On the upper land areas Melaleucas were planted with our specially design planting auger. As seen in the pictures below water collects around the base of each plant. The compaction down below is broken to approximately 30cm and any weeds or weed seeds on the surface get scrapped away.

Our planting machine can increase planting speed reducing labour costs, clear weeds with no chemicals, break compaction and create water holding wells around each plant. It is also very practical to use this in areas that have been mulched, sandy soils and even clay.

Click here for the Kulcha website

The aim of this display was to demonstrate how Stocktech fertilisers can be used safely on our landscapes without adversely effecting our waterways. Shades of Green is the only product currently available that has gained the Fertilise Wise endorsement.

The fantastic artwork on display really added to the overall design. The three piece wall feature by Fifth Room and sculptures by Daniel Iley proved very popular.

Our moving wheelbarrow gardens were out in force again – and no, we were not having a race, but it was great way to chat to people. It was encouraging to find a lot of interest native W.A plants and waterwise verge gardens. The plants on display showed just a few of the great natives available many of which were suitable for verges.

Very good question, to be honest with you I’ve not been asked that before, but there is a very easy answer.

We can actually design a garden that doesn’t require any water after established. How’s that? We’ll WA native plants have evolved to live in one of the harshest environments in the world, in fact he UN world food organisation actually declared Western Australia to have the worlds worst agricultural soils, yet somehow native plants thrive on little nutrients and not too much water. Think of the coastal sand dunes, plants living in an environment that is constantly desiccated by the sun (and also think of your feet on that HOT sand dunes), little to no fresh water and little nutrients, yet somehow they survive. Similarly the grey sands of Perth are the same, the plants have developed mechanisms to survive.

Sustainable Outdoors is also involved in natural revegetation in bushlands and wetlands around Perth. We plant at the start of Winter on grey sands and middle to end on gravel soils, the Winter rains is the only water these plant will get until the next season. We work on a 80-90% survival rate, thats not bad considering there is no subsequent care. In a garden setting however, if you give a deep water as least as once a week through the first Summer your success rate will be through the roof but the plant needs to be weened off the water once growing.

To help the no water native landscape, grass and exotic gardens alike, we make a very important point that the soil needs to be improved. By which we mix in bentonite clays (moisture holding), zeolite (nutrient holding), compost, soil wetting agent and most importantly a thick layer of mulch. These soil amenities added (bentonite and zeolite) are natural minerals mined locally and when mixed into the soil will remain there for a long time, these are basically changing the soil structure to become more like loam. Mixing and breaking the compaction in the soil is also equally important.

It’s important to consider that not every native plant from WA will suit your back yard, some live in deserts and while others live in wetlands. Selecting the right plant in the right location for the right reasons.

The Hulbert Street Sustainability Fiesta has been another huge success this year attracting many thousand people to this truly amazing community organised event. The organisers Shani Graham and Tim Darby from The Painted Fish have brought together the residents of Hulbert street, sustainably focussed businesses, demonstrations and fun activities with a spice of local food and music.

The Fiesta is a celebration of sustainable living and community, the street boasts over 60% of its residents growing organic food at home and 25% produce their own energy from solar power. The Painted Fish was open as part of the Australian Open Garden Scheme along with many of the other homes in the street to show off their art studios and sustainable life styles.

Sustainable Outdoors promoted the idea of verge gardens as an alternative to grass as it saves water and beautifies the street. Native plants make the prefect aesthetically appealing alternative with a huge range of ground covers, grasses and small shrubs.

The long awaiting break to Winter this year (2009) couldn’t have been more needing.

Just imagine how hard it would be to live in baking hot desiccated sand, just like running over the hot sand to the beach without shoes. The surface temperature can be quite extreme, which is just sucking the moisture and life out of your garden.

Mulch serves two purposes, the first to provide an insulating layer over the soil and secondly, to feed the soil. The top 50% of the mulch provides the insulation and the lower will become a humid area that starts to break down. This humid area is what keeps the soil happy and in turn the plants happy.

Mulch should be applied as thick as possible or at least 10cm thick. The best mulch is ordinary street tree prunings (and it’s free), the key to look out for is Rough, Course and Irregular shaped particles (black mulch is a waste of time, usually shreaded in shape). Mulch isn’t something that should hold water per se, the water should be able to pass through it down to the soil. Black mulch tends to wick moisture from the soil, causing it to be evaporated.

Free mulch can be acquired from Mulchnet.com. This is a service that connects local tree contractors to people who want the waste or simply GREAT MULCH! Have fun gardening.

FREE Great Gardens workshops, focused on saving water, fertiliser and having a great time, these workshop are a winner when it comes to gardening in Western Australia.

Find out the recipes of what will improving the look and the functionality of your garden, how to save time and money, enhance the environment and the local wildlife. These workshops are jam packed with useful knowledge even for the most experienced.

The Great Gardens team also run several other workshops that focus on “Energy Efficiency” in the home, how to grow “Great Fruit Gardens” and “Heavenly Hectares” a workshop directed towards people with properties from 1 to 1000 hectares.

“Re-defining community environmental education through a unique, comprehensive and highly successful range of free environmental education programs tailored specifically for the people of Western Australia.” Chris Ferreira and Garry Heady.

For more information or to reserve your seat check out the Great Gardens website.

“The Great Gardens team, 2009.