Garden fun: daisies, Wollemi pines, bugs and a church made of trees

A remarkable feat of tree sculpture is the star attraction of the Tree Church Gardens, in Ohaupo, New Zealand.

The living church in Barry Cox’s Tree Church Gardens in Ohaupo, New Zealand.

A remarkable feat of tree sculpture is the star attraction of the Tree Church Gardens, in Ohaupo, New Zealand.

Barry Cox has literally grown a living church in just four years, using cut leaf alder (Alnus imperialis) for the roof and tea-tree (Leptospermum ‘Copper Sheen’) for the walls, skilfully trained over an iron frame.

It seats 100 people and is proving immensely popular for weddings as its fame spreads. The 1.2ha of gardens also includes a meditation labyrinth walk based on the ancient city walls of Jericho.

Lifelong tree lover Cox runs a business transplanting semi-mature trees using a truck-mounted machine called a tree spade, acquiring skills that have facilitated his unusual creation. treechurch.co.nz.

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READER QUESTIONS

Having transplanted my favourite Shasta daisies two years ago, they’re thriving but there are no flowers. Why?

DAPHNE AVIS, BROADBEACH, QUEENSLAND

Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) need a sunny position to flower well. They should flower in the summer and autumn following transplanting. Overfeeding and watering promotes luxuriant growth at the expense of flowers, especially if using high-nitrogen fertilisers. Keep them on the dry side, and try using a flower-boosting fertiliser from late spring.

My Wollemi pine in a pot has done well for eight years but is suddenly browning and dying off. How can I help it?

LUKE O’CONNOR, PORT MACQUARIE

Sadly this happened to several I know of, for no obvious reason. However, they are susceptible to phytophthora root rot, they prefer acidic soil and are phosphorus-sensitive, needing a fertiliser especially for Australian natives. Check the soil pH is below 5.5, use Anti-Rot to combat phytophthora and check if it needs repotting.

I’ve heard that garlic, chilli or soap dissolved in liquid are good pest repellents. Can you give details? Something is chewing my gardenia leaves.

JENNIFER FOONG, SYDNEY

Registered organic products are available, which are stringently tested and approved to work on the targeted insects, to be safe for the plants, and to be consistent, unlike many home remedies. Most are also safe for beneficial insects. Look at the ranges from Eco Organic Garden and Yates Nature’s Way. Two terrific organic references are Organic Vegetable Gardening by Annette McFarlane and Bug by Tim Marshall; both contain some home recipes. Weevils chew ragged edges on gardenia leaves. Hunt and squash them at night by torchlight, spray Baythroid, or just let plants outgrow the damage.

How do I get rid of aphids naturally, without hurting the roses? I heard about dishwashing liquid but it seems to damage the plants.

MADELAINE STATE, MELBOURNE

Home remedies can often damage plants. If making a soap spray use pure soap flakes, but it’s much safer and more effective to use an approved horticultural soap such as Natrasoap or Nature’s Way Vegie and Herb Spray. Eco-neem also treats aphids organically. Before spraying anything, check for ladybugs as these eat aphids. You can hose aphids off, although they can return, or squash them with your fingers.

Send your questions to: [e-mail] or
Helen Young, PO Box 3098, Willoughby North, NSW 2068.helenyoung.com.au.

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