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Articles by Dale Vine
What To Plant In January: Your Summer Gardening Guide 2026
Following on the tails of spring, there’s no denying that every garden looks its blooming best throughout the summer. But, with the hotter months, come more challenging growing conditions. So what should you plant in your garden in January? Here we share the ultimate summer gardening guide with top tips from expert gardener Dale Vine. January is a great month to take some cuttings of plants and save some money.
15 tips from expert gardeners to help your plants survive summer
Summer means different things to different gardeners: while many southern and central regions bake dry, the steamy Top End is rejuvenated by drenching storms. But no matter where you live, summer brings common challenges, such as dividing time and effort between keeping our gardens in good shape, and enjoying them during the summer holidays.
How To Keep Your Indoor Plants Alive Year-Round
If you want plant life around you but don’t have an outdoor space, there are plenty of opportunities to introduce greenery into your interior with a selection of (preferably hardy) indoor plants. But be careful to choose plants that can tolerate life on the inside. Whether you’re a novice or a plant perfectionist, the rules are the same: you must provide a certain level of care to create a thriving indoor garden. Here are our top tips for how to keep your indoor plants alive and well.
Perennial Plants: Tips For Growing Annual Plants And Vegetables
If you’re looking for ways to create a garden that flourishes year-round, perennial plants are for you. Perennial plants are classed as plants that live for two or more years, as opposed to shorter-lived annuals and biennials. There is a huge variety of perennial plant species, ranging from ferns and grasses to flowering ground covers, making it easy to create a perennial garden to suit any style of home and landscape. Spring is the best time to plant perennials.
Flowers To Plant In March
If you’re wondering what to plant in autumn, it’s a good time to add colour to your cool weather garden with bright flowers like pansies. It’s also an ideal time to get your garden ready for the coming months by preparing the soil for bulb planting, pruning hedges and aerating lawns. Pansies: Pansies are an old-fashioned favourite and a close relative of the popular viola. They are a small annual that can be planted now to flower in late autumn to spring.
How to keep a real Christmas tree looking fresh for longer
A lot of people pine for the look, smell and feel of a real Christmas tree, versus an artificial one, which smells like, um, nothing. If you're going to opt for a freshly cut or potted Christmas tree, you gotta know how to keep it looking its best throughout December — maybe even beyond. Christmas is notoriously hot in Australia, so keeping your tree (whether cut or potted) watered is essential to ensure it stays alive until Santa arrives - but there's more to it than that.
How to keep a real Christmas tree looking fresh for longer
A lot of people pine for the look, smell and feel of a real Christmas tree, versus an artificial one, which smells like, um, nothing. If you’re going to opt for a freshly cut or potted Christmas tree, you gotta know how to keep it looking its best throughout December — maybe even beyond. Christmas is notoriously hot in Australia, so keeping your tree (whether cut or potted) watered is essential to ensure it stays alive until Santa arrives – but there’s more to it than that.
Summer Gardening Tips: Water, Shade And Planting Tips
Don't let your garden suffer in the heat. Good preparation is critical for your garden to survive the wilting effects of the Aussie summer. Summer means different things to different gardeners. While many southern and central regions bake dry, for instance, the steamy Top End is rejuvenated by drenching storms. But for the rest of us, summer brings common challenges, such as dividing time and effort between keeping our gardens in good shape, and enjoying them during the summer holidays.
which ones to plant in September
Spring is the ideal time to plant colourful flowers. There is a plethora of varieties you can plant that will enliven your garden and create a vibrant display. When deciding what spring flowers to plant in September, it's great to be able to go to your local nurseries and buy plants that are already in flower. It's good to mix and match different plants to achieve a pleasing combination before purchasing.
How to create a sensory garden: 5 essential design elements
Landscaping expert Dale Vine shows you how to stimulate all five senses in your garden. Jan 18, 2022 1:00pm The five senses of sight, sound, touch, taste and smell can be applied in a landscape scenario to create a sensory garden that can stimulate us on a number of levels. With some clever choices a sensory garden can easily be achieved, and the great thing is that it will prove educational and fun for the kids, too.
The best vegetables to sow and harvest in January
Garden expert Dale Vine tells us what to do in the vegie patch for the month of January. Dec 17, 2021 12:29am There's nothing more satisfying than eating the fruits of your own labour, which is why its not surprise that many Aussies take joy in planting, growing, and eating their own produce. Spring is often considered the busiest time in the garden, but when it comes to the vegetable patch, there's plenty you can plant and harvest in summer.
What to do in the Vegie Patch in February
Keep your backyard in tip-top shape! Feb 01, 2021 12:34am February is the time to plant and harvest your vegies, combat mildew and encourage the best fruit growth. Garden expert Dale Vine shares his top vegie patch tips for late summer and lets you know why you should keep your tools clean to avoid a patch disaster! What to plant in February Silverbeet, peas, spring onion, carrot, lettuce, beetroot, swede, spinach, rhubarb and broccoli can all be planted now.
Summer gardening: what to do in the vegie patch in January
What to do with your vegetable patch in January - garden guru Dale Vine shares his top tips. Dec 18, 2020 4:00am There's lots of work to be done in the vegie patch in January. Photo: Scott Hawkins / bauersyndication.com.au There's nothing more satisfying than eating the fruits of your own labour, which is why its not surprise that many Aussies take joy in planting, growing, and eating their own produce.
Wild and free: creating an untamed garden
Garden expert Dale Vine shares his ideas for designing your own backyard jungle. Jul 02, 2020 4:30am Large stones create a meandering path that leads to... who knows? Photo: bauersyndication.com.au While a well-maintained design with shaped hedges and a precise lawn is pleasing, there is something joyful and almost freeing about witnessing flowers growing wildly among garden beds as if in an untouched wilderness.
What to do in the garden in Autumn
Autumn in the garden is all about planning for what's ahead. Dale Vine has you covered with his planting and gardening guide. Mar 17, 2020 10:30pm It may be cooling down, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to do in the garden! Photo: Chris Warnes / bauersyndication.com.au Wondering what to do in the garden in Autumn (besides cleaning up fallen leaves!)? Autumn is all about planning and prepping your garden to help it thrive through the coolers months.
Flowers to plant in March and other autumn gardening tips
Autumn is here and Dale Vine looks at the best flowers for adding colour to your garden. Mar 16, 2020 1:00am Pansies are the perfect autumn flowers to bring colour to your garden. Photo: Getty Images If you're wondering what to plant in autumn, it's a good time to add colour to your cool weather garden with bright flowers like pansies. It's also an ideal time to get your garden ready for the coming months by preparing the soil for bulb planting, pruning hedges and aerating lawns.
How to keep your indoor plants alive
If you want plant life around you but don’t have an outdoor space, introduce greenery into your interior with hardy indoor plants. But be careful to choose plants that can tolerate life on the inside. When buying an indoor plant, pay attention to the light requirements on the plant’s tag. A main reason indoor plants don’t thrive as well as they should is because they're not provided with the right type of light.
How to create a minimal and contemporary garden
As more and more modern home designs appear in our neighbourhoods, contemporary styling is also making an impact on outdoor spaces. A modern-style garden should have a slick, clean look that feels very open and minimalist – accentuating the sense of space. Here, garden expert Dale Vine gives his top tips on how to achieve clean and contemporary (but not boring!) style in your backyard.
Spring Flowers: Which Ones To Plant In September
Spring is the ideal time to plant colourful flowers. There is a plethora of varieties you can plant that will enliven your garden and create a vibrant display. When deciding what spring flowers to plant in September, it's great to be able to go to your local nurseries and buy plants that are already in flower. It's good to mix and match different plants to achieve a pleasing combination before purchasing.
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