Comments for The Rebel Gardener http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com Gardening Tough, Drought Tolerant Plants Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:48:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Silky Oak, what you really need to know by Rebel Gardener http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/silky-oak/comment-page-1/#comment-246 Rebel Gardener Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:48:32 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=930#comment-246 Hi Roger. Silky oaks are renowned for this and unfortunately the leaf litter is just part of owning one. One option you have though is to prune the offending branches that hang over your neighbours fence. I've seen Silky Oaks that have been pruned quite severely because they're growing under powerlines. They respond quite well to pruning and these specimens formed a low wide canopy like a large mushroom with low hanging branches which bought the flowers closer to the ground. So if you get to the stage where removal is an option, to maintain good neighbour relations, you may be better off pruning it over time into a shape that doesn't cause it to drop leaves in you neighbours yard. Remember, if you live in an area with frosty winters autumn may not be a good time to start pruning it. Hi Roger. Silky oaks are renowned for this and unfortunately the leaf litter is just part of owning one. One option you have though is to prune the offending branches that hang over your neighbours fence. I’ve seen Silky Oaks that have been pruned quite severely because they’re growing under powerlines. They respond quite well to pruning and these specimens formed a low wide canopy like a large mushroom with low hanging branches which bought the flowers closer to the ground. So if you get to the stage where removal is an option, to maintain good neighbour relations, you may be better off pruning it over time into a shape that doesn’t cause it to drop leaves in you neighbours yard. Remember, if you live in an area with frosty winters autumn may not be a good time to start pruning it.

]]> Comment on Silky Oak, what you really need to know by Roger W. Briggs http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/silky-oak/comment-page-1/#comment-245 Roger W. Briggs Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:02:22 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=930#comment-245 Is there anything that can be done to minimize the leaf fall from my large silky oak tree. The tree is over 30 yrs old - was about 400mm high when planted - and is easily 25-30 metres high. Its a wonderful shade tree during summer and a picture when in flower in spring but it drops its leaves all over the neighbour's garden and in his pool and is causing major problems!! Is there anything that can be done to minimize the leaf fall from my large silky oak tree. The tree is over 30 yrs old – was about 400mm high when planted – and is easily 25-30 metres high. Its a wonderful shade tree during summer and a picture when in flower in spring but it drops its leaves all over the neighbour’s garden and in his pool and is causing major problems!!

]]> Comment on Banksia Seminuda by Rebel Gardener http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/banksia-seminuda/comment-page-1/#comment-244 Rebel Gardener Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:17:34 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=51#comment-244 Thanks for the update Steve. Just out of interest what other WA Banksias are you growing and what type of soil do you have? Thanks for the update Steve. Just out of interest what other WA Banksias are you growing and what type of soil do you have?

]]> Comment on Banksia Seminuda by Steve Bromley http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/banksia-seminuda/comment-page-1/#comment-243 Steve Bromley Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:58:34 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=51#comment-243 Hello again Rebel Gardner. Just thought I'd check in again with my Seminuda's progress. There are well over a dozen cones, now starting to flower. It appears these will be yellow. [ Believe there is a red version too]. The cone deveopment, size and positions are very similat to those of b. Integrifolia and indeed are forming at the same time as the integs, which is good news for the little wattlebirds this winter as a food source. There are also indications of many more cones forming as ongoing over the winter. Sarah, I don't think you'll have any problems with the plant surviving the Tassie winter. Most of my W.A. banksias are surrounded by white pebbles, this appears to increase sunlight by reflection from the stones both warming and protecting the plants and retaining moisture in the soil. Perhaps your plant is one that was propagated from surplus ones I grew from seed!!. Did you purchase it in Tassie?. Anyhow good luck and happy growing all. Steve Hello again Rebel Gardner. Just thought I’d check in again with my Seminuda’s progress.
There are well over a dozen cones, now starting to flower. It appears these will be yellow. [ Believe there is a red version too].
The cone deveopment, size and positions are very similat to those of b. Integrifolia and indeed are forming at the same time as the integs, which is good news for the little wattlebirds this winter as a food source. There are also indications of many more cones forming as ongoing over the winter.
Sarah, I don’t think you’ll have any problems with the plant surviving the Tassie winter. Most of my W.A. banksias are surrounded by white pebbles, this appears to increase sunlight by reflection from the stones both warming and protecting the plants and retaining moisture in the soil.
Perhaps your plant is one that was propagated from surplus ones I grew from seed!!. Did you purchase it in Tassie?. Anyhow good luck and happy growing all.
Steve

]]> Comment on Pruning your Alyogyne Huegelii by Noelle/azplantlady http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/pruning-alyogyne-huegelii/comment-page-1/#comment-241 Noelle/azplantlady Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:47:37 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=1668#comment-241 Great information. Here in the States, ours is just starting to produce flower buds in preparation for spring. But, we will be pruning them in the fall :^) Great information. Here in the States, ours is just starting to produce flower buds in preparation for spring. But, we will be pruning them in the fall :^)

]]> Comment on Banksia Seminuda by Rebel Gardener http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/banksia-seminuda/comment-page-1/#comment-240 Rebel Gardener Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:23:56 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=51#comment-240 All the best with it, let me know how it goes. All the best with it, let me know how it goes.

]]> Comment on Banksia Seminuda by Sarah http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/banksia-seminuda/comment-page-1/#comment-239 Sarah Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:33:18 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=51#comment-239 I just planted a Seminuda. I have been looking after this one fairly well, hopefully it comes through winter (a Tassie winter) and puts on a spurt in spring. I just planted a Seminuda. I have been looking after this one fairly well, hopefully it comes through winter (a Tassie winter) and puts on a spurt in spring.

]]> Comment on Grevillea “Pink Ice” by Rebel Gardener http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/grevillea-pink-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-238 Rebel Gardener Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:10:51 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=1398#comment-238 Thanks Phoebe I've found some examples of Pink Ice on the net and it does look similar except the flowers look smaller plus they're obviously not pink. Definitely looks like a case of mistaken identity. Thanks Phoebe I’ve found some examples of Pink Ice on the net and it does look similar except the flowers look smaller plus they’re obviously not pink. Definitely looks like a case of mistaken identity.

]]> Comment on Grevillea “Pink Ice” by Phoebe http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/grevillea-pink-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-237 Phoebe Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:56:36 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=1398#comment-237 Its very beautiful but it looks like a Grevillea magnifica - except the flowers are quite close to the plant, usually they are on quite long flowering stems. Its definitely not Pink Ice though. Sunlight wont affect the flower colour either in grevilleas. Its very beautiful but it looks like a Grevillea magnifica – except the flowers are quite close to the plant, usually they are on quite long flowering stems. Its definitely not Pink Ice though. Sunlight wont affect the flower colour either in grevilleas.

]]> Comment on Alyogyne Huegelii by Rebel Gardener http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/alyogyne-huegelii/comment-page-1/#comment-236 Rebel Gardener Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:13:47 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=1373#comment-236 Hi Jenny Mine has a few yellow leaves as well but probably only 1 or 2 % the rest of the leaves are a vibrant green. The first thing I would check is the potting mix. How well does it drain, does it sit in a saucer where the water collects, how much of the pot do the roots occupy, does you think it may be over potted? Honestly most problems start for Aust Natives with too much water, bad drainage and too much fertilizer. Pot plants will need some Native fertilizer and maybe some Seasol but my bet is your problem might be drainage. Also when most people place a plant in a pot they use a large decorative pot of some description to turn it into a feature. Whenever I do this I keep the plant in a smaller plastic pot that is the right size for the rootball and then place this pot inside the larger feature pot. This will ensure better drainage. Please let me know how you go. Hi Jenny Mine has a few yellow leaves as well but probably only 1 or 2 % the rest of the leaves are a vibrant green. The first thing I would check is the potting mix. How well does it drain, does it sit in a saucer where the water collects, how much of the pot do the roots occupy, does you think it may be over potted?
Honestly most problems start for Aust Natives with too much water, bad drainage and too much fertilizer.
Pot plants will need some Native fertilizer and maybe some Seasol but my bet is your problem might be drainage.
Also when most people place a plant in a pot they use a large decorative pot of some description to turn it into a feature. Whenever I do this I keep the plant in a smaller plastic pot that is the right size for the rootball and then place this pot inside the larger feature pot. This will ensure better drainage. Please let me know how you go.

]]> Comment on Alyogyne Huegelii by Jenny http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/alyogyne-huegelii/comment-page-1/#comment-235 Jenny Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:55:35 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=1373#comment-235 I live in Adelaide, where the temperature throughout summer is often in the high 30's-low 40's. I have a fairly young plant in a pot with regular potting mix and an initial dose of native fertiliser about 6mths ago when I transplanted it from a smaller pot. It has grown quickly and flowered through spring but now, although growing well, has a lot of yellow leaves that look a little like they might if suffering from red spider but there is no evidence of this. Spraying with pyrethrum had no effect. Despite the yellow leaves, it continues to grow well and appears otherwise ok. I have probably been watering it a bit too much given the weather but after reading this article will discontinue this practice. Any suggestions as to how to eliminate the yellowing? I live in Adelaide, where the temperature throughout summer is often in the high 30’s-low 40’s. I have a fairly young plant in a pot with regular potting mix and an initial dose of native fertiliser about 6mths ago when I transplanted it from a smaller pot. It has grown quickly and flowered through spring but now, although growing well, has a lot of yellow leaves that look a little like they might if suffering from red spider but there is no evidence of this. Spraying with pyrethrum had no effect. Despite the yellow leaves, it continues to grow well and appears otherwise ok. I have probably been watering it a bit too much given the weather but after reading this article will discontinue this practice. Any suggestions as to how to eliminate the yellowing?

]]> Comment on Isopogon Formosus by jan http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/isopogon-formosus/comment-page-1/#comment-234 jan Fri, 19 Feb 2010 02:59:24 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=1479#comment-234 No I only took 6 cuttings to try & they struck easily. The bush is also nearly as wide as it is high and has lots of tips which i think should be flowers. No I only took 6 cuttings to try & they struck easily. The bush is also nearly as wide as it is high and has lots of tips which i think should be flowers.

]]> Comment on Alyogyne hakeifolia syn Melissa Anne by Rebel Gardener http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/alyogyne-hakeifolia/comment-page-1/#comment-233 Rebel Gardener Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:21:03 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=351#comment-233 Fair enough! I'd be interested to here how you go propagating the seed. You may get some interesting flower colours if they're cross pollinated with the other flower colours? Fair enough! I’d be interested to here how you go propagating the seed. You may get some interesting flower colours if they’re cross pollinated with the other flower colours?

]]> Comment on Alyogyne hakeifolia syn Melissa Anne by mike http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/alyogyne-hakeifolia/comment-page-1/#comment-232 mike Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:21:51 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=351#comment-232 Just talkin seed pods - not plants. Just talkin seed pods – not plants.

]]> Comment on Alyogyne hakeifolia syn Melissa Anne by Rebel Gardener http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/alyogyne-hakeifolia/comment-page-1/#comment-231 Rebel Gardener Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:25:50 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=351#comment-231 Hi Mike, the original nursery bought plants would have most likely been grown from cuttings. As far as the seedling/suckers go I was referring to the seedlings that had sprung up in your garden. Do you thing they may be seedlings or suckers? Hi Mike, the original nursery bought plants would have most likely been grown from cuttings. As far as the seedling/suckers go I was referring to the seedlings that had sprung up in your garden. Do you thing they may be seedlings or suckers?

]]> Comment on Isopogon Formosus by Rebel Gardener http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/isopogon-formosus/comment-page-1/#comment-230 Rebel Gardener Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:20:15 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=1479#comment-230 If you're already taking cuttings then you probably won't have to tip prune it. Do you think that when you took the the cuttings though, you may have cut off the tips that eventually would have flowered? If you’re already taking cuttings then you probably won’t have to tip prune it. Do you think that when you took the the cuttings though, you may have cut off the tips that eventually would have flowered?

]]> Comment on Isopogon Formosus by jan http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/isopogon-formosus/comment-page-1/#comment-229 jan Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:49:37 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=1479#comment-229 Thank you I bought it from a nursery and have successfuly struck cuttings from this isopogon. Thank you I bought it from a nursery and have successfuly struck cuttings from this isopogon.

]]> Comment on Alyogyne hakeifolia syn Melissa Anne by mike http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/alyogyne-hakeifolia/comment-page-1/#comment-228 mike Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:46:06 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=351#comment-228 They're just nursery bought plants. Purple flowered have set seed but the white haven't. Strange. They’re just nursery bought plants.

Purple flowered have set seed but the white haven’t. Strange.

]]> Comment on Alyogyne hakeifolia syn Melissa Anne by Rebel Gardener http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/alyogyne-hakeifolia/comment-page-1/#comment-227 Rebel Gardener Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:22:42 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=351#comment-227 That's really interesting, no I haven't. Are they seedlings or do you think they may be suckers? I planted a plant about 1m from an Eremophila once and cut through some of the Eremophilas roots in the process. A few months later I had a small Eremophila emerged on the other side of the new plant I'd just planted. The funny thing about the sucker was the leaves were slightly different to the suspected parent Eremophila so I'm waiting for the sucker to flower to confirm if it's a sucker or seedling. My bet is it's a sucker though because Eremophilas don't easily self seed. If you're Alyogynes turn out to seedlings then you may have some interesting flower colours if they're growing close to your cream ones. Please let me know how you go That’s really interesting, no I haven’t. Are they seedlings or do you think they may be suckers? I planted a plant about 1m from an Eremophila once and cut through some of the Eremophilas roots in the process. A few months later I had a small Eremophila emerged on the other side of the new plant I’d just planted. The funny thing about the sucker was the leaves were slightly different to the suspected parent Eremophila so I’m waiting for the sucker to flower to confirm if it’s a sucker or seedling. My bet is it’s a sucker though because Eremophilas don’t easily self seed.
If you’re Alyogynes turn out to seedlings then you may have some interesting flower colours if they’re growing close to your cream ones.
Please let me know how you go

]]> Comment on Alyogyne hakeifolia syn Melissa Anne by Mike http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/alyogyne-hakeifolia/comment-page-1/#comment-226 Mike Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:53:56 +0000 http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/?p=351#comment-226 Have you noticed if all the different types self-seed? I've got a purple flowering one that does but 2 yellow/white that don't. Have you noticed if all the different types self-seed? I’ve got a purple flowering one that does but 2 yellow/white that don’t.

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