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Question Topics This Month

Pale leaves NSW
Black spot & aphids on roses QLD
Shade and hot sun NSW
Mystery plant WA
Water-loving plants NSW
Impatiens eaten QLD
Ficus root system
Fertilising Port Wine magnolia NSW

Designing a new garden VIC
Transplanting Port Wine Magnolia NSW
Hibiscus problem WA
Feature tree NSW
Broad bean disease NSW
Pomsom Wet Foot ???? WA
Azalea leaves and petals affected NSW
Herbicide antidote? VIC

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Topic and Question

Answer

Pale leaves NSW 

I have a young Blueberry Ash ( Elaeocarpus reticulatus) about 2 metres tall which was dong very well but has suddenly lost all colour to its leaves.  The leaves are uniformly pale yellow all over the tree but are still pliable and the branches still seem to be alive.  I have given it some dynamic lifter (3 weeks ago) thinking it might need fertilising but it doesn't seem to be getting either better or worse.

BACK TO TOPICS

Pale yellow leaves usually indicate an iron deficiency which often occurs in alkaline soils. Try applying some iron chelates at the rate recommended on the packet.

BACK TO TOPICS

Shade and hot sun NSW 

We have a very shady front yard, some places get a fair bit of sun during the day but the front garden only gets hot afternoon sun, not so bad in the cooler months but come summer everything dies. We have tried camellias both kinds, roses, hydrangeas - all died except the roses which didn’t flower. The sun is very hot and doesn’t stay long but long enough to do harm. We are desperate to know what to plant and no one can help not even the nurseries!

BACK TO TOPICS

Lillypillies might work in this location. Acmena smithii var minor (up to 7m) is a shade tolerant lillypilly that also tolerates full sun. 'Hot Flush' is an attractive cultivar that grows to about 3m Mahonia aquifolium (around 1m) should also cope with these conditions as would Raphiolepis umbellata (to 2m). Dietes iridioides (a clumping plant to around 75cm) would also be a good choice.

Mystery plant WA

Do you know what this plant is? If so could you tell me the best way to strike it, and also, should it dangle from a pot, or climb up from a pot !!!! I was told that it was a night blooming plant.  Highly scented.  But who knows?

BACK TO TOPICS

You’ve got me on this one! Maybe one of our readers will recognise it.

BACK TO TOPICS

You don't mention how shaded the area is or how tall you want these plants to be. You could try:

Viminaria juncea (Golden Spray; Native Broom) - evergreen Australian shrub/ small weeping tree to 5m tall; fresh green almost leafless slender branches; yellow pea flowers in spring and summer; best in full sun though tolerates semi-shade; thrives in damp soil; tolerates periods of water-logging and short periods of drought; salt & frost tolerant; do not prune.

Baloskion tetraphyllum (syn. Restio tetraphyllus) (Tassel Cord-Rush) - erect Australian rush to 1m, bright green, feathery foliage; rusty red spring flowers; full sun to full shade.

Lomandra filiformis (Wattle Mat Rush) - evergreen Australian tussock plant to 25cm tall; light green to blue-green grassy leaves; yellow/cream globular flowers from late winter to early summer; best in full sun; food plant of native butterflies; bird attracting.

You will probably need to visit a native plant nursery to find these.

Impatiens eaten QLD 

My impatiens look like the leaves and flowers have been eaten all that is left are the stems then the seem to disintegrate.

BACK TO TOPICS

I don't know if it is the right time of year, but impatiens are often attacked by the caterpillar of the Hawk Moth. These are large brown moths that look like Delta aircraft. The caterpillars are large and fat and have a characteristic spike on their tail ends. The best way to deal with them is to pick them off and squash them. Alternatively, you can spray with Dipel which is a biological spray that only targets caterpillars and doesn't harm other organisms.

Ficus root system 

Hi, we bought a Ficus australis two years ago and it's still in a pot.  We want to plant it into the garden but we don't know what the root system is like.  How aggressive are the roots, and how far away from walls, pools, pipes etc should it be planted?

BACK TO TOPICS

I'm not familiar with this species but many of the other species of Australian figs are massive and are notorious for destroying foundations and clogging pipes. I would be inclined to keep your tree safely in its pot. They make great bonsai!

Fertilising Port Wine magnolia NSW 

What and when do I feed portwine magnolias?

BACK TO TOPICS

Any good complete fertilizer will do but controlled release fertilizer is really easy because you only have to apply it twice a year. Osmocote Trees, Scrubs & Citrus would be suitable. Apply it around the drip line in early spring.

Designing a new garden VIC
 

We have just built a new home on a 1 acre block.  I don't know where to begin with planning and actually setting up the garden beds.  Can someone please help me???

BACK TO TOPICS

Some professional advice from a trained horticulturist may well be worth the expense if you really have no idea what to do. If you want to do it yourself, read the Garden Basics section in Global Garden on Designing Your Garden . The same basic principles apply whether your garden is small or large.

Transplanting Port Wine Magnolia NSW 

I want to plant out a Port Wine Magnolia tree from a pot to an area in my garden near where one is already growing well. What is the best time of year to do this?

BACK TO TOPICS

Spring is a suitable time to transplant the tree.

I have an established Hibiscus plant which is currently being attacked by something! Pictures are attached! We have had plenty of rain lately, but other hibiscus plants in the area are doing fine. I would be very grateful if you could identify the problem and suggest a remedy.

BACK TO TOPICS

I think this is most likely to be a bacterial leaf spot. The best way to deal with it is to cut off the affected leaves and seal them in a plastic bag and put them in the rubbish. Don’t drop them under the bush or put them in the compost bin or the disease could spread to other hibiscus in the area. Spraying with copper oxychloride may prevent a further problem.

Feature tree NSW

Looking for a small/medium specimen tree for front garden in Port Macquarie, preferably flowering tree.

BACK TO TOPICS

Crepe Myrtles make lovely feature trees and they have great summer flowers, autumn colour in the leaves and look very handsome when they drop their leaves in winter. The bark is very beautiful. There is a range of colours and sizes to choose from.

Broad bean disease NSW
 

Until this week I had 12 flourishing broad bean plants, grown from seeds sown in March. Some are bearing bean pods. Suddenly, this week, starting at the top of the plant and all the way down the stem on some, the leaves have turned a blacky/brown and curled, from the tips and sides. Some all over others only tips and sides. The 4 plants on the western end are worst hit. There is no sign of aphid or any bug on them. What could be causing it?

BACK TO TOPICS

This is almost certainly Broad Bean Wilt. Remove all affected plants and place them in the rubbish bin. This disease is much worse when conditions are particularly cold so if you are lucky, the remaining plants may manage to survive if you get some warm spring weather. It is spread from plant to plant by aphids.

 Pomsom Wet Foot ???? WA

Can you please advise what is a "Pomsom Wet Foot" ?
They're trees advertised in the local paper but have no idea what they are ???

BACK TO TOPICS

I have no idea either! Maybe one of our readers will be able to enlighten us. 

Azalea leaves and petals affected NSW 

There are black spots on some leaves.  Is it awful and if so how do I treat it? Some of the flowers are soft and mushy but still a nice display.

BACK TO TOPICS

The spots on the leaves are most likely a kind of leaf spot. The brown sticky petals are caused by either petal blight or grey mould. Pick off and destroy affected petals and leaves. Try to improve air circulation around the plants. Don't water them from above - just water the soil.

BACK TO TOPICS

There is no antidote to herbicide. Soil microorganisms are helpful in breaking down all types of pollutants and charcoal is sometimes used in this way as well. Dig large amounts of organic material through the soil but I would not be planting any valuable plants in there until the 12 months is up. 

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