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News for Gardeners

News about plants and gardens in Queensland, plus other interesting items from around the world.

Attracting predators with Alyssum

A Washington State University study in which sweet alyssum was grown near apple trees has shown a reduced incidence of wooly apple aphid due to the enhanced predator populations. Six different flowers including marigolds and zinnia were considered for the study, but alyssum was chosen because it attracted the most syrphids (hoverflies), the larvae of which feed on aphids. However, during the study few hoverfly larvae were found. rather, a diverse array of spiders and predactory insects appeared responsible for most of the aphid decline. Protein markers sprayed on the flowers and later identified on predators indicated they had indeed visited the flowers and so were presumably attracted by them. Source: Flower power fights orchard pests (May 2013)

Better germination may be a matter of "the vibe"

Research out of the University of Western Australia suggests communication between germinating seeds of the same or different species can affect growth. Chilli seed germination was helped by the presence of other chillis or basil plants, but hindered by fennel. Plastic barriers blocking chemical transfer suggests "nanomechanical vibrations" may be the mode of comminication. Source: Plants 'talk' to plants to help them grow (May 2013)

Fire ant detection by air

From 1st May 2013, helicopters fitted with special remote-sensing cameras will recommence fire ant surveillance in the Brisbane region. With the help of computer analysis, the cameras use near-infrared and thermal imaging to locate nests from 500 feet. The work is done inthe cooler months of the year, when the heat of nests can be most easily detected (Fire ants have no where to hide). Check the Aerial survey flight schedule 2013 online to see if there are upcoming flights in your area.

Open Gardens chief's achievements recognised

Richard Barley, CEO of Open Gardens Australia, was awarded "Person of the Year" in the 2013 International Garden Tourism Awards presented at the Garden Tourism Conference held in Canada in March (Winners of the 2013 Canadian and International Garden Tourism Awards, Open Gardens CEO Receives International Award!). Since then, he has been appointed Director of Horticulture at the UK's Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Richard Barley Appointed to Kew Gardens (May 2013)

Europe to move on neonicotinoid ban

The European Commission looks set to proceeed with a controversial proposal to severely restrict the use of three neonicotinoid pesticides, on the basis of a threat to bees. Included in the group is imidacloprid, formulations of which are popular with home gardeners in Australia. According to the European proposal, home gardeners will not be able to use the chemicals at all. The proposal will be reviewed within two years. More information:
Bees & Pesticides: Commission to proceed with plan to better protect bees European Commssion media release
Bee deaths: EU to ban neonicotinoid pesticides BBC
Bees and the European neonicotinoids pesticide ban: Q&A The Guardian, UK
(April 2013)

LEAF volunteers wanted

The Logan Eco Action Festival (LEAF) is calling for volunteers to help out on the day (Sunday, 2nd June 2013). There will be a variety of jobs to do, whether behind-the-scenes or interacting with the public. It's a chance to help promote awareness of environmental issues in the community as well as gain experience in the running of such an event. If you're interested in helping out, go to www.logan.qld.gov.au/LEAF and submit an expression of interest.

Into Horticulture Issue 12 online now

This online newsletter is aimed at the expert amateur gardener plus professionals in the nursery and garden industry, especially in Queensland. View the latest online edition here: Into Horticulture - Issue 12. To find out how to subscribe to the email edition (it's free!) or view archived online editions, go to Newsletters.

Heat-inhibition of lettuce seed explored

Researchers have discovered a gene responsible for stopping lettuce germination in hot weather. When the seeds are exposed to moisture at warm temperatures, the gene switches on and increases production of absicic acid. This plant hormone inhibits germination. The mechanism may have helped the lettuce's Mediterranean ancestors avoid germinating in the summer, when conditions are usually too hot and dry to allow completion of the life cycle. Identification of the gene may lead to new varieties that don't require seed priming and other expensive and unreliable techiques to achieve year-round crop production. Source: Gene discovery may yield lettuce that will sprout in hot weather (March 2013)

Slacks Creek Catchment Recovery Project is underway

The project has commenced with a tree planting at Timothy Park. Besides the environmental improvements that stormwater management and revegetation will bring, the rehabilitated waterways should provide a valuable amenity for the local community. Slacks Creek is a tributary of the Logan River. Source: Slacks Creek recovery project launches to the community (March 2013)

Mow it, says Bundaberg RC

Bundaberg Regional Council have issued a reminder to residents that don't clean up to their overgrown properties risk being charged contractor cost or fines. More at the council website: Excuses on overgrown land won't cut it with Council (March 2013)

Plant to reduce crime

Contary to the notion that vegetation may encourge crime by providing cover for perpetrators, a study in Philadelphia has shown that even after accounting for factors such as poverty and education levels, areas of the city with grass, shrubs and trees were associated with lower crime, especially robberies and assaults. The authors suggest greenery might encourage a greater degree on community interaction and supervision as well as having a calming effect. Source: Urban vegetation deters crime in Philadelphia (March 2013)

Better concrete from unexpected source

Caffeine helps bees study

Honeybees fed with a sugar solution containing caffeine were better at remembering a floral scent than bees fed sugar only. Caffeine is found naturally in the nectar of coffee and citrus blossoms. This could encourage bees to keep coming back. Bees get a buzz from caffeine (March 2013)

Giant African Snail in Brisbane

A snail the size of a cricket ball was spotted at a Brisbane container yard and identified by Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) as a Giant African Snail. No evidence of other snails or eggs but follow-up surveillence will be conducted. These snails have the potential to wreck much damage if they establish in Australia, growing up to a kilogram in weight and able to attack hundreds of plant species. Source: Caught trying to escape at snail's pace (March 2013)

Tank dangers

Your rainwater tank could be a death trap, warns Archicentre (an arm of the Australian Institute of Architects). After prolonged rainfall, not only is the tank full and extremely heavy, but the ground supporting it may have been softened. Timber stands are a particular danger and should be checked regularly for signs of deterioration or leaning. Unstable make-shiftstorages using wheeelie bins or other containers can also be dangerous. Source: Is Your Rainwater Tank Stand Safe? (March 2013)

Potato days

Originating near the Equator of South America, wild potatoes were adapted to a regime of shorter days than experienced during the European spring/summer growing season. Mutations in a single gene regulating tuber formation, recent research reveals, allowed the selection of varieties that produced under longer days and led to the potato's importance as a food crop today. in the future, the discovery may facilitate breeding of new varieties suited to specific locations. Source: Discovery of genetic mechanism allowing potato cultivation in northern latitudes (March 2013)

Gardening to be taught in UK schools

Big hopes for small trees

The "Small Tree-High Productivity" (STHP) initiative is a long-term Queensland research project which aims to repeat the success of high-density apple cultivation in tropical fruit crops. Through the development of smaller trees, productivity and profitability gains should be possible in crops like mango, macadamia and avocado. They'll will be the focus of the initiative, but it's possible that the findings could be applied to other tropical and subtropical fruits. Aproaches may include dwarfing rootstocks, pruning techniques, tree architecture, breeding and genetic engineering. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), University of Queensland will be collaborating with other research institutions and grower associations on the project, which may span 20 years. Source: Small tree, big yield - the future of food growth (February 2013)

Daffodil flower secret uncovered

The trumpet-like corona is a distinctive feature of the daffodil. Previously thought to be an extension of the petals, new research suggests that it is a distinct organ developing from the hypanthium (the structure on which the floral parts are located) after the petals and stamens are established. Source: How the daffodil got its trumpet (February 2013)

Habitat for Homestead Park

It's planned that 12,000 trees will be planted at Homestead Park, Mount Cotton and provide wildlife corridors between exsisting bushland. The project is part of environmental offsets for upgrades by Energex in Redland City and will be delivered by SEQ Catchments. Redland City Council says that this is an example of partnerships with other organisations delivering benefits for the community and the environment at no cost to Council. Source: 12,000 new trees for the Redlands (March 2013)

Honeybees' pollination not as good as wild insects

A study of diverse crop systems around the globe indicates that fruit set was lower in sites with fewer wild insects visiting the crop. Inclusion of honey bees improved pollination, but did not fully compensate for the lack of wild insects, even in crops typically stocked with high densities of bees. Thus measures to increase biodiversity of agricultural systems, such as provision of habitat, could have direct productivity benefits. Source: Wild pollinators increase crop fruit set regardless of honey bees (March 2013)

Logan Eco Award

Nominations are now open for the Logan Eco Awards. Residents, businesses and schools in Logan who "go above and beyond" to make the city an environmentally sustainable place are eligible. More information at the Logan City Council website: Nominations open for green gongs (February 2013)

Is it just salt burn?

In the aftermath of ex-tropical cyclone Oswald, SEQ Catchments are receiving reports of trees in coastal areas badly burnt by wind and salt spray being cut down because they were thought to be dead. Many would have recovered with subsequent rains washing away salt and encouraging new growth. Source: Trees aren't what they seem (February 2013)

American landscape trends

A survey of American residential landscape architecture professionals predict outdoor living areas to be popular in 2013. A preferance for sustainability and low-maintenance design are also anticipated. More at the American Society of Landscape Architects website: Survey Identifies Top Outdoor Living Trends for 2013 (February 2013)

Mine rehabilitation more than plants

Functional ecosystems include both plants and animals. A study of a rehabilitated sand-mining site on North Stradbroke Island has shown that areas revegetated with the most "success" did not necessarily attract koalas. On the other hand, some areas rated much lower with respect to flora were nevertheless being used by koalas. These findings indicate that fauna should be included when assessing the success of a rehabilitation project. Source: Koalas and mine site restoration (February 2013)

Flowers take charge

New research has revealed that in addition to cues like colour and fragrance, flowers could communicate to pollinating insects by means of electrical signals. Bees develop a weak positive charge as they fly through the air, while plants are usually negatively charged. Measuring the electric fields of petunias via electrodes placed in the stems, researchers have found that bumblebees can detect and distinguish between different fields. Electric fields also helped the bees learn the difference between colours faster. It's possible that flowers could employ this mechanism to inform pollinators on their pollen and nectar status. Source: Floral signs go electric (February 2013)

Sports give trees a sporting chance

A study of Eucalyptus melliodora at the Australian National University shows that mutations that occur during vegetative growth over a tree's long life can lead to some branches being more pest-resistant than others. In this case, the variation was explained by changes in terpene production. These genetic "sports" might be deleterious if carried by the whole plant, but do give a chance of survival under heavy insect attack. Source: Genetic variation controls predation: Benefits of being a mosaic (February 2013)

Dengue Alert

Cases of the mosquito-borne disease dengue fever have been identified in Port Douglas. Cairns Regional Council urge residents to cooperate with the inspection and spraying program and to regularly check around their premises for popential breeding sites. Read more at the council website: Dengue confirmed in Port Douglas (February 2013)

Tree rings in the tropics

In the past, lack of a distinct hot-cold seasonal cycle has made tree ring data from tropical species difficult to interpret. However, researchers at James Cook University in Queensland have identified some species with good annual rings formed in response to wet-dry cycles. Isotope chemistry has also revealed invisible rings in some species. This and similar studies around the tropical world could reveal new information about the climate in this zone. Source: Tree study may yield climate secrets (February 2013)

e-Clean seeds

A new chemical-free method to kill pathogens on the surface of seeds has been developed in Germany. Low-energy accelerated electrons are used to destroy the DNA of organisms on the seed surface without harming the plant embryo inside. Besides the obvious benefits to humans and environment the avoidance of chemicals presents, this method means that pathogens can't build up resistance. Source: Healthy seeds - treated environmentally friendly (February 2013)

Maleny Community Centre landscaping

Landscaping has commenced at Maleny's new Community Centre. The mosaic artwork that was previously in the footpath with be returned along with new street furniture and native plantings. Sunshine Coast Regional Council say they want the new facility to integrate seamlessly into the exisiting streescape. Source: Landscaping at the new Community Centre in Maleny (January 2013)

Healthy trees, healthier people

Emerald ash borer, which is capable of killing all 22 species of ash tree in North America, has had a devastating effect in many parts of the continent since 2002. However, it has provided an opportunity for researchers to study the effects of trees our own health. 18 years of demographic, human mortality and forest health data has revealed an increase in deaths from cardiovascular and lower respiratory disease associated with loss of trees in the community. The actual cause of this association is not yet known. Source: Tree and human health may be linked (January 2013)

Gold Coast free tree program

Gold Coast City Council will be making free trees available to residents, body corporates, schools and community groups until the end of May 2013. Limits apply. More information at the council's website: Free tree giveaway back in 2013 (January 2013)

From annual to immortal

By altering a gene, German researchers have been able to prevent flowering in tobacco and expand the lifespan of a plant from about 4 months to "forever". Their oldest plant is now 8 years old. Besides indefinite growth, leaf senescence is also prevented. Applied to other crops that aren't dependent on flowering (e.g. potatoes), the discovery could potentially boost production while eliminating the risk of genetic contamination of the agricultural/natural environment through pollen or seed. Source: Giant tobacco plants that stay young forever (January 2013)

Insect capture a plant a defence

Trapping insects in sticky leaf hairs may give certain plants a benefit, even if they aren't carnivorous. By attracting predators with "carrion", such plants may be better defended against pests. Source: Why insect 'tourists' are good for some plants (January 2013)

Green waste bins a possibility outside Toowoomba

Toowoomba Regional Council is asking those residents outside the city who are interested in a fortnightly green waste bin to register by 28th February 2013. At this stage, Council is trying to gauge demand and plan feasible service routes. Where offered, the optional service will attract an additional charge. More information at the council's website: Regional residents urged to register interest in green waste service (December 2012)

Floral enticements boost mango pollination

The relative unattractiveness of mango flowers to pollinating insects is a limitation to fruit production. Studies in South Africa have shown that small patches of wildflowers in non-productive areas of large farms could be a low-cost way to improve this situation. Further work is required to optimise the size and species composition of such patches. Pesticide management is also likely to influence the effectiveness of such measures. Source: Small patches of native plants help boost pollination services in large farms (December 2012)

Green waste bins for Gold Coast

Gold Coast City Council will be introducing green waste bins in urban areas in 2013. A charge will apply. More information and registration at www.greengc.com.au (December 2012)

In the SEQ garden in May

Jobs to do, things to watch and other highlights of gardening in SE QLD

Mothers Day in 2013 is 12th May. Thinking of giving a plant as a gift? The potted flowers on chain store shelves might look good now, but if you want a gift that will give pleasure for years to come, a more considered selection from the garden centre might be more successful. That way, you can take Mum's garden space, expertise and interests into consideration.

Be sure to respect quarantine regulations if moving plants. If Mum isn't nearby, try a gift voucher from either a nearby garden centre or an online nursery. Alternatively, there are many hardware items like quality tools or books that are suitable for postage. More ideas here: Garden gift ideas for Mothers Day.

You might be thinking about giving a bare rooted rose bush, or be tempted yourself by the range appearing in chain stores before Mothers Day. Unfortunately, the premature lifting of these plants makes them a poor choice. If you're serious about roses, try to find a reputable supplier that waits until the bushes are fully dormant before digging and packing. While you're waiting for you're order to arrive later in the winter, take the opportunity to prepare beds where you intend to plant them.

Alternatively, look for potted roses, which can be planted any time of year like any other shrub. More: Roses.

Even if the water tank is full now, don't forget that the months traditionally associated with low rainfall and desiccating winds are ahead, so be conservative. Top up mulch if it's been depleted over summer.

It's getting too late to start most Annual Flowers for a winter-spring display from seed. However, your local garden centre is sure to have a selection of seedlings for planting now. Seedlings are also more convenient because you avoid all the work and uncertainty of raising seedlings at home. Seedlings aren't all that expensive if you just need a few plants for a container or small area. (See also Seeds and seed raising.) Furthermore, some of the new and improved bedding plants may only be available in punnets or pots.

Divide perennials such as agapanthus, daylillies, daisies like gazania and shasta daisy, ornamental grasses, dietes, liriope.

Ease off on the water from rhizomatous and tuberous ornamentals like ornamental gingers and caladiums as the foliage dies off.

The end of the flowering season is the signal to prune and fertilise Tibouchinas such as 'Alstonville' if you want to keep the bushes dense, compact and primed for a spectacular display next year.

Sowing of a wide range of vegetables suited to cool and temperate climates can proceed: beetroot and silverbeet, cabbages, broccoli, onion family, peas, lettuce, carrots, turnips. Broad beans are better suited to colder climates than SEQ's, but if you want to have a go, now is the time as we enter our coldest months.

Provided you don't have frost, you can also get away with growing a lot of veggies that would normally be considered summer crops in the colder latitudes such as cucumbers, zucchini, beans (the regular "French" or green beans), tomatoes and capsicums. Growth may be slower, however, with the colder temperatures and fewer daylight hours for photosynthesis. Real heat-lovers like corn, rosella and okra must wait until early summer, however.

See also: Vegetables, Fruit.

Fruit Trees

Sorry, monthly notes for fruit haven't been produced yet.. In the meantime, you can try the main page dealing with this subject and check the links for the type of fruit tree you're interested in, here: Fruit Trees

Garden shows, open gardens

Check the Events Diary and see if there's something on near you.