Tree Disappears? - Apr 11, 2025

Dear gardening friends
Some times you make a friend instantly, and you don't know why, but it just happens. Mizan just came to visit with his wife. He was looking for a tree to plant on his front lawn.

I asked him if it could lose its leaves in winter, would that worry him? No that was fine, but he wanted a tree that would look after itself, he didn't want to do much to keep it alive. "It has to grow by itself". I hear this often now.

So I showed him a few options, but they grew too big. Eventually I showed him Crepe Myrtles. They are such hardy trees and they will grow with little care, especially if you plant them now, as the weather cools.

It's autumn, plants grow much better when you plant them now. The soil is warm and there's moisture after recent rain.

I showed him a new variety of Crepe Myrtle called "Purple Magic". I've recently planted two of these in my garden and they are growing so beautifully with little care from me, and they flower for 100 days in summer.

Mizan loved it, and he wanted to know if he could get a discount, could he get it for $35.00? This made me smile. Mate join our garden club and we will give you 5% off, and I'll send you a gardening news letter every week, I'll make you a better gardener.

But he was too smart for that, he quickly worked out that 5% off, wasn't as good as $35.00. But I told him that this tree was going to grow and flower and he'd think about me, and the day we'd met. That made him laugh.

It turns out Mizan has never been to Tim's Garden Centre, and he's lived in Campbelltown for 5 years!!!!

I asked him where they lived? Bow bowing, was his answer and I told him that Bow bowing has one of the worst tree canopy coverages in Australia. It's less than 8% from memory, and that's bad for your health. 30% tree canopy coverage, is what's needed for good health outcomes.

Mizan told me that council has recently planted street trees in all the streets in Bow bowing so I hope that's right. They may be realising that they may get sued in the future for the lack of shade trees in these older suburbs.

It turns out Mizan is a gardener, it's all out the back.
We have a laugh, we are besties now.

Not all tree loppers are scrupulous, some are dead set crooks. I visited a mate last week for a coffee, only to discover his front lawn shade tree, had disappeared.

His neighbour had given him advice about his tree, and then my mate rang a tree lopper who said the tree had to go, and it would cost him $3,000.

Now the hot sun burns down on my mates patio where he used to sit and read books, he loves reading books.

We couldn't sit outside to have our coffee, because it was too hot.

It will take 30 years to replace this tree, 30 years.

It's amazing how people take advice from neighbours who don't have any horticultural qualifications. Those neighbours often have a fear of trees, that they quickly pass on.

What this tree ready needed was a prune, it had a few dead branches that could have been removed. The tree just needed a tidy up by an arborist. It would have outlived my friend. He could have still been reading his books in the shade. He'd be hearing the birds and nature. He'd be feeling better.

I got tricked by a Tree Lopper in my early days too.
I got advice about a big gum tree on my property.
Is it safe I asked him "I wouldn't turn my back on it if I was you".

Get a second opinion before you chop a tree down and just remember these guys make their living from cutting trees down. It's like asking your hairdresser, do I need a haircut?
Hello.

It's week two of our Potting mix trial. These are Australian Standards Premium Potting mixes so you expect plant's to grow in them. Sadly not all brands are growing Lettuce successfully.

Some brands are good this time, but they had poor results last time. Some are just chronic bad performing. If you used these potting mixes your plants wouldn't grow and you'd probably blame yourself.

It might not be your fault that you're a brown thumb.
You really might be a green thumb but you've just bought the wrong potting mixes.

I've discovered this one pot wonder recently, and I've cooked it using several meats and they all taste delicious. The vegetables cook at the same time as the meat, and it makes its own delicious sauce.

I use fresh Rosemary from the garden and home grown Garlic. The smell is amazing too.
It tastes so juicy!!!!!!

There's no recipe. It's just Lamb chops x 8 arranged so you make pockets for the vegetables. These are Cherry Tomatoes, Red Capsicum, Yellow Capsicum, Eggplant, Onion, Field Mushrooms, Garlic, Lemon juice, Soy sauce, Honey, Olive oil, Pink Salt, Pepper and Cappers.

It could be improved with Anchovies!!!!!!
Serve with Hummus or Greek Yogurt.
Cook at 180 until it browns.
Yum yum.

Easter is coming, we are open every day over Easter 9am to 4pm. Make sure you come for a visit.

Happy gardening
Tim