Tag: gardening tips

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Interviews Outdoor & Exteriors

Charlie Albone’s top gardening tips for inside and out

Charlie Albone
Charlie Albone

Plant Life Balance, a leader in Australia’s green space industry, has just launched the Greener Spaces Better Places initiative with ambassador Charlie Albone. And it seems we’ve never been more interested in plants than since the onset of COVID-19 with 44.2% of Australians believing the pandemic has made them more aware of the importance of nature in their family’s lives. Additionally, sales of herb and vegetable plants in Australia has increased by 27%.

Charlie Albone
Charlie Albone

But, if you’re like most people, caring for greenery can seem like an intimidating task but this is where Charlie’s expertise comes in. “There’s a green thumb in us all, and we’re seeing this now more than ever as people turn to gardening – successfully – for the first time since lockdowns. I’m looking forward to sharing my story and top tips so more aspiring gardeners can feel confident to get out there and get their hands dirty!” says Charlie.

Charlie’s tips for indoor plants 

Life for an indoor plant is tough as not much has evolved in a dark cave with air-conditioning. You need to show your indoor plants some love. 

  • Pick wisely; selecting tropical plants with big leaves, peace lily, devils’ ivy and monstera are all fail safe. 
  • Put them in a well-lit ventilated area, the more natural you can make the environment the better the success. 
  • Overwatering will kill them as quickly as underwatering them so come up with a routine and stick to it. Regularity is the key to success and each situation will be different but start with a little bit every three days and see how your plants respond. Adjust the amount of water before adjusting the regularity. 
  • Take your indoor plants for a shower once a month – this will replicate rain, wash off the dust from the leaves and soak the root balls giving them a boost of hydration. Don’t use any hot water as this could scold the leaves. 
  • If you are showering your plants, you shouldn’t need to wipe the dust off your leaves, however for super shiny specimens, dab the smallest amount of olive oil on a cloth and shine them up.
Charlie Albone

How to pick a plant for the outdoors

It can be a daunting process picking plants for a garden, they seem like such a big investment and you desperately want them to succeed. Although it’s never fool proof, you need to follow a process to get the best chance of success. 

  • First up you need to study where your new plant baby is going to go. This will stop you from buying things you like the look of but simply won’t grow in the spot you want them to grow in. Work out how much sun the spot gets, if it’s full sun, semi shade or full shade. Then dig a hole and pour a big bucket of water into it and see how quickly it drains away, this will tell you a lot about your soil and how it drains. 
  • When you’re at the nursery don’t be scared to ask for advice, plant people love to share their knowledge and now you know your sun requirements and how the soil drains you stand a good chance of getting the right plant for your spot. 
  • Improve your soil with compost, known as black gold, it helps to bind sandy soil together and break up clay by bringing in worms. (Heavy clay can also do with a handful of gypsum) 
  • Soak your plant in its pot in a large bucket of water before planting to ensure it’s completely hydrated, leave it in there until all the air bubbles have stopped. You can add in some seaweed tonic if you want to help settle it in quicker. 
  • Your plant is used to living like a king at the nursery so establish it with plenty of water as this will ensure good root growth and establishment. 
Charlie Albone

Tips for getting the right plant for your spot 

  • The leaf will tell you so much about a plant, as a rule of thumb small leaves can take lots of sun and large leaves need more shade. If they are hairy, silver, or succulent, chances are they like baking in hot sun too. 
  • Buy fast growing plants in small sizes and slow growers in larger sizes to make your dollar go further, in the end they will catch up to each other. 
  • Research the plant and find its mature height so you can plan your planting scheme, these are often given in perfect growing conditions in a natural habitat so for your garden you can plan for it to get to 75 per cent of this height. 
Charlie Albone

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Expert Tips Outdoor & Exteriors

Get your garden summer-ready this spring: expert tips

With thousands of award winning garden designs under his belt, and a long list of some of the country’s best gardens under the care of his business Landart Landscape, Matt Leacy shares his top tips for ensuring your garden thrives this spring and summer.

Creating a luscious lawn

One of the best things you can do for your lawn as we come out of winter is to de-thatch. Thatch is an accumulation of dead organic lawn matter or a build-up of roots that can prevent moisture, nutrients and air getting through to the grass roots.

If you’ve got very large lawn spaces, you might consider using a de-thatcher to do the job. Otherwise, a thatch rake or normal garden rake should work, depending on the size of the lawn and how thick the thatch is.

You should also aerate the lawn to help get water and nutrients through to the turf zone. If you’re working with a big lawn, you might look at using a motorised aerator. Otherwise, you can use spiked aerator shoes or a simple garden fork.

Once you’ve removed thatch and aerated, add some coarse sand or top dressing over the lawn – and don’t forget to fertilise with something high in nitrogen, and preferably organic.

Maintenance will set you up for summer

It’s not necessarily the fun side of gardening, but now is the ideal time to get into garden beds and remove any weeds before the weather gets hotter and they really take off. And now is also the as time to prune plants to get them in prime condition for growth in spring and summer. 

Ensure that any ornamental grasses like miscanthus are cut to about 100-to-200mm above the ground and that any shrubs such as bottlebrush that like to flower in spring are pruned well before their flowering month. 

Mulching is the garden gift that keeps on giving

Mulch is a must when it comes to keeping your garden beds looking great in summer.

Mulch will help your soil retain moisture as the weather heats up – and it’s also helpful for keeping weeds at bay. And mulch can come in a variety of colours that can enhance your garden design.

I like to use an organic compost and a slow release fertiliser. Dig it into the soil by hand where possible, but be wary of applying too close to plant trunks and stems. Excess moisture can cause stems to rot, so it’s generally best to mulch at least 50-70mm thick and to keep the mulch well away from stems and trunks.

As the weather gets hotter, keep an eye on your plants and keep topping mulch up.

Re-design and plant out garden beds and pots

Plants should always play a key part of any outdoor space, whether they’re potted or in a garden bed. 

When you’re choosing what to plant it’s always good to consider what is to come – our summers are long and hot so if you’re planting greenery rather than something that will just give you a seasonal burst of flowers consider plants that are water-wise and will hold up well in the heat of the coming months.

Some great water-wise plants to consider include agaves, dragon trees, tree aloes, Nolinas and cactuses. They’re not only low-maintenance, but also bring a lot of form and structure into the garden – as well as being very diverse in terms of texture and colour, which means they can be suited to many different styles of outdoor spaces.

Succulents are a great choice. They are very versatile and water-wise. Some of my favourite succulents include Crassula, Carpobrotus, Aloes, Senecio, Sempervivums and Sedums.

Native Australian species such as Lomandra, Westringias and Casuarinas are awesome if you’re looking to plant on mass for large spaces. Mixing these with some exotic succulents and native ornamental grasses can create some really interesting planting palettes with varying textures and colours.

Grow your own food

If you would like to add a veggie patch to your outdoor space for spring and summer, and we’re finding in these times a lot of people are, planting things like spinach, iceberg lettuce, snow peas and kale as well as zucchini, and cherry tomatoes are always great staples that will flourish close to year round.

Chinese greens will also thrive, and Pak choi (also called bok choy) will be up and ready to eat in only six to eight weeks.

Herbs such as aromatic basil, mint, parsley, thyme, rosemary, chives and chillies are all good choices for summer growing, as well as herbs with known health benefits such as turmeric, ginger, ginseng, Echinacea and maca.

With many of us utilising a limited garden space, using edible plants as part of your overall garden design has become very popular. If you’re keen to look at foodscaping to update your garden for spring and summer I would suggest adding edible flowers, using rosemary trimmed into balls, or using Cranberries or a wild or Alpine strawberry, mint, thyme or oregano as ground cover.  

From a design perspective, my tips for creating a space that is bountiful, functional and beautiful include:

  • Create structure – if you are dedicating a space to growing food then geometry and structure work to maximise space.
  • Consider colour – opt for heirloom varieties like purple kale and blue cabbage to create a design feature.
  • Many vegetables and herbs also have lovely flowers and variations in foliage that add interest.  Be sure to layer and use the different textures and colours in your garden design.
  • Screen or create shade with fruit bearing trees – if you need some screening trees look at how you can use trees that fruit.  Citrus, apple and pear trees are great options.
  • Use raised garden beds – build in seating and storage around the edge of your garden bed to make tending to it more enjoyable and to maximise the use of space, and also look at planter boxes, tiered garden beds, pots and herb walls. These are particularly practical for small courtyards or balcony spaces.
  • Run fruit and vegetables off pergolas and other outdoor structures. Things like hanging strawberries can soften these structures with attractive greenery – and will also save you having to dedicate land space to your veggie patch.
  • If you’re concerned about the look of your edible garden while transitioning between seasons consider hedging or other structures to conceal beds when they’re not looking their best. And interspersing herbs and vegetables with other plants will help minimise any sparseness that may arise as an edible plant goes out of season.

Photography: Jason Busch/Landart

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How to shade your garden for summer

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Expert Tips

How to shade your garden for summer

With the weather well and truly starting to sizzle, don’t leave it any later to get your garden summer and party season ready. With a few creative touches to your outdoor living area, you can transform your garden into the ultimate al fresco summer spot. Garden guru Matt Leacy of Landart Landscapes shares his tips and tricks to take the heat off your summer hosting preparations, ensuring your outdoor  space is ready for those leisurely sunny afternoons. 

1. Creating a shady retreat

Matt Leacy Interiors Addict 1

As much as we all like to bask in the sunshine, too much sun can leave you feeling frazzled. Avoid being beaten inside by those summer rays by creating a shady haven in your garden. For those gardens without any natural shaded areas or large trees, there are plenty of affordable man-made options that will ensure you and your guests can relax comfortably and stylishly away from the suns’ glare.

A large umbrella is a great addition to any patio and can transform a seating area into a cool oasis without losing the outside ambience of your garden. Umbrellas not only offer an instant escape from the sun, they are conveniently mobile and can be set up on the lawn or poolside, and angled to banish sun glare no matter what time of day it is.

If your summer entertaining guest list is too big for an umbrella to cover, consider introducing a more substantial shaded area into your backyard. Canopies, cabanas, retractable awnings, pergolas and outdoor pavilions (some complete with full outdoor kitchens!) are all great ways of adding some protection to the back of your house and can bring a touch of style to your outdoor living area.

2. Put a shrimp on the barbie

Matt Leacy Interiors Addict 2

No Australian garden party is complete without the sight, sound and smell of a barbeque in full flow. Give your friends and family an al fresco dining experience to remember throughout the summer months by creating an outdoor cooking space ideal for any occasion. Convert your outdoor area into an extension of your indoor cooking space by creating an outdoor kitchen. Choosing the right spot is key; a flat, wind sheltered area away from the main seating area is ideal and will ensure your guests are invited to explore and enjoy different zones or areas before sitting down to dine.

The other consideration is choosing an area that the barbeque and other kitchen facilities don’t dominate and become the thing that catches the eye most in the garden design. The outdoor kitchen should be a draw card and an asset to the space but not the main feature. 

3. Summer showers

Matt Leacy Interiors Addict 4

An outdoor shower is a fantastic addition to any summer garden, providing a great place to rinse off after a swim in the pool, trip to the beach or a spot of gardening. The al fresco shower is also part of a growing trend of people bringing the indoors outdoors, with the increasing popularity of outdoor bathrooms and kitchens.

When you’re choosing to install an outdoor shower there are a few important factors to consider to ensure you make the most of your shower come rain or shine. The best outdoor showers take into account the beauty of the natural surroundings as well as practicality. If you have a swimming area you may wish to set it up poolside. If you want the shower for everyday use, it may be wise to install it within close proximity of the house, and where you can also enjoy privacy. Proximity to the house may also remove any potential issues with plumbing.

As with all elements of garden design, it’s important to have an outdoor shower or bathroom work as part of the overall garden design. Keep in mind the multifunctional use of the space. By using natural stone and timber in the design and having plants around the area to create a natural privacy shield, the shower can integrate with the surrounds, not dominate it.

4. Sunshine proof

Matt Leacy Interiors Addict 3

It’s important to ensure your outdoor furniture and finishings can withstand the harsh Aussie rays. When purchasing those comfy additions to your outdoor space look for good quality and outdoor specific fabrics that will not fade out after one summer. Moreover, with the unreliable weather forecasts you also want to choose a fabric that won’t have you running outside every time there’s a drop of rain. Everything should be marine grade and the sponge used should be free draining so it can be sat on a short time after it has been raining.

Durable decking and flooring should also be a focus when getting gardens summer ready. Considering the desired look for the space and the practicality of your chosen material could make all the difference. Count on a dense limestone for example, to keep cool under your feet during the hot summer months. While timber may require a little maintenance, it adds an organic feel to a space that can look less harsh than other stone finishes.

5. Light it up

Matt Leacy Interiors Addict

Show off your creation morning, noon and night. Incorporating the right amount of lighting in all the right places can drastically transform your garden’s atmosphere. Look to illuminate the key features of your landscape. This could be a striking tree, running waterfall, pool area or pathway. Use recessed lights in the timber for example, to add a new dimension to your backyard.

I like to use lighting as a design feature in gardens, on everything from statement plantings to water features. It not only provides a functional use come evening time, but can create an amazing ambience and set the mood when done properly.

6. The practicalities

Once all the design elements are determined, some important maintenance is necessary to ensure your garden is summer ready. Replanting gardens suffering from neglect is much more expensive than paying for ongoing maintenance. I’m a big believer in outsourcing garden maintenance if you know your lifestyle won’t allow you to stay on top of it.

People spend a lot of money getting gardens designed and installed and then I often see them neglect their investment. Weekly or even monthly maintenance is a small outlay in the scheme of things, and it helps ensure you maximise the leisure time you have to spend in your outdoor space, whilst noticing a huge difference in your gardens healthiness and vibrancy. This ranges from installing a reliable drip watering system, if you know when the weather warms up you won’t have the time to devote to watering your plants, to mulching to retain water, weeding and pruning.

–Matt Leacy is a landscape designer and director of Landart Landscapes.

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Reader gardening Q&A with Charlie Albone from Selling Houses Australia

Last month, the lovely Charlie Albone, Selling Houses Australia’s resident gardening expert, agreed to answer a few reader questions. We were going to pick a few, but he was kind enough to answer them all! Here are the Q&As below. Thanks Charlie!

Charlie Albone

Question: Hi Jen & Charlie. 
My partner and I have built a house on an amazing waterfront block and have done little bits to it landscaping wise but feel it has some much more potential then were seeing – it’s also a slightly larger block and steeply sloping at the back to the water so it’s hard to know how to get best use out of it and have it look the best possible way it could? We want it to be a fun space yet contemporary and low maintanence!! We don’t ask much do we?
 We’d love to hear your thoughts??!!
 Thanks, 
Mandy & Brendon
.

Answer: The trick with sloping sites is to try and create some usable flat areas with terracing. By using retaining walls you can make flat areas that you can then give some purpose – areas for lawn, entertaining, storage, kids play area etc. These areas can then be linked together with meandering pathways. I like to plant heavily around the paths so the areas appear to open up as you travel through the garden. No doubt at some point in the site you’ll have to put in some steps, it sounds like you have the space to make these wide and deep which will add a sense of drama and additional spots to stop and sit, relax and enjoy the plants and view around you.

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