Tim's Garden Centre - 2 Queen Street Campbelltown, NSW, 2560 - Ph: 46267022
Smell that Grass!
Every afternoon as I drive down my street I can here the sound of lawn mowers. I can also smell that fresh cut grass. Lawns have done it tough since the drought started in 2003 and most people gave up on the “perfect lawn dream”. But with the rain, lawns come back so quickly and with a bit of added fertiliser now, and a lot of lawn mowing, the perfect lawn dream could become reality.
Perhaps you have forgotten how satisfying mowing a lawn can be. It’s equivalant to going for a 5km run or doing an aerobics workout at the gym except you get to smell the grass. You will loose weight and save money on gym fees. A freshly mown lawn makes your house look loved again too, and it tells people you care.
Mowing your lawn will also help prevent grass flees from breeding. These tiny black insects bite your legs as you walk across the lawn. They can also end up in your house. They love the humidity that long wet grass provides so get mowing or find someone to give you a scratch.
While you’re mowing your lawn it’s a good time to see what plants need replacing in your garden. The dead ones will be much easier to spot now that everything living is green. Don’t buy the same variety that has just died. It’s time to move on and buy plants that are better suited to dry conditions. Visit your local garden centre and get advice from a qualified horticulturist. They know which plants are tough so use their expertise.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and director of Tim’s Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Dear Gardening Friends
Sorry I haven’t been in contact for so long but on the 5th of December I was dumped by a wave at Cronulla beach while body surfing with a mate. I got dumped head and shoulder into the sand and at first I thought I had broken my back. It turned out, my back was OK but I had done massive damage to my shoulder. I got operated on 2 days before Christmas to repair the damage and I am now, back at work on light duties. The boys are helping me out with lifting all the heavy stuff. So, if you have been wondering where I have been, that’s my excuse. I hope you had a healthier break than me.
Yesterday Simon, Ryan and I auditioned for channel 9’s Garden Guru’s. For Simon and I, it was an absolute disaster. We kept forgetting our lines. Ryan went OK so let’s keep our fingers crossed. I have to say I have much more respect now for Neville Passmore and his crew.
Best wishes
Tim
The quickest way to cool your house is to turn on the airconditioner. But with electricity prices about to soar, it’s time to look for smarter ways to cool your house. A shade tree planted on the sunny side of your house will provide you with free air conditioning all summer long.
So what’s the best shade tree for your garden?
Well, one of my favourites is The Indian Summer Crepe Myrtles. These drought hardy trees can flower for up to 100 days in summer and they come in a range of colours to suit any style of garden. This variety is resistant to powdery mildew so you won’t have to use dangerous chemicals.
Indian Summer Crepe Myrtles grow fast, so you won’t drop dead before you can enjoy the shade. They grow 4 to 6 metres high by just 4 metres wide. This is the perfect sized tree for today’s courtyard style gardens.
In autumn, the leaves turn gold and crimson. Then the leaves disappear to allow the winter sunshine in to warm your house.
Another feature of these shade trees is they have the most amazing smooth bark. It’s so beautiful you will want to hug this tree.
You will find flowering Indian Summer Crepe Myrtles in our garden centre now.
Beans beat boredom?
During the Christmas break the kids will get bored pretty quickly if you don't keep them busy. Why don't you get them to help you build a vegetable garden? Scientists have discovered the easiest way to get children to eat vegetables is to teach them how to grow them. Scientists have also discovered if children eat more vegetables they have less behavioural problems.
I have had great success getting my children to eat green beans using this method. We planted the climbing round beans from seed about 8 weeks ago and now the vines are 2 metres high and covered in fruit. The kids love eating them raw picked fresh from the vines.
As a kid I hated cooked beans because they were soft ,soggy and tasteless. Today I cook them Italian style in one cup of white vinegar and 3 cups of water. Boil the beans until they change colour. They should be still a little bit crunchy. Drain off the water then stir in olive oil and 2 teaspoons of crushed garlic . They are delicious hot or cold and my children love eating them.
Beans can be planted over Christmas and you will be eating them in February. If you don't have any wire to support the vines then plant dwarf beans instead.
If you need advice on soil preparation visit your local garden centre.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
It's time to grow Mangoes!
You might think the Mangoes you buy in the shop taste sweet but just like tomatoes, home grown taste so much sweeter. In Queensland Mango trees grow up to 20 metres high but in the Macarthur area you will be lucky if it grows 5 metres high in 10 years.
If you have a hot sunny position that is protected from frost then you can grow your very own Mango tree. The beauty of Mango trees is that they can bear fruit from the very first year you plant them.
The tree will be covered in white blossom in Spring and the fruit will be ready to eat in February. The fruit will grow at least twice as big as the ones you buy because the mangoes in fruit shops are picked green then forced to colour.
Mango trees like good drainage so if you have clay soil you will need to dig at least two bags of Greengold Planting compost into the soil. This organic rich soil will break down the clay in time and also allow the soil to hold more water. Yes mangoes love water but they don't like boggy soil.
In spring when they start to flower spray the plant with Mancozeb plus. This fungicide ensures the flowers don't just drop off. The fruit will have to be sprayed with an insecticide as they begin to colour to prevent fruit fly. Because the fruit grow so big you will need to support the fruit when the tree is young or the weight of the fruit will spoil the shape of the tree for ever.
The best variety is Bowen Mango or Kensington pride.These are actually the same tree sold under different names. Grafted trees are more expensive but you are guaranteed to get top quality fruit.
Mangoes and other tropical fruit trees are available in your local garden centre now.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Be cool, green and happy! - 11/11/2009
I think it’s funny that people will go to any length to park their car in the shade on a hot day. The shady spot is the most prized possession in the work car park too.
It’s commonsense that your car will be cooler if you park it in the shade. Why then do many of these same people refuse to plant any shade trees around their own houses.
Trees are one of the simple solutions to help prevent global warming but we find it almost impossible to sell trees at our nursery. We have a buy one get one free offer on a new release shade tree at the moment and the response has been under whelming.
In the older suburbs around Macarthur Jacarandas are in full bloom. These spectacular flowering trees can shade your house from the hot sun all summer and when winter arrives the leaves drop off allowing the sun to warm your house. The older generation used trees to cool their houses while today’s generation turns on the air-conditioned.
Perhaps Kevin Rudd should have paid for people to plant trees rather than providing free insulation. The suburbs would have looked greener, we all would have been much cooler and the birds would be happy too.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and director of Tim’s Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
It's A Big Thing, Thing! - 11/11/2009
Australia is a big country so perhaps that’s why we are fascinated by big things. Gardeners are fascinated by big things too and that’s why we have competitions to see who can grow the biggest pumpkin. A pumpkin vine can take over your entire backyard so big thing lovers will be happy to hear about a new tomato plant that can produce huge fruit up to 500grams.
The tomato plant is called “ Fatty ” and it is available in your local garden centre now. Proceeds go to the Starlight Children’s Foundation. “ Fatty ” is a select form of an heirloom variety so the fruit tastes much sweeter than those rock hard things you find in fruit shops. When picked ripe from the vine, it will be the sweetest tomato you have ever eaten.
Fatty is a fast growing vigorous variety that will grow up to 2 metres high. Tie the plant to a stake using budding tape. Remove any side shoots so all the plants energy goes into producing huge fruit. Liquid fertilise every week with “Harvest” for best results.
As the huge heart shaped fruit ripen give some to your neighbours. Word will soon spread that you grow the biggest tomatoes in Macarthur. It’s a big thing, thing.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and Director of Tim’s Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Pot plants need love too! - 7/10/09
The windy weather from last week has caused thousands of dollars worth of damage to pot plants in the Macarthur area. When the plants blow over the terracotta or ceramic pots get broken. These can be hard to replace because pot colours and styles change with fashion.
If your pot plants are blowing over it is a sign that the plants need repotting into larger pots . It could also suggest the potting mix has become hydrophobic. Modern potting mixes are made from recycled green waste and pine bark. If the potting mix dries out it actually repels water. If the water just pours out the bottom of your pots when you water then your potting mix is hydrophobic. Many potting mixes have wetting agents added to help stop this happening but after 6 months these stop working.
We have had fantastic results topdressing our pot plants with " Greengold Planting Compost ". This organic rich product contains a wetting agent and a slow release organic fertiliser. We use it as a mulch around pot plants to a depth of 20mm. It washes down into the potting mix, filling in any cracks. This slows the water down so your soil gets more time to absorb the moisture. Within 14 days your pot plant will reward you with lush new growth. Plants can't talk so this is their way of saying I love you!
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Veggie Gardening Can Be Dangerous ! 16/09/2009
This week the boys and I dug up the veggie garden. First we had to pull out all the spent winter vegetables including Broccoli, Broadbeans and Brussel sprouts. I've never grown Broadbeans before and after tasting them this year I won't be growing them again. The kids thought they were disgusting and I had to agree.
We spread cow manure and blood and bone over the composted sugar cane mulch then we dug it all in using long handled shovels. My life was in danger with a 4 and 5 year old banging me in the head on numerous occasions.
While we turned over the soil we picked out all the curl grubs. These white grubs with a copper coloured head eat the roots of your vegetables and the only safe way to remove them is by hand.
Once the soil was dug over and nice and soft, we covered it again with a fresh layer of sugar cane.
This weed free mulch keeps the soil cool and moist during the heat of summer.
I have been more selective with my vegetable selection this season. I have given up trying to grow eggplant and capsicum because where I live the season is too short and the frost kills them just when they are starting to fruit.
We have planted cucumbers, zucchini,beans,tomatoes,basil,lettuce,potatoes and garlic.The boys gave up helping when a huge blue tongue lizard came out from under a buxus hedge and wandered across the path. "How fast can they run and do they bite?" was all Dan wanted to know.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Hedge your bet with Tomatoes - 2/09/2009
Even today, I still get customers who will only grow Grosse Lisse Tomatoes. This aussie Icon has been around since1938 but it was actually invented by the Germans. Its a great tasting tomato but if you only grow one variety you increase the chances that your entire crop could be destroyed by pests and diseases.
Your local nursery will have at least 25 varieties of tomatoes to choose from and I recommend that you choose at least 4 different varieties to grow in your garden.
The only fool proof tomato is the variety called " Sweet Bite". This cherry sized variety is so tough it often pops up in your compost and simply grows without any help from you. It has a leathery skin that makes it resistant to fruit fly so you will never have to eat this tomato in the dark.
One of the biggest and best eating varieties is one called "Taurus". This old stye tomato looks like your bottom. Yes it has a big crack. When you slice the fruit it has hardly any seeds and the flesh is super sweet and juicy. I grew this variety last year and some nights we just ate salted tomatoes in olive oil on fresh bread. They were delicious.
To guarantee you will be eating home grown tomatoes before Xmas plant an old favourite called "Apollo". This is still one of the earliest fruiting varieties available. Grab a " Grosse Lisse" too, just to keep your parents happy and you are ready to grow your own fresh tomatoes.
Don't forget the cow manure or the tomato stakes. All these varieties will grow at least 2 metres high.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
The Best Soap Ever? - 28/08/2009
Dear Gardening Friends
While holidaying in Merimbula last February we went to the famous Candelo markets. This market is held once a month in a sleepy little town called Candelo. One of my friends moved to Candelo about 5 years ago and he loves it. If you ever go there I highly recommend the French toast with ricotta and fresh blueberries at the little cafe opposite the park.
While I was at the market I bought 3 cakes of Lemon Myrtle Soap from one of the store holders simply because I liked the smell of it. They put the soap in an envirobag which I think is made from rice.
Well I bought the soap home stuck it in the bathroom cupboard and there it stayed until several weeks latter we ran out of soap. I got the soap out and gave it a sniff.
Lemon Myrtle soap is made using the oil from an Australian native tree called Backhousia citriodora. The oil is Anti bacterial and anti fungal. The fragrance is a cross between lemon grass ,lemon and lime.
Apart from the great smell this soap lathered more than any soap I had ever used before and yes I'm a bloke so I washed my hair with it too. It made you feel fresh and peppy. The cake of soap lasted at least 2 weeks in our shower.
Eventually we ran out of the Candelo soap so I tried several other brands bought from super markets and other markets but they were always a big disappointment. Too soft, not as many bubbles, not the same colour, not the same great smell.
In frustration I contacted my mate in Candelo and asked him to track down the store holder and see if they could deliver the soap to the nursery. Yes they could but only in boxes of 100 !
Well I was that excited about getting the soap again I ordered the box at a really good price and now I have decided to share this soap experience with all my gardening friends.
We have it at Tim's Garden Centre now for $3.25 or buy 3 like I did for $9.00.
This soap will change your life. I have given it to friends as gifts and its changing their lives too.
Best wishes
Tim
Great legs after 10am? - 20/08/2009
This time last year I made the outrageous claim that spring had started because I was wearing shorts. Temperatures plummeted in the following weeks and my skinny white legs went into hypothermia. This year I am being more careful in declaring that spring is starting but you may need to wear your “tracky daks” until at least 10am.
On the way to work this morning I noticed Flowering Plum Trees covered in pink blossom. These hardy small growing trees are making a come back in the horticultural world because of their beautiful burgundy coloured spring and summer foliage. The best flowering variety is called Prunus x blireana so look out for this in your local nursery.
I also noticed that clover is taking over the lawns of Macarthur’s home owners and beginning to flower. This is great news for the bee keepers in the area because the nectar from clover flowers makes great honey. Unfortunately it also means that lots of children and pets are going to get stung when the bees get trod on this summer.
Clover is difficult to control in lawns and you need to spray at least twice with Chemspray Bindie for best results. Keep your dog off the lawn until the chemical dries. Don’t spray lawns on windy days or the spray will cause the new growth on your Roses, Grevillea’s and Robinnias to grow twisted and distorted.
Water restrictions have been eased so you can now water your garden every day with a trigger hose before 10am and after 4pm.This is great news for the nursery industry but bad news for lazzy husbands because now they have no excuses not to garden.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and Director of Tim’s Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
These nuts can be squeezed? - 12/08/2009
When I was a kid we used to go to Junee at Easter time to visit my Nanna. She lived in an old house that was so dark inside, even during the day it terrified me.
My brothers and I would borrow push bikes from my cousins and ride out of Junee towards Wagga Wagga following the railway line. At least 20 Almond trees grew wild beside the railway tracks over a 5 kilometre stretch.
These trees were never watered, fertilised, pruned or sprayed but they were still covered in delicious tasty nuts. We built a box trailer that could be towed by a bike to bring the nuts back into town.
Those childhood memories have encouraged me to plant an Almond tree in my garden. I chose a grafted variety called " All in one " because it is self pollinating and it only grows about 3 metres high.
In Spring the tree is covered in spectacular white flowers before the lovely lime green leaves appear. In Autumn the nuts begin to ripen. They are protected by a leathery sheath that can be pealed away.
This variety of Almond tree is special because the nuts can easily be opened by just squeezing them in your fingers. The nuts on other varieties have to be cracked with a hammer. The nuts are so sweet and crunchy and they will keep for months. They make great gifts and your children will love eating them too. If they can grow wild in Junee without any care you will have no trouble growing one in your backyard.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Cherries full of great taste - 6/08/2009
The sweetest fruit you will ever eat is the fruit you grow at home. Cherries are expensive to buy but easy to grow in your backyard. The best variety for small gardens is called Stella. I chose this variety for my garden because it is self pollinating and only grows 3m high. In spring, it is covered in spectacular white blossoms that will take your breath away. At Christmas, the tree is covered in large, dark and red sweet - tasting fruit. The fruit hangs in bunches so it is very ornamental too. Your children will be able to take bunches of home-grown cherries to school for munch and crunch! In autumn, your cherry tree will have the most spectacular gold and crimsoncoloured leaves. These will drop in winter to allow sunshine into your garden. You can buy a grafted Stella cherry tree for under $50 at your local garden centre. For best results buy a bag of planting compost. Dig this into the soil and plant your tree on a small mound. Mulch around the base with sugar cane to stop the weeds growing and to insulate the roots.
Tim Pickles is a horticulturist and director of Tim’s Garden Centre, 2 Queen St, Campbelltown. Phone: 4626 7022.
Doom not Bloom
In March I was doing a potting mix trial on the potting mixes we stock at the nursery. I also bought a bag of Bloom Potting Mix from Woolworths to see how their brand would perform.
To test the potting mixes we plant pansy seedlings directly into the bag. We poke drainage holes into the plastic so the water drains. We use the same variety of pansy in each bag and we water them daily with over head irrigation. We don't ad any fertilisers, the plants have to rely on whets in the potting mix to survive.
Over 10 weeks have passed since the trial started and the results have been incredible. The pansies growing in the Bloom Potting mix have not grown at all. They haven't died but they are still the same size as the day they were planted. Perhaps this potting mix should be called Doom not Bloom.
The pansies growing in the other brands of potting mix are up to 30cms across and covered in flowers.
When you purchase a bag of potting mix you assume that plants will actually grow in it. We have the trial on display in the nursery and you are welcome to come and see the results for yourself.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Grow your own hot chips? - 21/05/2009
I went to the cricket in January and got stuck behind a huge guy wearing a Mexican hat. It was so hot I began hallucinating about hiring a seagull suit and running onto the pitch with a huge chip under my wing. If security chased me it would look like they were after my chip.
I love chips and they taste even better if they are made from home grown potatoes. Seed potatoes are available now at your local nursery. Potatoes are the easiest of all vegetables to grow. Simply find a sunny spot in your garden. Dig cow manure and blood and bone into the soil. Cut your seed potatoes into quarters and plant these 40cms apart. As the potatoes sprout, mulch around the stems with your lawn clippings. Water them when you see the leaves drooping.
At Chistmas time when the leaves start to go yellow dig up your potatoes as needed. They will stay fresher in the soil than in your cupboard.
Home grown potatoes have a completely different taste than those things you buy at the grocer. Eat your home made hot chips inside or you could be attacked by seagulls.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and Director of Tim’s Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
A Gum For Little Gardens - 7/5/2009
I was heading down the coast on a fishing trip in march and we passed through a town called Mogo. As a kid I used to hate Mogo because my mother would always want to stop and look at the pottery studio. At the time we had more mugs and sugar bowls than anyone in Australia.
Now Mogo is famous for it's zoo and the spectacular W.A red flowering gum trees which are planted on the roadside. I stopped and got my photo taken beside one of the trees which was in full bloom. What a sight! Several parrots were busy enjoying the nectar from the flowers.
These red flowering gums are a dwarf form called " Wild Fires". They only grow 6 metres high by 5 metres wide so they are a perfect choice for today's courtyard sized gardens.
The brilliant fire engine red flowers are much bigger than the original variety and it has bright yellow stamens. The tree is suppose to flower in Summer but I have seen it flower throughout Autumn too. When it finishes flowering it has large ornamental gum nuts. Remove these on young plants to encourage faster growth.
Wild Fires is a grafted variety so it flowers within 12 months and it's guaranteed to flower true to label. They need lots of water for the first 3 months or they will shrivel up and die. Once established they require no hand watering. If you don't like red flowers look for the orange, pink or purple forms in your local nursery now.
As with all grafted plants remove any shoots that appear below the graft with a sharp pair of secateurs.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown. 46267022.
New Wattle is a Winner - 15/4/2009
Last year when I visited the ABC gardening show at homebush I noticed a display of a new release plant called “ Fettuccini “.
It was a small shrub that had very unusual lime green foliage that looked like fettuccini. I am happy to announce that this fantastic native plant is now available at your local garden centre.
Botanically known as Acacia “ Fettuccini “ this cute little plant grows just one metre high. It has a weeping habit and the leaves blow in the wind so it almost looks like an alien.
It will produce yellow wattle flowers eventually but this plant is really grown for its spectacular foliage.
It looks great growing in a large pot on any sunny verandah. For best results purchase a potting mix that is specifically designed for native plants. Feed every spring and autumn with ”Osmocote for Natives” or blood and bone.
Acacia Fettuccini looks fantastic in gardens too. If you have room plant them as a border. Improve the soil by digging in planting compost and water from the base to prevent fungus diseases.
Plants can be lightly trimmed in the warmer months to help maintain a neat , bushy habit.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and director of Tim’s Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown.46267022.
The most exciting new Camellia for 20 years.
A new Camellia japonica called “Volunteer “has been described as the most significant new release for 20 years.
Originally released in N.Z for their “Year of the Volunteer“ it is now available at Tim’s Garden Centre in Campbelltown.
Advanced bushy plants in bud are available now from $39.99.
This early flowering Camellia has huge wine coloured, peony form flowers with white markings to the petal edge. It is so spectacular you will want to plant one in your garden. Camellia japonicas grow best on the southern side of your house. This is fantastic news because other plants seem to struggle in this aspect. They can be pruned to any height or width and they also make great hedges.
If your soil is heavy clay you will need to dig in lots of cow manure and planting compost to improve the drainage. Mulch around the roots with sugarcane or termite resistant mulch to protect them from the summer heat.
If you don’t have a garden, Volunteer will grow beautifully in a large pot on your veranda. A large pot should hold at least 2 bags of premium potting mix.
A bucket of water twice a week in summer and once a week in winter will keep your Camellia lush and green. Mulch the roots with cow manure every spring and autumn and you will be rewarded with the most spectacular flowers in the cooler months.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and director of Tim’s Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
New Citrus are a winner! - 18/3/2009
A new range of Citrus trees have been released that are perfectly suited for today’s small courtyard style gardens. Citrus Splitzer is two citrus varieties grafted on the one tree. There are 5 combinations available including Lemon& Lime, Lemon & Orange, Orange & Lime, Kaffir Lime & Lime, and Mandarin & Orange.
These trees have proved so popular nurseries are having to forward order them months in advance. Citrus Splitzer can be grown in gardens or in large pots. If you grow them in pots choose a pot that holds at least 3 bags of premium potting mix.
Clip your tree after fruiting so one variety doesn’t take over. Never use citrus food on potted plants because if you get hot weather or you don’t water regularly it can kill your tree. Use Osmocote slow release fertiliser and topdress with cow manure every Spring and Autumn.
Citrus trees are very easy to grow and the occasional spray with Pestoil will keep them pest free and healthy. These new fruit trees make great house warming or baby shower gifts. Look for the fancy lime green pots in your local nursery now.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and director of Tim’s Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Catch More Fish? - 28/02/2009
With Autumn approaching many people will be looking at replacing all those plants that got killed by the heat. I often see people in the nursery with trolleys full of plants but they buy no soil improvement products. The Macarthur area has a varied soil structure with sandy soils in Elderslie and solid clay soils in most other suburbs. If you dig a hole in clay and plant a shrub it will invariably struggle its entire short life.
A couple of years ago I said to my staff that we should tell people about “ Planting Compost “. My apprentice at the time thought I was just trying to make him sell more product so I could make more money. My response to that accusation was if you were planting a shrub in your garden would you use planting compost? Yes, he replied . Do you think customers would like to know about a product that made their plants grow faster? Yes, he replied. Well don’t sell it to them but just tell them about the product and let them decide I said.
Planting Compost is an essential product if you want your plants to grow well in our terrible soils. It contains compost which helps break down the clay. The compost retains more moisture and releases nutrients that feed your plants. Greengold Planting Compost has added organic fertiliser and a wetting agent. We have had great success with this product in our nursery.
When planting shrubs don’t just fill the hole with planting compost. You need to mix the planting compost with the existing soil. One bag of compost is enough to plant about 3 shrubs. Mulch around the base to help stop the moisture evaporating and your plants will thrive using less water. We want you to have success gardening because like fishing, if you catch fish you are more likely to go fishing.
Tim Pickles is a horticulturist and director of Tim’s Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown. 46267022
We were like monkeys - 19/02/2008
Last week I had a reunion with the Anderson family who lived behind us at Rydalmere. When I was a kid we used to jump their fence in Summer and swim in their above ground pool. Kenny's big brother Brian used to hold us under the water until we almost turned blue. He was like a crocodile.
They had a huge Santa Rosa plum tree that got covered in huge sweet plums just before Christmas. The kids from around the neighbourhood knew when the plums were ripe and we would climb from our fence into the tree and eat fruit all day. Kenny had a huge dog that tried to eat my brother once so we sat in that tree like monkeys and screamed every time the dog came near.
The Plum tree is gone now and so is the pool but the backyard has been transformed into a private oasis with beautiful shade trees. As you step out of the house and onto the lawn you are surrounded by an amphitheatre of trees. The ambience was incredible, it was like being in a forest rather than suburbia. The trees were full of birds including Kookaburras, Magpies, Parrots and Honey Eaters.
An area has been paved under the trees where the grass wouldn't grow and a table and chairs is an inviting place to sit on those hot days. The temperature is at least 10 degrees cooler in the shade.
I came away from Kenny's place wanting to plant more trees in my garden. I have planted a Chinese Elm and a Crepe Myrtle so far. I have found a few places at my sons school where more trees are needed too. Trees are a great legacy to leave your children and they will love climbing them too.
Tim Pickles is a Horticulturist and Director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Insulate your garden now! - 4/2/2009
With temperatures hitting 40+ the best way to protect your plants from the heat is to insulate the soil. Any mulch is better than no mulch but the finer the particle the more water it will hold when it does rain. Mulch is like a big sponge that soaks up the water and then releases it back into the soil over time. Large chunky mulches allow hot air in that dries out the soil . Pebbles are often used as mulch but these absorb the heat and dry out the soil even faster. They don’t absorb any water and they don’t add any organic matter to the soil. If you have children the pebbles will end up all over your lawn and in your pool too.
Mulches like Sugarcane and fine Termite resistant mulches are best. These break down over time adding organic matter to your soil. Organic matter absorbs water helping to drought proof your garden. It also releases nutrients that help make your plants grow stronger. Don’t forget to mulch around all your pot plants too. These are often forgotten and they are nearly always placed in the hottest areas around your house.
After mulching you will notice that sad looking drought affected plants will suddenly sprout fresh new growth. They will also get less diseases like mealy bug and black spot fungus.
Now if only we could get Kevin Rudd to pay for our garden insulation too.
Tim Pickles is a horticulturist and Director of Tim’s Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown. 46267022.
This Bug Stinks! - 1/12/2008
When I was growing up in Castle Hill my neighbour was such a tidy freak she used to vacuum the driveway. Once I even saw her vacuuming the Lemon tree in the backyard. It wasn't until I studied horticulture that I realised my neighbour was using the vacuum cleaner to suck the Stink Bugs off the tree. These cockroach looking bugs are also called Bronze Orange Bugs. They have become a major pest that attacks Citrus Trees throughout late Spring and Summer. They suck liquid out of the leaves and fruit. If you have dry brown patches in your Lemons the damage has been caused by Bronze Orange Bugs. These bugs change colour as they grow bigger. They start off green and at this stage they are hard to spot on your Citrus leaves. Then they turn bright orange before changing to bronze at maturity. If you disturb them when picking fruit they will squirt a smelly liquid onto your fingers that is almost impossible to remove. The stain can stay on your fingers for up to a week. If you're brave you can use your vacuum cleaner to control this insect. Remove the head so you have full sucking power. If your not so brave spray them with Garden King Conquer. This low toxic insecticide also controls Aphids,Mealy Bugs,Scale insects,Thrips and Whitefly. You will find " Conquer " in your local garden centre now.
Tim Pickles is a horticulturist and director of Tims Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown. 46267022.
Grow your own Blueberries - 12/11/2008
The other day my mother was telling me how she had heard that a certain fruit could help prevent Alzheimer's disease. She couldn't remember what the name of the fruit was so it may be too late to help her. Scientists have discovered that Blueberries don't just taste great but they are good for you too. Blueberries are long lived easy to grow shrubs that can produce up to 5kg of sweet tasting berries every Summer. A 125 gram punnet of Blueberries costs $6.95 so a mature plant can produce $280.00 worth of fruit. A Blueberry plant costs under $15.00 so it could be the best investment you ever make.
Blueberries grow best in a sunny position and they love organic rich soil. They will also grow beautifully in a large pot so you can take it with you if you move house. Dig cow manure or planting compost into the soil before planting. Mulch around the base of your plant with sugarcane. This will add more organic matter to the soil as it breaks down and help keep the soil acid which blueberries love. In Spring your plant will have pinkie white flowers followed by berries. The berries turn blue before they ripe and then start to gain flavour and increase in size. The fruit will ripen progressively over 5 or 6 weeks. Eat the berries as they ripen they are as sweet as lollies but much better for you. Fruiting Blueberry plants are available in your local garden centre now.
Tim Pickles is a horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Paws can keep you poor? - 23/10/2008
Anyone who has bought a Kangaroo Paw will know that this fussy native plant will be on life support it's entire short life. Numerous new disease resistant varieties have been released over the years but almost all are complete failures unless you grow them in a pot using a native potting mix. The only other way to get a Kangaroo Paw to survive is to plant it in your kids sandpit but if you have been reading this column your sandpit is now a vegetable garden.
About 10 years ago Angus Stewart, a native plant breeder, gave John Doyle, alias Rampaging Roy Slaven a Kangaroo Paw as a gift. John planted it in his garden and It's still alive today. This could be the oldest Kangaroo Paw in captivity . The children of this blessed Kangaroo Paw are now being sold in nurseries under the brand BushGems Landscapers "Rampaging Roy Slaven". Ramm Botanicals who market the plant will donate 50 cents from each plant sold to Autism Spectrum Australia.
"Rampaging Roy Slaven" is the first release in the new Bush Gems Landscaper Series. It is much tougher than other Paws, longer lived,and it flowers repeatedly. It has masses of orangey red flowers and broad strappy foliage. Remove old flowers and leaves at the base of the plant to keep it looking tidy. Feed it every Spring and Autumn with slow release fertiliser for native plants.
You will find 'Rampaging Roy Slaven" flowering in your local garden centre now.
Tim Pickles is a horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown. 46267022.
Love the colour green - 10/06/2008
I am looking out my window as I write this article. It is one of those perfect Spring days when everything in your garden shines. The Chinese Elms and Manchurian Pears have just come into leaf . The thing that I missed most during the drought was the colour green. Now I see green everywhere.
I walked my dog up the street this morning and as I looked into peoples gardens it was like watching an orchestra only it wasn't the instruments but the plants that were putting on the show. Wisterias are flowering on the fences and the perfume from these hardy climbers wafts through the air. Flowering Peaches are doing solo performances on front lawns. I know these trees have never been pruned but they still get covered in so many flowers.
Tucked in amongst the trees I see Azaleas covered in flowers. It's the original varieties like Magnifica, Alba Magna, Spendens and Exquisite which are doing best. These shrubs are not as fashionable any more because the leaves get attacked by Lace Bug and the flowers get Petal Blight but despite all these problems, they still put on a fantastic display of spring flowers.
I notice the Day Lilies are starting to flower in my garden.These hardy perennials put on a spectacular show of bright daffodil yellow flowers from now to Christmas then they go on holidays before returning in Autumn to put on another show.
I said earlier that my Manchurian Pears have come into leaf. One variety called Pyrus Aristocrat has only just come into flower now. This is my favourite deciduous tree and it gets covered in double white Spring blossom that seems to fill the sky.
Tim Pickles is a horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
From little things big things grow! - 06/10/2008
A mate of mine since school can only be described as a non gardener. He could quite happily live on the moon as long as he as he could take his lounge,television,coke and chocolate. His wife is even less enthusiastic about gardening having killed every indoor plant I have given them as gifts over the years.
They built a new house on the central coast about 5 years ago and it's still a horticultural blank canvas. I gave them a Frangipani as a house warming present and it sat in the pot for 2 years !
About 2 months ago they came to visit and I gave their son Luke, who is 12, a strawberry plant and a Mandarin tree to take home. I was thinking at the time if gardening is hereditary these plants are in big trouble. To my surprise the plants got planted that weekend and I have had numerous phone calls since from my mate who is now asking gardening questions. The father and son team have now constructed a vegetable garden where they are growing Tomatoes ,Carrots, Corn and Potatoes. I have had 5 phone calls alone on how much the potatoes have grown in such a short period of time.My mate and his son are now visiting garden centres on the weekends to look at plants.
I think Paul Kelly wrote a song with the words "from little things big things grow" perhaps I should give every child in Macarthur a strawberry plant.
Tim Pickles is a horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022
New garden edge is great value - 9/9/2008
An exciting new garden edging product has been released that will make do it yourself landscaping so much easier and cheaper. Its called Linkedge and it is an aluminium strip that can be bent to create beautiful curved gardens within minutes. It comes in 3 metre lengths that will easily fit on your roof racks so you will save on delivery costs too. The lengths can be joined together easily with the clips provided and stakes are available to support the edge so it doesn't fall over.It comes in 75mm or 100mm depths but I prefer the 75mm and its cheaper.This product is so much better than those flimsy plastic strip systems and it will out live treated pine edging .
If you have just built a new house you can set up your new Linkedge garden edging on top of the soil. On the inside fill up the garden with garden mix and you are ready to plant. On the outside simply spread topsoil and then turf up to the top of the edging. Because the edging is now buried in the ground it will prevent the grass runners from getting into the garden.
The beauty of this edging is that you don't see it so the plants and mulch become the real stars of the garden.
Linkedge costs about $15 per metre so its half the price of concrete edging and you can have fun installing it yourself. Its available at your local garden centre now.
Tim Pickles is a horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
This Parris Is Classy !
If you have found yourself putting shorts on in the morning it's a good indication that Spring has sprung. It's an exciting time to visit your local nursery because this is the time of year when all the new release plants start to arrive. One of the best plants on offer is an new evergreen shade tree called Magnolia grandiflora ' Kay Parris'. This classy looking tree has huge glossy green leaves that have a wavy margin. The underside of the leaves are coppery velvet.
In Summer to Autumn the tree is covered in highly fragrant white flowers that are the size of a bread and butter plate. These flowers look spectacular against the back drop of glossy green and copper foliage. Florists are starting to sell the foliage of this plant already because it lasts for ages in a vase and it looks so dramatic.
'Kay Parris' should be a winner because this small growing tree is perfectly suited to today's courtyard style gardens. Four metres high by two metres wide in the first 5 to 10 years. It's evergreen so there's no messy leaves to rake up in winter. It can also be used to make an informal hedge.
'Kay Parris' is only available in select nurseries so you will have to hunt around to find it. The advantage of this is you can get one up on your neighbours if you hurry.
Tim Pickles is a horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown. 46267022.
It's Time To Spray Lime Sulphur 1/08/2008
Our Nectarine trees are starting to flower in the nursery, so it looks like we are going to have an early Spring. The leaf buds are starting to swell too, so now is the right time to spray your fruit trees with Lime Sulphur. This fungicide will prevent Leaf Curl from appearing on the leaves of Peach and Nectarine trees but you must use it before your trees start to sprout leaves. Leaf Curl is a fungus disease that causes the leaves on your fruit trees to become twisted and distorted. In severe cases the tree can defoliate. Once the tree has the disease it can't be treated until the following winter so don't put off spraying your trees now.
Lime Sulphur can also be used on your apple trees and rose bushes to help control black spot,powdery mildew,rusts,mites and some scale insects.
Be warned ,Lime Sulphur will make your garden smell like Rotorua so close your windows before spraying. The smell only lasts for about 10 minutes so don't panic.
Just reminding you that you only have a few weeks left to spray your lawn for Bindi or you will be doing the bindii ballet all summer long.
Tim Pickles is a horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Bindii Ballet Back For One More Season 15/07/2008
It's time once more to treat your lawn to control clover and bindii. This is one of those jobs that you just can't put off or you will be doing the bindii ballet all summer long.
I still believe that 'Chemspray Bindi' is the best product to use on all lawns including soft leaf Buffalo. Before applying this chemical read the instructions carefully. For best results don't mow lawns prior or after application for at least 7 days. Don't spray on windy days or if rain is expected. Wear long pants and shoes so your legs are protected .
Measure your lawn so you know how big it is in square metres. The correct application rate is 30 mls of chemspray bindii in 5 litres of water sprayed over 50 square metres of lawn. If you don't know how big your lawn is then you can't accurately apply the product.
When mixing the chemical add a squirt of dish washing liquid. This will act as a wetting agent and make the spray stick to the leaves much better.
Test your sprayer on the concrete and adjust the nozzle until you get an even spray pattern. Walking slowly move the sprayer from side to side being very careful to avoid spray drifting onto shrubs in your garden. If you finish spraying the 50 square metres go back over the same area until all the spray is finished. This is where most people go wrong. They keep spraying over a bigger area so you are often using the product at half strength.
It takes 10 to 14 days before the weeds start to turn yellow and look sick. A follow up spray now will knock off even the hard to kill weeds.
Its safe to walk on the lawn 10 minutes after spraying on a sunny day.
In Spring fertilise your lawn so the grass grows thick leaving no room for more weeds to grow. Mow weekly so any persistent weeds don't get time to flower or produce seeds.
Tim Pickles is a horticulturist and a director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Time To Plant Fruit Trees 3/07/2008
This month garden centres will be taking delivery of there new season deciduous fruit trees. Sales of fruit trees have increased by 25% in the last 5 years because people have realised that healthy food means a healthy body.
Backyards might be getting smaller but plant breeders have responded by breeding smaller growing fruit trees that still have real sized fruit. Look for the Trixzie range of Peaches, Nectarines and Apples in your local garden centre now. These small growing trees produce excellent ,sweet flavoured full sized fruit. Because they stay so small they are perfect for compact gardens. If you don't own a garden grow them in large pots on sunny patio's and you will have great success.
If you have a narrow garden check out the range of Ballerina apple trees. These pole like trees only grow about 600mm wide by 3 metres high. There are five delicious eating apples to choose from. You will need to buy at least 2 of these because they need cross pollination to produce fruit. These are the crispiest apples I have ever eaten so I recommend them highly.
The problem with fruit trees in the past is that the fruit get attacked by fruit fly and then fall on the ground. These small growing trees are so much easier to look after and new sprays are available now that kill the pests without killing you.
The supply of fruit trees is very seasonal so once they sell out you have to wait 12 months before they become available again.
Tim Pickles is a horticulturist , CNP and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Make your panties smell fresh! 10/06/2008
Before you put your washing in the clothes dryer think how much energy you can save if you hang it outside instead. You will save money because dryers use an enormous amount of energy. You will also help save the environment and your clothes will smell fresher and last longer too. Wet clothes absorb the fragrances in your garden so if you plant perfumed shrubs near your clothes line even your undies will smell good.
Some of the most fragrant shrubs in the world are available in your garden centre now. Gardenia’s are one of the easiest plants to grow .They have handsome glossy green leaves all year round and the white flowers smell devine. We have had one in a pot for 20 years and it still looks sensational.There are many varieties available but the best is Gardenia florida. It only grows about one metre high and stays nice and bushy.
Daphnes are flowering now and these grow best in a morning sun , afternoon shade position.They are more reliable when grown in pots so don’t give up if you have killed one before.
Osmanthus is my favourite fragrant plant because it’s almost death proof and it thrives in full hot sun or part shade.It can be pruned to any size or let it grow naturally to 3 metres high.The tiny white flowers have the most amazing ripe apricot perfume that will even make your husbands socks smell nice.
Plant Lavender plants close enough to your washing so the towels and sheets brush by them in the wind. This will release the Lavender oils onto your washing for an extra sensory experience.Lavender shrubs must be pruned twice a year by 20% or they turn into woody monsters.
Tim Pickles is a Horticulturist, a CNP,and a director of Tim’s Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Grow Broccoli and catch fish 21/05/2008
A recent scientific report has found you will live longer if you eat Broccoli regularly. Adults don't mind eating Broccoli but kids would rather stick pins in their eyes than eat the stuff.
I have had no trouble getting my boys to eat Broccoli because we pick it fresh from the garden so it tastes much nicer than the stale stuff you buy at the grocers.The secret to growing Broccoli is not to use any chemical fertilisers in the garden. Chemical fertilisers make the leaves grow beautifully but the Broccoli heads are small and very woody.
I have had fantastic results ever since I started digging Cow Manure into the soil. This is the only fertiliser I use in the vegi garden now . Cow manure makes the Broccoli heads grow much bigger and it also attracts huge earth worms into your soil. The more worms you have in the soil the better your plants will grow. The other advantage of having worms in the garden is you can use them as bait to go fishing. The boys and I caught 3 whiting and a bream off the beach the first time we used them.
With the start of Winter approaching It's time to plant Broccoli, Cauliflower,Brussel Sprouts and Cabbage.These are all easy to grow from seedlings but you do have to watch out for caterpillars. If you see holes appearing in the leaves spray with Yates "Success ". This environmentally friendly spray will kill the caterpillars but not you.
Tim Pickles is a Horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
New Rose Is A Winner - 23/04/2008
Flower Carpet Roses have been a huge success since they were introduced more than 15 years ago. They were advertised as the first ever disease resistant ground cover rose. They have lived up to this but in truth they are sprawling small shrubs rather than ground covers. Growing to 80 cms high by 1.2m's wide they don't get that horrible Black Spot fungus disease like other roses if you plant them in your garden in a sunny position. They flower non stop for 10 months of the year. They get at least 50% more flowers if you prune and fertilise them every 6 weeks. Pruning is as simple as cutting off any spent flowers. This encourages more new growth and more flowers.
Over the years new colours of Flower Carpet rose have been released but up till now the original dark pink variety has been the best performing. This Autumn a new generation flower carpet rose called " Amber "has been released. It's too early just yet to say wether it's going to be as good as the pink but wow the flower colour is amazing.Flower Carpet " Amber "has orange buds that open to golden amber then fade to soft apricot pink. The plants are vigorous growers with lush green foliage. I'm so impressed with this new variety I have mass planted them in our garden at Campbelltown. If you have room in your garden plant a few together and the flower display will be much more powerful. Flower Carpet Roses perform best in gardens that don't have root competition from trees so plant them wisely and you will be rewarded.
Tim Pickles is horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Yellow Oleander Arrives - 16/04/2008
I travelled through France and Italy about six years ago and noticed nurseries were selling yellow flowering Oleanders. We didn't have this colour in Australia at that time so it was very exciting. I was surprising last week when Yellow flowering Oleanders arrived at our nursery without any fanfare. Usually when a new release plant is coming it is advertised in all the gardening magazines first .
But now that I think about it Oleanders have always been the quiet achievers in our gardens. They thrive without hand watering even during the drought and they flower non stop for at least 9 months. The new yellow flowering variety is just as good so you will need to find room for one in your garden too.
The problem with Oleanders is that most people plant them and don't prune them for the next 10 years. This causes them to grow into massive big shrubs 3 metres high by 3 metres wide. In Italy they prune them every season so they stay neat and compact. They even standardise them so they look like colourful lollipops popping up in the garden. Oleanders can also be grown in large pots and they are almost death proof.
Oleanders are poisonous if you eat the leaves or inhale the fumes if you burn the timber so you have to be sensible.
The new Yellow flowering Oleander is Called " Sunshine" and you will find it sitting quietly in your local garden centre now.
Tim Pickles is a horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022
Much Confusion About Zero - 9/04/2008
Lots of weeds start to grow in Autumn so you may be planning on purchasing a weed killer soon. Ready to use weed killers are proving popular with customers because there is no messy mixing. The leading Ready to use weed killer is " Zero " but be careful there is also a Zero ready to use " once a year path weeder " and it's in exactly the same coloured bottle. The packaging and labelling are very similar so sometimes customers are purchasing the wrong product by accident. Ready to use Zero is made from Glyphosphate and you can safely spray the weeds in your garden with this and it doesn't poison the soil.
Zero " once a year path weeder " however is made from Amitrole and Simazine. Amitrole is absorbed by the foliage and kills existing growth. Simazine is a long term soil poison which is absorbed by the roots. Simazine can stay in the soil for up to 12 months. This product was designed to be used on paths and pavers only. If you use this product in your garden by mistake it can kill your much loved trees and shrubs.
If you have bought a Zero Ready To Use weed killer recently read the bottle carefully before you use it . If this is all to confusing talk to a horticulturist at your local garden centre for expert advice.
Tim Pickles is a Horticulturist and Director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Small Tree Is A Winner!
With blocks of land getting smaller people are looking for compact growing trees that are safe to plant near houses.One of the best small growing trees ever is called " Forest Pansy " and it's available now at your local garden centre .
"Forest Pansy" is a spectacular looking tree with huge heart shaped purple leaves. It only grows 5 metres high by 5 metres wide.
The large heart shaped leaves open up in Spring to a brilliant eye catching shade of reddish purple with a velvety appearance. The colour deepens to a purplish black in late Spring then to purplish green in Summer. In Autumn the leaves turn brilliant orange and yellow. In Winter the leaves drop to allow the sunshine into your house and garden.
Its then that you will notice that this trees young branches have a distinct zig zag habit. In late Winter through to early Spring the bare braches are covered in hot pink coloured pea shaped flowers.
This tree is always changing colour so it will add interest to your garden. It grows about a metre a year so in a few years you will have a beautiful shade tree. Young trees can be damaged by hot winds in the first Summer so mulch around the base and water often on those really hot days.
I have an advanced tree growing in my home garden and I have under planted it with the Dwarf Purple Fountain Grass and it looks sensational. " Forest Pansy " trees are botanically known as Cercis canadensis but we may think you have a disease if you ask for one of these.
Tim Pickles is a horticulturist and director of Tims Garden Centre 2 queen St Campbelltown 46267022.
Bringing Birds To Your Garden
When I first built my house there was only one tree on the property.The only birds I ever saw were Cockies, Parrots and Magpies.These made their nests each year in the old Gum tree.
There were no little birds like Wrens , Finches and Willy Wagtails. I planted hedges around the boundaries of the land to give me privacy from the neighbours and protection from the westerly winds. I planted native plants where possible including Waterhousia floribunda and a Lillypilly called Goodbye Neighbours. These hedging plants grow very fast and I clip them often with a Tanaka Hedge Trimmer.
Over time the hedge has become a thick wall of foliage 2.5 Metres high by 1.2 metres wide. As the hedge became thicker I noticed more and more little birds began to live in my garden.They were building their nests inside the thick hedge as it provided protection from predatory birds, Cats and Goannas. These little birds are the ones who feed on insects and I often see Wrens searching for Caterpillars in my vegetable garden.
Now my garden is home to at least 50 birds plus thousands of Frogs and Blue tongue lizards.
So if you love birds and privacy plant a fast growing hedge and you can have both.
Tim Pickles is a Horticulturist and Director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022