January 20th, 2025Glen’s garden

Dear reader, After more than 60 years of writing and broadcasting on both radio and television, telling you what I thought you should know about growing the ‘perfect garden’, my creaking joints, fading memory, and caring spouse, tell me it’s about time to wind back.
Hence this note and changed format.
So for you to find out the answer to your particular garden problems simply email me at glenzgarden gmail.com, and with luck, your answer will appear in the next issue of The Local. Just like the following.
Hi Glen, I have a pretty bare block and want to plant it up. Which is better (easier) native or exotic? I love roses…but which type would establish faster? Louise, Eganstown
Hi Louise, There are plenty of fast growing and sturdy trees and shrubs, both native and exotic evergreens. Obviously the natives grow pretty quickly if you choose the ones that originally came from this area or with similar soil and climate – mainly because they have been propagated in our soils and climate. There are plenty of nurseries specially dealing in native varieties, who would be best suited to help you.
Roses seem to thrive in most Victorian soils and climes as long as they are fed and watered well, and they certainly earn their place when they bloom.
Hi Glen, I need a good border plant for a side that doesn’t get much sun. What would work? Something up to about two metres. Is it better to buy bigger plants to start with? How often do you need to trim them? Mark, Creswick.
Hi Mark, Firstly what do you want the border to achieve? If it’s a neatly trimmed hedge you would do well with something like a box – neat, closely growing, light green or variegated leaves, needing a light clip every other month to look great.
If it’s just an upright border plant for an edge marking effect then the choice is wide open. This includes lavender, fuchsias, pelargoniums, diosma and marguerite daisies.
Hi Glen, I’m after some more pruning advice for my (once upon a time) straggly lavender border. Last time I worried that they were just sitting there all straggly, now they’re boisterous and full of flowers, ready to take on the whole garden. If I just pick the flower stems, will that benefit the plants in any way? Dora, Trentham.
Hi Dora, Picking lavender flowers is one of the best and most pleasing ways of pruning lavender I can think of. Not only does it mean a pleasant perfume indoors, it means you are keeping them in shape.
