Australia’s number one monthly gardening resource, ABC Gardening Australia magazine is packed with step-by-step advice and stunning design ideas from its popular team of experts. Whether you are a novice gardener or have a green thumb and years of experience, you’ll find the advice you need.
welcome
PLANTS • This month’s pick of the bunch for garden lovers nationwide
Gardening Australia
BOOKS
hooray for HELLEBORES • In winter, when there are few other flowers about, hellebores steal the show, says JENNIFER STACKHOUSE
where to BUY
statement PIECE • Staghorns and elkhorns are striking feature plants that command attention, but don’t demand it. Simply add water... and occasionally fertiliser for healthy growth, writes MARIANNE CANNON
hitting the HIGH NOTES • Now is a good time in tropical zones to plant a trumpet tree, a semi-deciduous, spring-flowering beauty in yellows, whites and pinks, writes STEVE FALCIONI
living the DRY LIFE • As more of us accept the practical good sense of embracing waterwise plants, a new question arises: how do you actually create a beautiful ‘dry garden’? Here’s a look at what the shapes, textures and spatial elements of natural dry landscapes can teach us
BEFORE YOU START
How to do it
IT MUST BE love • It’s not just about the eggs. Costa Georgiadis, Millie Ross, Sophie Thomson and Tino Carnevale reveal why they couldn’t live without their flocks
leading LADIES • With so many chook varieties to choose from, how do you know which are best for your needs? To help crack this poultry puzzle, here’s a selection of eight star performers – plus a few quirky character players
... and now for something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!
being broody?
CARE essentials • To keep your flock happy, there are tasks you need to do daily, weekly, monthly and seasonally. Use this calendar as a handy reference
Seasonal jobs • These tasks keep chooks comfortable and healthy through the seasons, although you may need to adjust them to suit your climatic conditions.
gardening inspiration DELIVERED STRAIGHT to your door
the firewise garden • Large, fleshy leaves, nicely spaced trees, careful choice of mulch… there are many factors that help make a garden less flammable, explains TIM ENTWISLE
MORE INFORMATION • Here are some useful online resources to help you plan your firewise garden.
SAMPLE DESIGN
fun WINTER projects • While the TV show takes a six-week break, we’ve pulled together some of our favourite, low-cost projects from Costa and the team. Rug up, grab your trowel and a few other bits and bobs – including the kids, who will surely love the sound of slugs and seed bombs! – and get into the DIY and gardening groove
DIY POTTING MIX • Have some fun making your own general purpose or specialty potting mixes at home.
mellow YELLOW • The fragrant golden flowers of pineapple marigold bring welcome cheer to the winter garden, writes JACKIE FRENCH
the gardener’s bucket list • The star attraction of the Renaissance estate’s gardens is the ornamental vegie patch, where nary a frilly lettuce leaf is out of place, writes DERYN THORPE
WHILE YOU ARE THERE
JULY a month in the GARDEN • More than 50 jobs to do in your action planner
IN THE PATCH • Horticultural editor and devoted food grower PHIL DUDMAN shows you what to plant, pick and tend in the edible garden this month
helping HAND • Tips for tackling this month’s problems
peaches & nectarines • As TINO CARNEVALE explains, these stone fruits don’t fall far from the same...