Autumn is a great time to enact tree planting projects or to replace those depleted or dead plants that have suffered from either old age or harsh summer conditions. Autumn is also a great time to enjoy the colours provided by deciduous trees. Many people are unaware that the Illawarra region is home to two […]
This myth really irks me! Wherever I go I hear the same old, same old – that native plants are short-lived. Yet, in front of my eyes I constantly see beautiful 400 year old Eucalyptus; Wattles that are over a hundred years old; Paperbarks that have seen the centuries pass by, along with Banksias, Bottlebrush […]
This summer was a particularly difficult season for many traditional gardeners throughout the highlands. Being the fourth warmest summer on record along with a very dry winter/spring. Extreme temperatures were experienced this summer with January having 11 days above 30 and February 8 days. After an exceptional start last Autumn (311mm of rain received in March) we had only 40% of […]
The Problem with Leylandii Whilst not declared an environmental weed in this Shire (Yet!), this plant is certainly an undesirable, nuisance plant in the Southern Highlands and many other areas. We are not alone in this opinion. Earlier this year at a Wingecarribee Council meeting, many concerns about the extensive use of this plant in […]
We have caught wind of a rumour this week that the Southern Highlands doesn’t have any native gardens worthy of note. Our extensive client base in the Highlands and the long list of native gardens we have personally established would refute this rumour. The traditional Southern Highlands exotic garden is very formal and requires huge […]
All plants require a good balance of nutrients in the soil to thrive and native plants are certainly no exception. Native plants have adapted to thrive on our older (low nutrient) soils and work in conjunction with soil bacteria to utilise all available nutrients. It is more important to have a healthy, living soil than […]
There is common a misperception that you can’t mix native and exotic plants in the same garden. The result is usually either the complete exclusion of one or the other in a landscape or they get shoved into a corner somewhere segregated from the rest of the garden. With thoughtful design and plant selection, native […]
For many years Wariapendi has been in conflict with the traditional Southern Highlands gardener who believes that Leylandii Pines, Photinia hedges and Manchurian Pears are the Mecca when it comes to gardens. In our eyes this is what we call “that 70’s look” and it should be left behind. We firmly believe they should have […]
Australia’s outlook is for an even more sunburnt country with extremes of prolonged droughts alternated with flooding rains. Last week the Bureau of Meteorology released the latest “State of the Climate” report which outlined climate change is happening and is having a tangible impact on Australia. Our country is experiencing very hot days more frequently and […]
The Southern Highlands has experienced its fair share of windy weather this winter. A well designed windbreak can be a welcome relief from the wind. Native plants are a crucial choice in developing windbreaks – with correct species selection you can achieve a long-lived, sustainable and beautiful windbreak that not only provides protection from the wind, […]
