It's Finally Official

To start a new year, I wanted to start with a new blog style and template and here it is...

If you're looking for Amateur Gardening, alas, it will no longer be updated! However, the good news is that I've moved to Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas with a fresh new look and lots of the stuff you enjoyed from this site.

So, if you have links to this blog please feel free to update them with the new address of www.gardeningtipsnideas.com so that your readers can find it.

I'm not suggesting that all gardeners are dummies or that I'm an expert, I just want to provide some great info and advice to help those out who are needing it. For you other more expert gardeners, please feel free to contribute your ideas and advice and even pick up my own erroneous suggestions.

10 Quirky Gardening Gifts This Christmas

If you have a gardening friend you want to impress this Christmas take a look at our Top 10 Quirky Gardening Gift list.


What do you buy a gardener that has it all? There was a time when you could placate the situation by getting them a bonsai or some lucky bamboo - but they've got them now! And what's more...they're so yesterday!!! No.. we need gifts that are just right for this Christmas. Something that's going to make an impact and not say "Tacky". We need gifts with A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E.

Read on for the quirky gift selection of 2005...

GARDENING TIPS...

1. Tree Faces - So you got inspired by Lord of the Rings and wanted to create your own Ents. Well...this is the way to do it.
Read on...

2. Tee Hee Shirt - What about a shirt that tells life exactly how it is? Read the wording on this Tee Hee Shirt...
"I dug , I levelled, I weeded, I seeded,
I planted, I waited, I weeded, I pleaded,
I mulched, I gulched, I watered, I waited,
I fumbled, I grumbled, I poked, I hoped,
so GROW……DAMMIT!"

Read on...

3. Quirky Sitting Ladies -What about creating something yourself? This is a money saver as well as creating the personal touch in someone's garden.
Read on for directions...

4. Wellingtons with a Difference -
Ready to retire those boring old Wellington's? Take a look at this great range of funky gardening boots. They would make the ideal gift for a gardener who values style and wants to look good while turning the compost.
Read on...

5. Watering Can Twine Dispenser -
This is the ultimate gift for those who have everything. I've always wondered where to keep my gardening twine until I found this great gift idea.
Read on...

6. Outdoor Rattan -
If you don't have back problems yet then this is the gift for you. Be able to contort your body in 206 different positions (and that's only while trying to get up) this outdoor chair can have you phoning your chiropractor quicker than you can say "OUCH!!!"
Read on...

7. Pet Statues -
If you read one of my earlier posts on the dilemma of keeping pets and a garden at the same time then you can appreciate this gift. It's the best of both worlds. Put your pet in the garden!!
Read on...

8. Upside-Down Tomato Garden - I know myself that I've been getting a little bored growing vegetables conventionally so I'd really appreciate being able to grow them upside-down. If you wait for next year's offerings we may find a special test-tube ably contorted and growing in hydrochloric acid - for those that need a challenge. (NB. If anyone grabs onto that idea I want 50%).
Read on...

9. Tangle Free Hose - Tired of rolling up the hose or having it pull out your seedlings with every walkby. This is a great gift (Deb!).
Read on...

10. Cathedral Bird Feeder - Where do birds go for their fix of religion? Try this bird feeder which serves multipurposes.
Read on...

Gardening Hobbies Gifts

Day 7: 21 Signs of Garden Fatigue

Perennials

The beauty in having perennials in your garden is that they don't need to be replaced each year. They can be just as showy as annuals but no way near the amount of work. They will give your garden a framework in which to plan and strategise about your flower colours, foliage, textures and heights.

Perennials and annuals seem to have much in common, so apart from lasting more than one season what differences do perennials have? Read on for more info...

GARDENING TIPS...

• Maintenance - perennials such as daylilies, agapanthus, dietes and other rhizomous plants need to be divided probably every 2-3 years. This will encourage more blooms and a better looking plant. Other perennials need to be pruned by at least 1/3 each year to give better shap but also to avoid problems of becoming leggy or crowding your garden.
  


• Pest Control - unlike annuals which you can rotate each season to avoid soil-borne diseases, perennials are likely to stay in the same place in your garden and provide their own struggles with pests and disease. As diseases and pests can differ greatly between plants the best advice would be to take a sample of your infected plant to your local nursery and get their opinion. Having said that, many nurseries are likely to try and sell you a product to cure the ailment so be wise and not accept their remedy as gospel. If possible, look for an organic alternative before pouring chemical on the problem.
  


• Seed Outbursts - with annuals it's great to have them self-seed. However, with perennials this can become a nightmare. Plants like Rose-of-Sharon from the Hibiscus family can become a pest as seedlings grow and multiply. To remedy plants that do this, make sure there is a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plant to dissuade seeds from reaching the soil and germinating.
  

Gardening Hobbies Perennials Advice

Gardening After a Natural Disaster

It has always amazed me the resilience of people who bounce back after a natural disaster.

It's like watching ants get to work after their mound has been destroyed. Fossicking around for resources to use when they start again while shell-shocked that their world has just crumbled.

I've watched countless documentaries on the Canberra fires which occurred a couple of years ago, wondering what I would do if I was faced with this crisis. These parts of Canberra are being rebuilt but many of the original residents who faced the fires have moved on, unable to bring themselves to the point of rebuilding.

So, it was with great interest that I read this article about those who lost everything in last year's Tsunami.

What would you do? Would you start again or find it too painful and reluctantly move on?


Gardening Hobbies Disasters

This Week's Celebrity Gardener

Nicole Kidman


This week's celebrity gardener is Australia's very own silver screen princess Nicole Kidman. We caught up with her this week to dig more into her gardening hobby.


AG: You're a big fan of gardening and have gardened supposedly since childhood. Can you give us any tips that you've learnt along the way?



AG: Oh...okay. How many plants do you think you've successfully raised since you began gardening?



AG: Right! You've done some amazing things for human rights, animal rights and have even taken up the environment cause. Do you turn your garden and household waste into compost?



AG: Well...I'm expecting that you don't mind getting your hands dirty in the garden...



AG: Thanks Nicole for the scintillating conversation. I appreciate your candid spirit and look forward with eager anticipation for your forthcoming gardening book. No doubt it will be a best seller.

This interview was purely fictitious and was not in any way aimed at ruining this celebrity's status as a gardener.

Gardening Hobbies Celebrity

Day 6: 21 Signs of Garden Fatigue

Annuals

Annuals are the plants that keep us busiest in our gardens. Many gardeners raise their own seeds, plant them out, watch them flower and then dig them out only to begin the cycle again for the next season.

We're 3 days into summer here in WA and as I view many gardens it's amazing how many of them are struggling with a few hot days. How do you keep your annuals healthy and what signs do they show that they're struggling? Read on....

GARDENING TIPS...

• Self-seeding Density - if many of your self-sown seeds are struggling for room they will display this sign by stunted growth and poor flower numbers. Overcrowding is common especially with plants like Salvia, Cosmos and Gaillardias. To remedy this situation, try and remove some of the seedlings as they appear leaving the strongest, healthier ones to thrive.
  


• Deadheading - to improve the number of flowers growing on your annuals, try removing the dead heads. Annuals will pour nutrient and water resources into seed production at the expense of flowering so the only way to keep these flowering is to remove spent flowers.
  


• 'Leggy' Plants - some plants tend to become 'leggy' as they grow (they lose all their lower leaves and only display their stems). This is common with Chrysanthemums and can be fixed by pinching back lateral stems so that the bush remains compact.
  


• Fertilising - annuals are best fertilised with a liquid fertiliser every 4 weeks during their growing season. If you fertilise at rate less than this you should expect to see less flowers and unhealthy plants.
  

Gardening Hobbies Annuals

How to Plant a Shrub

If you've ever had shrubs that didn't plant well, and perhaps even died, take a look at how to plant them well.


Start off with the basics, something to dig with, some water and fertilizer and of course, your new shrub - this is Callistemon viminalis.



Dig the hole twice the width of the pot and to the same depth as the root ball. (Note: I usually would mix 1 part of this soil with 1 part cow manure and 1 part soil improver. In this case though, as it's an Australian native shrub, they're not big on fertiliser so I'll just stick to the blood 'n bone.



Transplant the shrub into the hole teasing any roots out if it's badly rootbound. Half-fill the hole with water and then backfill with the soil. Water generously after the shrub's been planted and then water regularly, at least every second day for next couple of weeks.



Make yourself a cup of coffee or herbal tea, stand back and admire the potential vista.




Gardening Plant Shrub Advice

Day 5: 21 Signs of Garden Fatigue

Herbs

If there were a group of plants which were the least prone to pests and diseases, herbs would be it. However, they're still a plant and they still need to be kept healthy.

Read on for more details....

GARDENING TIPS...

• Root rot - this occurs commonly in herbs, especially those planted indoors or in poor soil. It happens when there is minimal light and the herb is being overwatered. To remedy the situation, move the herb into a sunnier position and reduce the water supply. If the herb is indoors, place it near a window that receives considerable light throughout the day.
  


• Aphids - some herbs are prone to Aphids and while they can, in most cases just be hosed off with a forceful spray, they are best removed with an insecticide soap. As herbs are mainly used for eating or herbal teas, you should refrain from using strong pesticides.
  


• Overfeeding - herbs aren't heavy feeders so it's best to feed them prior to Spring with a slow-release fertiliser. You can also complement this with a liquid fertiliser applied every 6 weeks. Any more than this and you may find your herbs are struggling to intake all that nutrient and your fertilising will become counter-productive.

Gardening Herbs Advice

Mangosteen Juice Anyone?

Is this the new Wheatgrass?

Mangosteen's are a fruit that's native to Southeast Asia and are commercially grown in India, Brazil, Thailand, and Malaysia and other tropical regions. They're the fruit of a slowgrowing (6-25m) tropical evergreen that produces fruit twice a year - once in Autumn and then again in Spring. The fruit has been colloquially known as 'the fruit of the gods' and is one of the most delicious exotic fruits.

However, Mangosteen's are not only valuable as a fruit but also recognised as a health supplement. It appears that the rind, pericarp, of the fruit contains xanthones (a type of antioxidant) which apparently is good for the treatment of cancer or at least as a deterrent.

The main producer of mangosteen juice is Xango Juice which retails at upwards of $A25 per 750ml bottle. While this may seem a little expensive for a bottle of fruit juice, one has only to consider the health benefits. For a well-balanced read on mangosteen juice and it's benefits read A Friendly Skeptic Looks at Mangosteen.



Gardening Mangosteen Fruit Juice

Day 4: 21 Signs of Garden Fatigue

Vegetables

Even for the most amateur gardener, growing your own vegetables is high on the list of gardening priorities. The rewards of being able to harvest something you've grown yourself outweighs the minimal effort it takes to achieve. All you need is a plot of soil, some good-quality seeds and a source of regular water.

Well...that is until the health of your vegetable patch begins to decline and the rewards of your labour become insignificant at best. How do you keep your vegetable patch healthy and ascertain the level of its health? Read on for more tips....

GARDENING TIPS...

• Soil Condition - to ensure a healthy vegetable patch it all begins with the soil. Most issues that pertain to growing successful vegetables start here and if this is not maintained your vegetable success rate will fall. For more info on keeping your soil healthy check here...
  


• Pest Management - apart from managing your soil, managing and eradicating (if that's possible!!) pests is the next focus. Caterpillar's eating your cauliflowers, white moth's chewing their way through your lettuces and slater's biting the tops of carrots. Some people use chemical sprays which in most cases are only temporary solutions while others prefer 'Companion Planting'. Companion planting is the concept of grouping plants together that use eaach other's natural abilities to ward off pests and therefore allow more success with your vegetables.
  


• Water Source - of all the plants in your garden, vegetables will probably require the most water, and regular water as well. Without a regular water source, your vegetables will struggle to grow and fruit consistently. If you are producing small, inedible fruits or vegetables that seem stunted in their maturity it will most probably be linked to inefficient watering.
  


• Adequate Support - many of the climbing vegetables require support to enable them to grow and produce. If the support is not adequate or doesn't allow for good ventilation or sunlight exposure, these vegetables will struggle to succeed. Make sure your supporting frames are strong enough to hold the climber well into maturity without sagging or showing signs of stress from the increasing weight.
  

Gardening Vegetables Advice

This Week's Celebrity Gardener

George Bush - President of U.S.A.


The most powerful man in the world - Gardens! That's right, you heard it first on Amateur Gardening and we bring you an exclusive personal interview with the man himself.



AG: What inspired you to take up Gardening as a hobby?
George: When I was growing up, our next-door neighbour thought they had the best lawn in the street and I knew ours was really the best. I took up gardening as a competitive challenge.

AG: Describe your gardening 'Moment'?
George: It would have to be walking Thabo Mbeki around the gardens here at the White House. He loved the place and was amazed at the plant selection, the rolling lawns, the helipad, FBI shooting range...

AG: Now George, you've been harshly criticised in the press for not composting. Do you compost your waste materials?
George: Of course. Apart from the little thing I've got going in the Nevada desert I'm a big proponent of recycling our own home garden waste.



AG: Finally George, if you could change one thing in the gardening world today, what would it be?
George: Thrips. They're schemes are bent on destruction and evil and we need to route them out and rid ourselves of this terrible blight on gardening societies.


Celebrity Gardener

Day 3: 21 Signs of Garden Fatigue

Plant Propagation and Seedlings

If you're a keen gardener one of the greatest parts of our hobby is propagating plants and raising seedlings. It's the most self-gratifying test to see whether you've been successful, or alas - a failure! But don't take it personally, every gardener has failed in tying to succeed. It's part of life I guess.

While trying to succeed is the aim it is worth understanding the signs of healthy propagated material and seedlings. Read on for tips...

GARDENING TIPS...

• Moisture - extreme levels of moisture or dryness will affect your success with raising seeds or propagating plants. If it's too moist bacteria's and fungus' are more readily attracted and encouraged to thrive. If this is the case, remove the covering and/or place them in a sunny sheltered spot and change the watering routine.
  If it's too dry, your young stock will struggle to feed and become malnourished. To rectify this, increase your watering routine and find possible reasons why your planting medium is drying out. Possibilities; too much sun, inferior medium or just not enough water.
  


• Wilt - this usually occurs when you're cutting has too much leaf material present. Try trimming your specimens down to only a few leaves at the top. I was also shown a great tip by a gardener friend to cut the tips of each leaf before propagation. The reason - you could then readily see what was new growth.
  


• Strike Rate - we would all like 100% of our cuttings and seedlings to be successful but usually this is severly idealistic. It's good to journal your attempts and gauge what works and what doesn't. As you continue propagating and raising seeds you should find your success rate improving. If it's not, try to ascertain possible causes for failure and isolate them.

Gardening Advice Propagating Cuttings Seedlings

Outdoor Furniture Ready For Christmas

Summer was created for living outdoors.

How much more do we seem to come alive when spring arrives and summer isn't all that far away? That is until summer actually arrives and it dawns on us that it's hot!! Then it's time to sit in the shade or soak up some filtered rays and lounge for the next few months. That's how it is in Busselton, anyway!

So, if you're into lounging away those summer months what outdoor furniture do you need to have in order to do it in style? On our patio we have an 9-piece table and chair setting and thought I was fairly set for summer. That was until I stepped into the shop-of-discontent (formerly known as Bunnings) and viewed their range of outdoor furniture.

Upon reflection, and using a few minimisation techniques, I've come up with a short list of the outdoor furniture I NEED! These include;

• Bar


• Bar Stools (to go with the Bar)


• Wheel-able Esky


• Patio Heater (just in case it gets a little chilly)


• Outdoor Sofas


• Banana Lounges


• A Hammock


• Market Umbrella


• A New Gourmet 6-Burner BBQ


• Coffee Table (to go with the Outdoor Sofas)

There!!! I don't want to be too greedy but these things are apparently essential. How am I going to make the next-doors envious if I only stick to my table and chairs?


Furniture Outdoor