© Sophie Thomson | 8 Jan 2020 In 2016 and 2017 I was asked by the Department of Water and Natural Resources to provide several workshops for people whose gardens had been burned in the Pinery fires in South Australia. These talks, work I had done with the Sampson Flat fire recovery, and my more […]
Bushfire Garden Recovery Read More »
This is a great way to create a weed free garden area which can later be planted, and if done properly, it is very effective. It is an ideal way to prepare bare ground for future planting, for making a new vegetable garden or for converting part of the front lawn into a garden bed.
While most gardeners set them up slightly differently to each other, here is my simple step by step guide on how to build one. 1. Choose a site – ideally level and sunny, suitable for growing vegetables. 2. Build a vegetable bed. While most people use wooden sides, you can use an existing bricked or
Building a Wicking Bed Read More »
I admit I am addicted to building wicking beds. I really do love them and if I could start my vegie garden over again, I would probably make the whole thing from wicking beds. I think they are the perfect way to grow vegies in our hot, summer dry climate as the vegies take the
Wicking bed trouble shooting Read More »
There are two main groups when it comes to climbing roses – those that only flower once in spring and those that repeat flower from spring till autumn. Spring flowering roses Spring-flowering roses include old-fashioned favourites such as Dorothy Perkins, Albertine and the banksia rose. These are not pruned now, but rather after they finish
Pruning Climbing Roses Read More »
If you have only got a small garden or a small patch in which to grow produce, it is vital to make good choices about the vegies you want to grow. You can be remarkably productive in just a few square metres or less, and even if there is no ‘in ground space’ you can
Small Space Vegies Read More »
Over the years I have noticed that the best gardeners I know are all passionate about their soil. Whether it is Peter Cundall looking lovingly at a handful of good soil muttering sweet nothings like “……..so good you could eat it”, or Lolo Houbein author of One Magic Square and Outside the Magic Square, or
Fall in love with your soil Read More »