Assassin Bug
Assassin bugs get their name from their predatory habits. Gardeners consider them beneficial insects, because their voracious appetites for other bugs keeps pests under control. They are also known as Bee-killers because one of their favourite prey is the honey bee – actually they will feed on any insects that they can catch! […]
How to Prune a Pawpaw
The best time to prune is late winter or early spring, when the tree is dormant.. Corrective pruning consists of removing broken, interfering, dead, or diseased branches. Since pawpaw fruit is produced on new growth, annual pruning will stimulate new growth on older trees. The following advice for this post has been sourced from Gardening Australia January 2019 issue. Phil Dudman suggests the […]
Pea Moth
Ever opened a pea and found some dirty matter inside? This was most probably the work of the Pea Moth. Pea moth Cydia nigricana are hairy brown moths which seek out peas when they are in bloom and lay eggs on the young pods. The larvae burrow into the immature peas to feed. On opening […]
Dindymus versicolor – Harlequin Bug
A CHGC member came to an outing armed with images of this rather pretty critter and wanted to know what it was – the answer….. it’s a bad guy, commonly known as Harlequin Bug, Dindymus versicolor and can really wreck havoc on succulent new growth, in this particular case, our member’s broadbeans. Sometimes these insects are […]
Cat’s Claw Creeper – Invasive Weed
Cat’s claw creeper is yet another escapee from the garden. This plant was introduced to Australia as a garden plant and has become a major weed of native forests of Australia. Its vigorous, climbing, woody stems cling to tree trunks, enabling it to grow into the forest canopy. It can grow in excess of 30 […]
Creating a thriving pollinator-friendly garden this winter
Article written by Tanya Latty, University of Sydney
Glycphana Stolata – Brown Flower Beetle
Commonly known as the Brown Flower Beetle, Glycyphana stolata is a good guy in that he assist with pollination. I was deadheading my roses this morning and came across this critter on a Seduction rose, so snipped off the flower, shoved it into a plastic bag so identification could be done later. Gave this investigative duty to hubby who […]
Lantana – Invasive Weed
Lantana could perhaps be described as being Australia’s most debilitating invasive introduced weed. This shrub is native to Central and South America and readily grows into thickets. An ornamental garden plant, introduced into Australia around the 1840s, it quickly escaped domestic cultivation and within twenty (yes, 20) was established in the wild. By this time […]
Fallen Leaves
How can I use fallen leaves? At this time of year (early winter) we might have some fallen leaves that can be put to good use. Eucalypt leaves can be a bit tricky to break down and a great tip is to mix a tablespoon of Urea into 10 litres of water along with your […]
Pruning Crepe Myrtles
On the Coffs Coast there are few autumnal trees/shrubs which is perhaps why Crepe Myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) hold such swathe in our gardens here. By giving us a beautiful display of Autumn leaves, it is almost a must that our gardens have at least one for their leaf turning burst of colour alone. Crepe Myrtles […]
