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Question Topics This Month

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summer blooms VIC
removing unwanted plants NSW
Growing a lemon tree in a hothouse TAS
Troublesome Tree
pruning gardenias QLD
broad beans  VIC
poisoning passionfruit suckers

Leaves falling of my choisya UK
Eschallots NSW
growing limes VIC
Shade loving climbers NSW
Soil preparation VIC
weeping cherries VIC
Fruit trees in heavy clay soils VIC

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Topic and Question

Answer

summer blooms VIC

Could you please give me a list of flowers to plant that will bloom in early summer in central vic. [My turn to host the family boxing day get together] And when to plant,[seedlings or seed]

BACK TO TOPICS

On the front page under Gardening Guides click on Planting Guides. Your area borders cool and temperate – I would pick temperate. There are lots of seedlings you can plant now for summer colour. Prepare the ground well with some compost dug in and a bit of blood and bone and keep the seedlings well watered.

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Unfortunately acanthus grows from any bit of root that remains in the ground. Also because the leaf is shiny, herbicides tend not to stick too well. Adding a surfactant to your sprayer can help the herbicide to stick but you have to be persistent and spray every time it reappears. The only other tried and true method is to dig up the entire area and sift the soil removing every bit of plant material. Sorry.

Growing a lemon tree in a hothouse TAS

Would it be possible to grow a lemon tree (or other citrus) in a hothouse in Tasmania?  I live in a windy spot and haven't really got a suitable outdoor location for one.

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I think you should be able to grow citrus in a hothouse in Tasmania. A bit of extra heat during winter would be good but not essential. Good ventilation is a must and try a dwarf variety so it won’t get too big. You could move it outside during summer like they do in Europe.

Troublesome Tree

I have a China Doll Tree planted in my back yard. It has grown to about 3mts high however it appears as though the roots, which are quite close the surface, are lifting my pavers. Do they have problem roots that could cause this to happen? 

BACK TO TOPICS

Almost any plant if it grows big enough will have roots that can lift pavers if they are close enough! China Doll is in the family Bignoniaceae which are vigorous growers. The China Doll tree is usually grown indoors in a pot but it seems to like the conditions in your garden – some references state it can reach 9m!

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If you want to prune them to reduce their size, now is a good time and I think you could safely remove one third of the foliage. Cutting off the flowers to bring inside during summer is usually enough pruning for a gardenia, unless of course they are getting too big for the allotted space!

broad beans  VIC

I planted broad beans in a separate area at my backyard, but the results are totally different.  In one area the broad beans have grown very well, but in another area all leaves of the broad beans have gone, why?

BACK TO TOPICS

It sounds like you have had your crop attacked by slugs or snails or maybe even blackbirds! Try scattering a little snail bait around and see if that fixes the problem.

poisoning passionfruit suckers

I have tried Round Up, to poison the suckers. Before I spend any more money I would like to know what type of poison I need.

BACK TO TOPICS

If the suckers are arising from below the graft of a fruiting passionfruit you can’t spray these with poison as it will kill the fruiting plant also. They need to be cut off as close to the trunk as possible. If the suckers are coming up from the position where a plant once was, then glyphosate should be sufficient – use a surfactant to make the poison stick to the leaves.

Leaves falling of my choisya UK

I have a young Choisya, which is still in its pot. It was very healthy until about two weeks ago the LOWER leaves began to fall of, The soft new growth at the tips of some of the stems seem healthy but the lower ones are turning a pale colour and falling. We have had a lot of rain, which is when this started. Please advise.

BACK TO TOPICS

By your postcode I’m guessing you are in the UK. Your plant may well be too wet or in a position of not much light. You could try repotting the plant, applying some slow release fertiliser and placing it where it receives full sun.
 

Eschallots NSW

Plants are going wonderful and, as with the Australian Garlic I planted at the same I'm getting lower leaves turning yellow. There's 5 - 6 bulbs on each plant and I'm stoked. But flowering?

BACK TO TOPICS

When any member of the allium family starts to flower it means its lifecycle is drawing to a close. The withering leaves also point to this. Possibly the plants were stressed at some time during the growing season (lack of/too much water; same with sunlight/heat) and this has triggered early flowering. There is not too much you can do about it. They do say to hold off planting garlic until the shortest day (21 June) maybe you were a bit early.

growing limes VIC

I have 2 lime trees at my house, I am moving in a month and would like to grow them at my new house, can I cut stems of my plants and re pot and grow them?

BACK TO TOPICS

If you can dig them up with a reasonable sized rootball you should be able to do that now. Remove some of the foliage as well to reduce the stress on the tree. If you want to replant the trees in a pot them you will have to remove quite a bit more soil from the rootball before potting on.

BACK TO TOPICS

The two species you have suggested would probably be ok as they are pretty tough but will need to be kept under control. Thunbergia would be probably be ok in bright shade. Have you considered hanging shade loving plants in pots from the walls?

Soil preparation VIC

I am planning to add/mix 10cm layer of compost to the top 20cm of soil to improve the soil for the creation of a new garden. What is the ideal time frame I should do this before planting, 1-3-6-12 months?

BACK TO TOPICS

If this is well rotted compost you can spread it and plant on the same day. If you are unsure whether it is well rotted or not I would wait 2 weeks to a month before planting.

weeping cherries VIC

My weeping cherry died due to drought - I do not want to plant another as this was my third plant.  I want to try a different ornamental tree about the same height as the cherries can you suggest something.   Faces north - has full sun and does get the wind - good drainage.

I do not necessarily require a flowering plant - the rest of our garden is native – I have weeping grevilleas in garden.

BACK TO TOPICS

A weeping apricot might be a better choice if you want a flowering weeping tree. I have one and its really tough. Good autumn colour too. Do keep the water up to it for the first two summers though.

Fruit trees in heavy clay soils VIC

We would like to plant fruit trees in an old dam without amending the soil (a very heavy clay).  Do you know any fruit trees that would survive in very heavy clay soils? It doesn't necessarily need to fruit well in the location just survive.  Mulberry, Loquat?

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