Blog
Our blog features a variety of gardening and growing tips on topics such as soil biology, wicking bed construction, composting, grafting, pruning, water-saving and irrigation. 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.
What to plant in August in Melbourne
August is the month to plant spring seedlings in punnets and some direct into the ground. Should a frost be imminent, cover seedlings the night before with cloth. If the worst comes to the worst and you find frost on your plants the following morning, and the sun has...
August garlic hint
This hint covers the end of winter and the beginning of spring which have slightly different requirements. The first thing to do is observe your garlic plants and note whether there is any yellowing on the tips or on older leaves. If there is, spray with fish emulsion...
What to plant in July in Melbourne
A guide to what to plant in July can be found in self-sown plants in the garden. In my garden, there is an abundance of self-sown parsley, coriander, lettuce, other salad greens and tomatoes. Begin planting seeds in punnets for planting in late August/September (early...
Urgent jobs in the garden for July
Make compost. Plant out second crop of autumn/winter vegetables. Cut strawberry runners and pot up in potting mix. Cut back leaves of strawberries - you can even mow them down on a high blade - and dispose of them. Divide them in spring if they are too crowded....
It may be pretty but is it delicious? The dangers of cross-pollination
When your pumpkins ripened, you may have noticed that what grew was not what you thought you had planted. Did you, for example, grow a long, green or bluish-striped pumpkin when you thought you planted a round Kent or even a Queensland Blue? Cross-pollination is the...
Winter awakenings in our bushlands
While most people associate spring with nature's revival, in fact our bushlands begin bursting back to life several months earlier; as autumn fades into winter. If you venture outdoors during the cooler months, you'll be treated to the awakening of a remarkable array...
Should there be a ban on fossil fuel advertising?
Likening the burning of fossil fuels to cigarette smoking, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a ban on fossil fuel advertising. Is a ban on this advertising necessary? Just as importantly: would it be effective? The reasoning behind a ban is twofold....
July – September: key months for garlic success!
Now that the shortest day has passed, garlic planted in the autumn will have developed a strong root system and healthy green shoots but what next? How do we support the swelling of the bulbs into good-sized, healthy heads? Action taken from July to September is key...
Glass recycling is coming (but we can’t tell you when)
The one constant about waste management and recycling is that more change is always on the horizon. We are urged to separate waste as much as possible, to make the most of resources, and to reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfill. Over the past few years, most...
Civil discourse: Talking across the divide
How do you have a productive conversation with someone when you disagree with their point of view? Is it possible to talk across the divide when there is so much incivility in our community? As members of Sustainable Macleod, we can be expected to have strong views on...
Growing exceptional herbs
In the late 1970s, herbs became fashionable in Australia and people (not only gardeners) planted extensive culinary herb gardens. They often planted herbs for medicinal use, insect repellance and dyeing, as well as fragrance. Herb nurseries sprang up around the...
Wonderful wildlife plants series: Sweet Bursaria
Are you looking to boost biodiversity and add a touch of native beauty to your garden? A Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa) or two would be a great addition. This indigenous small to medium-sized shrub is a powerhouse when it comes to supporting local wildlife -...
How much sun do my vegies need?
Expert gardeners often bandy around certain terms as though we will automatically know what they are talking about. But do we? When it comes to terms like full sun, partial sun, partial shade and full shade, what do these really mean? And is afternoon sun the same as...
You CAN defeat Queensland Fruit Fly!
Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) arrived in the northern areas of Banyule from the Yarra Valley, about 5 years ago and has spread suburb by suburb. If it hasn't arrived in your area, expect it next season and take action or risk losing an entire season of fruit and...
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.