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Gardening

Wisdom from a plant whisperer

Bernard Chapman

Bernard Chapman

August 11, 2017

As a proud garden-variety (but trained!) horticulturist, who has tended gardens on Sydney’s leafy North Shore for almost thirty years, I have learnt a few things about my craft. Some of it has come to me by application on site, other gems have come from friends (often fellow horticulturists), and some were either learnt while I studied horticulture in the early 1990s or ongoing inservice, or have been gleaned from Google; or the many fine garden books I still possess.

Also, as a former National President of the Australian Institute of Horticulture (Inc.), former member of AILDM, and current member of the Horticultural Media Association (NSW), I have built up a substantial body of gardening knowledge and I thought that other gardeners and horticulturists may be interested in some of the more salient points that I have discovered.

 

  1. SOME PLANTS ARE DUDS, EVEN IF THEY ARE FASHIONABLE 

We live in environmentally sensitive times, so I am amazed how often clients and friends want to perform vandalism against Mother Nature by planting something recommended to them, sometimes by horticulturists, but which reek havoc as they need constant spraying or produce seemingly unlimited offspring.

Fraxinus griffithii, evergreen ash, covered in seed

 

The two worst offenders for me, which I spend my life dealing with, because some landscaper has imposed them on clients’ gardens, are the evergreen ash (Fraxinus grifitthii) and sweet viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum). They are both promiscuous, the former like privet, and the latter so heavily diseased-prone, you will spend your life spraying it for mites, aphids and other pests. I include ‘Emerald Lustre’, a cultivar of Viburnum odoratissimum, in this list, even though others have tried to tell me it is less disease prone.

An excellent under-utilised hedging plant alternative to these plants is Xylosma senticosum. It is fast growing, almost disease free, glossy leaved, clips well, and is hardy once established.

Clipped hedge of Xylosma senticosum

 

  1. DON’T PLANT ANYTHING FOR A CHALLENGE! 

Several years ago a friend bought a house in Leura in the Blue Mountains above Sydney. I offered to buy him a plant as a housewarming present. I imagined that he would want some cool climate plant like a smoke bush (Cotinus), lilac (Syringia), or maybe a rhododendron. He was touched with my offer and exclaimed, “A frangipani!” I pointed out that this was not a suitable plant for a climate prone to frosts, and he replied:

“I like the idea of a challenge!”

Perhaps wrongly, I did buy him want he wanted, and saw over the next couple of years a robust (expensive) plant decline to death, even though it was kept in a pot. Wicked! Cruel!

 

  1. RSPCP FOR PLANTS (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Plants) 

The point before this leads into an idea I have to create an organisation to protect plants against human beings! Years ago, in sunny Northbridge, I crossed the road from a garden I maintained, and told the man collecting his mail, that if there were an RSPCP, I would have to report him for cruelty to his Belgium hybrid clivia. They were planted in full afternoon sun and were seriously stressed.

After he ascertained that even though I seemed crazy, I probably wasn’t dangerous, he told me he had better hire me to save the plants. I have now worked for him for over ten years. Obviously the clivia were the first plants moved!

So, please do not prune plants hard mid winter, wherever you live, grow shade-loving plants in afternoon sun, plant plants with half the root ball above ground, forget to water…or… I may have to come after you.

 

Pimple psyllid on lilly pilly

 

  1. DISEASE RESISTANCE 

When choosing plants many of us are dazzled by stunning flowers and luxuriant foliage, when we see it in the nursery. Rarely do people consider whether a plant is disease resistant or not, or whether it is suitable for their particular situation. At nurseries there are (some) naughty sales people who will sell you a plant, knowing you will spend your life spraying it. Again this is environmental craziness, especially for ornamentals. Ask about disease resistance or check online before visiting the nursery.

A few years ago, to their credit Alpine Nurseries at Dural, near Sydney, they removed several Syzgium australe cultivars that they stocked, as they were prone to psyllid, after I made a request for them to stock psyllid-resistant cultivars. Thank you Craig Rich!

Psyllid-resistant Syzygium Select Form growing at wholesale nursery Alpine Nurseries in northern Sydney

 

Don’t leave plant roots exposed too long

 

  1. ROOTS DO NOT LIKE TO BE OUT OF THE GROUND!

If you dig a plant up, do not leave its root ball exposed for too long, especially not in the sun!!!! Steep the root ball in water with seaweed extract added. Cut back leaves by a third to half to aid recovery (less shock). It is amazing how such a practice aids a successful transplant. I ask clients to imagine if they had roots, happily in the ground and then suddenly ripped out and exposed to sun and air. If you were a plant you, too, might go into shock!

 

  1. YOU MAY BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST, BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE YOU ARE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT PLANTS THAN I AM!

I am sometimes bewildered by people, usually men, who I accept are more intelligent and better educated than I am, who will still try to tell me that they know more about plants and their care than I do. I do not know everything and only yesterday told a friend that I did not know the name of a plant we saw. Often, though, I have valuable information to share, sometimes even for free, so it can be worth listening to me and other horticulturists.

 

Dying keel on Strelitzia flower

 

  1. AUSSIE YACHTS NOT ONLY ONES WITH HIDDEN KEELS

The flower of Strelitzia reginae is a dramatic, colourful sculpture. Years ago a florist showed me that by removing dying keels (the orange wing on the top), the flower can be made to flower for a much longer period, as new ones rise up to replace the one removed. Importantly, this works whether the flowers are cut or left on the plant. There are plants in some of the gardens I maintain which are covered with flowers, because I have carried out this simple maintenance tip. It is important to pull the failing keels out gently, so as not to pull out the healthy ones coming on as well.

Strelitzia flower with keel removed

           

  1. WATERING, MULCHING AND FEEDING

It does seem crazy to have to mention these three basic garden activities, but is amazes me how they are often neglected by people who consider themselves gardeners. It is true the way a plant looks after over-watering or under-watering can be similar, but it is important to arm yourself with the knowledge of how much water a plant needs. Some succulents can go without water for ages, especially in winter, while some ferns need constant vigilance.

Mulching your garden will suppress weeds and hold moisture, and the organic forms will improve the soil texture as they break down. Mulching will also keep the soil warm in winter, cool in summer. If you are selling a house, mulching the garden gives the same affect as when you frame a picture: it enhances it and finishes it off.

It is surprising how well plants can grow without intervention. However, if you do give them some TLC, such as a feed, it is hardly surprising that they thrive, grow more lushly, flower and fruit more bountifully and look better, too.

 

Weeds like flickweed are little time bombs waiting to go off

 

  1. WEEDS!

I tell my clients that weeds are really time bombs. If left, they will explode by some mechanism to spread their genes. It is good to weed, but it is important to consolidate your weeding with a follow up, especially before the weeds go to seed. If you use the herbicide glyphosate, take off flowers and seeds before doing so. Avoid ‘Once-A-Year Path Weeder’ in areas near garden beds, or you could kill existing plants and create a situation where you cannot grow anything in the bed for nine months after using this herbicide as it contains a pre-emergent which stops seeds germinating.

 

Healthy Japanese box hedge

 

  1. BUXUS (OILS AIN’T OILS)

This can be true of many plants – that one species does not perform well where another does. I find box (Buxus) is an excellent example of this. Japanese box (Buxus microphylla var. japonica) is a robust, glossy green leafed plant with heart shaped leaves. It is much more disease resistant than its cousins, the Dutch, English and Korean box. These related species and varieties like the sun less, grow much more slowly, are less bushy, and are also more likely to suffer from scale problems, at least in the temperate climate of Sydney. If you are going to use box, check which species is right for situation your climate, before buying.

English box does not thrive in warmer climates

 

  1. SOILS MAKE US HAPPY! 

Not surprising to a gardener, there are benefits to working in the soil, as there is a microbe in the soil that seems to make us happy. I had heard of this on an ABC news program several years ago, as apparently it was discovered as a possible aid to cancer patient’s mental health after they have had chemotherapy. I later read about it on a post on GardenDrum (Microbes Make You Merry) and, most recently, learnt more about it from Sophie Thomson, the ABC Gardening Australia presenter (Garden for Life at the Royal Adelaide Show). Dig deep and be happy!

 

  1. CONCLUSION

Plants are living things. We need them to live for all kinds of reasons, but especially as they produce the oxygen we need to breathe. They can actually survive without us, but the reverse is not true. However, we can all bring sunshine into the lives of plants by giving them some care. Think about the environment. Choose wisely, so the climate, aspect and general situation is appropriate. Give them the right amount of water. Feed them and mulch them. Show them some appreciation and our earth will be the better for your efforts.

 

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Suellen Harris
Suellen Harris
6 years ago

Thank goodness someone shares my views of Fraxinus griffithii and laburnum varieties. Fraxinus will self seed and laburnum is a shocker for pests. There are so many other plants out there that outperform these plants for form, colour and hardiness.

Bernard Chapman
Bernard Chapman
6 years ago
Reply to  Suellen Harris

Wow, Suellen, it is good to find another kindred spirit! What amazes me is how many people LOVE the sweet Viburnum and Evergreen Ash! As I said in the article, I don’t know why Xylosoma senticosum isn’t used more than it is.

Cheers, Bernard

jenniferstackhouse
6 years ago

Thank you for a wonderful and entertaining gardening lesson Bernard. Well said.
Jennifer

Bernard Chapman
Bernard Chapman
6 years ago

Thanks, Jennifer. You know all this stuff and more! I imagine it will not be long until your garden will look magnificent. Did you ever out in the tapestry pittosporum cultivar hedge?

Love, Bernard

Doreen Clark
Doreen Clark
6 years ago

thanks,Bernard, for your sensible advice. cheers Doreen C

Bernard Chapman
Bernard Chapman
6 years ago
Reply to  Doreen Clark

Dear Doreen, thanks for having a read. Isn’t it great that digging in the soil makes us happy! Happy Gardening!

Maureene
6 years ago

What a wonderful article Bernard, full of commensense advise that we have either forgotten or did not know in the first place.

Bernard Chapman
Bernard Chapman
6 years ago
Reply to  Maureene

You are pretty wise, Maureene, bit, like me, you know we can all learn from each other.

Hugs, Bernard

Murray Hook
6 years ago

An excellent arcticle Bernard
Congratulations!

Bernard Chapman
Bernard Chapman
6 years ago
Reply to  Murray Hook

Thanks for having a read, Murray. We are fortunate to have had a life filled with plants, some which we love, and some we could live without! Hugs, Bernard

Evelyn O'Donoghue
Evelyn O'Donoghue
6 years ago

Some great advice here. The one I will try and act on is to feed my plants. I have all sorts of products to feed plants but seldom apply them! I will try hard to get plant food out of their containers and into the soil!

Bernard Chapman
Bernard Chapman
6 years ago

Yes, Evelyn, buying the fertilisers is a good step, but application is necessary. One of my gardening clients was amazed how much bigger her plants grew, and how much more floriferous they were, following a foliar feed. I still think water is the most miraculous ingredients for gardening, and underutilised. Cheers, Bernard

Anton
Anton
6 years ago

An excellent article, just add rain and there will be a rainbow in your garden!

Bernard Chapman
Bernard Chapman
6 years ago
Reply to  Anton

Anton, agree rain is pretty special stuff, and essential to happy plants. I am pretty partial to rainbows, and aleays enjoy seeing them.

Cheers, Bernard

Ros Andrews
6 years ago

Dear Uncle Bernard, thank you for the distillation of 30 years of wisdom. It’s often a necessary reminder to go back to the basics. Loved your slightly exasperated tone!
Ros

Bernard Chapman
Bernard Chapman
6 years ago
Reply to  Ros Andrews

Dearest Ros, we would love to see you. Hope I didn’t sound too grumpy. Hope life is good. Hugs, Bernard

Boronia Foley
Boronia Foley
6 years ago

Great article – tho why anyone would buy a BORING plant like xylosma is beyond me. I gave mine away and I believe they transplanted well. Garden space is too precious for boring plants.

Bernard Chapman
Bernard Chapman
6 years ago
Reply to  Boronia Foley

Dear Bo, sad that you see Xylosoma as boring, with its shiny leaves I always think its new growth looks like it smiling! You are also really missing my point. Xylosma, when established is incredibly hardy, drought tolerant, and almost disease free, unlike the nasty Viburnum!
Thanks for reading!
Hugs, Bernard

Helen
6 years ago

I enjoy your writing Bernard, and the balance your strike between practical knowledge with a bit of humour. Like you, I think much of what we “know” we learn from experience and is not written in books. And I learned something – I did not know about your tip for maintaining strelitzia flowers. Thanks.

Bernard Chapman
Bernard Chapman
6 years ago
Reply to  Helen

Thanks Helen,
It is amazing what fellow gardeners have taught me.
I also love the sharing of plants, so the cuttings and bulbs always remind me of those who have given them to me!
GardenDrum is also an excellent way to share knowledge, and I am grateful to Catherine for this platform.
Cheers, Bernard