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
Gardening Australia
October • News and happenings for gardeners and nature lovers nationwide
ON THE SHELF PLANTS • A selection of new releases to add to your garden
ON THE SHELF BOOKS
sun kissed • Sunflowers are a cheerful presence in the summer garden, and now is the perfect time to plant them, writes DERYN THORPE
mighty mints • Australian mint bushes burst into bloom in spring, but their aromatic foliage perfumes gardens year round, writes AB BISHOP
flare for DRAMA • Looking for vibrant flowers on an evergreen shrub for garden beds and pots? Versatile vireyas are perfect for a starring role, says STEVE FALCIONI
dream believers • The delicate appearance of these sweet pompom-flowered beauties belies their tough constitution, writes JUDY HORTON
flowering passion • In a quiet cul-de-sac of a tiny town, a keen gardening couple has created a dreamy cottage-style garden that’s filled with colour all year round
the feeling is MUTUAL • For these green thumbs and neighbours, their gardens are places of respite and renewal, as well as the perfect hangout for fireside chats about all things plants
what is a flower? • Flowers are beloved for their beauty and are a joy to behold, but their purpose is far greater and more complex, writes TIM ENTWISLE
NO fly ZONE • They’re a menace in gardens and devastating for commercial growers, so what can you do to prevent fruit fly damage? The old saying, ‘know your enemy’ is a good place to start
reliable friends • Where would our gardens be without the tried and trusted gems, those resilient plants that thrive despite the odds, writes JACKIE FRENCH
TRY this! • Worm towers are a nifty compost solution for the backyard or balcony, and a great way to produce your own compost right where it’s needed the most, writes HANNAH MOLONEY
PATCH GROW • Fast-growing and fabulous, mulberry trees are available in different shapes and sizes, and can even work in a small garden, writes PHIL DUDMAN
why are my VEGIES AND HERBS BOLTING?
productive pots • You don’t need an acreage to grow fresh produce: plenty of things grow well in pots. PHIL DUDMAN lists the best vegies and herbs to grow in containers this spring
WHAT I’VE LEARNT ABOUT PEANUTS • These legumes are surprisingly easy to grow and you’ll reap big rewards come harvest time, writes PHIL DUDMAN
FIGHTING PESTS in the patch • You’ll need to take action now to protect your spring crops from pests. PHIL DUDMAN offers natural ways to combat the top 5 offenders
OCTOBER a month in the GARDEN • More than 50 seasonal jobs to do
MAILBOX
WIN 1 of 6 Fiskars Xact Weed Pullers each valued at $84.95
take a break! • Put the kettle on – it’s time to relax! Solve our puzzle to be in the running to win a Shields Weed Burner.
ABC YOURS FOR GARDENING
the big picture • The notion of creating an oasis in the desert is a familiar idea, but it’s questionable whether the concept can be reversed, writes MICHAEL McCOY