From majestic giants to scrawny things clinging to the sides of cliffs, trees are the pinnacle of the plant world. Perhaps because they can easily be given personalities, they figure strongly in myths and fairy tales. They are clearly important to us – but how do we care for them when developers, industry and urbanisation threaten them?

Why Living Trees Suddenly Fall Down

It is quite common that in winter or after big storms we wonder why living trees suddenly fall down. In June 2021 in Victoria, savage storms swept…

Read More

Strawberry Gum

Image by John Moss, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Over the last few years, we have seen a positive rise in the popularity of Strawberry Gum…

Read More

Artificial Tree Hollows for Animal Habitat

There are many benefits in keeping dead trees.  However, in the modern age, trees are usually viewed in terms of amenity and safety, with unsafe…

Read More

The Things People do . . . . . . . . . . to Trees!!!

Given the splendour and usefulness of trees in the urban environment, it is really amazing what otherwise sensible and apparently sane people do to…

Read More

Trees, not Just for Hugging – Video

  Think like a Koala and take a look at trees from a whole new perspective. The home of our famous Aussie icon can also add significant value…

Read More

Economic Value of Trees

Many people would take it as a given that parks, gardens and trees have their own aesthetic and intrinsic values. However, so often in capitalist…

Read More

Fragrant Frangipani

I was surprised to find a stunning Frangipani tree growing near where I live in the dry, hot climate of South Australia, so of course I took lots of…

Read More

Crepe Myrtle – a Beautiful Shade Tree

Lagerstroemia indica, commonly known as Crepe Myrtle has been a classic favorite of gardeners for many years. It’s almost impossible to resist this…

Read More

White Cedar – a Shade Tree

There is always something that makes a plant less than perfect but until I discovered the seeds of Melia azedarach were toxic to humans and other…

Read More

Neem

Neem products are sold for a variety of uses. In the garden, some people hail neem oil spray as a wonder pesticide.   It  has also found its way into…

Read More

Can’t see the Trees for the Lawns?

Each spring and early summer it is amazing how fast grass, weeds and lawns can grow. The combination of longer, warmer days and the occasional shower…

Read More

Cities, Climate Change and Gardening

Rachel  Reef writes: Have you ever noticed that somehow, the temperature seems to be lower on the outskirts and in the countryside? Yeah, so have I.…

Read More

The value of trees in urban areas

It is a great pity that so many of our citizens think of our parks, gardens, streetscapes and urban landscapes only in terms of their aesthetics.…

Read More

Espaliering Trees

Okay, despite what my mates thought, espalier is NOT a Spanish bullfighter, tropical disease or foreign currency, but a fantastic way to grow trees…

Read More

Plant a Tree

We've all heard the news - the planet is in strife. We're choking on carbon emissions, chopping down forests and doing untold damage to our fragile…

Read More