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In this episode: Raised garden beds Advice on lining treated-pine vegetable beds, including food-safe PE, LDPE or PVC options and contacting Modbox about food-grade liners. Lilly pilly beetle How to manage recurring beetle damage on lilly pillies, including the discussion of Eco-Neem and Eco-Oil, regular feeding and improving soil health. Building better vegetable beds Do you need every soil additive on the market? Keith discusses the importance of building a healthy, nutrient-rich soil rather than overcomplicating the process with too many products. Pruning camellias How much can you safely reduce an established camellia? Advice includes staged pruning and cutting above dormant buds to encourage new growth. Growing strawberries When to feed, how to maintain productive plants and how to propagate new plants from the first and second runners. High-pH bore water A useful discussion about testing total dissolved solids (TDS), managing irrigation and improving soil conditions where bore water has high calcium content. Conifer dieback Possible physical causes of dieback in pencil conifers, including bird and possum activity, and an alternative approach to shaping damaged trees. Native frangipani Advice on managing high soil pH and improving growing conditions through soil aeration, lignite humate, rock dust and mulch. Plants mentioned Lilly pilly – Syzygium spp. (including the 'Backyard Bliss' cultivar)Camellia – Camellia spp.Crepe myrtle – Lagerstroemia spp.Strawberry – Fragaria × ananassaTomato – Solanum lycopersicumBroccoli – Brassica oleracea var. italicaCitrus – Citrus spp.Native frangipani – Hymenosporum flavumElm – Ulmus spp.Pencil pine – Cupressus spp. (the exact species is not identified in the episode)Gum tree – Eucalyptus spp.Oxalis – Oxalis spp.Products and resources discussed Clyde Compost – compost, soil blends and potting mix. Use code MUDDY15 for 15% off.Neutrog Sudden Impact for Roses – discussed for feeding strawberries and other flowering and fruiting plants.Neutrog Bush Tucker – Australian native plant fertiliser.Wild May Fruit Fly Attractant – discussed for fruit fly management.Munash Rock Dust – discussed as a source of minerals and trace elements.Eco!-Neem and Eco-Oil – discussed for lily pilly beetle management.Lignite humate – discussed for improving soil conditions and addressing high soil pH.WormTech – a soil and compost blend discussed for raised vegetable beds.Congratulations to Zoe, this month's winner of the Plant Runner Q&A prize! For more gardening advice and information, visit muddyboots.net.au Happy gardening Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/  Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

A garden without birds, bees and butterflies, just isn’t a garden’, says Elisabeth. Today we talk about the importance of attracting pollinators! Australia is home to over 1500 bees and pollinating insects. Here are some of the ‘bee magnet’ flowering plants. SalviasBuddleia (also a favourite with butterflies)Echium (check out the wildpretii variety)PoppiesCosmosAlyssumQueen Anne’s LaceCalendulaDaisiesPenstemonNatives such as wattles, bottle brushes, westringia, grevilleaHerbs such as - borage, rosemary, oregano, thyme, basil, yarrow, parsleyAttract bees by also providing them with a source of water and places to hideaway (bee hotels, grasses etc are great places for bees to hide) and keep an eye out for for the gorgeous  Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/  Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

November is when the garden really starts to accelerate. With summer approaching, Keith and Elizabeth cover the jobs worth tackling now — from watering and mulching to planting, pruning, harvesting and getting ready for heat. Prepare for summer Consider installing a water tank, including slimline tanks that can be connected together.Get irrigation systems set up before the heat arrives.Mulch garden beds to retain moisture and suppress weeds.Aerate compacted soil with a garden fork.Consider shade cloth for plants vulnerable to summer burn.Weeds & mulch Firehawk is discussed as an organic weed-control option, including for suckers and unwanted growth.Fine pine bark is recommended as a garden-bed mulch.Granitic sand is another option, particularly as a fine top mulch.Avoid poor-quality green-waste mulch that may introduce weeds.What to plant now November is a great time for: Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus)Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo)Capsicum (Capsicum annuum)Chillies (Capsicum annuum)Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)For herbs, try growing them in pots using a quality potting mix: Marjoram (Origanum majorana)Vietnamese mint (Persicaria odorata)Summer colour & beneficial insects Plant potted colour en masse to create summer impact and attract beneficial insects: Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima)Roses (Rosa spp.)Hoverflies are already active in the garden and their larvae can help control aphids naturally. Pruning & maintenance After spring flowering, consider deadheading: Camellias (Camellia spp.)Rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp.)Gardenias (Gardenia spp.)Leucadendrons (Leucadendron spp.)Leucospermums (Leucospermum spp.)When pruning leucadendrons and leucospermums, leave 6–8 leaves behind the cut so the plant can recover. Keep an eye on pests Fruit fly is a major concern as the weather warms, particularly around: Lemons (Citrus × limon)Limes (Citrus spp.)Oranges (Citrus × sinensis)The episode discusses Wild May Fruit Fly Attractant, along with physical exclusion netting for fruit trees and tomatoes. For tomatoes and other crops, 2 mm insect exclusion netting is recommended. Other pest-management tips include physical barriers for codling moth and elm leaf beetle, and Eco-Neem for chewing pests. Other plants mentioned Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)Elm (Ulmus spp.)Verbena (Verbena spp.)The three big jobs before summer 1. Get your water sorted. 2. Get irrigation in place. 3. Get the mulch down. And, importantly, don't forget to enjoy the garden! Products & resources MycoGold – BioStim Used when planting or around established plants to support root development and plant establishment. BioStim MycoGold Wild May Fruit Fly Attractant Discussed for managing Queensland fruit fly. Wild May – Sage Horticultural Clyde Compost For quality compost and potting mix mentioned in the episode. Clyde Compost More Muddy Boots: muddyboots.net.au Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/  Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Tough Plants for Tough Places This week on Muddy Boots, Keith shares some of his favourite plants for challenging garden conditions — from hot, dry and exposed sites to poor soil, coastal winds, heavy clay, frost and shade. We cover how to choose plants for difficult microclimates, improve challenging soils, and select plants that can thrive rather than simply survive. Plants mentioned Hot, dry & exposed Plane tree — Platanus digitataSalvia — Salvia spp.Santolina — Santolina spp.Rosemary — Rosmarinus officinalisLavender — Lavandula spp.Allard's lavender — Lavandula × allardiiFrench lavender — Lavandula dentataTeucrium — Teucrium spp.Euphorbia — Euphorbia spp.Limonium — Limonium spp.Billy buttons — Pycnosorus globosusArtemisia — Artemisia spp.Bottlebrush — Callistemon spp.Poor, dry & coastal soils Correa — Correa spp.Westringia — Westringia spp.Grevillea — Grevillea spp.Hakea — Hakea spp.Acacia — Acacia spp.Black she-oak — Allocasuarina littoralisCasuarina 'Cousin Itt' — Casuarina glaucaCallitris — Callitris spp.Succulents & dry-climate plants Senecio — Senecio serpensCotyledon — Cotyledon orbiculataAeonium 'Schwarzkopf' — Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'Aloe — Aloe spp.Agave — Agave spp.Kalanchoe 'Bear's Paw' — Kalanchoe tomentosaFrost & cold Crepe myrtle — Lagerstroemia spp.Olive 'Mission' — Olea europaea 'Mission'Chinese elm — Ulmus parvifoliaBlack locust — Robinia pseudoacaciaRiver birch — Betula nigraAlso featured Miscanthus — Miscanthus spp.Rudbeckia — Rudbeckia spp.Verbena — Verbena bonariensisHelenium — Helenium spp.Choisya — Choisya spp.Astilbe — Astilbe spp.Daphne — Daphne spp.Soil tips Keith explains why soil preparation is critical, particularly for difficult sites. We discuss compost, broadforking, gypsum for appropriate clay soils, and improving sandy soils with lignite humate. The episode also highlights the importance of understanding the microclimate before selecting plants — because the toughest plant isn't necessarily the right plant for every location. Book recommendation Tough Plants for Tough Places by Sharon Amos — a useful reference for gardeners looking for plants that can handle challenging conditions. More information The Plant Runner: theplantrunner.com The Plant Runner's Great Australian Indoor Plant Survey is also open until 30 November, with a chance to win $1,000 worth of plants and plant care. Muddy Boots: muddyboots.net.au Thanks to Clyde Compost for sponsoring Muddy Boots. Use code MUDDY15 for 15% off your order. Happy gardening! 🌱 Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/  Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Muddy Boots: The Wonderful World of Roses This week on Muddy Boots, we’re talking all things roses with Stephanie Williams, International Business Development Manager for David Austin Roses. We explore what makes a great rose, how roses are bred, choosing roses for Australian conditions, soil health, feeding, watering, pruning, pests and disease — and why roses may be much easier to grow than you think. In this episode What makes a great rose — beauty, fragrance, vigour and disease resistanceHow new roses are bred and why it can take 12 years to develop oneChoosing the right rose for Australian conditionsSoil preparation, compost, mulch and feedingWatering deeply and less frequently once establishedGrowing roses in pots and containersHow and when to prune shrub and climbing rosesDeadheading and encouraging repeat floweringManaging black spot, powdery mildew and aphids naturallyWhy biodiversity and beneficial insects are so importantWhy a rose can be a great choice for beginner gardenersRoses mentioned Constance Spry — Rosa 'Constance Spry'Graham Thomas — Rosa 'Graham Thomas'Lark Ascending — Rosa 'Lark Ascending'Olivia Rose Austin — Rosa 'Olivia Rose Austin'Emily Brontë — Rosa 'Emily Brontë'Queen of Sweden — Rosa 'Queen of Sweden'Tottering-by-Gently — Rosa 'Tottering-by-Gently'Princess Alexandra of Kent — Rosa 'Princess Alexandra of Kent'Gertrude Jekyll — Rosa 'Gertrude Jekyll'Products & resources Clyde Compost — use code MUDDY15 for 15% offNeutrog Sudden Impact for RosesSeaweed products for supporting healthy plantsLeaf mould and well-rotted horse manure/pony poo for mulchingKey takeaway Choose the right rose for the right place, give it healthy soil, adequate water, good airflow and a little regular care — and you can enjoy beautiful blooms and fragrance for years. Thanks to Stephanie for joining us from the UK — and to Clyde Compost for sponsoring Muddy Boots. For more information, visit muddyboots.net.au. Happy gardening! Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/  Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

This episode covers flea beetles, tree borers, climbing pumpkins and melons, soil health, stink bugs, fruit fly, worms, wicking beds and a struggling magnolia. Plants Mentioned Vegetables & fruit Eggplant — Solanum melongenaApple — Malus domesticaRockmelon — Cucumis meloPumpkin — Cucurbita spp.Butternut Pumpkin — Cucurbita moschataPotimarron Pumpkin — Cucurbita maximaWee Be Little Pumpkin — Cucurbita pepoJack Be Little Pumpkin — Cucurbita pepoTomato — Solanum lycopersicumBroccoli — Brassica oleracea var. italicaCauliflower — Brassica oleracea var. botrytisCapsicum — Capsicum annuumChilli — Capsicum spp.Passionfruit — Passiflora edulisTrees & ornamentals Elm — Ulmus spp.Oak — Quercus spp.Pepperina — Schinus molleFig — Ficus spp.Magnolia — Magnolia spp.Questions Covered • Flea beetles: Managing infestations on eggplants using Eco-Neem, sticky traps and soil treatment. • Tree borers: What to do when borers attack mature trees, including pruning, aeration and soil health. • Growing over arches: Delicious rockmelon and pumpkin varieties suited to vertical growing. • Soil health: pH, compost, rock dust, broadforking and building healthy soil biology. • Stink bugs: Simple methods to control these persistent pests. • Worms: Why worms may come to the surface after adding soil amendments and how to distinguish earthworms from compost worms. • Brassicas: Why broccoli and cauliflower can remain netted throughout the growing season. • Queensland fruit fly: Netting, attractants and identifying fruit fly damage. • White grubs: How to distinguish beneficial orange/yellow-headed grubs from damaging black-headed grubs. • Magnolia: Helping a mature tree recover after extreme heat and drought. Products & Resources Clyde Compost — https://clydecompost.com.au Use code MUDDY15 for 15% off.Neutrog Go-Go Juice Neutrog Populate Seasol Eco-Neem Eco-Oil MycoGold — https://biostim.com.au/shop/myco-goldDigger's Club The Plant Runner — https://theplantrunner.comPlant Runner giveaway: Congratulations this month's winner. Live Q&A: Join Elizabeth and Keith at Frankston Library at 1pm on Wednesday 21 October. For more information, visit muddyboots.net.au. Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/  Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

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This video is about MBP - October's Garden - RD 22 Sep 2026 Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/  Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Shade Loving plants. Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/  Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Brought to you by The Plant Runner, Keith and Elizabeth answer listener questions on phosphorus levels in wool-industry by-products, fast-growing screening plants, alkaline compost readings, camellias struggling in pots, vegetable garden design, moving Hardenbergia, sooty mould and cat-contaminated garden beds. The episode focuses on practical ways to choose plants, improve soil, manage pests and diseases, and design a productive, low-maintenance garden. Plants recommended in episode Grevillea spp  - Take extra care with phosphorus levels, as grevilleas can be more phosphorus-sensitive than many other Australian natives. Banksia spp - Another group to monitor when using products containing phosphorus. -Syzygium australe ‘Straight and Narrow’ Recommended for dense screening; plant approximately 1.2 metres apart -Escallonia ‘Iveyi’ - A non-native screening option with dark green foliage; plant approximately 1.2 metres apart. - Viburnum odoratissimum - Suggested where a taller, wider screening plant is required; plant approximately 1.5 metres apart - Cupressus ‘Arctic Green’ - Recommended for a tall, dense screen; plant approximately 2.2 metres apart. - Camellia japonica- Planting in the ground is preferred to growing in pots in hot conditions. - Espaliered fruit trees - Suggested for lining a redesigned vegetable garden. - Pumpkins, cucumbers, zucchinis and melons - Recommended for growing over tunnels or archways between raised beds. - Hardenbergia - Can be moved with care; prune it back by approximately one-third, retain as large a root ball as possible and replant promptly. Products and gardening materials MycoGold Weed Gunnel Clyde's Compost Munash Rock Dust ECO Neem Eco Oil Neutrog Popul8 Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/  Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

This episode is a practical guide to growing herbs at home, whether you have a backyard, balcony, or sunny windowsill. Elizabeth and Keith discuss the easiest herbs to start with, where different herbs grow best and how to keep plants productive through regular harvesting.  They also cover perennial and less familiar herbs, herbs that attract bees and beneficial insects, growing basil and coriander indoors, preserving herbs by drying, and using fresh herbs in cooking.  Herbs can be rewarding, useful, and adaptable—provided each plant is matched with the right light, drainage, moisture, and space. Expert Recommendations — Plants •  Rosemary •  Oregano •  Sage •  Mint — grow in pots because it can spread aggressively in the ground •  Thyme •  Marjoram •  Common mint •  Chives — divide established plants when necessary and remove old bulbs •  Lemongrass •  Chinese chives •  Vietnamese mint •  Spearmint •  Peppermint •  Basil •  Coriander •  Slow-bolt coriander •  Chervil •  Saltbush •  Lemon myrtle •  Tasmanian pepperberry •  Aniseed myrtle (Syzygium anisatum) •  Borage •  Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis) •  Heartsease •  Goldenrod •  Elderberry •  Nettles •  Mullein •  Slippery elm •  Red rose petals •  Burdock root •  Gotu kola Also mentioned in this episode: Diggers Club Morningside Landscapes Mudbrick Herb Cottage Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/  Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

September marks the garden’s transition into Spring across much of Australia. Elizabeth and Keith discuss how to prepare gardens for the growing season, including planting, soil preparation, pruning, feeding, lawn care, dividing plants, and attracting beneficial insects. The episode focuses on practical jobs gardeners can tackle now to encourage healthy growth and prepare for productive Summer crops and colourful spring displays. Plants mentioned in episode: •  Evergreen trees and shrubs, including camellias •  Peas •  Beans •  Berry canes •  Potatoes •  Dahlias •  Horseradish •  Artichokes •  Lily bulbs •  Ginger •  Galangal •  Turmeric •  Violas •  Marigolds •  Alyssum •  Nasturtiums •  Borage •  Comfrey •  Summer-flowering bulbs •  Ornamental alliums •  Crocosmia •  Monarda •  Bottlebrush •  Grevilleas •  Hakeas •  Banksias •  Camellias •  Apple trees •  Pear trees Product and Tool Recommendations MycoGold Clyde's Compost Neutrog Gogo Juice Neutrog “Who Flung Dung” Munash Rock Dust Green Harvest F.D Ryan's Broadfork Neutrog Sudden Impact for Lawns Rooster Booster EE Sea Liquid Fertliser Charlie Carp  Power Feed Moon calendar Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/  Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Cheryl’s chat with the Muddy Boots crew is really a story about shock, survival, and slowly finding your feet again. She talks through the chaos of the Ruffy bushfires — the scrambled updates, the awful wait to hear what had happened, and the surreal moment of returning to a completely blackened landscape with only her little house still standing. It’s emotional, but she tells it with such honesty that you can almost feel what those days were like. From there, the episode becomes a gentle, hopeful look at how gardening helps people heal. Cheryl explains how she started clearing ash, watering anything that looked vaguely alive, and reconnecting with neighbours who were all trying to rebuild in their own way. When Keith organised donations of compost and soil products, it wasn’t just practical help — it gave the whole community a lift. By the end, you really get the sense that growing even a few veggies or seeing a tree reshoot can be the first step back toward feeling normal again. Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/  Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Another Q&A packed with practical gardening advice, from curl grubs and sick olive trees to thrips, blueberries, wicking beds, Boston Ivy and growing your own passionfruit. 🌿 Plants Mentioned Vegetables & fruit Tomato — Solanum lycopersicumCauliflower — Brassica oleracea var. botrytisBlueberry — Vaccinium spp.Lime — Citrus × aurantiifoliaLemon — Citrus × limonBlack Passionfruit — Passiflora edulisOrnamentals & natives Olive — Olea europaeaLavender — Lavandula spp.Rosemary — Salvia rosmarinusOrnamental Pear — Pyrus calleryanaSnow Maiden Grevillea — Grevillea 'Snow Maiden'Crepe Myrtle — Lagerstroemia spp.Banksia — Banksia spp.Boston Ivy — Parthenocissus tricuspidataClimbing Fig — Ficus pumilaPlants mentioned as companion/mulch options Pea Straw — Pisum sativumLucerne/Alfalfa — Medicago sativaPine — Pinus spp.🐛 This Episode's Questions Curl grubs: How to tell beneficial yellow/orange-headed grubs from root-eating black-headed cockchafers. Olive trees: Supporting mature olive trees showing possible signs of Verticillium wilt, including irrigation, soil health and root support. Cauliflowers: Identifying whether slugs, snails or earwigs are responsible for damaged leaves. Rice hull mulch: Why Keith doesn't recommend it as a mulch and alternatives including pea straw and lucerne. Thrips: Why Success isn't effective against thrips and how Eco-Oil and Eco-Neem can be used. Blueberries: How often to repot, pruning advice and maintaining acidic soil. Limes: Why ripe limes can turn yellow — and what happens to their flavour when left on the tree. Grevilleas & Crepe Myrtle: Can they grow together? Plus designing a garden to provide succession of flowering and attract birds. Wicking beds: Advice for hot climates, reducing watering requirements and automated irrigation. Boston Ivy: Why it can take a year to establish and whether it can damage a metal fence. Passionfruit: Growing black passionfruit from seed, protecting plants from frost and why grafted passionfruit can become invasive. 🧰 Products & Resources Mentioned Original LOWY No.1 Anvil Pruner – www.backyardbotanist.com.auNeutrog Populate – https://neutrog.com.auNeutrog Go-Go Juice – https://neutrog.com.auMunash Mineral Rock Dust – https://www.munashorganics.com.auMycoGold – https://www.biostim.com.auEco-Oil – https://www.ecoorganicgarden.com.auEco-Neem – https://www.ecoorganicgarden.com.auClyde Compost – https://clydecompost.com.auDigger's Club – https://www.diggers.com.auThe Plant Runner – https://theplantrunner.com🏆 Plant Runner Giveaway: Congratulations to Gerry, this month's winner, for her question about her 18-year-old olive trees. Happy gardening! 🌱 Where you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/  Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Got a sloping block, awkward corner, or challenging piece of land that feels impossible to landscape? In this episode, Keith explains why difficult terrain can become one of a garden’s greatest assets. From creating garden rooms and pathways to making the most of views and natural features, this episode is packed with ideas to help gardeners see opportunities where they once saw obstacles. Plants recommended in this episode Callistemon spp. — BottlebrushAcacia spp. — WattleEucalyptus spp. — EucalyptProducts & Tools recommended in this episode GeofabricJute erosion-control mattingWeed GunnelF.D Ryan's BroadforkWhere you can find all things Muddy Boots! Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/  Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook