February 19th, 2025Glen’s garden
Keen-eyed koala scouts ahead for likely new home.
There was great excitement recently, when this solitary koala was spotted atop one of the massive eucalypts fronting our house, much to the delight of the local children and their parents.
Unfortunately, it was only a whistle-stop. After a couple of days of scouring our local properties – with a grunt and sigh he/she did a moonlight flit to ‘greener pastures’.
This wasn’t the first koala experience we’ve had. Our property includes an easement that runs right down to the old gold mines in Doctors Gully, and over the years we’ve encountered a few adventurous youngsters off to find a tree and a mate of their own.
Garden queries for Issue 325: Q. Hi Glen, Where have all the flowers gone? Not one of my rose bushes has flowered this year, although they look healthy and have lots of leaves. What could be causing this? In previous years they have never failed to flower. – Sandra, Clunes
A. Blame it on El Niño. And maybe a little too much care and attention? Roses are fond of well-drained, compost rich soil and a little boost feed once the flowers are in bud. Any other time it all goes into the new growth… hence the lack of flowers.
Another cause could be the use of a growth stimulating, nitrogen-rich fertiliser. I must confess that we mis-judged the weather with our rose pruning this year – they have responded with fewer flowers – and lanky long stems.
Q. Is there such a thing as a salad tree? My neighbour said she read that there were fruit trees that bear more than one type of fruit on them. Is this possible, and if so, would it be successful in our climate? – J.B. Kyneton
A. Yes, the tree you are thinking of is known as a multi-grafted fruit tree, where several varieties of similar fruits are all grafted or budded to a parent tree. The most common are nectarine and apricot.
ln the case of apples, pears and plums more than one variety is needed for pollination. The simple reason is to have more fruit varieties in a limited space. I am not too sure that they would suit our climate. You would have to contact one of the wholesale specialist nurseries for an answer to that.
Q. Glen, I started a strawberry patch last year and have had some very nice fruit this season, but now they are sending out young plants all over the place. What should I do with them? – Keith W, Creswick
A. This is great. Leave them growing until they have established roots then cut them off at the plants. Plant them into pots of sandy soil mix and if you have the space once they have established, extend your strawberry patch, or place them in large pots.
Your garden questions answered! Simply email your enquiry to: Garden queries c/o glenzgarden gmail.com. You should see your answer in the next edition of The Local
