Muddy Boots

A garden without birds, bees and butterflies, just isn’t a garden’, says Elisabeth. Today we talk about the importance of attracting pollinators!
Australia is home to over 1500 bees and pollinating insects.
Here are some of the ‘bee magnet’ flowering plants.
Salvias
Buddleia (also a favourite with butterflies)
Echium (check out the wildpretii variety)
Poppies
Cosmos
Alyssum
Queen Anne’s Lace
Calendula
Daisies
Penstemon
Natives such as wattles, bottle brushes, westringia, grevillea
Herbs such as - borage, rosemary, oregano, thyme, basil, yarrow, parsley
Attract bees by also providing them with a source of water and places to hideaway (bee hotels, grasses etc are great places for bees to hide) and keep an eye out for for the gorgeous 
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November is when the garden really starts to accelerate. With summer approaching, Keith and Elizabeth cover the jobs worth tackling now — from watering and mulching to planting, pruning, harvesting and getting ready for heat.
Prepare for summer
Consider installing a water tank, including slimline tanks that can be connected together.
Get irrigation systems set up before the heat arrives.
Mulch garden beds to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Aerate compacted soil with a garden fork.
Consider shade cloth for plants vulnerable to summer burn.
Weeds & mulch
Firehawk is discussed as an organic weed-control option, including for suckers and unwanted growth.
Fine pine bark is recommended as a garden-bed mulch.
Granitic sand is another option, particularly as a fine top mulch.
Avoid poor-quality green-waste mulch that may introduce weeds.
What to plant now
November is a great time for:
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)
Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus)
Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo)
Capsicum (Capsicum annuum)
Chillies (Capsicum annuum)
Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)
For herbs, try growing them in pots using a quality potting mix:
Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
Vietnamese mint (Persicaria odorata)
Summer colour & beneficial insects
Plant potted colour en masse to create summer impact and attract beneficial insects:
Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)
Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
Roses (Rosa spp.)
Hoverflies are already active in the garden and their larvae can help control aphids naturally.
Pruning & maintenance
After spring flowering, consider deadheading:
Camellias (Camellia spp.)
Rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp.)
Gardenias (Gardenia spp.)
Leucadendrons (Leucadendron spp.)
Leucospermums (Leucospermum spp.)
When pruning leucadendrons and leucospermums, leave 6–8 leaves behind the cut so the plant can recover.
Keep an eye on pests
Fruit fly is a major concern as the weather warms, particularly around:
Lemons (Citrus × limon)
Limes (Citrus spp.)
Oranges (Citrus × sinensis)
The episode discusses Wild May Fruit Fly Attractant, along with physical exclusion netting for fruit trees and tomatoes.
For tomatoes and other crops, 2 mm insect exclusion netting is recommended.
Other pest-management tips include physical barriers for codling moth and elm leaf beetle, and Eco-Neem for chewing pests.
Other plants mentioned
Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
Elm (Ulmus spp.)
Verbena (Verbena spp.)
The three big jobs before summer
1. Get your water sorted.
2. Get irrigation in place.
3. Get the mulch down.
And, importantly, don't forget to enjoy the garden!
Products & resources
MycoGold – BioStim
Used when planting or around established plants to support root development and plant establishment.
BioStim MycoGold
Wild May Fruit Fly Attractant
Discussed for managing Queensland fruit fly.
Wild May – Sage Horticultural
Clyde Compost
For quality compost and potting mix mentioned in the episode.
Clyde Compost
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Tough Plants for Tough Places
This week on Muddy Boots, Keith shares some of his favourite plants for challenging garden conditions — from hot, dry and exposed sites to poor soil, coastal winds, heavy clay, frost and shade.
We cover how to choose plants for difficult microclimates, improve challenging soils, and select plants that can thrive rather than simply survive.
Plants mentioned
Hot, dry & exposed
Plane tree — Platanus digitata
Salvia — Salvia spp.
Santolina — Santolina spp.
Rosemary — Rosmarinus officinalis
Lavender — Lavandula spp.
Allard's lavender — Lavandula × allardii
French lavender — Lavandula dentata
Teucrium — Teucrium spp.
Euphorbia — Euphorbia spp.
Limonium — Limonium spp.
Billy buttons — Pycnosorus globosus
Artemisia — Artemisia spp.
Bottlebrush — Callistemon spp.
Poor, dry & coastal soils
Correa — Correa spp.
Westringia — Westringia spp.
Grevillea — Grevillea spp.
Hakea — Hakea spp.
Acacia — Acacia spp.
Black she-oak — Allocasuarina littoralis
Casuarina 'Cousin Itt' — Casuarina glauca
Callitris — Callitris spp.
Succulents & dry-climate plants
Senecio — Senecio serpens
Cotyledon — Cotyledon orbiculata
Aeonium 'Schwarzkopf' — Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'
Aloe — Aloe spp.
Agave — Agave spp.
Kalanchoe 'Bear's Paw' — Kalanchoe tomentosa
Frost & cold
Crepe myrtle — Lagerstroemia spp.
Olive 'Mission' — Olea europaea 'Mission'
Chinese elm — Ulmus parvifolia
Black locust — Robinia pseudoacacia
River birch — Betula nigra
Also featured
Miscanthus — Miscanthus spp.
Rudbeckia — Rudbeckia spp.
Verbena — Verbena bonariensis
Helenium — Helenium spp.
Choisya — Choisya spp.
Astilbe — Astilbe spp.
Daphne — Daphne spp.
Soil tips
Keith explains why soil preparation is critical, particularly for difficult sites. We discuss compost, broadforking, gypsum for appropriate clay soils, and improving sandy soils with lignite humate.
The episode also highlights the importance of understanding the microclimate before selecting plants — because the toughest plant isn't necessarily the right plant for every location.
Book recommendation
Tough Plants for Tough Places by Sharon Amos — a useful reference for gardeners looking for plants that can handle challenging conditions.
More information
The Plant Runner: theplantrunner.com
The Plant Runner's Great Australian Indoor Plant Survey is also open until 30 November, with a chance to win $1,000 worth of plants and plant care.
Muddy Boots: muddyboots.net.au
Thanks to Clyde Compost for sponsoring Muddy Boots. Use code MUDDY15 for 15% off your order.
Happy gardening! 🌱
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Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/
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Muddy Boots: The Wonderful World of Roses
This week on Muddy Boots, we’re talking all things roses with Stephanie Williams, International Business Development Manager for David Austin Roses.
We explore what makes a great rose, how roses are bred, choosing roses for Australian conditions, soil health, feeding, watering, pruning, pests and disease — and why roses may be much easier to grow than you think.
In this episode
What makes a great rose — beauty, fragrance, vigour and disease resistance
How new roses are bred and why it can take 12 years to develop one
Choosing the right rose for Australian conditions
Soil preparation, compost, mulch and feeding
Watering deeply and less frequently once established
Growing roses in pots and containers
How and when to prune shrub and climbing roses
Deadheading and encouraging repeat flowering
Managing black spot, powdery mildew and aphids naturally
Why biodiversity and beneficial insects are so important
Why a rose can be a great choice for beginner gardeners
Roses mentioned
Constance Spry — Rosa 'Constance Spry'
Graham Thomas — Rosa 'Graham Thomas'
Lark Ascending — Rosa 'Lark Ascending'
Olivia Rose Austin — Rosa 'Olivia Rose Austin'
Emily Brontë — Rosa 'Emily Brontë'
Queen of Sweden — Rosa 'Queen of Sweden'
Tottering-by-Gently — Rosa 'Tottering-by-Gently'
Princess Alexandra of Kent — Rosa 'Princess Alexandra of Kent'
Gertrude Jekyll — Rosa 'Gertrude Jekyll'
Products & resources
Clyde Compost — use code MUDDY15 for 15% off
Neutrog Sudden Impact for Roses
Seaweed products for supporting healthy plants
Leaf mould and well-rotted horse manure/pony poo for mulching
Key takeaway
Choose the right rose for the right place, give it healthy soil, adequate water, good airflow and a little regular care — and you can enjoy beautiful blooms and fragrance for years.
Thanks to Stephanie for joining us from the UK — and to Clyde Compost for sponsoring Muddy Boots.
For more information, visit muddyboots.net.au.
Happy gardening!
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This episode covers flea beetles, tree borers, climbing pumpkins and melons, soil health, stink bugs, fruit fly, worms, wicking beds and a struggling magnolia.
Plants Mentioned
Vegetables & fruit
Eggplant — Solanum melongena
Apple — Malus domestica
Rockmelon — Cucumis melo
Pumpkin — Cucurbita spp.
Butternut Pumpkin — Cucurbita moschata
Potimarron Pumpkin — Cucurbita maxima
Wee Be Little Pumpkin — Cucurbita pepo
Jack Be Little Pumpkin — Cucurbita pepo
Tomato — Solanum lycopersicum
Broccoli — Brassica oleracea var. italica
Cauliflower — Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
Capsicum — Capsicum annuum
Chilli — Capsicum spp.
Passionfruit — Passiflora edulis
Trees & ornamentals
Elm — Ulmus spp.
Oak — Quercus spp.
Pepperina — Schinus molle
Fig — Ficus spp.
Magnolia — Magnolia spp.
Questions Covered
• Flea beetles: Managing infestations on eggplants using Eco-Neem, sticky traps and soil treatment.
• Tree borers: What to do when borers attack mature trees, including pruning, aeration and soil health.
• Growing over arches: Delicious rockmelon and pumpkin varieties suited to vertical growing.
• Soil health: pH, compost, rock dust, broadforking and building healthy soil biology.
• Stink bugs: Simple methods to control these persistent pests.
• Worms: Why worms may come to the surface after adding soil amendments and how to distinguish earthworms from compost worms.
• Brassicas: Why broccoli and cauliflower can remain netted throughout the growing season.
• Queensland fruit fly: Netting, attractants and identifying fruit fly damage.
• White grubs: How to distinguish beneficial orange/yellow-headed grubs from damaging black-headed grubs.
• Magnolia: Helping a mature tree recover after extreme heat and drought.
Products & Resources
Clyde Compost — https://clydecompost.com.au
Use code MUDDY15 for 15% off.
Neutrog Go-Go Juice 
Neutrog Populate 
Seasol 
Eco-Neem 
Eco-Oil 
MycoGold — https://biostim.com.au/shop/myco-gold
Digger's Club 
The Plant Runner — https://theplantrunner.com
Plant Runner giveaway: Congratulations this month's winner.
Live Q&A: Join Elizabeth and Keith at Frankston Library at 1pm on Wednesday 21 October.
For more information, visit muddyboots.net.au.
Where you can find all things Muddy Boots!

Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/
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