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 September in Melbourne
What seeds to plant in September in Melbourne and how to plant them Tips by Robin-Gale Baker. First, any seeds planted in August in punnets that have reached the 4-leaf stage can be picked out and planted in potting mix in trays or pots. These can be planted in the...
September garlic hint
In September, garlic bulbs will be swelling. This is the time to make sure they are watered deeply twice a week, well mulched and weed free. Spray with a seaweed solution (not a nitrogen based fertiliser) such as Seasol about every 3 weeks. Protect from cockatoos with...
Urgent jobs in the garden for September
Make compost. Add potash or wood ash (both potassium) to soil to increase flower and fruit set. Tie hessian or cardboard around apple, pear and quince tree trunks for codling moth to lay in (remove and burn in 4 weeks then replace). Sow seeds in punnets and/or plant...
Possums raiding my vegie patch
Possums raiding suburban Melbourne home vegetable gardens is a common occurrence. While they are native to our areas, both ringtail and brushtail possums are in larger numbers than they would have been pre-colonisation - and they have less to eat in winter. The...
Nuclear energy – taboo no more?
Environmental activists have long opposed the introduction of nuclear energy to Australia. With the planned shutdown of coal-fired power stations possibly by 2034, what are the options for generating power, and should nuclear energy be considered? Recent talk of...
August Queensland Fruit Fly Alert – put out Wild May now
As early as possible in August, hang lures with Wild May in them (20ml of the liquid) 1.2 to 2 metres above the ground in the canopy of trees such as lemons. Wild May only attracts the males, and is vital to mop up those that are overwintering. Trapping the males also...
Preparing a spring/summer vegetable garden
The first section here covers soil preparation, watering tips and site selection. With these covered, not much can go wrong! Below this section, are 7 families of vegetables and herbs with specific guidelines for each. It is worth reading the whole article to get a...
Urgent jobs in the garden for August
Weed, weed, weed! As the weather warms in August, seed germinates and weeds take over. Make compost. Prune fruit trees once they have lost their leaves; remove all mummified fruit from the branches. Spray peach and nectarine trees a full 360 degrees to cover every...
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...
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.