Episode: #5 30/09/2006
Presenter: Sue McDougall

The footy season has finished and it is a long weekend, so there are lots of opportunity to spend a few hours in the garden and no excuses. After some warm days the weeds have tripled in size so get them out and find some places to plant a few shrubs.

When planning a garden bed always group plants that have the same watering needs together, this way you are not over watering those plants that don?t need the extra water for the sake of one or two that are in the wrong area.

Erinvale Garden in Gooseberry Hill, which is open as part of the open garden scheme on the 1^st and 2^nd of October, will inspire you to re-do the garden. The parterre garden has a Mediterranean theme, while the native garden is in full flower and looking stunning.

It is easy to get confused when shopping at a garden centre, because everything is looking so great and you don?t realise your mistakes until a few years down the track.

The Water Corporation, in conjunction with Water Wise Garden Centres are about to launch the Water wise Plants for Perth Programme. This programme is about promoting those plants, that when established will thrive on the occasional watering throughout the hottest months and both natives and exotics are on the list.

If you have room for a hedge then Lilly Pilly is a great choice, but with gardens getting smaller not many have room for such large plants. You could go for a dwarf Lilly Pilly like ?Blaze?. It has a bush growth habit and the outstanding feature is the brilliant bright coloured new foliage.

An outstanding new release is the Dwarf Native Frangipani, which gets to a height of 1 metre and has bright glossy leaves and a fantastic thick busy habit. Perfumed yellow flowers in spring compliment the dark green foliage.

For a larger hedge select Viburnum Anvi. This is in full flower at the moment and they look like little bunches over the foliage. Buds are burgundy and open up to white with a pink tinge. All these plants are part of the Water wise plants for Perth programme.

It is such a great time of the year to be in the garden, where ever you look there is colour. If you would like some more inspiration and information on water wise gardening in your local area join our online garden club. Follow the links from the Garden Gurus website to join up.

Receive discounts, special offers and answers to any gardening questions you have. Whether you are a beginner gardener, or have been gardening for years there is something for everyone.

Erinvale Garden
31 Ledger Road
Gooseberry Hill

Open Sunday 1^st and Monday 2^nd October
$5

The Water Corporation
www.watercorporation.com.au

Water Wise Garden Centres
Go to http://www.watercorporation.com.au/W/waterwise_garden_centres.cfm for a complete list of water wise gardening centres.