Australian House & Garden

Question: I have been trying to grow bird of paradise since I moved in years ago – no matter what I do I haven’t had any success. What am I doing wrong?

Answer: You don’t say where you live or what has been going wrong, so here is some general advice about growing this spectacular plant. Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) grows in most parts of Australia, except where there are severe frosts. It tolerates either full sun or part shade, and suits most soils as long as the drainage is good. It won’t do well if it has wet feet. Generally it is a tough plant that needs little special care, is not particularly vulnerable to pests or diseases and is drought tolerant once established. When you plant a new one, make sure that you don’t plant it too deeply. The top of the rootball showing at the top of the pot should be level with the surrounding soil, so it is still visible.

Question: We have a few palms that have grown too big and cracked their concrete pots. We spoke to a few local landscapers who say there is nothing to be done but to kill them and plant something else. I’d appreciate your advice.

Answer: Assuming you don’t want to plant them out in your own garden, you may be able to sell them or find them a home by listing them online. Check out www.tradeaplant.com.au  and www.mygardenpal.com.au, and of course there’s eBay. These websites allow you to list plants for sale, or to find someone to take them for free. The potential value of your plants depends on what sort of palms they are. Cocos palms, for instance, have been put on the weeds list for at least the Sydney area and have little resale value. But mature Kentia palms or Rhapis palms can be expensive to buy. Tradeaplant has a plant identification tool if you need help.

Question: My backyard slopes about 1.5m from the back fence to the house. It is not a large yard. I am considering terracing it so I have two flat sections joined by a short slope. I don’t want a high wall between the two as I think this will make it look smaller. What is the best way to create space in a sloping garden?

Answer: Level space is most desirable and usable, so terracing would achieve this. Check with your local council about the maximum height a retaining wall can be without needing to be designed by an engineer. 900 mm maximum height is common but in some council it’s as low as 500 mm. You could have a low wall say, 500 mm high forming a 1m wide garden bed against the back boundary, then a level area, then a wall to divide the two areas that is say, 800 mm high. The remaining 200 mm fall could be taken up in such a slight slope across the two areas that it is not noticeable. A great design trick is to create a very strong link between the two level areas by making the stairs between them very wide – say 2 or 3 metres across. With generous step treads this can also make a casual seating place, and creates a strong focal point in the garden. Having a short slope between the two level areas instead of a wall and steps is much less expensive, but can be difficult to stabilise and to maintain.

Question: I’d like a climber to cover the pergola in my back garden. What would be an ideal plant that will grow quickly?

Answer: Bower vine (Pandorea jasminoides) bears trumpet-shaped flowers intermittently through the year, which are pink with a crimson throat. The cultivar ‘Lady Di’ has pure white blooms. Allamanda has golden yellow trumpet flowers from November to May and is a vigorous grower. Climbing bauhinia (Bauhinia corymbosa) has pretty, butterfly-shaped leaves and fragrant pink blooms throughout summer. For winter colour choose flame vine (Pyrostegia venusta) with its showy clusters of bright orange flowers that hang downwards.

Question: I am growing carrots for the first time found them to be curling up by the roots .Could you tell me where i went wrong thanks your help very much appreciated.

Answer: Carrots like the soil to be deep and friable, which means crumbly or easily broken up. If there are stones in the soil this can cause misshapen roots, and if there is too much fresh manure or compost the carrots can be forked. If your soil is shallow or stony choose short or round varieties.