Possums: cull them or keep them; and your garden questions answered

Is it time to cull those pesky possums? And your garden questions answered.

Possums have adapted readily to urban life, with legal protection and few predators.

FLORA

July and August used to be the time of the magnolias, when their bare branches would be laden with elegant, goblet-shaped blooms in shades of pink, purple or white.

Alas, in cities now it’s often just bare branches as possums strip every reachable bud from the trees.

Possums have adapted readily to urban life, and with legal protection and few predators urban population densities keep rising and so does the damage to plants, as so many gardeners know.

Not just magnolias but also roses, camellias, wisteria, maples, citrus, vegetables and many hedging plants are decimated.

The greatest pity for decades-old, stately magnolias is that the foliage is stripped too, with every new shoot nibbled off. Eventually the trees starve to death. Is it time to review the protected status of possums?

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TWIG: READER QUESTIONS

This must be relevant to every gardener: how to label the many things I plant. I’ve tried lollipop sticks, plastic knives and timber with permanent marker, but nothing lasts in the heavy rain and harsh sun.

ANN HOWARD, BY EMAIL

The longest lasting labels are copper or aluminium, on which you inscribe names with a ballpoint pen. Tag and stake versions are available from greenharvest.com.au. Permanent marker on different materials lasts longer if coated with clear nail polish, or try using paint pens, available from craft shops. These are effective on venetian blind slats, plastics or even large pebbles, finished with clear spray paint for extra protection.

In my vegie garden I have so many earthworms. I feel guilty if I turn over the soil. Is it better just to do a compost topping or dig and hope they recover?

MANDY ROSSINI, BO BO CREEK, NSW

Congratulations on having such wonderful, worm-rich soil. Worms will turn the compost for you, so you don’t need to. However, if you want to do a thorough dig before planting, use a fork. Worms quickly bury themselves again.

Last year I mulched with tea-tree bark and now lots of weird, red, starfish-like plants have appeared. What are they? Should I remove them?

PAMELA PAPPIN, SCARBOROUGH, QUEENSLAND

These are a stinkhorn fungus, which typically smell foul but look fascinating. The slimy coating attracts flies to spread the spores. Yours is Aseroe rubra, called anemone or starfish stinkhorn, common on decomposing woody mulches. There’s no treatment but you can remove them if desired, digging up any nearby egg-like sacs as well. They are toxic if eaten by dogs.

Is a pleached hedge the same as a stilt hedge? I’d like to grow one along our new back fence. What species might work, with autumn colour if possible? It has good growing conditions and sun but can be windy.

LYNDA PATERSON, PORT ALBERT, VICTORIA

Either term describes a screen of foliage grown well above ground level, useful for blocking unsightly views while still allowing space, light and air beneath. Ornamental pears such as Manchurian pear (Pyrus ussuriensis) and the narrower P. calleryana ‘Capital’ are popular and tough. Both have splendid autumn colour, plus white, spring blossom. Snow pear (P. nivalis) is also used but needs some wind protection.

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

The best question for August wins a Cyclone Compound Bypass Lopper worth $70 from the new Sculpt range of powerful and comfortable cutting tools. The compound lever enhances cutting strength.

Last month’s winner is Helene Powell of Ballarat for her question about interstate quarantine laws.