Poolside Plantings

The awesome team at Warners Nursery are here to tell us what to plant and where, to elevate your poolside retreat these holidays.

With the right plant selections, a backyard pool can be transformed into a private oasis. The right plants can provide shade and privacy, while also setting the scene for the surrounding outdoor space. They can also be the difference between pleasure and pain for pool owners – the right plantings can drastically reduce pool maintenance, making pool ownership an enjoyable experience.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR SELECTING PLANTS FOR YOUR POOLSCAPE;

• When selecting poolside plants, ensure the plants will not overgrow the space.
• Avoid plants with invasive root systems that might interfere with the pool structure, paving or underground plumbing.
• Consider the effect of rotting leaves, flowers or berries on filtration and cleaning equipment, as well as possible staining of paving or coping.
• Consider any maintenance and pruning required to keep the plants manageable.
• If selecting a flowering variety, look for summer flowering varieties that can be enjoyed during the pool season.

Plant Selections:

STRUCTURAL & FOLIAGE PLANTS

Cycas revoluta
Also known as the sago palm, this cycad is a very hardy plant. Featuring dark green foliage, it will grow in most conditions, and is ideal for recreating that tropical resort ‘look and feel’ in the garden.

Ligularia Reniformis
Add texture to the garden with this lush perennial featuring large, glossy dark green ‘tractor seat’ foliage. Great for underplanting a pleached hedge or feature tree.

Liriope
This evergreen perennial is perfect for use in Modern Native, Tropical and Formal designs. Features dark green, glossy foliage. Plant en-masse under trees or informal borders for a fine grass effect.

Philodendron ‘Xanadu’
Popular for its lush foliage and dramatically lobed leaves. Requires high light conditions in cooler climates for optimal growth. Can be planted in drifts for a mass tropical display or combines well with other plantings.

SMALL TO MEDIUM SHRUBS & HEDGING

Buxus microphylla var. microphylla
A small, rounded evergreen shrub that is densely foliated with bright green, glossy leaves. Ideal for planting under trees and performs well in semi shaded areas. It grows well in containers for a formal look or a small clipped hedge.

Rhaphiolepis ‘Spring Pearl’
Featuring dark green, leathery leaves, this evergreen shrub is a great low maintenance selection for beside the pool. It has a dense mounding form, perfect for both formal and informal gardens.

MEDIUM TO LARGE SHRUBS & SCREENING

Acmena ‘Firescreen’ pbr
This low maintenance lillypilly features glossy mid-green foliage with coppery new growth, which fades to bronze. It has very few berries, and is quick-growing, making it ideal for a creating privacy.

Ficus ‘Figaro’pbr
If you’re looking for a tropical effect, this super-tough evergreen with lush green foliage is an excellent choice, Produces very little mess from dropping leaves or dead flowers and can be grown and shaped into tight narrow positions.

Laurus ‘Miles Choice’
This Bay Laurel is a fantastic alternative to Ficus ‘Flash’, suited to Melbourne’s temperate climate. Features dark green foliage, and bright green new growth. Clip twice a year for a formal look.

Prunus Lusitanica
Glossy dark green leaves with slender spikes of small, scented white flowers in late Spring. Creates a dense, thick dark green screen when clipped. Flower drop can be limited by Summer pruning.

Viburnum odoratissimum ‘Dense Fence’pbr
A dense, fast growing, evergreen shrub. Features rounded olive-green foliage with subtle red new growth. Excellent for creating privacy in the garden. Ideal for coastal gardens.

TREES

Magnolia alba
This large evergreen tree features small flowers and grows to 6 metres in Melbourne. It is ideal as a large informal screen. On a warm humid night, the scent from the flowers can be enjoyed from a great distance.

Evergreen Magnolia 
If you’re looking for a traditional look, these evergreen magnolias will grow in a wide variety of conditions. Both produce beautiful fragrant flowers during the warmer months. Create a more contemporary look with smaller underplanting.

TOPIARY, ESPALIER & LIVING SCULPTURES

Living Pergolas
Grown from deciduous Plane Trees or large-leafed Maples, Living Pergolas stand approximately 3m tall. The foliage is trained horizontally along a trellised wire, creating a living roof structure that provides shade in Summer, and dappled sun in Winter. Ideal for creating an entertaining area near the pool.

Prepare Your Lawn for the Summer Heat

The experts at Lawn Solutions Australia tell is what we can do to help our lawn survive the hot summer.

Drought conditions are still impacting many regional areas at the moment and being environmentally responsible with water use is still very important. Fortunately, it is only in the most severe of conditions, over a considerable amount of time, that your lawn could suffer to the point where it would completely die off due to lack of water.

Warm season turf grass species commonly used in Australia need very little water to survive and are very hardy. They will lose colour, become brown and dry, with little to no leaf growth, but they will generally sit dormant until the next rain or irrigation event. In summer when temperatures are really high, grasses will enter a state of dormancy where they shut down tissue growth to preserve moisture loss.

You can usually tell if a lawn is dormant rather than dead by looking at the crown at the base of the leaves. If the crown is white to off white, it is likely that it is still alive. A dead lawn will be dry, brown and brittle across the entire plant – the leaves, the roots and the crown.

• Remove thatch – Removing dead material from the lawn profile will help the living plant to absorb all the available moisture.
• Aeration – Improving the ability for water to penetrate to the roots will be important to take best advantage of water when it is available, but also to improve moisture in the soil where it is needed during the next dry spell.
• Stay off the lawn – Your grass is already having a hard time and the drier it is, the more it is likely to be damaged and not be able to recover from foot traffic or additional wear.
• Water effectively – When you can water, do so for longer, less frequently. Encourage deeper roots that can delve deeper into the soil to find moisture. This will allow your lawn to stay hydrated for longer, even if there has been an extended period without rain.
• Apply a wetting Agent – Hydrophobic soil is caused by the decomposition of organic matter, which leaves a wax like substance forming a coating on soil particles. A wetting agent like Lawn Soaker will break down this coating allow water to penetrate.
• ColourGuard Plus – If your lawn has lost some colour and vigour from the heat, a good option is ColourGuard Plus. It’s a natural pigment with a liquid fertiliser and it’s a great solution during drought conditions to keep your grass green and to save water at the same time.

After long periods of dry weather, soils can become dehydrated and this is when the hydrophobic surface is exposed. This surface stops water from penetrating. A wetting agent like Lawn Soaker will help break down this surface tension and help water to soak in.

Mowing – The key to your lawn mowing in summer is to make sure you mow during the cooler time of the day and to mow regularly. You want to keep on top of the leaf growth, so you don’t remove too much at a time. Removing more than a third of the leaf at any one time, will cause stress to the grass roots.

How much water does grass need?

Water is fundamental for grass to transport nutrients, maintain cell structure and for it to create its own food through the process of photosynthesis.

For the most part, this water requirement will be met through rainfall or soil moisture storage.

If the roots cannot maintain this level of moisture to the leaf, the leaves will close their stomata. Stomata are cells that form the pores of the leaf surface. When the stomata are closed, there will be limited growth due to its inability to take in carbon dioxide.

When should I irrigate?

The simple answer is – when your lawn needs it. It is important that you only irrigate your lawn when there is not enough rainfall to meet the needs of your lawn. When you do water, do so within the rules outlined by local water restrictions.

Melbourne in full bloom

Melbourne’s Florists & Victorian Flower Growers have been the talk of the town over the last two weeks, thanks to the City of Melbourne’s ‘Urban Blooms’ initiative, transforming the city’s most iconic landmarks into floral havens.

Dazzling displays burst forth from shopfronts, windows and facades in a feast for the senses. Visitors were able to follow a themed trail of large-scale horticultural handiwork from Arts Centre Melbourne to the North Melbourne Post Office, Lygon Street to Hosier Lane and a dozen blossoming locations in between.

The aim being to rediscover iconic landmarks, laneways and boulevards in full bloom, as Melbourne’s florists & Victorian Growers staged a spectacular take over.

Sourced from local growers with a mix of native plants and exotics, Urban Blooms has been a fabulous floral celebration of our city for you to enjoy.

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‘Down the Garden Path’

As this incredible event draws to a close we would like to thank each and every one of you who ventured into the city to visit our secret garden, take in the sights and sounds of our beautiful city and to support our incredibly talented florists and flower growers.

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JOIN US AT THE SHOW

The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, Wednesday 24^th to Sunday 28^th March 2021, will play host to some of the incredible florists & growers that took part in Urban Blooms. Tickets will be on sale in the coming weeks & we invite you to join us to see even more spectacular floral installations as well as inspirational show gardens, exciting retail precincts, entertainment and much more, all hosted amongst the iconic setting of the world heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens.

Sign up to our newsletter below for Show updates.   

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A big thank you to all of our generous supporters for their contribution in bringing ‘Down The Garden Path’ to life:

What’s On Melbourne
Melbourne Polytechnic Floristry and the incredible student volunteers who helped us bring our design to life!
Melbourne Polytechnic
Lawn Solutions Australia
Warners Nurseries
Mulbury
FormBoss Steel Garden Edging
Tall Trees Nursery
FloristBank

Thank you to each and every grower that helped supply the mass of florals used in ‘Down the Garden Path’

Melbourne and Suburbs Wholesale Florist
Knoll Valley
Agresta Flowers
Ali Flowers
Bloom Into You
Tairi Flower Growers
Halit Flowers Pty. LTD.
J & E Flowers
JJS Flower Growers
Virgin Flowers
Melbourne Market Flowers

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List of Flowers & Foliage used:

Flowers	Quantity
Delphinium purples and blues	35
Gladiolas white and purple	35
Statice purples and blues	20
Misty white or purple	30
Fox Gloves/ Lupins	20
Wax flower	20
Hydrangea blue and purple	20
Sea holly	30
Chincherinchees	20
Wheat	20
Rice flower	20
Spray carnations white	25
White straw flower	20
Foliage	Quantity
Flax green (tallest)	10
Flax burgundy (tallest)	10
Coarse fern (asparagus)	10
Silver suede	20
Gum	20
Smoke bush	10
Devils vine	10
Moss	10

Only a few more days until we take over the Old Treasury Building!

Only a few more days until we can reveal our spectacular #UrbanBlooms floral takeover of the Old Treasury Building! The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show is honoured to partner with the City of Melbourne, in conjunction with Melbourne Polytechnic and FloristBank, to bring ‘Down The Garden Path’ to life.

Join us at this iconic landmark as we wander through a secret garden and be swept away for a moment in time among a lush oasis in the heart of the bustling city.

Down the Garden Path can be viewed in the forecourt of the Old Treasury Building, one of Melbourne’s finest 19th century buildings, located at the top end of Collins Street from the 21st to the 27th of November.

Keep your eyes on our socials for some behind the scenes action!

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Can’t wait? Check out the incredible installs that opened this week!

Dazzling displays burst forth from shopfronts, windows and facades in a feast for the senses. Follow a themed trail of large-scale horticultural handiwork from Arts Centre Melbourne to the North Melbourne Post Office, Lygon Street to Hosier Lane and a dozen blossoming locations in between.

‘Our Love is Pink’ by Flowers By Brett Matthew John

Location: St Collins Lane

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‘Welcome Back Carlton’ by Pomp and Splendour

Location: Corner of Lygon and Faraday Street

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‘A Light Exists in Spring’ by Cecilia Fox

Location: Collins Place

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For a full list of the Urban Blooms sites head to Whats On Melbourne

Special thanks to:

City of Melbourne, Whats On Melbourne, Melbourne Polytechnic, Melbourne Polytechnic Floristry, Lawn Solutions Australia, Warners Nurseries, Mulbury, Form Boss, Tall Trees, Melbourne and Suburbs Wholesale Florist, Knoll Valley, Agresta Flowers, Ali Flowers, Bloom Into You, Tairi Glower Growers, Halit Flowers.

Witness a Spectacular Floral Takeover

We are so excited to be partnering with the City of Melbourne, in collaboration with FloristBank, to bring you Urban Blooms from Saturday 14th to Friday 27th November. 

Spring into the city for a flower encounter like no other. Rediscover iconic landmarks, laneways and boulevards in full bloom, as Melbourne’s florists stage a spectacular take over.

Follow a themed trail of large-scale horticultural handiwork from Arts Centre Melbourne to the North Melbourne Post Office, Lygon Street to Hosier Lane and a dozen blossoming locations in between. 

With a sustainable focus and incredible florals and plants sourced from local growers, Urban Blooms is a fabulous floral celebration of the city for you to enjoy.

This installation invites visitors to wander through a secret garden and be swept away for a moment in time among a lush oasis in the heart of the bustling city.

Down the Garden Path can be viewed in the forecourt of the Old Treasury Building, one of Melbourne’s finest 19th century buildings, located at the top end of Collins Street.

Dates & Times:

Sat 21 Nov – All day

Sun 22 Nov – All day

Mon 23 Nov – All day

Tue 24 Nov – All day

Wed 25 Nov – All day

Thu 26 Nov – All day

Fri 27 Nov – All day

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A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GENEROUS SUPPORTERS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION THAT HELPED BRING ‘DOWN THE GARDEN PATH’ TO LIFE

You’re Invited: Small Space Gardening with Matt Leacy

Date: Thursday 22^nd October, 7:30pm

Ryman Healthcare have collaborated with Matt Leacy to bring you a 40-minute online event full of advice and handy tips to help you make the most out of your small garden or balcony space and how to look after your indoor plants.

Matt Leacy is an Aussie landscaping guru. A preeminent expert in his field, Matt has graced Australian magazines and television and is a regular columnist imparting practical advice for gardeners of any age, capability, and expertise.

During the event, Matt will cover a range of topics including:

• A demonstration on how to pot and arrange decorative pots, as well as finding out the best flowers to plant in spring.
• Tips on small space vegetable gardening with quick harvesting options and window-sill planting. You’ll be inspired to start growing your favourite vegetables in your own home
• Discover the health benefits of indoor plants, how to look after them, and how to treat them for any pests they may have

HAL@HOME Takes Fans on a Virtual Holland America Line Cruise: Foodie Edition

Holland America Line is bringing its award-winning onboard entertainment, culinary scene, destination highlights and more to the homes of fans with HAL@Home, a new virtual cruise experience. Through cooking demonstrations, musical performances and enriching videos, the premium cruise line is connecting with guests who can “come aboard” from the comfort of their computer. The HAL@Home series kicked things off with a cooking demonstration by Culinary Council Member Ethan Stowell, and it has been overwhelmingly well-received. Visit the HAL@Home site  or the HAL YouTube channel for up-to-date HAL@Home videos!

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Get a taste of the HAL@Home series with some culinary-focused videos below

COOKING WITH ETHAN STOWELL: SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC, CHILI, & ANCHOVY

Chef Ethan Stowell, esteemed Culinary Council member and executive chef and owner of Ethan Stowell Restaurants in Seattle, gets busy in the kitchen demonstrating how to make one of his favorite pasta dishes. Who’s hungry?

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COOKING WITH RUDI SODAMIN: SCALLOPS AND CITRUS SALAD

Rudi Sodamin, Master Chef and chairman of the Holland America Line Culinary Council of all-star chefs, brilliantly showcases a delicious scallop and citrus salad that’s easy enough to make at home. In just a few minutes, and with only one skillet, Rudi shows you how to brighten up a special weekend meal.

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MASTER MIXOLOGIST DALE DEGROFF MAKES THE ULTIMATE WHISKEY SMASH

Holland America Line’s Master Mixologist Dale DeGroff’s signature cocktails are a hit on our ships, and perfect for a Friday virtual happy hour — especially those hosted by our brand ambassador, Seth Wayne! Get ready to muddle, shake and garnish the perfect drink to kick off the weekend. Cheers!

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ABOUT HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

Welcome to Holland America Line, recognised for nearly 150 years as a leader in premium cruising. Today, our fleet of 14 ships visit more than 470 ports of call in 98 countries connecting with all seven continents. Our guests are endlessly curious, looking to go beyond typical tourist experiences. They’re not looking for waterslides, go-karts or roller coasters when they cruise. They are explorers, foodies and music lovers who want to pursue these passions on perfectly sized, refreshingly uncrowded ships with one-of-kind culinary experiences, the best in live music, and service that attends to every detail, every day. Come, savour the journey.  

How To Green Up Your Plants

Both professional growers and home gardeners want their plants to look lush and green, with a bright colour that indicates the plant’s good health and potential for growth. The team from Bio Gro is here to tell us how to do so!

Plants can be paler than is their normal shade of green for a variety of reasons. The items in the following list of possible causes will each be discussed in detail.

1. Nutrient deficiencies: nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus, iron, manganese, oxygen (from waterlogging)
2. Toxicities: phosphorus, pesticides, over-fertilisation
3. Other causes: wrong light, root rotting, pot bound, high temperature, naturally pale new shoots.

Successful diagnosis rests on the detailed recording of the progress of the symptoms, of the environmental conditions at the site and a record of actions taken prior to and during the development of the symptoms.

Nitrogen (N) deficiency: Starts in the oldest leaves, which turn pale green then yellow, maybe with red tinting, then an early death. The overall growth rate is reduced. Apply a high-N fertiliser.

Sulphur (S) deficiency: General paleness, but often most noticeable in the youngest leaves. To distinguish it from N deficiency, apply ammonium sulphate (N and S) to some plants, urea (N) to others and fine gypsum (S (and Ca)) to others.

Phosphorus (P) deficiency: Oldest leaves show blue-green or purple hues, progressing to yellow. Stunted growth. May be accompanied by N deficiency if the CRF used has been depleted. Apply either a general fertiliser of a source of P such as monopotassium phosphate.

Iron (Fe) deficiency: Interveinal yellowing of the youngest leaves.  Most commonly caused by mix pH being too high for the particular plant, which in turn is often caused by the irrigation water having a high total alkalinity (high bicarbonate content). A toxic supply of P can cause Fe deficiency symptoms in P-sensitive native plants. Spray affected plants with an iron chelate solution. Check water total alkalinity and acidify if necessary.

Manganese (Mn) deficiency: Interveinal yellowing in youngest leaves (mainly) but could be older leaves. Veins remain green but less sharply so than with Fe deficiency. Maybe water-soaked spots and dead areas in the leaves. Check that mix pH is not too high. Spray with a manganese chelate solution. If this does not reduce the progression of the symptoms, try an iron chelate spray.

Oxygen deficiency (waterlogging): As a prelude to death, plants whose roots do not get enough oxygen will show stunting and yellowing. In potting mixes, the cause is undesirably low air-filled porosity. Increasing the times between irrigations may help, but otherwise start again with a mix of higher porosity. Brown and dead roots are likely to indicate waterlogging, probably accompanied by root disease.

Phosphorus (P) toxicity: May produce iron deficiency symptoms in young leaves, and/or death of tips progressing to death of whole leaves in the oldest leaves. Most likely in phosphorus-sensitive native plants. Difficult to overcome if P supply is excessive. Try spraying with iron chelate and/or drenching the mix with iron sulphate solution (3 g/L). Next time, make sure that the mix has a suitably low level of soluble phosphorus and that the CRF used has a low water-soluble P content.

Pesticides: When you are trying to find a cause for poor colour in a batch of plants, do consider the possibility that a pesticide spray may have contributed.

Over-fertilisation can sometimes cause paleness in youngest leaves. There may be tip burning of older leaves. Check the EC of the mix; repeatedly leach if it is high; next time use less fertiliser.

Light: An inadequate level of light can cause plant leaves to become pale. Other symptoms that would confirm this as a cause include plants growing towards the brightest side of the growing area, and a stretching of the distance between nodes on their stems. Remove shade, shift plants to a brighter area.

Light supply that is excessive for the type of plant being grown can also cause yellowing of leaves. Plants that evolved as understorey in forests are the most likely to show this effect. Increase shading.

Plants that have been in their pots for too long may show paleness through the effect of an inability of the plant to produce new roots, and hence to take up enough nutrients. Check for root binding.  Also, inspect the roots: areas of roots that are not a healthy white colour may indicate the presence of a root-rotting disease. A temperature that is too high for a particular plant may cause scorching and off colours in leaves. Dead patches of roots on the sunny side of a pot probably indicate excessively high pot temperature.

Finally, be aware that the flush of new leaves on many plants can be paler/redder than the more mature leaves. Maturation soon greens them up without your intervention.

Did Someone Say Espresso Quaran-tini?

Grinders Coffee are here to shake up isolation life with espresso quaran-tinis.

Unsure how? They’ve worked with Bean Scene to create a quick 3-minute tutorial using their Grinders Coffee Xtract, Russian Standard Vodka and Galliano.

The Espresso Martini is still one of the most popular cocktails today however it is also one of the most inconsistent due to the varied means of accessing one important ingredient – coffee!!

Grinders X-tract is pure coffee with no additives or preservatives, just pure coffee – made from 100% Columbian Single Origin Coffee roasted fresh in Melbourne. The extract of whole coffee beans using filtered water for 6-8 hours results in a coffee concentrate with full pure desirable coffee bean flavour, with less acidity and no unpleasant bitterness.

Want to perfect your espresso martini skills? Check out the Grinders Coffee X-tract on their website and you can get it delivered straight to your door.

If Espresso Martinis are not your thing, did you know that Grinders Coffee X-tract can be used in your frappes and delicious desserts like affogatos and tiramisus?

An easy and delicious skill you will appreciate long after quarantine is over!

5 Things In Nature To Lift Your Mood

These five feel-good outdoor activities will have you saying, “How’s the serenity” in no time.

Immersing yourself in nature can help to reduce stress and anxiety, as well as teaching you to be calm and keep things in perspective. As Albert Einstein himself said, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”

If you live in a big city, this can be difficult. A stressful job makes things even harder. But finding time to escape the concrete jungle is worth it. Here are five feel-good outdoor activities that will have you saying, “How’s the serenity” in no time.

• Be active. Head out for a walk in your local park or bike ride through a leafy track nearby. You can invite a loved one or meet them halfway – walking and talking in the outdoors beats phone conversations and texting any day!
• Lose yourself in words. Write in a journal or enjoy a good book in the fresh air. Perhaps your local library has an outdoor area you can sit in while you mow through a chapter or two. Many people also love writing or reading by the ocean. 
• Get your hands dirty in the garden. You don’t have to be an expert in plants or gardening – as with cooking or learning an instrument, everyone starts somewhere. Ask your local florist or a garden-enthusiast for advice on some good plants/flowers to start with and go from there. Nurturing something else into life can encourage you to better look after your own wellbeing.
• Practice mindfulness in the outdoors. Head out to somewhere with a bit of greenery, or down to the coast and work on your mindfulness. Bring your attention to the natural world around you, stay present and let your senses come alive. Listen to the nearby sounds. If you’re by the beach, breathe in and out to the sound of the waves to help shift your focus away from any unhelpful thoughts. You’ll be amazed at how you can feel afterwards. If you struggle to maintain concentration, try using Smiling Mind to help you.
• Play with a furry friend. A dog is a great source of comfort, companionship and motivation to get out and about. If you don’t own a dog, you can watch the dogs play at your local park or pat a cat outside in their favourite sunny spot (if they’ll allow it). Animals relish the chance to be in the outdoors and soak in the fresh air whilst running around – us humans can learn a thing or two!