Growing Gardens

with Julia Hancock

It's Tree Time

Autumn is the perfect time for planting both deciduous and evergreen trees. The soil is moist, the weather is still warm enough to stimulate new root growth, and yet the days are not so hot that they exhaust energetic gardeners.

Deciduous trees are about to start colouring up now, and it is therefore possible to select the very best for your garden. This is important, because a tree like liquidambar for instance, although renowned for autumn colour, can be variable from tree to tree, depending on its parentage. You may have already observed that some are more spectacular than others as you drive around the far north coast.

Other deciduous trees worth looking at are the stately Ginkgo biloba, which turns a rich, buttery yellow in cool weather. Originally from China, it is one of the planet's oldest species and is a conifer despite its maidenhair fern-like leaves. From the same part of the world Sapium sebiferum, or Chinese tallow wood, is an excellent small tree for home gardens, with brilliant autumn foliage. Other favourites include maples (all of them are gorgeous), Nyssa sylvatica and persimmon if you've got enough chill to initiate good colour.

If evergreens are what you're after, you can't go past some of the trees that are endemic to northern NSW. If you've got a sheltered site that can be encouraged to mimic rainforest conditions, a small-leaved tamarind (Diploglottis campbellii) will give you aesthetic pleasure as well as the satisfaction of growing something that is becoming increasingly rare in the wild. Prized for its cabinet timber Endiandra pubens, or hairy walnut, produces coppery new growth and attractive fruits.

If your garden is more exposed to the elements the delightful foambark (Jagera pseudorhus) can stand up to harsher conditions and develops a pleasing canopy flushed with pink new growth after heavy rain. Consult your local garden centre staff for the best trees for your needs.

Lismore Garden Club News

The Club's Hunter Valley Tour means the April meeting has been cancelled.

In our region, it's the best and busiest time in the garden. We've had wonderful rain and lovely mild weather, perfect conditions for preparing and planing of winter/spring annual flowers and bulbs. Remember that autumn is also the best season for planting vegies.

One vegetable that grows very easily and is useful for salads and very tasty steamed for hot meals is Wong Bok or Chinese cabbage. Being a Brassica it is reported to have valuable anti cancer properties. It should also have value for strengthening our bones, as we are told by the medical fraternity to eat plenty of leafy greens to avoid osteoporosis.

Gardening tip

When planting Wong Bok prepare the soil by adding blood and bone in a trench 10cm under the planting row, backfill and then plant. Plan a few seeds/seedlings each two weeks until the end of May.

Happy Gardening
Ron Burns