SOPHIE'S TIPS

Think Pink The Strike Me Pink! campaign to raise money for cancer care for the McGrath Foundation is on again – this year on the weekend of Saturday March 21 and Sunday March 22. Breast cancer strikes randomly and three years ago it struck one of the teams at a Garden...

Christmas Gifts Choosing gifts for family and friends who are gardeners or aspiring gardeners is easy. Plants always make a great choice, as what else can you give someone that will get bigger and better with time? There are options for any budget and if you know a...

Spring Spring is such an exciting time, with plants bursting into new growth and blooms, the weather warming and days getting longer, and this gives us more opportunities to get out and have fun in our gardens. Even non-gardeners get the ‘gardening bug’ at this time...

For roses… New season’s bare rooted roses are available now and it’s the best time to add another rose to your garden. Most flower from spring till late autumn and you can choose from bush, climbers or standards in a range of breathtaking colours, many with...

Spring into action in your garden This is the time of year to feed the whole garden, your ornamentals, fruit trees, vegies and lawn, with organic-based fertilisers. This does not feed the plants, but rather it feeds the soil, improves soil structure, and encourages...

Cool season vegies Winter is a great time to plant cool season vegies in the vegie patch, and if you haven’t got one already, why not set one up? Choose a position that is sunny and free from the root competition of trees and large shrubs. If you have good soil,...

Native Plants Autumn is the perfect time to plant native plants as they will have a chance to get established over winter and be ready to power away in spring. There are a great range of varieties available in every colour you desire, ranging from groundcovers and low...

Summer Colour Nothing beats the look of stunning hydrangeas in shades of pink, blue and white when they are in full summer bloom. Even as their blooms age they take on attractive autumn tints. Perfect for a shady position where they only get morning sun or filtered...

Plant…. but prepare first “Get any new garden areas ready for planting by working through organic matter such as compost and aged manures. This turns your soil into a sponge, improves your soils’ structure, and encourages earthworm and microbial activity. Then you can...