move away from
Leaves curl and fall. Leaves affected by air draught.
have brown tips on edges. draught.
by Ashley Searle
Moist zones
Bathrooms are moist environments which are
often located in a lighter area of the home and
are therefore ideal for plants such as maiden
hair ferns and asplenium bird’s nest fern. If your
ferns start to turn yellow there could be a few
problems that need to be addressed (see the
table below for symptoms, cause and solution).
Air conditioning
Whilst air conditioning makes the summer heat
tolerable, the unit actually sucks the moisture
out of the air to cool the space. This can result
in plant dehydration, making the plant foliage
wilt and potting mix dry out. To ensure that your
plants do not suffer too badly
from moisture depletion, give the
plant and foliage a good water
when the soil starts to dry out.
For more great tips on indoor pot
plants purchase a copy of the
‘All About Pot Plants and Hanging
Baskets Guide’ from your ATG outlet.
Indoor tip
To stop timber polished floors being
damaged from ceramic pots either
cover pot base with carpet or use
plastic stoppers.
Spathiphyllum
10 For more great tips for potted plants, visit www.aboutthegarden.com.au
11

From the little shop of horrors...
Carnivorous plants can appear to be
from tiny alien worlds, like the vicious
sundew which ensnares insects in its
sticky tentacles. As the hapless insect
struggles, other tentacles close over
it, sealing its doom!
Take lawnmowing to new heights
Raise the blades on your lawnmower
to cut the grass higher. Longer grass
will keep the soil cooler, preventing
moisture loss and dead patches
which will welcome weeds. Grass
should never be less than 2.5cm high.
Summer handy hints & tips
The summer holidays mark the peak of the gardening season in southern areas while in
warmer districts it's a time to kick back, relax and enjoy the results of your hard work earlier
in the year. Wherever you live, this is the time of year when plants will benefit most from
having a watchful eye over them so the secret this season is to garden smarter, not harder...
12
Sundew 'Drosera'
ALL ZONES
ALL ZONES
ALL ZONES
Sun-smart gardening
Wear a broad-rimmed hat, sun screen
and long-sleeved shirt whenever in
the sun and keep a bottle of drinking
water handy. Alternatively, allocate your
gardening activities to early mornings or
evenings to avoid the heat of the day.
Organic pest control
Never underestimate good nutrition
as a means of helping your plants
win the war against pests, disease
and heat stress. Searles Fish & Kelp
Plus and Searles 5IN1 Plus
provide excellent organic
nutrition. Healthy plants are
able to resist pests
and disease. You'll
be surprised at the
difference it makes!
ALL ZONES
Decorating for Christmas
Encourage flowering plants to look their
best in time for Christmas by deadheading
(removing spent blooms). Apply
Searles Flourish, a nutritionally balanced
fertiliser boosted with potassium to
enhance flower development.
The milky
poinsettia sap.
Tropical
Sub tropical
Temperate
Cool
Arid
Poinsettia trimming tips
Give poinsettias a generous pruning
to promote bushier growth and
more flowers once the cool season
arrives. The plants will ooze a milky
sap when cut which can cause skin
irritations in some people, so avoid
touching it or getting it in your eyes.
This is the time to buy poinsettias
from garden centres.
Summer life is rosy...
Avoid pruning roses during the
summer as this may cause plant
stress. Spray with Searles Rose Pro
every 10 days to safeguard against
black spot and the resulting leaf loss.
Keep roses mulched and feed with
Searles Kickalong Organic Fruit &
Flower Food.
Tie stockings over mangos as they are
ripening on the trees to protect them
from marauding birds and flying foxes.
This will allow them to ripen fully on the
tree and prevent them from hitting the
ground when they fall off. After harvest,
fertilise trees generously with Searles
Kickalong Fruit & Flower.
ALL ZONES
Lessen the effects of
heat stress on your
plants with a fortnightly
application of Searles
Liquid Seaweed. This
organic fertiliser can help increase
your plants’ resistance to wind, sun,
heat and prolonged dry periods.
Nasturtium flowers and
foliage are edible and look
great in summer salads.
ALL ZONES
Nasturtium excursions
Hardy annuals like nasturtiums serve as a
great 'living mulch' when planted under
trees and shrubs as they use relatively
little water and nutrients and their leaves
shade the soil from the sun.
ALL ZONES
If you're looking for a tough flowering
plant that will power through the heat
and rarely need watering, look no
further than the oleander. Don't eat its
leaves as they are toxic; otherwise it
has few shortcomings. Hack it back at
the end of winter and watch it spring
back beautifully in spring.
Gardenia magic
Gardenias bear beautiful, fragrant flowers
through spring and summer and have
handsome, shiny leaves throughout the
year. Keep them well mulched and feed
occasionally with Searles Flourish Azalea,
Camellia & Gardenia for great results.
Summer advert FINAL.eps 28/9/07 3:57:52 PM
Companion planting
Planting flowering annuals such as
nasturtium and marigold amongst
your vegie patch can do more than
liven it up with colour. These flowers are
also believed to help repel or act as a
deterrent to many insect pests.
Heavenly heliconias!
In warmer zones, gingers and
heliconias are the flowering jewels of
the garden at this time of year. They
also make excellent cut flowers. Cut
off spent blooms and stalks to keep
them tidy and feed with Searles
Flourish every fortnight to promote
growth and flowering. Now is the
time to purchase new plants.
13

DIARY MAP
Lettuce 'Mini Cos'
Where would your summer salads be without
the cool crisp flavour of cut-and-comeagain
lettuces like Oasis ‘Mini Cos’? This
loose leaved lettuce is great for sandwiches
or salads. Ideal for containers or the vegie
patch. Available in Oasis B Code
vegetable range.
Summer 2007–2008
Regional Garden Diary
Code:
Tropical
Sub tropical
Temperate
Cool
Inland
ALL ZONES
North Queensland
Tropical — Wet & Dry Tropics
Flowers
Sow balsam, celosia, cockscomb,
coleus, gomphrena, marigold,
petunia, salvia, sunflower, torenia
and vinca.
Herbs
Plant basil, coriander, lemongrass,
mint and tarragon.
Fruit & Vegetables
Plant artichoke, beetroot,
capsicum, cauliflower, celery,
Chinese cabbage, cucumber,
eggplant, lettuce, pumpkin, radish,
shallots, spring onion and tomato.
More advice...
Prepare garden beds in readiness
for next season’s vegetables. To
discourage hibiscus beetle, pick
up and dispose of spent hibiscus
flowers. Keep the water up to
sweet corn when it becomes waist
high and keep it well-nourished
with a fortnightly application
of Searles Fish & Kelp Plus to
encourage a bumper crop. Keep
the fertiliser up to citrus trees as
nutrients are constantly being lost
with the rain.
ALL ZONES
Geranium ‘Upright White’
Geraniums are some of the most reliable
summer performers. New Oasis Geranium
‘Upright White’ is long-flowering with
masses of flowers in pure, crisp white.
Sensational in garden beds, patio pots,
hanging baskets and window boxes, it
requires little water once established and
loves hot spots. Available in Oasis Code
C punnets.
South-east Qld &
Northern NSW
Subtropical — Coastal
Flowers
Sow ageratum, aster, balsam, celosia,
cockscomb, coleus, gomphrena,
impatiens, marigold, salvia, sunflower,
torenia, vinca and zinnia.
Herbs
Plant basil, chives, coriander, fennel,
gotu kola, heliotrope, lemongrass,
mint, parsley, tarragon and winter
savoury.
Fruit & Vegetables
Plant artichoke, beans, capsicum,
celery, Chinese cabbage, cucumber,
eggplant, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce,
melons, okra, onion, potato (tubers),
pumpkin, radish, rhubarb (crowns),
rosella, silver beet, spring onion,
squash, sweet corn, sweet potato
and tomato.
More advice...
Spray roses with Searles Rose Pro
to prevent black spot. Cut back
excessive growth on herbs to
prevent them becoming lanky. This
will also reduce fungal infections
caused by humidity.
ALL ZONES
Basil 'Sweet Selection'
Australian gardeners love their basil and
are always ready to try new and interesting
varieties. That’s why Oasis has developed
this selection of colourful and aromatic basils
comprised of Red Leaf, Thai and Sweet Green
varieties. Ready to harvest in just 6 8 weeks.
Available in Oasis B Code vegetable range.
Sydney
Temperate areas
Flowers
Plant ageratum, alyssum, boronia,
calceolaria, cleome, cyclamen,
Iceland poppy, linaria, malope,
marigold, pansy, schizanthus, stock,
verbena, vinca, viola and wallflower.
Herbs
Plant basil, chives, coriander, fennel,
gotu kola, heliotrope, lovage, mint,
parsley and tarragon.
Fruit & Vegetables
Plant beans (dwarf and climbing),
beetroot, broccoli, cabbage,
capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, celery,
chicory, chilli, Chinese cabbage,
cucumber, eggplant, endive, kohlrabi,
leek, lettuce, okra, parsnip, potato
(tubers), radish, rhubarb (crowns),
shallots, silver beet, spring onion, sweet
corn, sweet potato and zucchini.
More advice...
Mulch the entire garden thoroughly.
Before laying turf, sprinkle one handful
of Searles Kickalong Organic Plant
Food per square metre and rake
in well. Water well after laying turf
to help it establish. Prune wisteras.
Feed all food crops fortnightly. Feed
azaleas, camellias and gardenias
fortnightly with Searles Flourish
Azalea, Camellia & Gardenia. Avoid
overwatering watermelon once it
starts to set fruit as this can result in a
watery, tasteless crop.
Madeira Daisies 'Double White'
Madeira Daisies
Versatile Madeira Daisies are hardy perennials
that are ideal for cottage gardens, dry
embankments and rockeries and may even
be planted to create an informal hedge within
just a few short months. These neat daisies are
self-cleaning, extremely adaptable and highly
floriferous, performing best in full sun positions.
Available in Oasis D range punnets.
Melbourne
Cold & Southern
Tableland areas
Flowers
Plant ageratum, alyssum, cineraria,
cleome, cyclamen, forget-menot,
Iceland poppy, lobelia, lupin,
marigold, pansy, petunia, phlox,
primula, stock, verbena, wallflower
and zinnia.
Herbs
Plant basil, chives, coriander,
lemongrass, marjoram, mint,
oregano, parsley, rosemary,
tarragon and thyme.
Fruit and vegetables
Plant beans, beetroot, cabbage,
capsicum, carrot, cauliflower,
cucumber, English spinach, kohlrabi,
leek, lettuce, onion, parsnip,
pumpkin, radish, silver beet, spring
squash, swede, sweet corn, tomato,
turnip and zucchini.
More advice...
Water flowering annuals and
vegetable gardens as required.
Snap off withered rhododendron
trusses. Watch potted house plants
for dry-out and feed with diluted
Searles Fish & Kelp Plus after
watering. Apply Searles Flourish
fortnightly for better vegetables
and blooms. Keep an eye out
for pests such as aphids, snails
and caterpillars. Give Japanese
and Siberian iris clumps a deep
watering as they come into flower.
Vinca 'Raspberry'
Vinca ‘Raspberry’ is great for hot summer
colour. This heat-loving plant flowers all
summer long. Once established, Vinca
is a proven water-wise selection for pots,
window boxes and border plantings in full
sun positions. Available in Oasis Code C
punnets.
Fruit fly can be a serious menace.
Defend against fruit fly
This is the time of year when fruit fly
will be out with a vengeance, so
avoid disappointment by hanging
Searles Fruit Fly Traps on all your fruit
trees and tomato plants.
Snippety snippets
The hot weather can cause herbs to
bolt (set seed) quickly if unpruned,
soon after which they will die. Use
herbs continually or give them
a regular pruning to keep them
compact and to prolong their life.
Tropical foliage delights
In the tropics it's the perfect time
to propagate philodendrons,
calatheas, alocasias, cordylines
and draceanas. To take tip cuttings,
snip them off, dip them into rooting
powder and plant them into
propagating mix. Voila! New plants!
14 15
ALL ZONES
ALL ZONES
ALL ZONES
ALL ZONES

16
As we age, the bones and soft
tissue of our joints become easily
fatigued or sore with repetitive,
heavy or prolonged work, but
don’t put away your tools just yet.
With some simple adjustments to
your gardening habits you can
continue to enjoy gardening.
Pace yourself when tending to the
garden. There is no need to remain
engaged in a task until you are
fatigued and sore. Pacing yourself
may include may include doing
some of the following:
• Break tasks into smaller time
periods with regular rest breaks in
between. For example if mowing
the lawn, spend 30 minutes on a
small area, then turn the mower
off and rest for an hour or so.
Come back and finish the job
a little later on in the day, or the
following day.
• Don’t kneel until all the weeds
are pulled from a flower bed.
Spend 10 minutes or less on
this task then move away onto
something else. Come back
later and see how much better
your knees and hips feel when
you alternate this task with other
activities.
• It is a good idea to ‘warm
up’. A few stretches before
commencing any activity can
help to prevent injury.
• Avoid gardening in extreme heat
or cold to prevent fatigue and
aggravation of joint pain. Choose
a time of day when you will be
most comfortable and you will
enjoy your gardening so much
more.
If you are considering introducing
new plants to your yard or garden
beds, opt for plants that are lower
maintenance and position them
to enable easy access. Raised
garden beds, tall pots and plant
stands can help minimise the
Gardening with disabilities
Joint disease and fatigue management
It can be very rewarding to nurture a garden by hand and see it bloom with the seasons that
Grant
pass. Unfortunately the effects of injury or illness can make gardening difficult. Conditions
such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome
can cause aching in the joints, fatigue and loss of function. The good news is that we can
Nicole
continue gardening by making a few changes to how we do things. by
need for bending. Your local nursery
should be able to recommend
appropriate items.
Specialised equipment
Some companies make specialised
equipment such as long handled
tools which can prevent excessive
bending or stooping.
Find a padded mat or cushion to
kneel on while weeding or planting
to protect your knees and use
trolleys or carts to move equipment
and plants rather than lifting or
carrying them yourself.
You may find that some gardening
activities can only be undertaken
with assistance from others,
particularly those tasks requiring
strength such as pruning thick stems
and branches. Do not be afraid to
ask for help and be realistic about
your abilities when undertaking
activities.
Your local garden centre and
disability support groups are a
great source of information for
modified equipment or techniques
to ensure you can continue to
enjoy working in your garden for
many years to come.
Nicole consults to individuals, organisations
and businesses with regards to facilitating
independent living. For further information
contact Nicole on 0417 879 461.
Simple adjustments...
Using a velcro strap means tools
don’t have to be gripped so tightly.
Padding the handle makes tools
easier to hold on to.
Don’t bend down to garden.
Instead, raise the garden bed.

Creating a mini-garden in a pot can be a great
holiday activity. At the ATG office we created a mini
Mexican garden to show you how it’s done...
Cacti and succulents are ideal
for this type of project as they are
hardy and can create an excellent
impression of miniature trees, grasses,
corals — even alien life forms. Other
possible themes are farmyard, under
the sea, prehistoric or moonscape.
What you will need:
1 or more large pots
4 cactus varieties
1 cactus potting mix
2kg pebbles
3 Mexican-themed ornaments
Use pebbles, pieces of wood
and other items to build the
landscape.
20
Step 4.
Create a potted mini-garden
Step 1.
Select a pot in the type of
colours and materials that
suit your theme.
Step 5.
Place your figurines in their
positions in the garden.
Step 2.
Fill the pot with Searles Cacti
& Succulent Potting Mix.
Step 3.
Experiment by placing your
plants and ornaments in
various arrangements to
help determine your layout.
Once the layout is finalised,
plant your plants in position.
Plant care tip:
Remember that
plants are living
organisms and
need sunlight and
water to survive, so
use only weatherproof
materials
and arrange a
permanent position
outdoors where your
mini-garden can
spend most of its life.
(Never keep cacti
or succulent plants
indoors for more than
two weeks at a time.)
Crazyfor
Bergenia cordifolia
Nandina domestica
Ajuda reptans ‘Catlins Giant’
Cycas revoluta
Heuchera micantha
Pavers
Shady Character
Designed to inspire a
sense of escape, this
small space becomes a
lush, secluded oasis to
soothe the senses. Informal
planting with foliage of
varying form and texture
provides maximum effect
with splashes of colour for
impact. The coiling path, of
cool tones, completes the
illusion with the ascending
spirals helping the spirit and
imagination to soar.
Construction notes:
• Prepare site by removing any
plant material present; add
quality soil or organic matter
as required and level.
• Measure and mark out the
space to be occupied by the
pathway.
• Lay pavers and pebbles.
Canna ‘Tropicanna’
Liriope muscari ‘Evergreen Giant’
Strelitzia reginae
Yucca recurvifolia
Clivia miniata
Eucomis comosa ‘Oakhoust’
cycad
canna ‘Tropicanna’
• Commence planting
the larger specimens
at the back of the bed,
working towards the
front with the smaller
shrubs and plants last.
courtyards!
• Install feature pot and
plant.
• Plant the Black Mondo
Grass within the path.
Designed by Nick Alderson — Holmesglen
Find more courtyard design ideas at www.lifeisagarden.com.au
Clivea miniata
magnolia
• Ensure everything is
watered in and apply
good quality mulch.
• Enjoy!
Magnolia grandifolia ‘Saint Mary’
Pogonatherum paniceum ‘Bamboo Bambini’
Luculia gratissima ‘Fragrant Cloud’
Hosta undulata ‘Francee’
Asplenium nidus Bird’s Nest Fern
Impatiens Walleriana hybrids
Ligularia dentata ‘Britt Marie Crawford’
Arthropodium cirratum
Small pebbles
Feature Topiary
Feature Pot
Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’
Hosta undulata ‘Francee’
Strelitzia reginae
19

Buy direct or locate your nearest stockist
PO Box 317, Nambour QLD 4560. Enquiries: 1300 30 29 38
Fax: (07) 5448 6714. http://www.termitebaiting.com.au
Email: info@termitebaiting.com.au
SPECIAL: Mention this ad and get FREE Delivery
The perfect
Party animal!
Party animals are out to
impress at this time of
year and it’s not just the
two-legged kind. Whether
it is breakfast in the park, a
backyard family gathering
or a drive with the wind in
their fur, party animals love
to tag along. Dogs especially,
will be happy to join in the fun
and games and will stay to
the very end if you let them.
Keeping in mind some proper
party ‘petiquette’ will help
everyone enjoy the festivities.
Here are some tips for keeping
your pet-inclusive silly season
stress-free:
• It can be fun to dress up your
pet for a Christmas party. Tinsel
or small baubles attached to a
pet’s collar are fine and many
dogs won’t mind humouring
their owners by dressing in
hats or reindeer ears while
under supervision. However,
pets generally prefer the ‘less is
more’ approach to Christmas
finery.
• If you are going to a party
where your host’s pet will be in
attendance, think about taking
along a present for their furred,
feathered or finned friend. This
will show that you understand
their pet is part of the family.
• Guests usually prefer not to
be greeted ‘paws and all’.
Keep dogs from jumping up
on guests by putting them on
a leash as guests arrive. Even
a well-trained dog can get
carried away in the excitement
of the festive season.
• If you receive an invitation
to an outdoor event, check
whether your dog is welcome.
Don’t just assume they are
invited, especially if the host’s
pets are attending the party. If
your dog is invited, always take
along a leash and water bowl.
• Edible Christmas decorations
on the tree can be irresistible
to a dog, as can be any
presents containing food left
underneath! Cats can be
attracted to shiny baubles
and can end up in a tangle.
Ensuring such items are placed
out of reach can keep pets
from disgracing themselves!
To keep pets calm, it is important
that two-legged party animals
remember not to over-excite
pets during the festive season.
With the right party petiquette, a
good time can be had by all!
For more information on caring
for your pet, pick up a free copy
of Your Pet Magazine from your
vet or pet store. Copies can also
be collected from the RSPCA,
dog groomers and wherever pet
owners meet!
For details, visit
www.yourpetmagazine.com.au
or phone 07 3394 1607.
Distribution enquiries are welcome.
Winning gardeners!
The wildlife haven...
Mrs. Rewa Jarman of Coraki in New
South Wales has a garden which is
a haven to frogs, possums, koalas,
reptiles and of course, myriads of
different wild bird species. Quirky
sculptures and whimsical creatures
made from plants and recycled
materials abound the grounds. All
organic materials are composted
in on-site compost bins. Nary a
pesticide is needed in this garden
with the number of helpful critters
keeping pests in check, including
a friendly python called ‘Rat trap’
who is in charge of rodent control!
The mobile bromeliad garden...
Errol and Dot Crane from Queensland’s Sunshine
Coast have what is possibly this country’s most
impressive collection of bromeliads. So devoted
are they to their collection that when they moved
from Gympie to Wurtulla 6 years ago, every one of
their bromeliads had to make the 50km trip, too!
How many bromeliads they own is anyone’s guess
— and their collection is still growing — but it took
5 trailer loads and 25 trips in the back of the ute to
get every last bromeliad to their new home. There’s
much to be said for growing your plants in pots!
The outback cottage...
Rewa
When Noelle and Douglas Todorou moved
to their Surat home in outback queensland
it was little more than a bare
yard with a few straggly
natives lining the front. They
are now well on their way to
turning it into a relaxing retreat
with a fish pond, chicken
runs, groves of fruit trees, a
greenhouse and rows of
elegant potted bougainvilleas
and flowering plants. It’s sure
to become a welcome haven
as summer temperatures
regularly reach 38˚C!
Douglas & Noelle
We visit the winners of our ‘About the Garden
Turns 10 — Celebrate with us!’ competition...
Coconut ducks!
Dot (right) with daughter, Judy
A bromeliad shrine!
A relaxing verandah retreat
Congratulations to our winners — we hope you enjoy
your gardening books — and a special ‘thank you’
to everyone who wrote to us to share their stories.
20 21

Use David Grays’ Antex to
control ants, cockroaches,
fleas, spiders and silverfish.
Carbaryl will help control
grasshoppers, caterpillars,
beetles and other bugs.
Read side of packaging for
more information.
Ants in yer pants?
Say goodbye to nasty critters
with David Grays pest control.
AVAILABLE FROM ALL LEADING NURSERIES,
GARDEN CENTRES & HARDWARE STORES.
Protect herbs, vegetables, trees and shrubs from possums,
kangaroos, wallabies, rabbits, hares, bandicoots, deer,
foxes and other wildlife.
Protect vegetables, fruit trees, ornamentals, seedlings and
buildings from cockatoos, crows, ducks, pigeons, rosellas,
starlings, swallows, other birds & bats.
Protects homes, gardens, patios, shop fronts and paved
areas from both dogs and cats or rats and mice.
Protect one plant or a whole area — perimeter
&/or band sprays.
Repels — without harming animals or humans.
Not considered a poison — no withholding period.
Easy to use — spray on. Effective when dry.
Safe, Proven and Effective.
Available in 100g, 1Kg & 4Kg Sizes.
is unique. Reject products said to be "just as
good", nothing is at all "like it". For further information send
2x50c stamps to:
D-ter, Dept. A, PO Box 3, Oyster Bay, NSW 2225.
Enquiries: Phone: (02) 9589 0703. Fax: (02) 9589 0147
GG20-260/02
Ashley’s Pest Watch
Ant control
When it comes to gardening, ants
can be troublesome and sometimes
downright painful, but did you
know there is an easy solution to
controlling these biting menaces?
Ant problems
Ants can create many
problems in the garden such
as building mounds in lawns
and causing soil to become
dry and water repellent
(especially in pot plants)
— not to mention the painful
bites of many ants, such as
the green ant or bull ant.
Associated ant problems
Ants are also known to be
responsible for the spread of
other pests, such as scale and
aphids. Ants are like farmers;
they harvest the sugary
secretions from scale and
aphids and take this back to
their nests to feed the colony.
The ants can be responsible
for taking scale and aphids
from one plant to another,
hence spreading the pest
activity.
If you observe ant activity
in or on plants and shrubs,
carefully look to see if there
is scale or aphid activity
by Ashley Searle
as well. You may need to
treat for these other pests in
conjunction with the ants.
Conversely, if you notice
scale or aphid activity in the
garden, look out for the ants
and treat all at the same time.
Controlling ants
Ants are very easy to keep
under control. Sprinkle
Searles ® Ant Kill-50 Granules
around the garden and lawn,
wherever you notice their
activity. If you notice ant trails
or nests, be sure to sprinkle
Searles ® Ant Kill-50 Granules
around these areas. Repeat
applications
may be
necessary,
depending on
the amount of
ant activity in
your garden. So
keep ants at bay
in your garden
all year round
with Searles ® Ant
Kill-50 Granules.
Tapien ® Tapien Lilac Passion
® Lilac Passion
Colourwave ®
beautiful flowering plants
With over 50 varieties to choose from, there is a Colourwave ® plant
that is just right for putting flowers back into your garden. People who
need reliable, tough plants can also count on Colourwave plants. For
over 10 years, Colourwave has put millions of flowers in homes and
public spaces all over Australia. From Cairns to Hobart
there are Colourwave plants just right for your place.
22 23

Not just
beautiful
plants, it’s a
lifestyle.
Give your garden
a Kickalong ®
- Organically
®
Kickalong
ORGANIC
PLANT FOODS
Ask for these great Searles products
at your nearest gardening outlet Ph: 07 5497 2022
www.searles.com.au