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Succulents - a huge number of varieties, succulents are easy to grow and add colour and interest to any garden.
Succulents prefer an open, well drained soil and grow well in pots. Succulents are low maintenance and don’t require a lot of water.
Today we hear what Keith’s Top 10 Succulents are:
1.Tree Aloe, Aloe Barberae, - grows up to 6-9 metres x 3-6 meters. Long straight trunk with a huge succulent head. Pest and disease free.
2. Kalanchoe beharensis, sometimes known as Elephant Ear Kalanchoe or Felt bush. Large felty leaves up to 40cm
3.Cussonia paniculata - growis up to 5 meters with large sculptured and textured leaves.
4.Century Plant, Agave attenuata, has beautiful smooth soft silver foliage in a big rosette.
5. Burbank’s Spineless, Opuntia ficus-indica, . This is a non-invasive form of the prickly pear.
6.Blue Chalk, Senecio serpens, is a beautiful grey groundcover with its cylindrical blue chalks that produces branches of fluffy creamy-white flowers.
7.Australian Pig Face, Carpobrotus rossii is an Australian native that grows in sand along coastlines. The leaves are dark green and it produces a pinky-purple flower with a yellow center that becomes an edible fig.
8. Cotyledon orbiculate ‘Sliver Waves’ is a stunning sculptural plant with large powdery silver leaves and is perfect with pastel coloured plants.
9.Aeonium arboretum ‘Schwarzkopf’ - a stunning plant of black-maroon leaves. It will produce large heads of yellow which contrast beautifully with the dark leaves.
10. Dwarf flowering Aloe - produces masses of single coloured flower stalks. These come in a multitude of colours from yellow, orange, white, red and multi coloured forms.
Happy gardening!
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Q&A time again! Who will be this month’s lucky winner of the fabulous prize donated by The Plant Runner?
What to line our planter boxes with? Any HDPE (High-density polyethylene) is safe for Pinapple guava lining planter boxes. The thicker the better!Where to find Lignite Humate? Keith can’t recommend Clyde's Compost and Clyde’s lignite highly enough, now available at selected Bunnings stores (in Vic). Failing that, Keith suggests BioChar (try Charman) - 2 litres per 2 sq.m and Neutrog Gogo JuiceLow hedging/edible hedge suggestions - when terracing, low levels can have higher hedges and gradually decrease size as you go up. From bottom up: Pineapple guava, Tasmanian Pepperberry, Goji Berry, Salt Bush, Chilean Guava, Tea Plant, Midyim BerryKeith shares some tips on Rondeletia leucophyliaAs with any herbicide, always follow the directions when using Slasher. Can you add compost over ground covers? Yes, lightly won’t be a problem! Also consider Charlie Carp Keith explains how to reduce high pH levelsKeep sending in your questions via DM to Muddy Boots or where needed in between episodes, reach out to Keith @ke_landscape_consultant
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What are the challenges of gardening on a large, rural property? Today we meet Cass Hooke, garden consultant, to tell us more about her experience about building a new garden from scratch.
From her family upbringing to her first paid job with gardener Robert Boyle, Cass has immersed herself with landscaping and gardening. With a passion for conservation and the protection of threatened species, we hear about Cass’s journey and the creation of her garden with all the challenges of low rainfall, bore water and a harsh climate.
Cass share’s her journey of the creation of her rural Riverina NSW garden via her instagram @outbackgardens.
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A garden without birds, bees and butterflies, just isn’t a garden’, says Elisabeth. Today we talk about the importance of attracting pollinators!
Australia is home to over 1500 bees and pollinating insects.
Here are some of the ‘bee magnet’ flowering plants.
SalviasBuddleia (also a favourite with butterflies)Echium (check out the wildpretii variety)PoppiesCosmosAlyssumQueen Anne’s LaceCalendulaDaisiesPenstemonNatives such as wattles, bottle brushes, westringia, grevilleaHerbs such as - borage, rosemary, oregano, thyme, basWhere you can find all things Muddy Boots!
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Tomatoes - Australia’s most grown vegetable (or fruit, actually)! Today we learn Keith’s Top 10 tomatoes.
Easy to grow as long as they are given plenty of feed and plenty of sun.
Lots of top tips today to tomato growing before we hear about Keith’s recommended varieties
Blue BeautyJuane FlammeWapsipinicon PeachSan MarzanoSantoriniTasmanian ChocolateBlack RussianBlack TruffleMortgage LifterTommy ToeSpecial mention too to the Tigerella variety - Keith’s recommendation if you are looking for a prolific fruiter!
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Q&A time again! Who will be this month’s lucky winner of the fabulous prize donated by The Plant Runner?
Leggy seedlings? Likely your newly germinated seeds are looking for as much light as possibleKeith suggests mowing and hedge clipping by the Moon calendar (ie during low sap flow period) to reduce growth rateTips for ‘Little Gem’ magnolia - often sparse up to 1.5m. Keith suggests underplanting with shade tolerant plants. Magnolias are heavy feeders so suggest products like Neutrog Gyganics and liquid fertiliser to kick start.Starting a garden from scratch? Keith recommends having a solid plan!Making your own Biochar? Keith suggests storing ‘uncharged’ and ‘charging’ before use.Long and deep watering is best for lawns and shrubs to encourage deep rooting. Vegetables, on the other hand, need more regular watering as their roots are shallowing. Keith works on 4mm per day.Can bee-keepers stop their bees stinging? Aggressive bees are symptomatic of a bigger problem with the hive that should be addressed by the bee-keeper and may require “requeening” the hiveCamelias not thriving - check soil pH (5.5-6).Pond plants - Keith lists some favourites including cycnogeton procerum, ludwigia palustris, mariophyllum, cyperus papyrus and Bog Plants include carex appressa. Keith recommends Kuranga Native Nursery in Mt. Evelyn, VictoriaKeep sending in your questions to Muddy Boots!
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This episode, Elisabeth and Keith provide invaluable insights into all things lavender. From understanding the importance of well-drained soil and ample sunlight to identifying the best locations for successful cultivation, we'll unveil the secrets to nurturing thriving lavender plants.
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The benefits of a plant based diet are well known. Today we meet Samantha Gowing from Food, Health, Wealth, renowned chef and nutritionist who is passionate about the health benefits of plants.
A fascinating discussion covering the importance of seasonal produce, the myths of ‘super foods’, the medicinal benefits of many plants and striving for the umami flavour for a satisfying plant based diet.
Sam talks about the benefits of some of our basic herbs including parsley, watercress, turmeric, ginger, how to store them for longevity and tips on using the whole plant to reduce waste.
Check out the following to learn more about Samantha Gowing’s work:
Food Health WealthGwinganna Lifestyle RetreatSavour The TweedHappy gardening!
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Needing privacy from neighbours, a wind break or visual separation to divide your garden into rooms or hide a shed? Hear Keith’s Top 10 screening plants for the suburban garden.
Laurus Nobilis ‘Baby Bay’ - 1.2 wide x 2m tallOlive - Mediterranean Midget - 1.5m - 2.5m tallSyzygium Australe Straight and Narrow - 1.2m wide x 6m tallThuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’ - 1.2m wide x 2m tallChoisya Ternata (Mexican Orange Blossom) - 1.5m wide x 1.8m tallSyzygium Australe Pinnacle - 1.5m wide x 6m tallCallistemon viminalis ‘Slim’ - 1.5m wide x 3m tallWestringia Naringa - 1.5m wide x 2.2m tallMurraya paniculata ‘Sweet Privacy’ - 1.5m wide x 2m tallCestrum nocturnum - 1.5m wide x 3m tallHappy gardening!
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Start of Spring is a great time to get going with planning for your Spring/Summer Veggie garden.
Check what climate zone you are in. Keith recommends The Seed Collection’s MapCool Climate Area (most of Vic) - Beans (including Lazy House Wife, Scarlet Runner), Keith will be trialling new dwarf varieties of tomatoes - stay tuned for Keith’s observationsConsider climbing frames for vegetables like cucumbers and pumpkins allowing more space underneath for other plantingRemove finished Winter vegetables and add compost (Clyde's Compost and Clyde’s lignite), MycoGold and Munash Rock Dust and cover with quality mulch like Who Flung Dung. Rest for approx 3 weeks before planting. Water new seedlings in with SeasolTomatoes seedlings can’t be planted until about the end of OctoberSome recommendations for planting now - Carrots, Radishes (try French Breakfast Radish), Sow seeds into paper pots now and keep warm in hothouse or indoors including - eggplant, pumpkin, tomatoes, spring onions, chillis Follow the directions on the packet for seed/seedling spacingMarigold, basil, Spring onions, garlic will all help to deter pestsPea Straw and lucerne are excellent mulches adding nutrients to the soil but will attract birds so best used in beds that will be nettedVegetables need 4mm of water every day. Keith recommends Dan’s Modular SprinklerspH level should be neutral at 7.0Happy veggie gardening!
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Q&A time again! Who will be this month’s lucky winner of the fabulous prize donated by The Plant Runner?
Organic Weed Killers - follow the directions precisely! Keith recommends Slasher, Bioweed or SlayerBanksia’s not flowering? Banksia’s prefer a sandy soil and may take several years to flowerPrune lavender after they’ve finished flowering. Lightly trim back to 4-6 leaves of new growthLawn vs gravel between garden beds - Keith explains why he has opted for grass.Raised beds - timber or colorbond? Keith recommends ModBOX beds (timber). Corrugated iron or colorbond can be good in cooler months but attracts to much heat in summer and can burn roots. Henley's Rustics have wonderful corrugated iron wicking beds for those who prefer metal lookUsing charcoal from your fire? Breakdown with Gogo Juice to create an activated biochar.Potting mix - does it have a shelf life? Store unopened in cool place and it should last approximately 12 monthsManure best left out on the ground for a month or so before use Hydrangeas - only cut back to the nearest node. If cut back to far, you can risk either killing the plant or no flowers the following summerWhere you can find all things Muddy Boots!
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Citrus is one of the most talked about topics on Muddy Boots. Don’t already have a citrus or thinking of adding a new on to your garden? Today we learn Keith’s Top 10 varieties as well as some tips on caring for your citrus.
Citrus like lots of heat, full sun and lots of moisture. In areas prone to frost, look to grow near a ‘heat sink’ (such as a brick wall or a body of water like a pond). Leave frost affected leaves on the plant to protect from further frost until the frost period is finished. Citrus can be planted in pots with regular feeding (worm ‘wee’ is perfect) and plenty of water. Feed all citrus regularly with liquid feed Spring/Summer and slow release feed such as Neutrog Gyganics during Winter months.
Spray all citrus trees with ECO Neem and Eco Oil to prevent pests like citrus miner. Citrus Gall affected branches either need to be either removed or the area opened with a sharp knife to kill the larvae.
Prune regularly to maintain manageable size and shape.
Keith’s Top Ten
Meyer Lemon ‘Prior Lisbon’ LemonTahitian LimeFinger LimeWashington Navel Orange‘Arnold’ Blood OrangeSatsuma Okitsu Mandarin‘Lemonade’ lemonTangelo ‘Seminole’Junos YuzuWhere you can find all things Muddy Boots!
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Following on from last week’s Moon Calendar episode, today we hear more about propagating from seed.
Keith suggests finding out your ‘cool zone’ and ‘heat zone’ to assist with understanding when to plant your seeds.
Seeds can be purchased online via Diggers Club, Seeds of Plenty, Seed Freaks, The Seed Collection,
Before beginning, check the moon calendar to guide when to sow the seeds for best results.
Seeds can be sown either directly or into punnets (check the packet for recommendations). When sowing into punnets use a seed raising mix and consider sowing into paper pots to avoid root disturbance when transplanting. When sowing directly, the soil should be an open, friable soil with plenty of compost. Hard seeds such as peas, beans, broad beans etc can be soaked for 6-8 hours to speed up germination.
Sow seeds at a depth of twice their width. How far apart to sow your seeds will depend on the seed variety - again check the packet and think about the size of the vegetable you’re growing. To sow in optimum warmth, consider a greenhouse or replicate this effect in a sunny spot inside, next to your hot water service or a mini greenhouse. Ensure watering with a soft spray to avoid disturbing seed/seedling (approx 5 minutes every second day). Once germinated and seedlings have 2-4 true leaves, a tonic such as Seasol can be applied. Once the seedling has 4-6 leaves, take them outside to ‘harden off’ before planting into the garden. Again, transplanting is best done during the high growth period, according to the moon calendar. Protect your young seedlings from pests, potentially covering them with netting. Spray weekly with ECO Neem and Eco Oil.
Good luck and enjoy the satisfaction of growing your vegetables from seed!
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As regular listeners would know, Keith raves about an easy to use Moon calendar. Today we meet Sheree Scott whose parents developed this handy, easy to use Moon calendar wheel.
This traditional agrarian practice of observing the effect of the gravitational force of the moon has many sceptics in the modern world. This handy, easy to use 1 page moon calendar is a simple way to try this for yourself to observe increased germination rates and plan your gardening guided by the moon phases. The calendar wheel is a perpetual calendar meaning it can be used year on year by simply observing the dates provided on the Moon Gardening Calendar website.
Be sure to check out and order your Moon Gardening Calendar and observe the results for yourself!
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Q&A time again! Who will be this month’s lucky winner of the fabulous prize donated by The Plant Runner?
Camellias can be moved during Winter months by pruning back by around ⅓, carefully digging out and feeding with a specialised, acidic potting mixFig trees can be pruned in Winter to back to your preferred size by cutting back to the nearest node. Feed with Neutrog Gyganics Ash from the fire can be either put into the compost or applied to the garden (best before rain) and can be a pest deterrent for slugs and aphidsLemon not fruiting heavily? Could be lack of sun and warmth. Transplanting a lemon tree. Can be cut back by at about ⅓. Dig down 30-45cm under the roots and transplant into a well-composted spot or into a pot with specialised citrus potting mix. Seasol will help stimulate root growthBeans not germinating. Try soaking in water with diluted Seasol. Plant at recommended time of year.Olive trees are very hardy and a hedge can be maintained by cutting back to your preferred height regularly.Transplanting an Acacia could be risky (natives are notoriously difficult to transplant).Thank you for your great questions again!
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Ornamental grasses are an excellent way to add height, movement, colour and contrast to your year round landscape. This week we hear about some of Keith’s favourite varieties and how to incorporate them into your garden.
Most grasses are easy to grow and require minimal attention provided they have reasonable soil. Preferring full sun but some will tolerate part shade. Once established they are drought tolerant and rarely prone to pests or disease.
Keith recommends cutting grasses back almost to the ground at the end of winter. Can be then easily divided by digging up and dividing with sharp spade.
Some of Keith’s favourites include:
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Flamingo’ - tall form growing to 1.2-1.5mMiscanthus ‘Kleine Fontaine’ - with vertical stripe through the leafMiscanthus ‘Klein Silberspinne’ - compact varietyMiscanthus ‘Zebrinus’ - with horizontal stripe through the leafMiscanthus ‘Adagio’ - ideal for smaller gardenMiscanthus ‘Giganteus’ - grows to over 2mCalamagrostis -tall vertical accentStipa Gigantea - tidy clump with 2m flower stemsStipa ‘ichu’ - smaller varietyPoa labillardierei - small tussock clumping grassFestuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’- blue grass 30cmWhy not add some interest to your garden with some of these beautiful grasses!
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Mid July and half way through Winter. Plenty of jobs to prepare for the Spring season ahead!
Get your soil into great shape - add compost (Keith recommends Clyde's Compost), Munash Rock Dust, MycoGold (added at time of planting) and mulch. Add products like Blood & Bone manure and Rooster Booster now as these take some months to take effectGood time to plant and/or fertilise brassicas. Feed with liquid fertliser like Charlie Carp or Power Feed now to optimise growth. Still time to plant cabbages, lettuce, radish, turnips, peas, beans and herbsClean up your tools - scrub off rust, sharpen and treat with VaselinePrune deciduous plants including apple trees by approximately ⅓ . Avoid pruning apricots (this should be done in Summer). Prune to an outward growing bud. Open out centre to allow light and air.Prevent (or treat) pests like aphids and mealybugs with ECO Neem and Eco OilContinue to water your vegetables (depending on rain). Vegetables need 4mm a day!Get on top of weeds while they are growing less vigorously. Keith & Elisabeth love F.D Ryan's Ho-Mi and Collinear tools. Best to do in the low growth period on the Moon calendarOpen up compact soil with F.D Ryan's Broad fork to eliminate algae and mossPerfect time to buy and plant bare-rooted trees (in cooler states).Where you can find all things Muddy Boots!
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We know from Keith’s Instagram that he visited the Agrarian Kitchen at Willow Court in Tasmania. Today we hear from Rodney Dunn, the brainchild behind the Agrarian Kitchen - a restaurant, cooking school and garden set in New Norfolk, Tasmania.
The kitchen garden is at the centre of everything that happens at the Agrarian Kitchen with fresh produce being grown and harvested to support the cooking school, restaurant and function venue set
Keith applauds the companion planting approach used in the garden to promote continuity of supply over the year. The 5000m vegetable garden is set in what was an old prison yard. The productive garden is a closed loop system with minimal waste, converting food waste into compost to maximise soil production.
Next visit to Tasmania, be sure to treat yourself to a visit to this incredible place
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Q&A time again! Who will be this month’s lucky winner of the fabulous prize donated by The Plant Runner?
Unwanted grass coming up in garden beds try either organic Slasher or the less toxic version of Roundup now available called Roundup NaturalNectarine with gumosis seems unusual to Keith! Possibly grafted onto an unsuitable rootstock?Pots with wheels! A great idea to enable moving them around with the seasons. Check out Omnia Plant Gliders. Potting mix should be replaced every 3-5 yearsPruning crepe myrtle - cut back by ⅓ in Winter monthsDahlia tubers only need to be dug up if you are in areas with heavy frosts. Feed with Blood & Bone, Rooster Booster or try Strikeback for OrchidsEscallonia hedge is hardy. Can be cut back hard. Keith suggests aerating the surrounding soil with a broad fork (check out F.D Ryan's)Hedge trimmers - Keith recommends AEG or EGO battery operated modelsKurrajong trees attacked by the Kurrajong Bag Moth won’t usual destroy the tree but where size allows try ECO Neem and Eco OilRose with botrytis? Remove affected leaves/petals and bin them Hydrangea cuttings should be taken late summer for propagationPlanting an Avocado tree? - plant on mound, feed well and mulch with pea straw or lucerne. Plant min 8m from the nearest Eucalyptus tree.Thank you for your great questions again!
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Landscaping a garden can be overwhelming. Where to start? What to consider? This week, Keith gives us some practical advice.
Steps to follow:
Start with a ‘wish list’ - consider how you would ideally want to use the space. Do you want a BBQ, a pool, outdoor seating, a pond, vegetable garden etc. Look at the paved areas - do you want decking, paving, granitic sand etc. Start a Pinterest Board can be a great way to explore what you like and compile your ideas.Consider zones including those that you don’t want to be seen (utility area, clothes line etc)Create your plan (or employ a landscape architect), drawing in your structures, paving, decking and plants. Using the council plan of your house and garden will help you work to scale to work out the quantities of what you need - eg for soil, plants etcBefore commencing, existing vegetation will need to be poisoned and remove any unwanted materials. Slasher is an excellent organic herbicideLay down the paving decking etcBring in the soil and additional materials for soil improvement. Soil improvement is the number one factor to growing a healthy, lush garden. Adding Compost, Clyde’s lignite humate to improve the soil and using products like MycoGold will give your plants a great start. Mulch - Keith recommends granitic sand over the top of soil. Irrigation best to go in before the plants. Check out Dan Modular SprinklersPlanting - Autumn when they can get established before the winter.Consider a landscaper to do the initial work of the pathways, decking, soil and irrigation systems if this is too much work.
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