Australia’s number one monthly gardening resource, ABC Gardening Australia magazine is packed with step-by-step advice and stunning design ideas from its popular team of experts. Whether you are a novice gardener or have a green thumb and years of experience, you’ll find the advice you need.

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Gardening Australia

PLANTS • This month’s pick of the bunch for garden lovers nationwide

BOOKS

hoya hang a • These glossy beauties are once again the darling of indoor plant collectors, including TAMMY HUYNH, who shares her growing and styling tips

Tammy’s TOP 5

TIME TO STRIKE

COVER all bases • All groundcovers do wonders for a garden by suppressing weeds and stabilising soil moisture and temperature. Native options go one step further, and there are fantastic choices available for every situation, writes AB BISHOP

where to BUY

singing the BLUES • Add some blue notes to the summer and autumn garden with these three gorgeous perennials, writes MICHAEL McCOY

Other blue perennials

meet the gardener LLOYD GODMAN • This artist and gardener is thinking outside the box, deploying air plants in fabulous ways to mitigate the effects of a hotter climate

10 ROOKIE ERRORS & ways to avoid them • Gardening is one of those activities that is best learnt by doing it… and this will involve a few mistakes. Here are some classic stuff-ups, along with ways to avoid or salvage the situation

a little slice of paradise • Fancy a tropical-style garden but don’t live in the tropics? It’s still possible to create your dream, writes DERYN THORPE

PROTECT YOUNG PLANTS

tropical-style GROUNDCOVERS

is your soil contaminated? • Builder’s rubble, cement wash-off and heavy metals can all spoil your quest for a thriving garden. JOSH BYRNE explores your options for identifying and testing problem soils, and limiting your exposure

SAFETY IN NUMBERS

tips for SAFE GROWING • Having elevated levels of heavy metal and chemical contaminants in your soil doesn’t mean that you can’t garden, but it’s important to take sensible measures to limit your exposure.

ON THE nose • We love flowers for their sweet perfume, but not everything in the garden comes up smelling of roses – some plants are decidedly stinky. TIM ENTWISLE takes us on a tour of the plant world’s odorous underbelly

amazing maize • It was a bit of a Jack & the Beanstalk moment for JACKIE FRENCH when tall crops of maize erupted from the horse manure mulch on her garden

where to BUY

FEBRUARY a month in the GARDEN More than 50 jobs to do in your action planner

TV • Gardening Australia resumes Friday, Feb 12 at 7.30pm on ABC TV

radio • For more details about coverage in your area, phone 139 994 or visit reception.abc.net.au

IN THE PATCH • Horticultural editor and devoted food grower PHIL DUDMAN shows you what to plant, pick and tend in the edible garden this month

PLANT it NOW BRASSICAS

PICK it NOW SUMMER HARVEST

MINT CONDITION • A delightfully aromatic and flavoursome herb, mint has many culinary and medicinal uses, and can be grown just about anywhere, writes JUDY HORTON

POPULAR CHOICES

the summer BOUNTY • As summer crops start winding down and your thoughts turn to sowing for winter, there are ways you can clear space in the patch for soil preparation, while still preserving what’s left of your bounty. SOPHIE THOMSON shows how she ripens her late tomatoes, and PHIL DUDMAN has a cute way to dry and store chillies

MAILBOX

UNLOCKING A FORGOTTEN TALENT

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THANKS, MILLIE!

the big picture • Pleasure in the beauty, followed by the drive to do even...