What will gardens look like in the future?

In years to come we will need to grapple with challenges such as gardening on Mars or the Moon, and wrap our heads around how technologies such as AI can be integrated into our yards.

How will technologies such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality be integrated into smart gardens of the future?

If you like pondering change, Mark Lane’s The Future of Gardens (Melville House, $25) provides plenty to think about. The lifelong plant lover and former editor retrained in garden design after a life-changing car crash. Self-described as “the UK’s first garden designer who uses a wheelchair all the time”, he has a special interest in accessibility and inclusivity, and became a presenter on BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World. In this book he discusses the prospect of gardening on Mars and the Moon, and how technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, the internet of things and data analytics are being integrated into “smart” gardens of the future. He explores the trends towards biophilic design, resilient gardening, biodiversity conservation, wildlife-friendly and vertical gardening, and the importance of soil health and soil management. He sees a role for AI in education, plant breeding and community building, and explores how we might find a happy coexistence with AI as it becomes more prevalent in our digital and physical equipment. His take on what’s influencing the green spaces of our future provokes both optimism and concerns.

Pretty in Purple

Violas are cool-season annuals that provide masses of colour through winter and spring. They come in many colours and colour mixes, are compact and flower constantly.

Viola ‘Raspberry Sundae’

Viola ‘Sunrise Surprise’

Use them in pots, hanging baskets and garden beds. These four are from Floriana’s Natural Beauty range.

Viola ‘Purple Wing’

Viola ‘Midnight Angel’

Q&A

My rose, in a pot for eight years, did not do well this year. Should I re-pot it? What’s the best “soil”? Should I trim the roots or branches?

David Hill, by email

Re-pot your rose every two or three years for it to thrive, not just survive. Use a pot at least 50cm in diameter and height. Winter is the best time to do it, after the main winter prune has left just a vase-shaped framework of main stems. Prune off any circling roots and tease out others. Use a top-quality potting mix; you could add up to one quarter quality soil or perlite. Fertilise in spring when growth starts. Sudden Impact For Roses is recommended by most rose societies.

Our frangipani flowered well but the leaves are now browning, shrivelling and falling. We rake them up – but should we remove them directly from the tree?

Rob Walker, Russell Island, Queensland

Frangipani rust is now widespread along the east coast, and is moving south. Appearing from midsummer, the gold pustules of the fungus spread rapidly, especially when it’s warm, wet and humid. Early intervention is needed – put affected and fallen leaves in the bin, and spray your frangipani thoroughly with a copper or sulfur spray, or one containing myclobutanil. Frangipani rust only affects frangipanis but spores can survive in the soil to reinfect.

We’d like to plant a pomegranate orchard on our farm. Any tips for success?

Catriona Byrne, Willunga, SA

Your Mediterranean climate is ideal. Pomegranates are not fussy about soil, except it must be well drained. Buy named varieties, available bare-rooted in winter from specialists such as Daleys, PlantNet and Heritage Fruit Trees. ‘Wonderful’, ‘Midnight Velvet’ and ‘Elche’ are some of the many cultivars available. Pomegranates are self-fertile but cross-pollination increases fruit set. A pomegranate growers’ management guide is at agrifutures.com.au

Send your questions to: [e-mail]. The best question for June will win a pair of Sloggers Outnabout boots of your colour choice, worth $140.