Blog
Our blog features a variety of gardening and sustainablity articles on topics such as soil biology, composting, grafting, pruning, water-saving and irrigation clean energy, waste and biodiversity. Plus we regularly post recipes to help you make the most of the ‘seasonal glut’ and tips on how to live in a more sustainable way.
May Garlic Hint
If you haven't already planted your garlic, do so immediately. You will only get small bulbs, if you plant later. Garlic must have time to develop roots and shoots before the shortest day of the year on 21 June. This is a 4 -6 week process. After that, lengthening...
What to plant in May in Melbourne
May is an ideal month for planting winter vegies in well prepared beds. Continue to water well through any dry spells and install dripline for brassica family vegies and garlic. Plant seeds in punnets broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Florence fennel, kale, kohlrabi,...
Urgent jobs in the garden for May
Make compost. Collect autumn leaves to make leaf litter or to add to compost. Add sparingly to compost as too much in a layer causes matting. Mix leaves well with other ingredients to prevent this. Net brassicas and Asian greens with exclusion netting, weighing down...
Queensland Fruit Fly alert – May
As the photo above shows there are still plenty of Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) around. In this dry lure from a pomegranate tree in my back garden, there are at least 40 males and in a second lure in a lime tree in my front garden, there are over 30 males. These have...
Baron Ferdinand von Mueller and the Victorian Acclimatisation Society
Have you ever cursed deer, carp, pigeons, rabbits and other introduced species populating our landscape? Read on for a glimpse of the thinking of Government botanist Baron Ferdinand von Mueller (1825 – 1896) and his colleagues in the Victorian Acclimatisation Society...
Now is the time to dump oil and electrify everything
Never have the reasons for electrifying everything been so clear. In June last year (2025), I wrote about Australia's energy dependence, highlighting the extent to which our entire economy depends on ships bringing many billions of litres of oil to Australia, 80% of...
The Plenty-ful native fish of our local rivers
The Yarra and Plenty Rivers support a surprisingly rich community of native fish, many of which play an important role in the ecological health of Melbourne’s waterways. Several species are recorded in surveys, reflecting the success and ongoing need for conservation...
Preparing your soil for autumn/winter edible planting
It's worth preparing all your beds as early as possible for autumn/winter planting. This requires deciding which beds will house which vegetables. Different ones will require different soil preparation. Some will need a fine tilth, others a rough dig. There'll likely...
What to plant in April in Melbourne
Planting in April Your beds should by now be prepared for autumn planting. Check the weather forecast as far ahead as possible and wait until after any very warm/hot weather to plant to avoid seedlings bolting. Autumn/winter vegetables thrive in cool air and cool...
Urgent jobs in the garden for April
Save last seeds from the garden. Microwave, freeze, solarise or drown any fallen fruit or fruit infested with Queensland Fruit Fly or codling moth including quince, apples, citrus, guava, feijoa, berries and any other fruit growing in your garden. Check citrus for...
Plant garlic in April in Melbourne
April and May are the months to plant garlic in Melbourne; the weather is cooling, there's rain and our beds are prepared. See March hint for bed preparation . If you have saved or bought Australian garlic that is rust free, the job is easy but if you have saved...
Queensland Fruit Fly alert – April
As in March, your winter fruit is at risk. At risk right now are persimmons, guavas, feijoas, pomegranates (despite their tough skin) and citrus, but any fruit including berries is susceptible. This is the time to put out Wild May again because the females are dying...
Solar knocks out gas
If you have solar panels on your home, backed up by a battery, you are not only reducing your power bill, you are helping replace fossil fuel gas in Australia's power generation. As recently as 2018, the former senior Royal Dutch Shell executive, Ian Dunlop spoke at...
Pruning apricot and cherry trees
Top tips: Prune in February or March or not at all Prune only on a warm, dry day Use a thinning technique for pruning Keep watering after fruiting Apricot pruning fundamentals Prune the structural branches to a vase shape. Remove diseased, broken, and crossed branches...
Join Sustainable Macleod
Become a member and get access to the community garden, the tool library and our seed library. We welcome all members of the community and have regular events and workshops to enjoy.