Muddy Boots

This week is all about deadheading - why & how to deadhead to keep your flowers flourishing! Why do we deadhead? Looks tidier, helps keep plants healthy and can prolong the flowering period. How to deadhead? Hand pinch or use secateurs. Cut just above the next set of leaves or nodes. What to deadhead? Keith and Elisabeth share their list with some extra tips. Keith advisse that some (like agapanthus), should be deadheaded to avoid self-seeding and spreading. What NOT to deadhead? Annuals and bi-annuals can be left to go to seed. Others (like those in the wildflower episode), may be left to seed for Autumn germination. Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Meet the Jim in Jim’s Mowing. Hear the incredible journey of Jim’s Mowing and how it has grown from a backyard business to over 5000 franchisees. Hear what has contributed to the success. Listen to Keith and Jim’s banter as Keith shares a couple of his favourite products with Jim including Clyde’s Lignite Humates, MycoGold , Munash Rock Dust and Jim shares his approach. The Muddy Boots team and Jim certainly have a lot in common when it comes to preferring organics, avoiding poisons and doing our best to protect and attract our garden pollinators! Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

From citrus, avocado and eucalyptus trees to garden design and ponds. Hear this week’s questions answered and hear who our lucky Plant Runner prize winner is. How to get rid of Bacterial Brown spot on Eucalyptus Caesia . Treat Citrus Leaf Miner or gall wasps with Eco Oil and ECO Neem weekly Got a pond and need advice? Contact Garden World Top tips for getting an Wurtz Avocado started. Planning out your garden – Keith explains how to start? Want to get rid of weeds in your lawn? Consider transplanting Kaikuya runners to smother the weeds. What to plant under a large avocado tree – try Nasturium, Ginger, Tumeric and Midgen Berries Screening plant suggestions include Lily Pily Syzgium Australe or Lily Pily Waterhousia Floribunda Creepers for a tin shed? Try Ficus Pumila Minima or Boston Ivy Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

This week the team talk to artist Anna Tronson about the work of co-host Keith Edwards. As we know Keith is a landscape consultant. Check hime out at https://keithedwards.com.au/ and https://www.instagram.com/ke_landscape_consultant/. From the initial interview, site inspections and research through to creating a detailed plan on paper; we learn in this episode about the process from start to finish. Anna Tronson talks about how Keith works to bring a client’s vision to life, her experience with landscaper Matt Phillips (you can listen to an earlier Muddy Boots episode with Matt HERE) and how Keith continues to support Anna to maintain the finished garden. You can check out Anna’s art at https://www.instagram.com/annatronson.artist/ Learn more one of Keith’s great inspirations - Edna Walling. A great episode to get to know more about co-host Keith Edwards. Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Love the idea of a wildflower meadow as part of your garden design? Not sure how to get started or how this can be incorporated into a domestic garden? Let Keith & Elisabeth inspire you! Wildflowers need plenty of sun and it’s important to get rid of all grass and weeds before planting. Be patient, this process may take 2 years! Don’t want to wait? Once grasses are smothered, seeds can be directly sown into a thick layer of Clyde's Compost. An S shape is a good method, scatter seed by hand by mixing the seed with dry sand first. What seeds to choose? There are lots of premixed wildflower mixes available depending on your preferred look & effect. Try interspersing with more advanced seedlings that you have propagated in seed trays. When to start? Autumn start can give your germinated seeds a head start and kick start them for Spring. Little or no care or maintenance, a haven for birds and insects and a visual delight. Would you think about giving a wildflower meadow a try? Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

This week Keith and Elisabeth follow up on the recent episode that listed Keith’s Top 10 fruit trees! Now we are stepped through a step by step guide to growing beautiful fruit trees Choosing the right locationPreparing the hole for planting - with Clyde's Compost, MycoGold, Munash Rock Dust Clyde’s lignitePlanting and staking your new tree & finishing with good quality mulch like Who Flung DungWhen and what to fertilise with. Keith recommends Neutrog GyganicsPruning and maintaining your fruit trees Stonefruit, citrus, apples - hear how and when to prune to maximise fruit productionPreventing and treating pests including the dreaded Curly LeafResearching the required Fruit tree pollinationHarvesting your fruitConsider drying your excess fruit. Try Singing Magpie range for inspiration!We look forward to hearing the successes of your new fruit tree growing! Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Check out this week’s Q&A and learn who will win the prize, donated by The Plant Runner Great questions as always and some excellent suggestions from Keith and Elisabeth including: - :Keep an eye out for Gumleaf Skeletoniser (Uraba Lugens) that can destroy eucalypts in Winter & Early spring - Tips for using the moon calendar to guide pruning times - Ant mounds? Try a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water a good organic solution - Terms like “genetically modified”, “organic”, “heirloom”, “open-pollinated”, “hybradised” - Keith explains! - Moss in lawns? Use a broadfork or hire an aerator. - Can Keith help Carol with what to plant in the severe climate of Western NSW? - How to propagate Gymea lilies from seed with the help of smoke water - Dreaded aphids? Treat with ECO Neem - Fruit flies attacking your mulberry tree? Hear Keith’s top tips - Kick start your citrus trees with Neutrog Gyganics - Try a layering method to propagate blueberries - Add calcium carbonate or blood and bone to speed up the break down of leaves like pear and oak - Feed bulbs with Strike Back for great flowers next season! Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Keith’s Top 10 Fruit Trees Already growing your own fruit trees or love the idea but haven’t yet tried? Be inspired by Keith, the “the fruit tree aficionado”! Before selecting your trees, be sure to research what will grow in your area. Consider frosts, soil type, available sunlight and your available space and design preferences. Be sure to know which fruit trees need partners for cross-pollination. Consider buying Bare-rooted fruit trees - this is an economical option for planting late winter to early spring. Look for Grafted fruit trees, allowing for different sizes such as dwarf root stock for space saving. Keith’s Top Ten, explained in detail this week are: Flat peach Macadamia IntegrifoliaGreengage PlumTamarillo White SapoteAvocado (not near a Eucalypt!)Persimmon FuyuMulberry ShahtootCurry leaf plantLapin CherryWhere you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Meet Marco Baretta from ModBOX, expert in all there is to know about raised garden beds. So why raised beds? Raised beds are attractive, ergonomic and make soil control & maintenance a lot easier. When designing raised beds, Keith & Marco recommend a height of approximately 450mm, no wider than 600mm if against a wall or 1200mm if it is accessible from all sides. Learn the pros and cons the different materials used to construct raised beds. If using plastic, choose food-grade plastic. Tin or corrugated iron risks burning your plants roots. Timber is a good choice but what timber? Hear why ModBOX choose callitris for their raised beds. Do I need to be a carpenter to put this together? No, ModBOX is easy to put together with no tools needed and can be custom designed to suit your garden. These also include wicking beds and Marco explains how these work and their benefits. Raised beds made easy, thanks to Marco Baretta! Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Some warm weather already and predicted to be a warm Spring and hot Summer. How should we prepare for the months ahead? Think about putting in an irrigation system - drip line irrigation, micro sprinklers or pop up sprinklers. Build up your soil with organic matter, compost and Biochar and top with 75mm of mulch such as granitic sand. Wetting agents such as Seasol Super Soil Wetter and Conditioner can help hydrophobic soil. MycoGold fungal spores will increase plants root system by up to 1000%! Mulch pot plants and position in cooler positions to avoid drying out. Avoid planting new plants in the heat and protect less established plants from the sun with shade cloth if needed. Wilted leaves? This is caused by transpiration and your plants need more water to the roots. Fertilise your lawn with Rooster Booster in Spring and keep mower high through the warmer months! Whitefly is a warm weather pest. Use Eco-Neem to treat affected plants. Select plants suited to your conditions and group them according to their water needs. Keith & Elisabeth’s top drought tolerant plants include salvias, achilleas, Casuarina Glauca (Cousin It), Myoporum Parvifolium (Creeping Boobialla), Grevillea, Stachys Byzantina (Lambs Ear), Santolina, Senecio Silver Dust, various succulents, Westringia, Kangaroo Paw, Lavenders and Ornamental grasses. Fertilise your lawn with Rooster Booster in Spring and keep mower high through the warmer months! Protect yourself too - wear a hat, use sunscreen and stay hydrated while out working in the garden. Plan early for a healthy garden this Summer! Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Check out this week’s Q&A and learn who will win the prize, donated by The Plant Runner Great questions as always and some excellent suggestions from Keith and Elisabeth including: - Kickstarting Mock orange hedge with Scotts Osmocote Compost and Neutrog Gyganic - Looking to plant Camellias in full sun? Go for the Sasanqua variety - Spanish Lavender (Lavandula Stoechas) is a good choice for hot dry areas - Treat black scale with Eco Oil - Cut daphnes back by about one-third after flowering. Feed monthly with Charlie Carp - Raise seeds in Scotts Premium Potting Mix using a Moon Calendar to guide your timing - Save Kate’s Kurrajong from beetle chew by scraping back the bark and drenching with Eco Neem - West facing balcony suggestions include Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum Jasminoides), Mexican Orange Blossom (Choisya Ternata), Baby Bay (Laurus Nobilis) - Passionfruit vines need warmth and will go into dormancy in Winter. If under attack, check for earwigs and slaters, listen for Keith’s home remedies to trap these pests or use Eco Shield - Keith recommends improving your soil with compost, BioChar by Charman and MycoGold prior to planting - Depending on your conditions a tropical oasis feel could be created by Argentine Ombu, Tiger grass, Rice Paper Plant, clivia, Arthropodium, and ornamental grasses Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Episode Notes Elisabeth and Keith share the benefits of Native plants and share their top 10 (or so) Australian Natives for the Garden. Recommended Native Ground Covers: Casuarina glauca – common name, Cousin It. Chrysocephalum apiculatum - common name Everlasting or Yellow Buttons. Xerochrysum ‘Sundaze White’ commonly known as the Everlasting Daisy. Recommended Native Grasses: Poa labillardierei - Common Tussock Grass Pennisetum alopecuroides – not recommended by Keith! Recommended Native Climber Hardenbergia violacea – common name Happy Wanderer or Native Sarsparilla. Recommended Native Shrub: Philotheca ‘Flower Girl’ commonly known as waxflower (Geraldtown Wax). Westringia fruticose (Aussie Box) PBR License by Ozbreed. Callistemon ‘Hot Pink’ commonly known as Bottlebrush Stenocarpus sinuatus, common name Firewheel tree. Recently released Grevillea ‘Peaches and Cream’. Telopea speciosissima, commonly known as the Waratah Ceratopetalum gummiferum , commonly known as The NSW Christmas Bush. Recommended Native Trees: Macadamia integrifolia – common name, the Queensland Nut. Corymbia Ficifolia – commonly known as Flowering Gum. Eucalyptus caesia, known as Silver Princess. Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Special guest Chris England from Merrywood joins Elisabeth and Keith to talk about Espalier plants. Will Elisabeth finally learn how to pronounce the word ESPALIER? uh·spae·lee·uh Chris demystifies the ancient technique of the espaliering trees and uncovers the benefits for the home gardener. Did you know citrus, fruit and ornamental plants are all suited to espaliering? Hear the benefits of this technique and some tips for the home gardener who might like to try espaliering themselves. What needs to be considered and how long might it take? Candelabra, palmette, horizontal cordon and fan-shaped - learn why different shapes suit different plants! Learn more about pest management including treating gall wasps, citrus leafminer, codling moth Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Only 2 days of Winter left. What are Keith & Elisabeth’s recommendations for early Spring gardening? Clean up tools with Lanox & oil handles Add compost. If you don’t have your own, try Clyde's Compost Weed, feed and mulch Prune your perennials & ornamental grasses Use a soil thermometer to check for optimum planting time Divide and replant perennials Treat fruit trees as required eg. Leaf curl on peaches/nectarines with Kocide and Shot leaf on apricots with a lime sulphur product Trim back citrus trees without cutting off flowers Use the moon calendar to time the cutting back of your hedges Don’t remove spent leaves of bulbs. These are important for next year’s flowers Check the soil temperatures for optimum planting times Look to buy and planting bare-rooted trees. Prepare your soil with Rooster Booster, Charlie Carp, Power Feed. Avoid granular fertilisers! Neutrog Gyganics is a good choice for citrus. Fertilise Kikuyu, Couch or Buffalo lawn with Rooster Booster, aerate with broad fork (we recommend F.D Ryan's), leave for 2 weeks, then mow on lowest setting Treat for pests such as Citrus Leaf Miner, Citrus Scale, earwigs, white flies, aphids, Red Spider Mite with ECO Neem and treat Black Spot on roses with Lime Sulphur Plant strawberry runners. Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Q&A August 22, 2023 Check out this week’s Q&A and learn who will win the prize, donated by The Plant Runner at https://theplantrunner.com/ In this week’s Q&A we learn that: The Jacaranda is actually an evergreen treeThere's no need to add worms to a wicking bedPlant Feijoa “Duffy” with another pollinating variety such as Apollo, Mammoth or NazematzeKocide or lime sulphur are an easier choice than old fashioned Bordeaux spray for fruit treesPossums and rats can feast on daffodils – who knew?Seaside Daisy – try, test and learn for suitability in areas with kangaroos and rabbitsPlanning to scale is the key to a well designed gardenPampas Grass – definitely NOT a favourite for Keith! Choose a hybridised grass instead!Keith recommends: Whoflungdung mulch - https://neutrog.com.au/2019/08/20/whoflungdung/ Daley’s Fruit Tree Nursery - https://www.daleysfruit.com.au/ Shepherd’s Nursery Balnarring Miscanthus sinensis hybridised forms such as “Flamingo” or “Kleine Fontaine” Check out https://www.thehighline.org/gardens/ designed by Piet Oudolf Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Join us as Keith unloads his gardening pet peeves, venting about dodgy products, design flaws, and the little things that drive him crazy in the world of gardening. Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

In this episode, we explore the exciting 2023 trends in garden design, discussing their emergence and practicality for incorporating them into our own gardens. Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

In this episode, join the Muddy Boots team as Keith as he shares his 2023 gardening highlights, reflections, and designs, offering inspiration and insights from his green-filled year so far Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Our monthly Question and Answer segment. Answering our listeners questions and awarding a prize from The Plant Runner for the person who we thought asked the best one. Many thanks to our segment sponsor 'The Plant Runner', we love these products and are thrilled to have them on board! Check them out: www.theplantrunner.com Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

We pick the top ten flowering ground covers for others and you. Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook