Are Tree Roots A Problem? - May 29, 2026
Dear Gardening
Matt Attard was just walking through the nursery and I stopped to talk to him. Matthew comes in once a month just to have a look at what we've got, I know that he's a mad plant collector, but I'd never seen his garden.
He often comments on my Facebook page, he's very opinionated and his comments are often longer than my post. I accept him because I know that's everyone's different and gardeners are often very different.
I invited myself to come and see Matt's garden today. He told me that he'd like to tidy it up before I visit, I suggested today was the perfect day for photos, let's do it.
I met him at his house, I started to smile, a gardener lives here, no a gardener/artist lives here. It was spectacular.
Matt got his mum out to meet me, she encourages Matt to work his horticultural magic, he's not qualified, he's self taught, he doesn't work in the industry. He's grown just about everything from cutting.
Everything has been moved at least once, lots are still in pots, so he can move them. He's got plans for more paving, some of the grass has to go. He tells me his mum does all the measuring, he's hopeless at that.
Matt and his mum are so nice, I can see that Matt can be prickly, he's attracted to prickly plants too, anything that's different. I understand Matt better now. Isn't he incredible.
I'm not sure if you've noticed how amazing Campbelltown Councils gardens are looking. I stopped to take this photo yesterday, as I looked down this path, I suddenly realised how the garden has made the building look so brilliant too.
The beautiful building and the garden are super retro. I especially love the gnarly Crepe Myrtles which were pollarded in spring, and look how spectacular they look now, with the autumn leaves.
How beautiful are Crepe Myrtles???? We should be planting these everywhere. They flower for 100 days in summer, and early autumn, then they get covered in spectacular coloured foliage.
The Campbelltown precinct has gone to another level. Have a walk through Mawson Park to feel the love.
There's a great team all working hard to make Campbelltown look so much more professional and loved. It makes us all feel better.
People are always looking for a reason to chop trees down. You'd be amazed how many trees get chopped down in autumn, when they drop leaves.
Especially new home owners, they move in, and a tree drops leaves, the first reaction is to cut it down, "it's too messy."
It's not until next summer, they suddenly realise, why that tree was planted. Often they don't even realise because they are sitting inside with the air conditioner on.
Tree roots upset gardeners too, if they come out of the ground and start obstructing the lawn mower, it can be another "good by tree", excuse.
The gardener in this photo has come up with a solution. Mulch around your trees so you don't have to mow over the roots. This much catches the water so the trees don't have to search for it. It's a quick fix and the solution.
Before you chop any trees down, live in the house for 12 months. That tree you're thinking about removing took 20 years to grow that high. Fools rush in.
Trees=shade=birds=nature=privacy=bettermentalhealth.
My son Bailey has written the music for Vivid Sydney again this year and they are now broadcasting the music on your way to the Opera house. You can stop here and listen to Baileys music, it runs for 10 minutes then repeats.
He grew up here in Macarthur and he writes all his music in the old Table tennis room in our house. He works incredibly hard.
It's been terrible weather for Vivid, let's hope the sun shines this weekend. If you're going, take your dancing shoes. I don't want to be the only one dancing.
We have some great news for Zygo cactus lovers. We've just received our winter stock from a specialist grower in Victoria. We have 11 colours, and they are all named varieties. Yes they have names and a picture label, and you can see what colour they are going to be, because they are in flower now. Plants cost $18.99. Pot them up using Tim's Best Potting mix. It makes them grow faster!!!
Happy gardening
Tim