BushNo 74 Winter 2007 Telegraph

Welcome Vale Jean Hooper Garden Talks Practical Pruning with Paul Join Paul, our gardening expert to find out what you need to know about pruning: why when and how. Saturday July 14th, 10am in the gazebo. Please RSVP to 94546260.

Australian Open Garden Scheme Zanthorrea Nursery Gardens will Greetings, Since the last Bush Telegraph, our be open over the weekend of 25th The nursery has been very busy in co-founder and mother has passed and 26th August from 10am to recent months as gardeners choose away, aged 85. It was a peaceful 4:30pm. There is a small fee to enter Australian to counter water death at Kalamunda Hospital early the gardens over the weekend and restrictions and uncertain climatic evening May 12th with Jackie, all proceeds support local good conditions. ‘Sustainable’ is a term daughter Rae and me at her bedside. causes: Kanyana Wildlife Hospital that is heard in many aspects of life, Friends and family from afar joined and the Kalamunda Volunteer Bush but especially in the garden. us for a simple funeral May 15th. fire brigade. Enjoy the festivities with food, music, guided walks and At Zanthorrea, since opening in Jean grew up in the wheatbelt and talks by the Zanthorrea team. 1975, we have been committed to was farming there and in Esperance gardening in harmony with nature. until the mid 60’s, when after a Congratulations to Zanthorrea. Using Australian native plants and few years travelling she settled in hygienic practices, we have been Gooseberry Hill. able to reduce water use and avoid While establishing her garden harmful chemicals. design business, Jean completed a In May this year each member Cert. of Horticulture. She inspired of the team attended ten hours of Jackie and me to join her in training in sustainable gardening to establishing Zanthorrea Nursery, equip us to advise gardeners on safe and we opened in September 1975. gardening practices. We are happy Although officially retired by 1981, to help you find sustainable answers Jean continued working at the to your gardening questions. nursery for many years. Even in her Federal Minister Eric Abetz, Alec, Jackie, We look forward to your visit. late 70’s, Jean was called on to help Ross and Hasluck MHR Stuart Henry with guided walks, and ID. Best wishes, Photo courtesy Echo Newspaper A dedicated volunteer for the Kings – Jackie Alec and the team In May, Zanthorrea became the first Park Guides, Wildflower Society and garden centre in WA to be officially Welcome Kerrie the Herbarium, Jean was an active certified by Sustainable Gardening Welcome to horticulturist Kerrie retiree, lending a hand to Meals on Australia. To find out more, go to: wheels and others in need. who joined us in June. Kerrie http://www.sgaonline.com.au has worked in In December 2005, after a long garden centres battle with Parkinson’s syndrome Congratulations to our Dan both in Perth and heart disease, Jean left her who has made it into the Police and overseas, so granny flat on the nursery property Academy. Dan has been with us is well qualified for a low care hostel where she over four years, and worked with to help you with continued to prune and plant. Ross in production. Customers will your gardening Jean’s passion for Australian plants remember his willing and expert enquiries. is carried on at Zanthorrea by Alec help in the garden centre. and Jackie and grandson Ross.

Zanthorrea Nursery 1 Bush Telegraph No 74 Winter 2007 Warm up with Winter Pruning Tell your plants who’s boss! Why bother? Pruning Tips Do you feel cross when the 1m If you love an overgrown garden, • Use sharp clean quality tools. shrub you bought from the garden and do not feel the need to control • Cut to just above a node (where centre grows like crazy to 2m high the height and spread of plants in the leaf or branch joins). and wide! your garden, then there may be no • Use a slightly sloping cut Although we’d like to be accurate need for you to prune. However especially in winter. with plant dimensions, alas, there are times when gardeners feel • Clean and carefully store pruning there are many factors that cause the urge to wield the pruning tool! tools for next time. unusually vigorous growth in plants: Benefits of pruning • After pruning can be a good extra water, heavy handed fertiliser, time to re-envigorate plants with a 1. Tip pruning is especially useful exceptionally fertile soil, shade that little fertiliser, and a good drink if in encouraging vigorous healthy causes plants to reach for the sun pruning in summer. new growth. are just some factors. Confused? Then join Paul for his The solution to this dilemma is simple. 2. Pruning stimulates flowering. pruning demonstration on July 14th. Tell your plants who’s boss and learn Pruning after flowering often brings the not so gentle art of pruning. on an extra flush of flowers. 3. Dead-heading flowers sends energy into the plant, rather than setting seeds. 4. Removing dead or diseased branches will extend the life of the plant. Always clean pruning tool after cutting into diseased wood. 5. Hard pruning will rejuvenate woody plants such as mallees and Paul pruning some large flowered grevilleas. Glorious pink & white everlastings (Can be risky with some plants, so seek advice at the garden centre if There’s still time...just...to plant Tools you will need in your arsenal unsure.) everlasting seeds. Simply mix a pack of pure seed with a bag of soil • Sharp, good quality secateurs. 6. Hedges look perfect in formal gardens if pruned regularly. improver, and spread over the soil. Bypass pruners such as Felco No 5 (Removing weeds and raking area 7. Plants can adopt a new look with can easily cut to pencil thickness. first will help seeds thrive.) • Loppers. Use short or long artistic pruning. Shrubs can become Large packs of 25g cost $19.95. handled loppers for more serious trees or topiary shapes. Trees can be pruning. I love my rachet loppers pruned down to size, or up to form If you are in a hurry, Lucindas that give me more power for a perfect specimen tree. everlastings are packed in pruning entire branches. vermiculite and are ready and easy to plant. For a small patch, 10g • Shears, manual or electric. For packs are $9.95 neat hedging or pruning plants back from paths, use sharp shears. • Chainsaws. With an over vivid imagination, I am unable to come within several metres of a chain saw, but for the truly brave pruners, properly sharpened chainsaws will quickly establish who’s boss in your WARNING: Pruning can be garden. You have to be cruel to be addictive! It is one of the most fun kind. activities in the garden.

2 Zanthorrea Nursery Bush Telegraph No 74 Winter2007 Eco gardening What’s Flowering Now? come in many shades from white to Winter flowering Australian pink to purple. Geraldton wax is a beauties include: bushy fast growing medium shrub. • Hakea laurina (pincushion Sustainable gardening tips hakea) is a tall shrub or small tree Feed and nurture the soil: guaranteed to attract a second look when in flower. The unusual red Busy gardeners make the mistake of pincushion blooms are attractive feeding their plants! It’s much more both to birds and passers by alike. important to feed the soil. Adding organic material when planting can reduce the need for supplementary fertiliser. Recycle clippings and other organic matter into compost to use Chamelaucium uncinatum in the vege garden. • Hardenbergia comptoniana Protect the soil with mulch: (native wisteria) grows naturally Coarse mulch around the garden both in the Perth plains and hills. gradually breaks down to form The splash of purple pea flowers humus, a rich plant food. In Hakea laurina add a touch of colour to the deep addition, it insulates the soil green leaves. A vigorous climber, • baxteri grows naturally allowing the growth of beneficial native wisteria is hardy and fast in harsh conditions, so is perfectly soil organisms. at home in dry summer gardens. Its growing. Mulch also: dense foliage is suitable for pruning • Reduces evaporation. into a medium hedge, or shaping up into a mini tree. Fat red bottle brush • Helps prevent soil erosion. flowers have yellow tips that catch • Helps control weeds the sun. • Insulates the soil against extremes of temperature. Say no to toxic pesticides: To create a healthy garden for frogs, birds, insects and family, it is Hardenbergia comptoniana critical to cut out harmful pesticides and fungicides. First consider the • pollandii: With a little possible inbalances that may be pruning, this bushy tall shrub makes causing the problem, then look for a handsome small tree. Flowering the least toxic solution. long and prolifically, it is popular Kunzea baxteri with birds and insects. Choose: • Brachysema celcianum or Swan LOW IMPACT products, as River Pea is another very hardy recommended by Sustainable plant with dense bluish green Gardening Australia. (SGA). foliage, perfect for a low screen. Red pea flowers brighten any winter garden. • The very hardy Chamelaucium uncinatum (Geraldton Wax) seems to grow in most soils or situations. The unassuming flowers are perfect Callistemon pollandii Look out for the shelf talkers for long lasting cut flowers and

Zanthorrea Nursery 3 Bush Telegraph No 74 Winter 2007 Environmentally friendly products Gifts for you and your garden Our SGA trained team can help you make good choices. Fashionable garden wear – Soy Wax Candles from the Eco-oil is a botanical oil for ladies only! Conscious Candle Company, WA concentrate that acts as a contact Look good and feel good in these These candles come in wonderful spray insecticide and miticide, used long lasting gloves with double fragrances such as choc cherry. This to control citrus reinforced fingertips that fit like clean burning wax candle comes leafminer, scale, a second skin. Available in pink, in several sizes, in mites, aphids lavender and blue. RRP $13.95 a glass container and other sap - no more messy sucking insects. drips! Large A registered candle featured organic product, is $27.95, with eco-oil comes optional jar shade with detailed to create a truly instructions on its beautiful effect, use. RRP $19.75 $8.95..

For the young and young at heart: Yates Success controls caterpillars Coordinate your gloves with comfy Nature Puzzles on fruit and vegetables in the home premium sloggers. Wear them all Beautiful Bugs. These compact 9 garden. This product contains weekend, or simply leave them by piece puzzles are harder than they ‘spinosad’, derived the door for that quick dash to pick look. $4.95 from naturally parsley. Cranberry, sage, blue and occurring soil plum. RRP $54.95 bacteria. Check the specific Australian Bush Stars instructions for Enjoy the beauty of our unique use on the back. wildflowers with the latest from RRP $14.00 Australian Fine China.

Seasol is one of Also available in Lizards,Frogs, the most widely Wild animals and other designs. used garden health treatments. 100% Book Review organic Seasol Robin Stewart’s contains naturally “Chemical free pest control.” occurring growth This inspriing stimulants, potassium and helpful book to build disease Flinders glass platter, ‘Native contains hundreds resistance, and trace hibiscus’ design from the studios of of practical and elements. Use it to Meryl Bell. $34.95 inexpensive ways promote healthy growth and to Matching cups. $16.95 to control pests build resistance to heat, frost, pests and disease. Good stuff! Also available in a golden without harmful ‘Everlastings’ design. chemicals. RRP $10.50 RRP $21.95

155 Watsonia Road, Maida Vale , 6057 Phone: (08) 9454 6260 Fax: (08) 9454 4540 http://www.zanthorrea.com.au

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