DFB's Greenthumb Project

[DFB FGXR6]

Another Lockdown project involved planting a Japanese Maple in this large glazed pot.



Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku' or Coral Bark Maple is so named because of the vivid pink stems in winter. Once the foliage re-appears in the spring and summer, the colour of the stems subsides. In the garden, this Maple will grow to about 6m high and 5m wide. In a pot, the tree won't reach those numbers. The foliage is green for most of the year, turning yellow and orange in the autumn.

The Maple will be viewed from the kitchen window, so the pink stems of this variety should provide some interest in the winter. Under planted with some Polyanthus for some extra winter colour.

[Tonz]

would love to have your soil's but good whete I am has clay and limestone, kinda limits one's choices. Couple years ago started adding home made compost but produce so little and it does not make any difference, one looses enthusiasm.

[DFB FGXR6]

More winter colour......



Matthiola incana or Stock are winter flowering annuals prized for their sweetly scented flowers. They need full sun and will start to flower mid winter, finishing off as the warmth of Spring arrives.

Hiding in the background is Camellia 'Tinsie', a variety that produces thousands of small, highly detailed flowers. Tinsie is said to be sun tolerant, although mine has summer sun till about 1pm and shelter there after.



Removing a few winter weeds, using my mower to shred them up. The two-stroker is ideal for this, bogging momentarily before revving it's head off and turning the weeds into mulch.

[Citroënbender]

Do you reckon I can split a mature, healthy, in-ground Photinia, by chopping the root mass in half? I’ve got one that’s basically wasting space and I’d like to plant it out along a fenceline, with the idea it will grow from the present 1900mm to 2400-3000mm tall in better light.

The idea would be to move one half now, and when that’s established, move the other half.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Do you reckon I can split a mature, healthy, in-ground Photinia, by chopping the root mass in half? I’ve got one that’s basically wasting space and I’d like to plant it out along a fenceline, with the idea it will grow from the present 1900mm to 2400-3000mm tall in better light.

The idea would be to move one half now, and when that’s established, move the other half.

Winter is the best time to do that sort of thing, so if you are going to try it, do it now.

General rule of thumb is to firstly prune the plant back by about a third, helping to reduce the amount the root system has to support. Dig the plant up, taking as much of the root system as you can, pruning any larger roots that get damaged. Have your transplant hole already dug. Water in well, perhaps with a product from Multi-crop called "Plant Starter", this will encourage the development of new roots. Apply that every 7 -10 days.

[Citroënbender]

Cheers, good point on the seasonal timing - that was just coincidence to me. Got Multicrop concentrate, have found it a real lifesaver when I’ve been a bit brutal in re-planting.

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Winter is the best time to do that sort of thing, so if you are going to try it, do it now.

General rule of thumb is to firstly prune the plant back by about a third, helping to reduce the amount the root system has to support. Dig the plant up, taking as much of the root system as you can, pruning any larger roots that get damaged. Have your transplant hole already dug. Water in well, perhaps with a product from Multi-crop called "Plant Starter", this will encourage the development of new roots. Apply that every 7 -10 days.

Just finished, my timeline was a bit disrupted by people dying but it’s split, heavily pruned, half replanted and both sites watered in with ~10 litres Multicrop solution at the recommended dilution rate. Needed my round nose shovel, my narrow post hole shovel, the wide-tipped crowbar and recipro saw! Thanks for the encouragement.

[Work Horse]

Traps for young players this time of year...

I pick some self sown parsley to garnish my fava beans on toast, not wearing glasses.

The leaves seemed a different texture when I chop them.

Closer inspection with glasses revealed I had harvested some of the wifes ranunculus.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Work Horse

Traps for young players this time of year...

I pick some self sown parsley to garnish my fava beans on toast, not wearing glasses.

The leaves seemed a different texture when I chop them.

Closer inspection with glasses revealed I had harvested some of the wifes ranunculus.

Oooops! I bet you were popular.

[Citroënbender]

Wouldn’t it give you the trots? Hopefully none was actually consumed.

[DFB FGXR6]

Did a pre-sale clean-up at this property a few weeks ago, visiting again to give the lawns a quick once over prior to the hand-over next week.

Several of the very well established Camellia's were in full bloom, really lifting the rather bland landscape.





Also had a chance to play with these nifty Bosch powered secateurs, borrowed by one of my clients (doofus here forgot to put his own pair back in the tool box ).

https://www.bosch-diy.com/au/en/p/ea...08b2100-v50236
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08WSK8...A3JWKAKR8XB7XF





Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the concept here is when enough resistance is detected, the power function kicks in to assist in getting through thicker material. It made light work of pruning back an established Pomegranate tree. For lighter material, it works as any normal pair of secateurs would.

[Work Horse]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Wouldn’t it give you the trots? Hopefully none was actually consumed.

Fortunately I noticed before it was too late.

I say I only need glasses for reading, but as I get on I actually need them for seeing...

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Work Horse

Fortunately I noticed before it was too late.

I say I only need glasses for reading, but as I get on I actually need them for seeing...

Probably best you did!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus

"All Ranunculus (buttercup) species are poisonous when eaten fresh, but their acrid taste and the blistering of the mouth caused by their poison means they are usually left uneaten. Poisoning in livestock can occur where buttercups are abundant in overgrazed fields where little other edible plant growth is left, and the animals eat them out of desperation. Symptoms of poisoning include bloody diarrhea, excessive salivation, colic, and severe blistering of the mouth, mucous membranes and gastrointestinal tract. When Ranunculus plants are handled, naturally occurring ranunculin is broken down to form protoanemonin, which is known to cause contact dermatitis in humans and care should therefore be exercised in extensive handling of the plants.[11] The toxins are degraded by drying, so hay containing dried buttercups is safe."

[Work Horse]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Oooops! I bet you were popular.

She has not noticed and I don't see any reason to upset her with the information.

Lets just keep it between us!

[Tonz]

for a man of your standards and quality that thing is a bl***y disgrace
time for you to have a day cleaning it.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Tonz

for a man of your standards and quality that thing is a bl***y disgrace
time for you to have a day cleaning it.

Ha ha, not my machine and I don't think the boss would approve of me detailing it!

[DFB FGXR6]

A few Freesia's that are flowering in a pot on the back deck.

[Rallye Sport]

Any news on those potatoes you planted DFB?
I pulled ours over the weekend, we got a couple of kg's from each plant. It was quality over quantity though (I'm a bit of a potato snob, long story, I'll share if you have time)
Made a cracking potato salad with home grown spring onions and eggs from the girls out the back

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Any news on those potatoes you planted DFB?
I pulled ours over the weekend, we got a couple of kg's from each plant. It was quality over quantity though (I'm a bit of a potato snob, long story, I'll share if you have time)
Made a cracking potato salad with home grown spring onions and eggs from the girls out the back

I have not been able to get back to the property I planted the potatoes at due to lockdowns so can give no update sorry.

Share away, I have all the time in the world these days.

[Tonz]

For the school camp site I manage, or am trying to bring up to standards, I am in need of a plant. here are my list of requirements.
Ground cover
easy to walk on
grows in very impoverished soil
native ??
can be mown if needed.
Drought tolerant
Prefer no flowers....removes chance of bees and their stings

is there such a thing

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by Tonz

…is there such a thing

Synthetic grass?
If you want it low like lawn, what about a herb such as oregano?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Tonz

For the school camp site I manage, or am trying to bring up to standards, I am in need of a plant. here are my list of requirements.
Ground cover
easy to walk on
grows in very impoverished soil
native ??
can be mown if needed.
Drought tolerant
Prefer no flowers....removes chance of bees and their stings

is there such a thing

That is a tricky set of requirements. The need to be walked on and the drought tolerance being the hardest to satisfy.

If there was an element of shade, Dwarf Mondo Grass, Dichondra or Pratia would be great choices. All of those need decent watering though.

Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) could be an option -
https://www.herbcottage.com.au/produ...creeping-thyme

Have a look at Myoporum parvifolium, it will take some foot traffic and is generally pretty tough native -
https://www.gardeningwithangus.com.a...rea-boobialla/
https://plantsinabox.com.au/products...lium-fine-leaf

Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata) could also work -
https://www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/kenn...unning_postman

Another option could be Dampiera diversifolia -
https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp7/dam...ersifolia.html



Some good ideas here to consider. I think there will need to be some compromise in your requirements though.
https://www.baag.com.au/lawn-alterna...nting-options/

[Rallye Sport]

+1 for the Kennedia and Oregano.

Grevillea obtusifolia, Gingin gem, maybe. Make sure you specify the prostrate, ground covering variant. Keep the traffic off it whilst its establishing but after that it'll thrive on neglect.

[Tonz]

knew i could get some great ideas here. Thank you.
While I know what few natives will survive over here, I am not one to stick to protocol, It grows here so everybody grows it. I would love to experiment and give the kids some options.

[FTE217]

I’ve seen DFB but can’t add anymore to the subject.

I can here being earlier there was some nice spring in the air pics.
I took these around our place couple weeks ago.
Such a great time And with lockdown it’s been keeping me occupied.

Gorgeous wattle blooming.


And some cleaning up


And fixed up the lighting

The boss looking over his kingdom

And what’s popping up round the front

And the other side of the earlier pics



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[FTE217]

Luv you to build me a stone house rokwiz.

My uncle had a 2storey place lower level was all huge mud brick - so cool too was cedar.
Such a balanced cool looking place…..

On another note.
Not bad for living in the rat race.
This little fella came rustling around the back yard just on sunset tonight




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[Tonz]

dang you eastern states guys are so fortunate, good rich soils

Clay, sand and limestone where I live & work. One way its harder than concrete, the next it slides off your spade its so wet boggy and slippery. Plus lack of water.
Where we live the landlords have finally plumbed the biolyticx septic system into spare water tank and once a day this is spray pumped onto our garden the difference is amazing.

[FTE217]

Yes love jap maples - awesum to have look so good.

Here’s our ornament starting to bloom





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[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Yes love jap maples - awesum to have look so good.

Here’s our ornament starting to bloom
image
image
image


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Nice Weeping Cherry, assuming Snow Fountains?

[FTE217]

yes mate......
Wife wasn't that happy in the spot we put it thinking it wouldn't fill the space but I told her patience it will grow enough where its needed and in bloom will be perfect.
She loves it now.

I didn't need lockdown to get into the garden but having all the time in the world weekend after weekend so glad getting on top of a lot of maintenace and enhancements.
Good therapy as you know.