DFB's Greenthumb Project

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

I rescued a ZZ from my client, it had been delivered by a florist, but was planted in a vase, so had no drain holes, after a couple of months of sitting in a swamp it was pretty sick looking. I took it home, drilled holes in the bottom of it, now it’s hunky dory.
Some people aren’t very smart when it comes to indoors, once I arrived at the same client and a $400 indoor raphis palm is sitting outside in a 35 deg day, “just to get some sun” 😱

Some people really struggle with the concept of caring for plants.

Today I had a customer buy two standard Ficus at $115 each. She intended on putting them in pots either side of the front door. Helping her to the car she asks if giving them a water once a week would be enough! Arrh no, probably more than that, especially in summer!

Like any living thing, plants need feed and water on a regular basis. Would you get a cat or dog and give it some water once a week?

[Citroënbender]

The cat will just go next door for vittles. :p

Once a week for the figs? Maybe each gets a cup of water every time she charges her phone in summer?

Been watering super early because of the heatwave. Normally not an issue as I’m awake by five. Today I slept in!

[DASTIG]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Lagerstroemia 'Zuni' in my front garden has just started to flower.

image

Crepe Myrtle's are a go to tree for many. They don't grow very tall but inject long lasting flower colour into the summer garden and a rich foliage display in Autumn.

Our family love stirring up the wife by calling these Christmas Trees!! Bees love this plant in our back yard

[DFB FGXR6]

These Hibiscus were were showing off today at work.

[Citroënbender]

I’ve got just one, it probably dates to the sixties. It’s treated with disrespect.

Yours are cheeky, like they’re poking out their tongues. Mine looks, hmm …I might leave the descriptions to our mate Tonz.

[Citroënbender]

This “grass”.

I’m guessing an imported weed? Spreading endemically across the garden presently.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

This “grass”.

I’m guessing an imported weed? Spreading endemically across the garden presently.

image

image

Not familiar with that stuff. Looks like it's going to a problem for a while going by all those lovely seed heads.

[Rallye Sport]

Looks like one of the crabgrass family (Digitaria) plenty of options to get rid of it but first would be to bag and bin as many of the seed heads as you can.

[DFB FGXR6]

Back in October last year, I stripped my back garden with the aim to start again with a somewhat clean slate.

Work, Christmas, work, summer heat, work.................. got in the way, only now am I starting to re-plant.

Many people think Spring is the ideal planting time, however I believe Autumn is best.

Autumn presents the perfect combination of warm weather and warm soil without the extremes winter and summer can throw up. With warm soil, the root system of new plants will continue to grow right up until the cold of winter sets in. This establishment period then allows the plants to thrive once spring rolls around.

First up was a Japanese Maple with a mouthful name, Acer Palmatum 'Atropurpureum'. This particular Japanese Maple is able to withstand more sun than some varieties and will look great in tandem with the 'Seriyu' on the opposite side of the yard. I under planted this with three Gardenia 'Radicans'.



I then planted two Magnolia 'Kay Parris'. This variety of evergreen Magnolia is a more structured and compact in habit compared to the more common 'Little Gem'. I under planted these with either Nandina 'Moonbay' or Gardenia 'Radicans'.



A few more larger shrubs to fill in between these new trees, re-hash the irrigation lines and a thick layer of mulch and I'll be happy.

[Tonz]

I was just thinking the other day that you had been very quiet for some time.
Down here is dry SA Id love to have gardens like yours.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Tonz

I was just thinking the other day that you had been very quiet for some time.
Down here is dry SA Id love to have gardens like yours.

Tonz, me too.

[DFB FGXR6]

A newly planted tree should ideally staked, allowing some support while the root system and main stems to develop. This is how I stake newly planted trees.

Two stakes will be sufficient, three is ideal. Considering my yard has enough wind breaks, I only used two for this tree.

Using hessian webbing and a staple gun, attach two loops around the tree, one up high and one down low.





These stakes will remain for 9 to 12 months.

[Tonz]

why at 2 different levels, and had never thought of hessian, brilliant thinking outside the square (for us anyway)

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Tonz

why at 2 different levels, and had never thought of hessian, brilliant thinking outside the square (for us anyway)

Two different levels so that it provides more support and encourages the trunk to strengthen rather than become reliant on the being supported at one level. I'm not sure if I have explained that properly, it's generally done like this in the industry, like wise the use of hessian.

[DFB FGXR6]

The back garden project continues, slowly as time permits.

Earlier this week I converted the existing irrigation system from micro sprays to drippers on each plant. This method of irrigation is more efficient, delivering water directly to the plant rather than spreading it around the garden where it is not needed.

More plants were added today including Magnolia 'White Caviar', Magnolia 'Cleopatra', Rhaphiolepis 'Snow Maiden' and a couple of Camellia's. The Camellia's are both Japonica varieties that I'm taken a chance on as they might get just a bit too much sun, I just couldn't resist them when I was collecting plants together in the nursery.

So with the plants in the ground and the irrigation sorted, it was time for weed mat and mulch. I wasn't going to add weed mat but changed my mind at the last moment. The product I (we) use for weed mat is not the usual woven plastic type commonly found in the large green stores, rather a non-woven spun bonded material. Unlike the woven type, this allows water to penetrate better and keeps the soil 'breathing'.

Example of the stuff I'm talking about -
https://www.railways.net.au/mulch-ma...roll-1-8m-wide

I roll this out over the top of it all, then slots are cut to accommodate the plants. This method is easier than trying to dig and plant into and around already installed weed mat/mulch.

Weed mat rolled out and plant located -



Slot cut -


Plant pulled through -







Progress -







I still need another load of mulch to finish off the whole garden but things are starting to look a bit better now. Mulch really lifts the appearance of a garden while the plants grow and fill out.

[blueoval]

Hey Deyon,

Do you have any tips on started your own herb and vegetable garden for a beginner?

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

This “grass”.

I’m guessing an imported weed? Spreading endemically across the garden presently.

image

image

Ahhh....
Glad to see this CB.
A section of my grass has had this varment doing its coverage job as well.
I hadn't bothered doing anything to date the pics has me motivated in doing so before it really spreads and kills my good grass.
Which of the grass weed killers you recommend fellas ?
Can't remember which I've used int he past for general weeds and bindis but curious which you think is least damaging to the good grass.

[FTE217]

DFB, I agree re getting in during Autumn.
Low temps, plants enjoy establishing themselves.
I had a great perfect Sydney Saturday morn past, weeding/pruning and cutting the grass.
Such bliss whilst my mind is working away calmly how to sort out my first world probs.
Love it.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by blueoval

Hey Deyon,

Do you have any tips on started your own herb and vegetable garden for a beginner?

Start small.

Whether a garden bed or pots, start growing a few things you like to eat to build your skills and confidence. I think many go all out and take on too much at once. You WILL have a few failures and that is gardening, however when you pick your first crop, the satisfaction is is worth the effort.

For garden beds, make sure to use plenty of compost and manure, the quality of the soil will represent the quality of the produce. For pots or tubs, use high quality potting mix as a cheap mix is a false economy. Blood and Bone is a great fertiliser to use when preparing the soil for planting and regular liquid fertiliser will keep them growing. Have snail bait and pyrethrum on hand just in case.

Again, start small and build your skills. Have some success and grow it from there.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Ahhh....
Glad to see this CB.
A section of my grass has had this varment doing its coverage job as well.
I hadn't bothered doing anything to date the pics has me motivated in doing so before it really spreads and kills my good grass.
Which of the grass weed killers you recommend fellas ?
Can't remember which I've used int he past for general weeds and bindis but curious which you think is least damaging to the good grass.

I have never dealt with Crab Grass so perhaps someone else can chime in. It seems you need a selective product with DSMA in it.
https://specialistsales.com.au/shop/...iABEgJgIPD_BwE
http://davidgray.com.au/products-mai...er500ml-detail

It also seems a pre-emergent herbicide is helpful to prevent seeds from germinating. Again, I have not personally needed to do this before.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Start small.

Whether a garden bed or pots, start growing a few things you like to eat to build your skills and confidence. I think many go all out and take on too much at once. You WILL have a few failures and that is gardening, however when you pick your first crop, the satisfaction is is worth the effort.

To add to DFB, may I suggest Basil and cherry Tomatoes is first priority.

[Citroënbender]

Depends where you are, as to what’s blunder-proof. Here, parsley is easy unless you have voracious slugs. Oregano, too. Grafted kumquat will usually do well in a larger pot, keep up the love and its fruiting will be strong.

[Rallye Sport]

The garden looks great DFB. I'm a little jealous of the plants, we are pushing the barrow uphill to grow things like that over here with our alkaline, lime sands. I've just planted up a new aquarium, the co2 and lights are turned up and its growing fast so I'll post some pics soon.

CB, in regards to the crabgrass we use a selective called Fusilade, it goes under the name Kerb aswell. Bare in mind selectives are usually a higher schedule and can be expensive. In bare areas you could try Roundup, using a shroud to keep it off the other plants. A two litre bottle with the bottom cut off then gaffer taped to the wand works a treat.

Blueoval, a good edible one to try is Pineapples. Next time you get one twist off the top, pluck the bottom leaves until you see some roots, they'll be growing already and stick it in a pot or the ground.
They take a couple of years to clump and fruit but after that you should get two crops a year.
We've got some fruiting at the moment.

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Blueoval, a good edible one to try is Pineapples. Next time you get one twist off the top, pluck the bottom leaves until you see some roots, they'll be growing already and stick it in a pot or the ground.
They take a couple of years to clump and fruit but after that you should get two crops a year.
We've got some fruiting at the moment.
image

Thats amazing. Thanks for the tip. What are the plants like to grow in cooler climates? Im in SA and plan to grow some in Victor Harbor when I move down there eventually. Its cooler than Adelaide most of the year so it makes me wonder if the sweetness will still be in the fruit due to the climate.

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by blueoval

Thats amazing. Thanks for the tip. What are the plants like to grow in cooler climates? Im in SA and plan to grow some in Victor Harbor when I move down there eventually. Its cooler than Adelaide most of the year so it makes me wonder if the sweetness will still be in the fruit due to the climate.

Just had a quick look at the average temps, Perth at 24 and Victor Harbor, 20 so its a bit cooler than my conditions.
Not sure how thats going to affect the fruit. We're finding ours are alot tastier than shop brought, could be that they're fresher. They certainly smell better, we usually leave them in the house for a few days and enjoy the aroma.

[DFB FGXR6]

This Cyclamen I gave to my neighbor as a gift last year. These plants tend to hibernate over the summer and reinvigorate for the colder months. Its absolutely smothered in flowers this year.

[Rallye Sport]

The Cyclamen looks great, I only just saw some the other day growing in a beaut sandstone pot under a standard Azalea at a s****y golf course. Quite striking.

Heres a project I've been working on. I started over with one of my planted tanks after a couple of fish I introduced systematically destroyed the previous planting.


I'm a few weeks in now and have just gone through the first nitrogen cycle and algal bloom. A couple of weeks back it looked like green soup. Its all cleared up now though, the bio filter is starting to kick in and I've just added some peaceful albino Pleco's (algae eaters)
Its growing rapidly and from here I need to fine tune the co2 to slow it down and add a bit more red and blue light spectrum to get the plants to colour up, there a red foliage and a pink/ white/ green variegated one in there.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

The Cyclamen looks great, I only just saw some the other day growing in a beaut sandstone pot under a standard Azalea at a s****y golf course. Quite striking.

Heres a project I've been working on. I started over with one of my planted tanks after a couple of fish I introduced systematically destroyed the previous planting.
image

I'm a few weeks in now and have just gone through the first nitrogen cycle and algal bloom. A couple of weeks back it looked like green soup. Its all cleared up now though, the bio filter is starting to kick in and I've just added some peaceful albino Pleco's (algae eaters)
Its growing rapidly and from here I need to fine tune the co2 to slow it down and add a bit more red and blue light spectrum to get the plants to colour up, there a red foliage and a pink/ white/ green variegated one in there.

image

That looks amazing!

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

That looks amazing!

Thanks, I can stare at it for hours. Better than the TV any day.
I added the last touch today, some glass shrimp came up on gumtree. They're the perfect clean up crew taking care of excess algae and fallen plant matter. No sooner than I had introduced them they settled in and started eating.



The terrarium has had some love too.



I picked up some glass pots, they've made a big difference to the Tillandsia air plants. They do grow in thin air but add a little sphagnum moss and some moisture and watch them go! Ones even developed a flower spike.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Thanks, I can stare at it for hours. Better than the TV any day.
I added the last touch today, some glass shrimp came up on gumtree. They're the perfect clean up crew taking care of excess algae and fallen plant matter. No sooner than I had introduced them they settled in and started eating.

image

The terrarium has had some love too.

image

I picked up some glass pots, they've made a big difference to the Tillandsia air plants. They do grow in thin air but add a little sphagnum moss and some moisture and watch them go! Ones even developed a flower spike.

image

image

My grandmother used to grow a lot of air plants which she would get from the Collectors Corner stand at the Melbourne International Garden Show. They also sell online here -
https://www.collectorscorner.com.au/
http://www.ebaystores.com.au/Collectors-Corner-Victoria