Berserk backyard: Don loses the vegetable plot

THE final edition of Burke's Backyard has been released, featuring a bloodied gnome suffering the same fate as the long-running magazine.

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ICONIC TV gardener Don Burke's gardening magazine has been axed - gruesomely, if the final edition's graphic cover is anything to go by.

The last edition of Burke's Backyard, axed by new publisher Bauer Media, pulled no punches with its final cover, featuring a garden gnome who had suffered a similar fate to the 15-year-old magazine.

Reflecting on his career to news.com.au, Burke said the new publishers were not pleased with the cover artwork.

"They didn't love it," he said.

The magazine's readership collapsed after a 15-year publishing run with ACP, who were taken over by German publishing house Bauer Media.

The closure of the gardening guru's long-running magazine was announced in December. It kept running after the famous television show was cancelled in 2004.

Ten permanent staff were laid off as a result of the decision, Mr Burke said. Bauer Media Group have been approached for comment.

Last week, news.com.au reported the publishing house is also discontinuing fashion magazine Grazia. It will cease publication on February 25.

Mr Burke has been a prominent figure in the media landscape since Sydney radio station 2UE gave him a radio program in 1982.

Burke said gardening TV shows had their time in the sun and that cooking shows, such as MasterChef and My Kitchen Rules, had taken their place - at least for now.

Burke's Backyard content, including the website, the YouTube channel and books, will continue to be produced.

The last issue will feature an investigation of Australia's best and worst potting mix.

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