Garden Care of A Sustainable Garden - Brisbane, Australia

1. Garden care
Once you have established your Caring for your compost
sustainable garden, the next step is
to know how to care for it through  Alternate nitrogen-rich materials (e.g.
regular maintenance. This section will fruit peelings, lawn clippings) with
carbon-rich materials (e.g. dry leaves,
provide some information for you to
sawdust, paper, straw).
follow.
 Make the layers 5-10cm deep.
A sustainable garden is a winner in
the maintenance stakes. It is low  Sprinkle soil between the layers.
maintenance, needs less mowing,  Add oxygen by turning the top layers
less pruning, less chemicals and less regularly.
watering, so you get more time to
 Keep moist but not wet.
enjoy it!
Avoid adding:
RESIDENtS tIP  animal fats and meats as this will attract
vermin
If it's not compostable or recyclable,
don't buy it!!  weeds with bulbs
 pet droppings (try a worm farm)
Compost  branches, roots and rose cuttings
Compost is a complete DIY plant food  citrus peel
and soil conditioner. It’s great for soil  seafood.
structures, root growth, soil water-holding
capacity and worms. It turns everything
from vacuum cleaner dust to eggshells GREEN tIP
into great fertiliser. Importantly, it diverts
your green waste back into the garden If your chosen method of
rather than into a landfill site, which composting is a compost heap or
also helps to reduce the production of compost enclosure, remember to
damaging greenhouse gases. keep your compost covered with
soil and turn regularly to discourage
rat and/or mice infestation.
RESIDENtS tIP
Egg shells, crushed and added
to compost are a great source of
calcium for your soil
Green Gardening Guide 31

2. Garden care
It is handy to keep a separate bin in your
kitchen for fruit and vegetable scraps GREEN tIP
for your compost heap. The compost is
Offer your vegie scraps to your
ready for garden use when it has reduced
neighbours who have a compost bin
to a fine, crumble mix with an earthy
or chickens.
smell. This may take between 3-6 months
depending on what the design of your
compost bin is.
For a great guide on how to compost,
RESIDENtS tIP
visit www.epa.qld.gov.au/publications/ Puffy my chicken is good for
p01151aa.pdf/How_to_compost.pdf fertiliser. She eats my leftovers at
dinner too – Ameilia, aged 7
Low Nitrogen soil and water
High Nitrogen kitchen waste
water
Low Nitrogen garden waste
High Nitrogen manure
Low Nitrogen coarse prunings
High Nitrogen grass clippings
Low Nitrogen soil
High Nitrogen herbs or seaweed
Low Nitrogen coarse prunings
loosely-forked soil base
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3. Marvellous mulch Benefits of mulch
Even if you don’t have a compost heap Multipurpose mulch can:
or bin, you can still enjoy the marvellous
 suppress weeds
benefits of mulch. It’s as easy as spreading
weed-free dry grass clippings, leaves  act as a natural slow-release fertiliser
and shredded prunings on top of the soil
 provide a home for plant-friendly
to a depth of 15cm for course material
insects
and only 2.5cm for fresh grass clippings.
Remember to keep it away from plant  keep up to 70% more water in the soil
stems to avoid collar rot. than unmulched soil.
For more information on composting or
RESIDENtS tIP mulching visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/
environment or call Council on
Use lucerne mulch. When it sprouts (07) 3403 8888.
dig it in to enrich soil with nitrogen
– Yvonne
Mulch layer breaks
down to add
Weeds pulled out easily
nutrients to soil
Screened light = Evaporation
less germination reduced
of weed seeds
mulch no mulch Roots can be
killed at high
temperatures
3cm deep
32˚C 42˚C
12cm deep
26˚C 38˚C
Green Gardening Guide 33

4. GREEN tIP GREEN tIP
If you put mulch on your garden Just remember that your compost
too thickly a crust may develop worms are a different species to
and prevent water penetration. It’s your garden worms. Your compost
always a good idea to periodically worms are surface dwellers and
turn over your mulch to aerate it are one of nature’s best recyclers.
and to assist with decomposition. Garden earthworms are great at
deep burrowing which help loosens
soil and allows water and air down
to the roots of plants.
Hooray for worms!
If you don’t have room for a compost bin, Your garden earthworms are just as hard
you should consider buying a worm farm. working. They munch up mulch, creating
Compost worms are great gardeners. tunnels for air, water and delicate roots as
They munch up all your vegetable scraps they go. They play such a very important
and produce microbe-rich castings that role in having a healthy, sustainable
are full of nutrients for plants. The liquid garden.
castings are great for watering all your
plants and you just need to dilute it at a
rate of 1 to 10 (i.e. castings to water).
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5. Garden care
Fertilisers Mowing
Some forms of fertiliser are often How do you rate as a mower? Give
expensive, require a lot of water and may yourself a tick if you…
not even be necessary. Check any nutrient
Compost or mulch weed-free grass
deficiency symptoms in foliage with your
clippings
local nursery. Avoid the use of chemical
fertilisers and go organic with your own Only cut the top third of the grass
mulch and compost.
Mow regularly during the summer
Nitrogen-rich fertilisers cause algal growing season
blooms and increase weed growth in our
Don’t use a catcher on parts of the
waterways. This disturbs the ecological
lawn you don’t often visit
balance for animals and plants that
live there. Some native plants (such as Use a mulching mower that shreds
banksias and grevilleas) are sensitive to clippings finely
phosphorus so avoid using fertilisers and
Service your mower regularly and keep
greywater on these.
the blades sharp
If you feel as though you have to use
Are a considerate neighbour, who
extra fertilisers:
mows and whipper snips between 7am
 confirm why you need them and 7pm each day or after 8am on
Sundays
 check their composition
Have replaced some of your lawn with
 follow the manufacturer’s instructions
gardens and/or vegie patch
carefully
Water your lawn with greywater from
 if you want to take advantage of rain,
your laundry or shower
ensure that you dig the fertiliser in well
to minimise the chance of run-off Use an energy-efficient hand push
mower
 never empty fertilisers into creeks or
stormwater drains. Practice safety in the garden by
Don’t spray/sprinkle
wearing a wide-brimmed hat, long-
chemicals on a windy sleeved shirt, gardening gloves,
day or before rain
Identify the sunglasses, sturdy shoes and sunscreen
problem
Don’t over-fertilise
your plants
Target spray
on pest only
Space plants
to encourage
air circulation
Leave grass
clippings on
lawn
LAWN
(reduce) Use greywater to
fertilise
Green Gardening Guide 35

6. Pruning Dumping garden waste
Some native plants such as bottlebrush A big threat to our natural environment is
and tea tree benefit from pruning. It the dumping of rubbish, including garden
promotes flowering and they don’t waste and lawn clippings.
become straggly or woody. However,
Garden waste, such as plant pruning’s,
you can keep your pruning chores to a
soil and grass clippings can introduce or
minimum by choosing plants that grow to
spread weeds or other unwanted plants
a size that suits their location.
into bushland, and pests such as fireants.
Pruning your trees is a good idea to Their introduction causes competition
reduce their centre of gravity however with native plants and can destroy habitat.
there are rules to consider. Thin them If native plants suffer, so do the native
out but do not cut back the lower limbs birds, animals and insects that need
as this will make the tree top heavy. If those plants for food and shelter. The
in doubt, contact a qualified consulting green waste can also add fuel to the bush
arborist for advice. and during the hot dry summer season
increase the risk and intensity of bushfire.
Always dispose of your prunings by either:
Dumping rubbish, including garden waste
 buying your own mulcher to shred
such as grass clippings and pruning’s are
larger prunings before placing them in
illegal and penalties apply. Be responsible
your compost bin.
and take your garden waste to one of
 separate green waste and general Council’s four transfer stations. Contact
waste before going to the Council Council on (07) 3403 8888 or visit
transfer station www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/environment for
further information.
 contact a garden waste removal service
that mulches and recycles waste to
take your pruning’s and leaves away.
RESIDENtS tIP
Learn to prune your garden at the
right time of the year for healthy
regrowth – Shane
GREEN tIP
Council offers a free kerbside green
waste collection for all residents.
To find out about the collection
schedule for your suburb phone
Council on (07) 3403 8888 or visit
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/
environment
36

7. not mulching, having water-repelling soils
GREEN FACt and bad garden design. Here are some
tips to reduce any water wastage.
Roadside or bushland dumping is
illegal and penalties apply. If you  Use a soil wetting agent to assist with
see someone dumping waste the soils ability to take up water more
illegally, dob in a dumper by calling efficiently.
Council on (07) 3403 8888.
 After you have watered, check to see
Write down the registration number,
how far it has penetrated. Ideally, it
make and model of the vehicle
should be to a depth of 10cm.
as well as the time and place. For
safety reasons, don’t confront the  Group plants with similar watering
dumpers. requirements together.
 Mulch your gardens and pots well.
Mulch made from recycled organics
Minimising water use (i.e. sugar cane mulch) is a great water
saving product.
As Australians, we live on the driest
inhabited continent on Earth. Drought  Lawns are very water hungry. Think
is a periodic reality for most parts of about replacing your lawn with garden
Australia, including Brisbane and we need beds or use a more waterwise variety of
to be smart about how we use the water grass. Lawns are resilient so if your lawn
available to us. By following good water does go brown, it will rejuvenate when
management practices we can lessen we next have good rainfall.
the pressure placed on the supply of this
 Water pots and plants on a low-
limited resource.
pressure setting on your hose. This will
allow deep water penetration of your
RESIDENtS tIP plants. Spray settings will only provide
surface watering.
Water the root ball of the plant, not
the whole plant  Always check to see if your plants
need watering. An easy way to test is
to insert your finger into the dirt and
Brisbane residents are to be then remove it to see if the soil on your
congratulated for the way they have met finger is wet or dry.
the challenges of drought and water
 Establishing with deep watering is
restriction targets. Whilst it has not always
more beneficial than frequent surface
been easy to watch our beloved gardens
watering as this encourages deep root
struggle, we have learnt first hand just
growth.
how important it is to retain the water
we use by mulching and composting our  Buy a rainwater tank. Check with
gardens. Council for any rebate that might
apply. For more information visit,
It has been estimated that up to a third of
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/services/
water wasted in the garden is through not
rainwatertanks
following good watering practices, e.g.
Green Gardening Guide 37

8.  Use greywater from your laundry and Water early in the morning or late
bathroom. Just remember to not use in the afternoon (in accordance with
this water on your edible vegetables or current restrictions)
on some natives. Visit www.brisbane.
Have planted waterwise plants
qld.gov.au/environment for further
information on greywater use. Use greywater on your plants (except
some natives and edible plants)
 Purchase and install water saving
devices. For example, rainwater Have planted a shade tree to reduce
tanks, pool covers, low flow taps, and evaporation
greywater systems.
Have reduced the size of your lawn
Have less than 50% of your garden area
GREEN tIP
planted with lawn
Greywater can contain elevated
The Queensland Water Commission has
levels of sodium, phosphorus
the responsibility for water restrictions in
and contaminants. Avoid use
response to the combined water levels
on grevilleas, banksias, azaleas,
of our three main dams – Wivenhoe,
gardenias or directly on edible crops.
Somerset and North Pine. Visit
www.qwc.qld.gov.au to view current water
Give yourself a tick if you… restrictions.
Use mulch on your pots and gardens
GREEN FACt
Group plants together with similar
watering needs Of all the earth’s water, only three
percent is fresh and two-thirds
Have a rainwater tank and/or a
of this is locked away in ice. That
greywater diverter
leaves only one percent to water the
world.
trees
Your garden is a reflection of you and a
specially-planted tree can represent a
significant event in your family (e.g. child’s
birth) or just a statement to your home.
It’s important to look after not just your
special tree but all trees in your property.
Give it loving care by:
 mulching its critical root zone (see
picture on page 39)
 hiring a consulting arborist to inspect
it, prune it or remove dead or
dangerous branches.
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9. RESIDENtS tIP
tree root maintenance
A tree’s ‘critical root zone’ is the area
Everyone should plant a tree for every
directly underneath the canopy of a
year they have lived
mature tree, right down to the root
structure.
What to do to protect your special tree All activities in this zone have a direct
impact on the tree and its roots.
Tree health, vigour and stability are
linked to root health. Any damage
to the roots can weaken branches in
the tree’s canopy. Weak roots mean
unstable trees during extreme weather
conditions.
When working in the critical root zone,
avoid:
 digging
 root cutting or other damage
 filling
CRItICAL ZoNE  spilling chemicals
 compaction
 vehicular traffic
What Not to do to protect your special tree  paving.
Tree roots don’t usually crack or break
pipes – the pipes are often already
leaking or damaged which attracts
tree roots.
To avoid any problems that roots
might cause:
 plant trees away from structures.
A guide to how far is available on
page 28 in this booklet or check
with your local nursery.
 repair faulty stormwater and sewer
pipes
CRItICAL ZoNE  choose small to medium trees.
Green Gardening Guide 39

10. Preparing for fire/storm For more information on preparing for
storm season visit:
season
www.energex.com.au/safety/safety_
Brisbane’s summers are hot and storm storm_checklist.html
and fire events are common. To lessen the
potential for damage it is best that you http://www.emergency.qld.gov.au/emq/
prepare your home early for the summer css/severe_storm.asp
season. For fire season information visit:
Here are some simple steps to protect www.fire.qld.gov.au/communitysafety/
your property. bushfire/default.asp
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
Before fire season
 Clean out roof guttering. Leaf litter Safety in the garden
can accumulate in your gutters which As much as we enjoy being in the
will ignite from flying embers from garden, we should always be mindful of
bushfires. These embers can travel good safety practices. Common garden
many kilometres on the wind. Use chemical and synthetic pesticides can be
gutter guards to prevent leaf build up. dangerous to your plants, soils, aquatic
 Create a barrier/fire break between life, pets and children if used incorrectly.
bushland and your home.
 Ensure that you have an easily-
GREEN tIP
accessible and fire-safe escape road If you’re not sure how to handle
route should you need to leave. the product, always read the label
each time that you purchase the
Before storm season product as dosage rates can change
between manufacturing dates.
 Check and repair any loose roofing tiles
or sheets. Check and clean downpipes,
guttering and drains to ensure water Some general gardening safety tips.
drains away quickly. Use gutter guards
 Don’t leave garden tools, hoses,
to prevent leaf build up.
watering cans or other solid objects
 Hire a qualified consulting arborist to lying about for people to trip over.
inspect your trees for dead branches,
 Always store rakes, hoes, spades, forks,
weak branch attachments, decay, poor
secateurs and shears out of children’s
weight distribution and dangerously
reach.
crowded branches or root damage.
 Always be careful of handling organic
 Remove any overhanging branches
mulch, compost and fertilisers. Use
near your home and clear your yard of
gloves and a mask to ensure that you
loose materials and rubbish.
do not inhale any microorganisms.
Always be storm and fire smart!
 If you are cut with a sharp gardening
implement, wash with warm water and
clean with disinfectant.
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11.  Always be aware of possibly finding
rusty nails or other dangerous objects
tips for an environmentally-
when you’re digging in the garden. friendly garden
 Always mow wearing covered shoes, a  Spray plants with natural insect controls
hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. such as garlic spray, white oil or
dishwashing detergent (see residents’
 Always wash your hands with soap and tried and true recipes below).
water after working in the garden even
if you’ve worn gloves.  Encourage visits by insect-eating birds
by providing suitable habitat.
 Remember to bend your knees
when lifting plants or using your  Get 'Mother Nature' on side with
wheelbarrow. companion planting, choosing plants
that attract insect predators (such
When handling fertilisers and chemicals: as ladybeetles) or release certain
 always read, understand and follow the chemicals (such as marigolds).
directions on the label  Prevention is best. Keep plants healthy,
 ensure you understand the rate of weed-free and disease-resistant.
application and wear gloves Select plants less susceptible to insect
invasion.
 store chemicals and fertilisers out of
the reach of children  Use natural pesticides such as
pyrethrum and derris. However, use
 don’t spray on windy days or when the them sparingly as they too can cause
temperature is over 30°C. environmental harm.
If you are having some problems  To reduce fungal problems remove old
with garden pests consider using leaves, avoid watering leaf surfaces and
organic chemicals that have a minimal keep mulch from base of stem.
environmental impact.
RESIDENtS tIP
Use companion planting to reduce
reliance on man-made chemicals
and increase production of plants.
GREEN tIP
Remember to practice ‘sun safety’
whenever you are in the garden
and always wear a hat, long sleeves,
sturdy shoes, sunglasses and
sunscreen.
Green Gardening Guide 41

12. GREEN tIP Garden nasties
Residents tried and true sustainable
garden remedies:
Invasive plants
Many attractive garden plants have a
AILMENT REMEDy secret life as weeds in our bushland! There
To deter white Boil lettuce leaves are more than 200 backyard beauties
cabbage moth and use the water on that become bushland bullies when they
cabbages, cauliflower, jump the garden fence. Once there, they
brussel sprouts
smother and kill native plants, removing
For sooty mould Add 1tsp cooking oil food and shelter for our wildlife.
+ 1tsp detergent +
500ml water – spray on Invasive plants are the main threat to
To deter/kill Mix 3 cloves garlic +
biodiversity in protected areas and they
aphids, slugs, squirt of washing up represent the second biggest threat to
beetles liquid + 500ml water biodiversity after vegetation clearing.
and spray on
Council spends nearly $2.5 million each
Black spot on Mix 1tsp sunflower year on weed management in our natural
roses oil + 2tsp bicarb soda areas, parks and waterways and 85% of
+ 1 drop washing
the species treated are garden escapees.
detergent + 1 litre
So we are all really important partners in
water – spray on
helping to reduce weeds by buying non­
invasive species from a reputable nursery
and removing weeds from our gardens, or
joining your local Habitat Brisbane group
WILDLIFE GREEN tIP and removing weeds from Brisbane’s
BRUSH TURKEyS bushland.
Council has an online weed identification
The brush-turkey is a protected
tool and videos of the seven most
native bird and they play an
common weed control methods to help
important role in natural pest
you identify and control weeds. To locate
management. However, during
this useful tool, find more information or
the mating season (August to
share your knowledge about weeds visit
December) they can destroy your
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/environment or
beloved garden within a day and
phone (07) 3403 8888 for weed fact sheets.
will remain persistent with their
nest building until the end of
the breeding season. For more
RESIDENtS tIP
information on working towards a
‘natural balance’ with your resident Daddy and I do digging and cutting
brush turkey, please visit www. to stop the creeper climbing in the
brisbane.qld.gov.au/environment house – Harrison
42

13. Mozzies and midges  ensuring water does not pool on the
tank lid
Mosquitoes and midges can turn a
 sealing all entry routes to the tank
great afternoon BBQ or picnic into an
including the inlet and overflow pipes
unpleasant event. To help protect yourself
with mosquito-proof screens
and your garden from mozzies and
midges, follow some of the tips below. Visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/
environment for more information.
 Regularly check for mosquito larvae
(wrigglers) in any still water in
containers, plant saucers, tyres and tyre Fire ants/yellow crazy ants
swings, buckets, bird baths and pet
The most dangerous ant in the Brisbane
bowls. Replace with fresh clean water
area is the fire ant. Other ants that may
where necessary.
cause problems around the home include
 Keep roof gutters clear from built green head ants, meat ants, sugar ants
up leaf litter to prevent rain water and funnel ants.
collecting.
Fire ants were discovered in South East
 Wear long sleeved, light coloured and Queensland in 2001 and even though
loose fitting clothing if you are outside many have been eradicated, there is
at dusk and dawn. always a risk of finding them in plant soil
and potting mix. If you buy these, ask
 Use natural repellents such as
your garden supplier to certify that they
citronella, mosquito coils and lanterns.
are free of fire ants.
Visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/
environment for more information.
RESIDENtS tIP
Put sand in the saucers of pot plants
– it keeps the mozzies away
Rainwater tanks and mozzie
prevention Fire ant
Mosquitoes breed if they get inside a tank
or systems where water does not drain
from pipes, gutters and plumbing.
PESt tIP
If you think you have fire ants or
You can stop mosquitoes breeding in
yellow crazy ants, immediately phone
your rainwater tank by:
the Department of Primary Industries
 ensuring there is no debris in the tank and Fisheries on 13 25 23. Visit
www.dpi.qld.gov.au for more
 gutter design does not allow water to
information.
pool
Green Gardening Guide 43

14. Yellow crazy ants were discovered in
Brisbane in 2004. They don’t sting but PESt tIP
spray formic acid that irritates the skin
Termites (white ants) can cause
and eyes of people.
thousands of dollars worth of
Visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/ damage to homes in a relatively
environment for more information. short period of time. To prevent any
problems, always ensure that:
• you don’t have garden beds
against your home
• keep weep holes clear
• keep any pieces of timber away
from against your home
• replace any leaking garden taps
Yellow crazy ant • contact a qualified pest manager
at least once a year to carry out a
termite inspection of your home.
Details can be found in the yellow
pages under ‘pest control’.
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15. A DPI&F scientist inspecting a fire ant nest