Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Greenfish build - all going good 721Oct 08, 2013 11:21 pm Perhaps it likes lots of water but also well drained soil? Re: Greenfish build - all going good 722Oct 17, 2013 6:43 pm You are probably right trees. Got any suggestions for natives that like it boggy? lol Re: Greenfish build - all going good 723Oct 17, 2013 7:35 pm Native sedges and rushes, boronias, swamp banksias, some callistemons, lillypillies, swamp lillies and callas (well, the last is not actually native but even so.. I also love Louisiana swamp lillies as well). Native violets and ferns would do well too in shade. This is of course not an exhaustive list but I'm sure a nursery will give you lots more ideas. Also the native wisteria (Hardenbergia) seems to do well in boggy conditions, I've seen it with its feet wet or dry when bushwalking Are you going to treat the soil with gypsum? I am presuming it is a clay mix... Re: Greenfish build - all going good 724Oct 18, 2013 12:47 pm Thanks trees. I have planted quite a few callistemons elsewhere that are doing well, don't know why I didn't think of them for here. Lillypilies are a bit of a pest around here, the environment officer who gave me the endangered strzeleicki gums asked me to rip out some lillypillies established on the nature strip. I don't know the reason why to be honest. Our soil is quite clayish, I haven't treated any of it - just added native food when planting. I confess I know nothing when it comes to plants. The top soil itself is actually quite good as it's ex pasture land and there are still cows next to us on the higher ground, so we get their run off to fertilise. I will look into the other plants you mentioned. Our local nursery recommended the poor leptospermum which sadly didn't make it. Might try to visit a different nursery tomorrow. Re: Greenfish build - all going good 725Oct 18, 2013 3:05 pm Gf if the Leptospernum drowned, I definitely think you need to plant some rushes and sedges!! The thing about clay is that once the plant gets its roots down it will hit either boggy or very hard clay depending on the season, and that's the problem. Gypsum worked in to clay makes it friable and allows oxygen to the roots and removes hard clods which are hard for the roots to grow through. The other alternative is to plant in large mulched mounds which will allow good drainage. Some lilly pillys grow like weeds in some climates so maybe that's why? It all depends on growing conditions. The other plant I forgot to mention is Dampiera, there are different types (little bushes, spreading groundcovers) but they all have gorgeous blue flowers, and Wedding Bush (Ricinocarpus). Lovely white flowers- hence the name. Just bought a "Wedding candle" (hybrid) the other day for my fence line. Some honey myrtles might also be suitable. I've pasted a link to my favourite native nursery. They have listed heaps more than me but bear in mind these are all WA natives... http://www.lullfitz.com.au/georges_list ... lerant.asp Re: Greenfish build - all going good 726Nov 03, 2013 7:56 pm Thanks maybe I should add something to the soil. I have honey myrtles already too! And some dampiera in my rock garden lol. I was hoping to get something a little taller. I might just try planting it another foot or so higher up the little embankment and that may do the job, I might incorporate this with a raised mound. They are working well for our fruit trees. I still haven't gotten to the nursery yet. Far too much going on lately but hopefully things settle down soon. Oh can I ask - our fruit trees have been in a year now, some are fruiting already but I have a vague idea I should rip these fruit off to allow them to concentrate on growing instead. Is that right?? Re: Greenfish build - all going good 727Nov 04, 2013 8:53 pm greenfish Thanks maybe I should add something to the soil. I have honey myrtles already too! And some dampiera in my rock garden lol. I was hoping to get something a little taller. I might just try planting it another foot or so higher up the little embankment and that may do the job, I might incorporate this with a raised mound. They are working well for our fruit trees. I still haven't gotten to the nursery yet. Far too much going on lately but hopefully things settle down soon. Oh can I ask - our fruit trees have been in a year now, some are fruiting already but I have a vague idea I should rip these fruit off to allow them to concentrate on growing instead. Is that right?? I don't think that makes much difference. Whereas pruning (rather than taking the fruit off prematurely) can be beneficial. If you cut out some branches, the fruit that is produced on the remaining branches will be larger. You don't really need to prune a young tree or a fruit tree at all unless it has leggy, spindly growth, cos the framework won't support a heavy crop down the track. Pruning will make it send out stronger branches. Also, if the branches are intertwining it's good to open it up to improve air circulation, (kinda like you do with a rose) and will make your picking easier too. But if you never prune except for taking off dead wood, that's fine too. If your trees are growing quite strongly with a good framework of branches, then personally I'd leave them be. Re: Greenfish build - Garden talk 728Nov 11, 2013 1:01 pm LOL love that you compare pruning to how to do roses - like I have any idea of that either!! hehehe. I ended up ripping most of my fruit off, my nectarines are diseased - leaf curl it's been diagnosed with by the nursery - and my orange is looking a bit not right too. I've now fertilised everything and have finally purchased and planted a lime as well. My herbs are getting a bit pot bound, so will have to find some nice bigger pots to replant them into - especially my rosemary and the sage. I planted some more in the pebble garden out the front the other day too..just wish we could finish off the driveway, so I can finish off at least one pebble garden bed........... Our ride on mower has died now, so looks like we need to invest in a new one ho hum Re: Greenfish build - Garden talk 729Nov 11, 2013 9:44 pm Oh not good, such a shame! Did they tell you how to treat it? We just finished eating our beetroot. Baked or boiled with sour cream on top they are yum. We're now starting to harvest our leeks. They are a bit overcrowded in the pot and I pulled one up the other day, it's the size of a spring onion. Oh well we live and learn! I guess DH is loving the thought of a new ride-on? But I guess the novelty wears off really quickly? Re: Greenfish build - Garden talk 730Nov 13, 2013 12:29 pm I'm probably more excited about a new ride on as they have much better steering now, will be nice to do tighter circles!!! Not looking forward to paying for it lol. We borrowed father in laws mower the other day - both to mow and to try out with view to purchasing one like his. So glad we tried it out, it's fine for DH and FIL, but as I'm built differently it was painful for me, my knees kept banging hard bits - right on the bone. It's funny because I have the same length legs as DH (so convenient for car swapping) but my knees are lower which is why I have this problem and he doesn't lol So now we have to go into the shop and both 'bump' around on it to see if either of us collide how insane. I have never had boiled beetroot. I am roasting some tonight... will have to try boiled next time. The only time I've grown leeks I spring onions width too....hehe Regarding the leaf curl, I have to fertilise (tick) then wait for new growth and if some leaves come out good then I can rip off some of the curlies, and can't really do anything else until next winter then I have to treat it with something I bought...in a box...lol see told you I was hopeless!! Re: Greenfish build - Garden talk 731Nov 20, 2013 8:34 pm Bordeaux mix for the leaf curl..... and you will have to spray it twice....once just before the buds burst open and then about 3 weeks later. It is recommended that you remove the fruit from trees in their first year so that they can put all their energy into developing a good root system. Ours are into year 3 and this year we have oodles of fruit setting. Deemaree Kyndylan Capers: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=46852 My blog: http://www.sufficientlysufficient.blogspot.com/ Re: Greenfish build - Garden talk 732Jan 08, 2014 7:12 pm OK so here are a couple of pics of some of my plantings. The last couple of months has seen lots of growth - in particular the kangaroo apple and some hemp bushes. I know that the trees don't look very big but don't forget they were planted as bubby tube stock 6 months ago, I am very happy. The rock garden plants are going great guns too. Best pop out and water them now, it's been a couple of days since it rained... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Driveway plantings Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ pebble garden at front door Re: Greenfish build - garden pics 733Jan 14, 2014 5:23 pm "Groan".... Oh no, just when I thought I was over my "acre-envy" your pics have started me up again Re: Greenfish build - garden pics 734Jan 16, 2014 10:04 am Nah - just think how much extra work is involved trees Re: Greenfish build - garden pics 735Jan 18, 2014 5:15 pm DH and I don't mind any amount of gardening. A wonderfully clean and tidy house AND a fabulous garden ?? No chance!! Re: Greenfish build - garden pics 737May 27, 2014 11:34 am As promised some new photos for you trees. As you can see some of the tubestock have grown impressively over the last few months, whereas some others have not grown quite so much. I'm just happy that they are all still alive, that's a win in my book!! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Apologies for the grass length. The only nice days I've been at work, otherwise it's been quite wet. I took these photos between showers. The initial plant is a lomandra, which when planted was only about an inch high. The bigger buses you can see are a eucalypt, and behind that a hemp bush and a kangaroo apple. The hemp bush is well over my head now - and we have cut it back. The kangaroo apple is very very bushy. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The front garden is coming along great guns. I finished the shaping of the garden bed and path itself a few months ago and am quite proud of myself to be honest! We are also getting grass in the dirt in front of the house now which is fabulous. We cleaned our windows about 6 weeks ago - the first time since moving in seeing as our dirt was actually disappearing. I'm actually regretting we did, although it looks fabulous since then we have had 4 galahs crash into our windows - on 4 different days. The poor stupid things. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ When should I prune my fruit trees again? My citrus are not doing so great. I really wish I knew what I was doing with gardening, but my fruit trees especially. I just don't know how to take care of them. On another note, after being out of action for around 8 months the kanga is running again, and we have managed to put a total of 34 or 36 trailer loads (we lost count one day) of dirt into the backyard now. It's almost completely shaped back there which means soon we can start the garden beds I have planned for my poor pot bound herbs, as well as my raised beds for my long awaited for vegie patch. Whilst I do that, DH will get to work on finishing our driveway. Last week we had to get our crossover sealed as council decided we were in breach of our occupancy certificate and threatened us legal action if we didn't do it. So that's done now, but unfortunately all the dirt they dug up got spread over the start of our driveway (you can see the darker bits in the first photo) it's quite thick, and with all the rain we have had it's turned into mud which is quite slippy and disgusting, so now DH will have to scrape that up and hopefully reveal our nice hard rock beneath again. He then wants to edge the whole thing and dump numerous tonnes of the smaller rock on it. They also didn't put crushed rock between the crossover and the road - just more dirt, so it is now mud and there is a very noticeable bump when you drive on it. I'm not too happy to be honest. We had $4k worth of drainage work done over the summer too, there are several pits, agi pipe and spoon drains across the property now. It seems to be working as despite all the rain as we can still walk across it and the ground is still firm which is so exciting and a massive difference. Re: Greenfish build - tube stock one year on 738May 30, 2014 11:25 am Hi GF I found the Burke's backyard article helpful, especially the following: http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsh ... itrus/2132 Citrus pruning It is not necessary to prune citrus to produce fruit. The trees can be pruned however if it is necessary to shape them in some way, for example to remove low hanging branches, or to remove branches that are rubbing and can cause bark damage and allow an entry point for disease. Use secateurs (for small branches) and a pruning saw (thicker stems) for the task. Tip: Make a small cut underneath the branch first then cut through from the top. This will stop the bark tearing. Citrus may also require pruning if too heavy a crop is produced. A heavy crop can weigh down branches to the point where they can break, especially after heavy rain. In this situation either remove some of the fruit to lighten the weight or cut out some of the smaller branches. The heavy crop can be avoided again by removing some of the young, developing fruit before it gets too big. The tree will then produce larger fruit. (We've just planted some of our fruit trees from pots but have had to leave off transplanting our other lemon and mandarin which are bursting with fruit...As this could be disastrous for the trees. DH is eating mandarins like crazy to use them up before we put it in! We had another lemon variety in a pot and did plant it out though after picking some young fruit off it and it has done well. ) Good job on the front garden bed! For the first time we've decided not to have any beds directly against the house walls and DH has planted some kike at the back. We're waiting for the retaining wall for the verandah to go in at the front. I think Kike might be a mistake and we will regret it later. I'm jealous of your lawn though. Already I can't keep up with the weeds in the existing garden bed at the back of the shed...DH composted from the chook pen and I now have wheat coming up everywhere as well as cape weed and onion grass and kike from the next block.... Your house roof does not show rusting other than some surface rust on the flashings. In my opinion you dont need to replace or paint the roof other than treat surface rust… 1 10208 Very common on rendered homes Smaller suppliers get the lower quality raw materials 6 11861 4 14292 |