Phillip Withers and AB Bishop’s Naturescapes illustrates Australia’s naturalistic garden aesthetic

Landforms and waterways, microclimate, flora and fauna, and plants and materials. A new book explains how you can take inspiration from those elements for your own natural garden.

The idea of creating naturalistic gardens is fundamental to Phillip Withers and AB Bishop.

Garden design in Australia has been moving steadily towards more sustainable and nurturing ideals, embracing our natural landscapes, native plants and wildlife. The idea of creating naturalistic gardens is fundamental to co-authors Phillip Withers and AB Bishop in Naturescapes (Thames & Hudson, $59.99). Withers, a landscape design expert who has won awards here and overseas, has built his reputation on creating native, sustainable gardens. Habitat expert AB Bishop is a horticulturist, writer and conservationist with a passion for gardens that support local wildlife. Naturescapes is all about how to create a natural Australian garden. It starts by exploring what “local” means – in terms of landforms and waterways, microclimate, flora and fauna, and plants and materials – and how you can take guidance and inspiration from those elements for your own garden. Sections on design and building are full of practical advice, including planning for kids, pets and home produce and harvesting rainwater. The final section is a plant directory with excellent photographs.

Winter flowering climbers

Orange trumpet vine (Pyrostegia venusta) is spectacular in midwinter, like a waterfall of flaming orange. Fast and vigorous, it likes warmth.

Native sarsaparilla (Hardenbergia) bears clusters of pea-shaped flowers from winter into spring, in purple, pink or white.

Orange trumpet vine.

Native sarsaparilla.

For cool climates, Clematis cirrhosa “Freckles” is an evergreen climber with beautiful cream and maroon-speckled blooms.

Bolivian nasturtium (Tropaeolum tricolorum) has long red, black and yellow flowers like colourful fish. It grows from a tuber and dies down in summer.

Clematis Cirrhosa ‘Freckles’.

Bolivian Nasturtium.

Q&A

Is hydrated lime or the usual granular variety better to use in the garden?

Dani Chatfield, Mt Macedon, Vic

Garden lime, which is ground limestone (calcium carbonate), is the most widely used to raise soil pH. It can be in powdered, pelletised or liquid form. Ground dolomite (calcium and magnesium carbonates) is also used when additional magnesium is wanted. Hydrated lime or builder’s lime (calcium hydroxide) gives a faster response

but can be caustic and dangerous to handle – and because it’s more concentrated, it’s easy to apply too much and damage plants.

Some plants in my Japanese box hedge have turned bronze but others remain green. Is this normal seasonal variation or a nutrient deficiency?

Craig Gumley, Perth, WA

Buxus plants often develop bronze colours in winter but it’s more pronounced in plants that are stressed. Perhaps your affected plants are in more sun, or shallower or drier soil. The trick to avoiding the problem is to fertilise Buxus hedges in autumn, to set them up going into winter. You can fertilise now but use a liquid form, which can be taken up more readily at this time of year.

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How do I give my roses the best chance of flowering for a wedding in my garden in late September?

Michelle McQuiggin, by email

Roses mostly have their main flush of flowers in October; it’s later in colder areas and can be earlier in warmer areas. Allow around 12 weeks from the winter prune but much depends on the weather. In cold areas, remove any mulch over winter so the sun can warm the soil. Feed them generously at least 8-10 weeks before, then apply liquid fertiliser for roses fortnightly once buds appear. Seasol helps to strengthen plants and reduce disease.

Send your questions to: [e-mail]. The best question for July wins a pair of multipurpose, waterproof Outnabout boots worth $140 in a choice of four colours. sloggers.com.au