Garden Clinic Digs Deeper With Linda Ross

Linda is joined by Ali Mentesh from Red Cow Farm to talk about his garden, incredible collection of roses, his six favourites plus secrets to success.  Seduced by the colour, forms and perfumes of roses, Ali Mentesh has already collected some 200 to adorn the garden rooms at Red Cow Farm. Can he choose a favourite?  Roses are central to the dreamy delights of Red Cow Farm, a 2.5 hectare garden just outside the village of Sutton Forest in the Southern Highlands of NSW. Gardened by Ali Mentesh and Wayne Morrissey, Red Cow Farm is a series of 20 garden rooms, each with its own mood and linked by subtle, clever planning. And while roses don’t feature in every one of the beautiful garden pictures that have been created since Ali and Wayne bought the 1820s cottage in 1990, they are an early, and enduring passion. Here are Ali’s standouts and why!*Jude the Obscure - strong growth, repeats well year after year, strong fragrance of quince.  *Charles Darwin - palest clotted cream to a beautiful mustard colour and simil

Jog your memory with Linda’s list of winter gardening jobs.  Sharpen your tools, clean them regularly and store small hand tools in a bucket of clean sand with a little multipurpose 3 in 1 oil to moisten. Indoor plant care Citrus pruning time Fruit tree planting time Get into the veggie patch as there’s still time to plant Brassica vegetables including broccoli, sprouting broccoli, cabbage, turnips/turnip greens, rocket, kale, and all types of lettuce. Also plant shelling peas and sugar snaps now the weather is a little cooler and it’s the perfect time for lettuces.Strawberry runners trimmed and cut.Stone fruit spray to prevent peach leaf curl plus her quick 5 second recipe for kale chips Fix for a Sulking magnolia Green Madonna lily & she answers whether grass clippings can be used as mulchAsk a question via our Facebook page facebook.com/GardenClinicClub/Keep connected with us on Instagram @linda_kirin_ross@gardenclinicclub

Linda Ross chats to special guest Peter Thorburn from Honeysuckle Garden (www.honeysucklegarden.com.au). They discuss the secrets to a happy healthy garden and a simple way of preventing plant pests whilst attracting local wildlife and beneficial insects. With over 40 years of nursery experience, Peter has created a stable of three sensational garden centres in Sydney Australia and came across an organic magic mix that Linda says will not only make plants jump out of their skins but will also prevent pest problems long term. They now want to share it with you! Magic Mix Recipe: www.gardenclinic.com.au/how-to-grow-article/how-to -make-up-a-magic-mix Add to 1 litre of water 3ml Eco-Oil2ml Eco-Neem5ml Eco-AminogroAdd a pinch seaweed during summer months only Spray weekly for the garden including natives and vegetables (except African violets) but you could do fortnightly or monthly depending on your available time. Magic Mix will help eliminate small bodied pests including aphids, caterpillars, thrips, mites, ci

Linda Ross and special guest Tim Drewitt (www.redearthbulbs.com) discuss how to choose bulbs that flower year after year, getting bigger and how to plant them so they bloom in full glory in spring and summer You’ll hear:Why we love bulbs!What are the best bulbs to plant if you’re after more bang for your buckLinda’s favourite bulbs and how to grow them including:Drumstick AlliumGaldioliIxiaTulipsFreesiasDutch IrisDaffodilsRed Earth Bulb Farm (www.redearthbulbs.com)...are a small, family run business in the rich red soils of the Dandenong Ranges. The family has been growing bulbs and perennials, many rare and unusual lines, for in excess of 50 years. Red Earth Bulb Farm is owned by Drewitt’s bulbs.For more information...http://www.gardenclinic.com.au/how-to-grow-article/best-bulbs-forhttp://www.gardenclinic.com.au/how-to-grow-article/how-to-make-a-great-bulb-displayAsk a question via Facebook...https://www.facebook.com/GardenClinicClub/

It's all about composting this week. Linda Ross discusses this simple yet important element of your garden. Find out all the dos-and-do-nots, demystify this simple process and start enjoying free soil in your garden today.