Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Kauri Pine: Agathis robusta-an Australian nativeOver the last few weeks in this segment, we’ve been talking about big, big trees, and today’s offering is no exception. 

Kauri pine, like it's name states, is a conifer in the Araucariaceae family.Also considered a dinosaur tree because it evolved millions of years ago when Australia was largely subtropical all over and not just in Queensland.

Kauri pine: Agathis robusta

So let’s find out more. I'm talking with Adrian O”Malley, horticulturist and native plant expert. PLAY: Agathis Robusta_11th March 2020 

Big trees in pots: 

The Kauri pine is quite happy in pots if you have limited space.

Just need to be root pruned every couple of years, but no more than 10% all round.

Being an ancient conifer it comes from an era when the world was much wetter and rainforest covered all of Australia.

The tree has  big wide, leathery leaves with parallel veins. Leaves are in opposite pairs and 5-12cm long. The bark is smoothish, grey or a sort of grey brown.

Leaves of kauri pine, no mid-rib.

The lower part of the trunk is free of branches, having dropped off as it grows.

The pine cones come in to shapes. Male cones are long and narrow, but female cones are rounded, 8-13cm in diameter.

Agathis robuasta female cones

The Queensland Kauri is a little known but magnificent specimen, that dates back to the mid-Jurassic period.

Agathis or Qld Kauri can live for centuries, but did you know that they were logged for their straight timber too much so by 1922, the Forestry Branch reported: ‘Of kauri pine the southern resource is utterly gone.’ 

The wood was used to cabinetry, floorboards, kitchen sinks, and boat building during the 1920's and 30's. Geelong Botanic Gardens have an avenue of Kauri pine trees planted around the 1860's.

Sydney Botanic gardens have one large specimen not far from the kiosk and close to the giant Dragon's Blood tree.

If you want to hug these large mature trees, you'll find that the girth is massive and it's more likely that 4-5 people with arms outstretched might make it being 150cm or so in circumference.If you have any questions either for me or for Adrian, why not write in to [email protected]

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Kauri Pine: Agathis robusta-an Australian nativeOver the last few weeks in this segment, we’ve been talking about big, big trees, and today’s offering is no exception. 

Kauri pine, like it's name states, is a conifer in the Araucariaceae family.Also considered a dinosaur tree because it evolved millions of years ago when Australia was largely subtropical all over and not just in Queensland.

Kauri pine: Agathis robusta

So let’s find out more. I'm talking with Adrian O”Malley, horticulturist and native plant expert. PLAY: Agathis Robusta_11th March 2020 

Big trees in pots: 

The Kauri pine is quite happy in pots if you have limited space.

Just need to be root pruned every couple of years, but no more than 10% all round.

Being an ancient conifer it comes from an era when the world was much wetter and rainforest covered all of Australia.

The tree has  big wide, leathery leaves with parallel veins. Leaves are in opposite pairs and 5-12cm long. The bark is smoothish, grey or a sort of grey brown.

Leaves of kauri pine, no mid-rib.

The lower part of the trunk is free of branches, having dropped off as it grows.

The pine cones come in to shapes. Male cones are long and narrow, but female cones are rounded, 8-13cm in diameter.

Agathis robuasta female cones

The Queensland Kauri is a little known but magnificent specimen, that dates back to the mid-Jurassic period.

Agathis or Qld Kauri can live for centuries, but did you know that they were logged for their straight timber too much so by 1922, the Forestry Branch reported: ‘Of kauri pine the southern resource is utterly gone.’ 

The wood was used to cabinetry, floorboards, kitchen sinks, and boat building during the 1920's and 30's. Geelong Botanic Gardens have an avenue of Kauri pine trees planted around the 1860's.

Sydney Botanic gardens have one large specimen not far from the kiosk and close to the giant Dragon's Blood tree.

If you want to hug these large mature trees, you'll find that the girth is massive and it's more likely that 4-5 people with arms outstretched might make it being 150cm or so in circumference.If you have any questions either for me or for Adrian, why not write in to [email protected]

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Spring Bulb Preparation: No Time Like NowHave you ordered your spring bulbs yet?Spring might seem far away, but for the prepared gardener there’s planning and preparation to be done right now.Especially if you like spring flowering bulbs such as tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, freesias and many more. 

photo M Cannon

Some of the planning involves looking at bulb catalogues, either ones you received in the post or online.Let’s find out more.I'm talking with Landscape Designer,  Glenice Buck, consulting arborist and landscape designer www.glenicebuckdesigns.com.auPLAY: Spring bulb prep_11th March 2020Fun decisions need to be made as to which bulbs to buy and plant.Spring bulbs include,tulips (cooler climates) snowflakes, jonquils, daffodils, freesias, spring stars, alliums (cooler climates), anemones, ranunculus, sparaxis, 

Glenice mentioned. Allium giganteum, the giant alliums, and Allium atropurpureum from Southern Europe that carry golf ball sized heads of dark, almost black, maroon-purple flowers from late October well into November. 

If you want to grow these in temperate climates you need to place a 2 litre bucket of ice-cubes on where the bulbs are planted every morning.

TIP:Remember, bulbs are a living thing, and need to be planted out mostly in Autumn. If you wait too long, they will dry out and be totally worthless.

Soil preparation: The big tip from Glenice, is dig in plenty of organic matter into the soil before adding your bulbs. Before planting, cultivate the soil and ensure that it is well drained  with plenty of compost and decomposed manures. 

TIP: When sowing ranunculus, soak in a weak solution of seaweed liquid for 1 hour before planting, claws pointing downward.

Bulbs in pots: don't place a saucer under the pot so that when it rains, the pot is sitting water.

If you want to know more or if you have any questions about spring bulbs, why not email [email protected] or write in to 2RRR P.O. Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Spring Bulb Preparation: No Time Like NowHave you ordered your spring bulbs yet?Spring might seem far away, but for the prepared gardener there’s planning and preparation to be done right now.Especially if you like spring flowering bulbs such as tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, freesias and many more. 

photo M Cannon

Some of the planning involves looking at bulb catalogues, either ones you received in the post or online.Let’s find out more.I'm talking with Landscape Designer,  Glenice Buck, consulting arborist and landscape designer www.glenicebuckdesigns.com.auPLAY: Spring bulb prep_11th March 2020Fun decisions need to be made as to which bulbs to buy and plant.Spring bulbs include,tulips (cooler climates) snowflakes, jonquils, daffodils, freesias, spring stars, alliums (cooler climates), anemones, ranunculus, sparaxis, 

Glenice mentioned. Allium giganteum, the giant alliums, and Allium atropurpureum from Southern Europe that carry golf ball sized heads of dark, almost black, maroon-purple flowers from late October well into November. 

If you want to grow these in temperate climates you need to place a 2 litre bucket of ice-cubes on where the bulbs are planted every morning.

TIP:Remember, bulbs are a living thing, and need to be planted out mostly in Autumn. If you wait too long, they will dry out and be totally worthless.

Soil preparation: The big tip from Glenice, is dig in plenty of organic matter into the soil before adding your bulbs. Before planting, cultivate the soil and ensure that it is well drained  with plenty of compost and decomposed manures. 

TIP: When sowing ranunculus, soak in a weak solution of seaweed liquid for 1 hour before planting, claws pointing downward.

Bulbs in pots: don't place a saucer under the pot so that when it rains, the pot is sitting water.

If you want to know more or if you have any questions about spring bulbs, why not email [email protected] or write in to 2RRR P.O. Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Silky Oak: Grevillea robustaHere’s a semi-deciduous grevillea, that can grow into a big tree. Flowering at the same time as Jacarandas and just as spectacular. When you see one, you don't think the Silky Oak as being a large tree. But here it is.

A bit messy, semi-deciduous, losing a lot of leaves from time to time. Grevilleas like this one are nectar rich, loved by the lorikeets. 

Apart from that drawback, the leaves are attractive with the added bonus is that the flowers are attractive to birds that come from all around the district to have a feast on the nectar of the flowers. So let’s find out more. I'm talking with Adrian O”Malley, horticulturist and native plant expert. PLAY:Silky Oak_4th March 2020 2020 

The silky oak flowers at the same time as Brachychiton querquifolia and Jacaranda mimosifolia, and there are some large gardens that have those big three. 

Brachychiton has the striking red flowers, contrasting with the purple of the Jacaranda and the golden yellow of the silky oak. 

So much nectar that on hot days, the nectar ferments, so the birds become intoxicated when sipping on the nectar, and become quite territorial.

When growing in pots, they take on the classical conifer type shape.

Remember Adrian's maxim, "spend a penny on the pot and a pound on the soil."

Very impressive to look at. 

The timber has a marbling dotty effect and is quite rot resistant should you come across this scarce resource.

The timber used to be used for frames around windows.If you have any questions either for me or for Adrian, why not write in to [email protected]

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Silky Oak: Grevillea robustaHere’s a semi-deciduous grevillea, that can grow into a big tree. Flowering at the same time as Jacarandas and just as spectacular. When you see one, you don't think the Silky Oak as being a large tree. But here it is.

A bit messy, semi-deciduous, losing a lot of leaves from time to time. Grevilleas like this one are nectar rich, loved by the lorikeets. 

Apart from that drawback, the leaves are attractive with the added bonus is that the flowers are attractive to birds that come from all around the district to have a feast on the nectar of the flowers. So let’s find out more. I'm talking with Adrian O”Malley, horticulturist and native plant expert. PLAY:Silky Oak_4th March 2020 2020 

The silky oak flowers at the same time as Brachychiton querquifolia and Jacaranda mimosifolia, and there are some large gardens that have those big three. 

Brachychiton has the striking red flowers, contrasting with the purple of the Jacaranda and the golden yellow of the silky oak. 

So much nectar that on hot days, the nectar ferments, so the birds become intoxicated when sipping on the nectar, and become quite territorial.

When growing in pots, they take on the classical conifer type shape.

Remember Adrian's maxim, "spend a penny on the pot and a pound on the soil."

Very impressive to look at. 

The timber has a marbling dotty effect and is quite rot resistant should you come across this scarce resource.

The timber used to be used for frames around windows.If you have any questions either for me or for Adrian, why not write in to [email protected]

THE GOOD EARTH

Rain Gardens or Flood Mitigation.Rain isn’t always reliable so rather than letting it flow into the stormwater especially when there’s a deluge, there are ways to let slow the water. Of course there’s rainwater tanks, but you may need more than what they can hold. You need to change your thinking and work out a way to keep water in your garden longer.Let’s find out more. I'm talking with Margaret Mossakowska, director of www.mosshouse.com.au Slowing the rush of water when there’s a deluge, will prevent your drains from backing up and possibly flooding your house. 

You can create rain gardens, wetlands or bog gardens.

If you have a spot in your garden where water likes to gather after rain, that's a good spot to create a bog garden.  It doesn't have to be any deeper than 10cm.

There are many Australian natives that would suit to grow in a bog garden.

Plants that suit for this situation are 

Marsh Flower (Villarsia exaltata), 

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), 

Tassel Sedge (Carex fascicularis), 

Jointed Twig-rush (Baumea articulata) and Water Ribbons (Triglochin procerum).

 

Rain gardens are a filtering garden and aim to slow water from leaving your property.

Think of all that water gushing out of your downpipe going to the storm water, when instead, it could be passing through a rain garden.

Choose any container, such as half a rainwater tank, or any sort of large plastic container.

Have an overlow at least half way up rather than letting the soil at the top float away.

Put in lots of sand at the bottom with soil/compost on top. The rain should just percolate through this soil rather than rushing down the drain.Reed and native grasses suit to be planted in this type of garden.There’s a choice of rain gardens or bog gardens, it’s up to you. If you want to know more or if you have any questions about reed beds, rain gardens or flood gardens, why not email [email protected] or write in to 2RRR P.O. Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.

THE GOOD EARTH

Rain Gardens or Flood Mitigation.Rain isn’t always reliable so rather than letting it flow into the stormwater especially when there’s a deluge, there are ways to let slow the water. Of course there’s rainwater tanks, but you may need more than what they can hold. You need to change your thinking and work out a way to keep water in your garden longer.Let’s find out more. I'm talking with Margaret Mossakowska, director of www.mosshouse.com.au Slowing the rush of water when there’s a deluge, will prevent your drains from backing up and possibly flooding your house. 

You can create rain gardens, wetlands or bog gardens.

If you have a spot in your garden where water likes to gather after rain, that's a good spot to create a bog garden.  It doesn't have to be any deeper than 10cm.

There are many Australian natives that would suit to grow in a bog garden.

Plants that suit for this situation are 

Marsh Flower (Villarsia exaltata), 

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), 

Tassel Sedge (Carex fascicularis), 

Jointed Twig-rush (Baumea articulata) and Water Ribbons (Triglochin procerum).

 

Rain gardens are a filtering garden and aim to slow water from leaving your property.

Think of all that water gushing out of your downpipe going to the storm water, when instead, it could be passing through a rain garden.

Choose any container, such as half a rainwater tank, or any sort of large plastic container.

Have an overlow at least half way up rather than letting the soil at the top float away.

Put in lots of sand at the bottom with soil/compost on top. The rain should just percolate through this soil rather than rushing down the drain.Reed and native grasses suit to be planted in this type of garden.There’s a choice of rain gardens or bog gardens, it’s up to you. If you want to know more or if you have any questions about reed beds, rain gardens or flood gardens, why not email [email protected] or write in to 2RRR P.O. Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Podocarpus elatus: Plum Pine

 

Are you of the opinion that all pine trees have pine cones and needle like leaves?

Most gardeners associate pine trees with Christmas because after all, that’s a conifer. Right?

Wrong? 

Before the continents separated, there was a lot of rainforest over the earth and there was no need for trees or any plants to adapt to dry periods.

Needle like leaves are for conserving moisture after all.

So what did conifers look like millions of years ago? 

Podocarpus elatus:plum pine

 

So let’s find out.

I'm talking with Adrian O”Malley, horticulturist and native plant expert.

PLAY: :Plum pine_19th February 2020

The plum pine has been around for 250 million years back when the world was a big rainforest with plenty of rainfall.

No need for needle leaves to conserve water back then, but instead large leaves, and they do not have cones like the other conifers but instead have a single seed attached by a fleshy stem to the branch.

The purple fruit have a sort of plum like flavour and can be used for making sauces, jams and relishes.

Botanical Bite: Trees are dioecious, (different house), meaning the male and female flowers parts are on separate trees.

You would need to consider planting two or three of these trees together to ensure you get any fruit at all.

Be aware, when the pines do bear fruit, birds and flying foxes will come a calling and spit out the pips, leaving a purple stain on your nice paving. Best to not grow it near your driveway or paving.

Adrian had a plant in a pot, which does quite well with root pruning every few years. In the ground the tree will grow to 12 metres in its natural habitat, but a lot less in your backyard garden.

If you have any questions either for me or for Adrian, why not write in to [email protected]

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Podocarpus elatus: Plum Pine

 

Are you of the opinion that all pine trees have pine cones and needle like leaves?

Most gardeners associate pine trees with Christmas because after all, that’s a conifer. Right?

Wrong? 

Before the continents separated, there was a lot of rainforest over the earth and there was no need for trees or any plants to adapt to dry periods.

Needle like leaves are for conserving moisture after all.

So what did conifers look like millions of years ago? 

Podocarpus elatus:plum pine

 

So let’s find out.

I'm talking with Adrian O”Malley, horticulturist and native plant expert.

PLAY: :Plum pine_19th February 2020

The plum pine has been around for 250 million years back when the world was a big rainforest with plenty of rainfall.

No need for needle leaves to conserve water back then, but instead large leaves, and they do not have cones like the other conifers but instead have a single seed attached by a fleshy stem to the branch.

The purple fruit have a sort of plum like flavour and can be used for making sauces, jams and relishes.

Botanical Bite: Trees are dioecious, (different house), meaning the male and female flowers parts are on separate trees.

You would need to consider planting two or three of these trees together to ensure you get any fruit at all.

Be aware, when the pines do bear fruit, birds and flying foxes will come a calling and spit out the pips, leaving a purple stain on your nice paving. Best to not grow it near your driveway or paving.

Adrian had a plant in a pot, which does quite well with root pruning every few years. In the ground the tree will grow to 12 metres in its natural habitat, but a lot less in your backyard garden.

If you have any questions either for me or for Adrian, why not write in to [email protected]