Hort Journal Australia

Nursery Papers – Preparing for exotic pest incursions

01/07/2021 admin 953 Views 0 Comments

In Australia, should Lycorma delicatula (spotted lanternfly) invade, it is expected to threaten nursery, fruit, landscape and hardwood industries.

Its ability to ‘hitchhike’ due to non-discriminatory egg laying behaviour means that imported containers and their contents including, vehicles, machinery, equipment, nursery stock, fresh produce, cut flowers, foliage, forest products and passenger luggage are risk pathways into Australia.… Continue reading

Wandering Lilac (Hardenbergia violacea) (Image: Suzette Hosken)

International Plant Propagation Society

Using plant selection as a tool for butterfly conservation

01/07/2021 admin 1002 Views 0 Comments

By Tyson Felix –

It’s certainly not a revelation that pollinator species are under increasing strain in recent years. It’s a topic that has been keeping people up late at night and while there is an impressive diversity of insects of value that frequent the garden, none seem to hold a place in our hearts as much as butterflies.… Continue reading

Seedlings are handled with care with TTA Vision Transplanters

Industry News

Automation is here

01/07/2021 admin 1047 Views 0 Comments

By Malcolm Calder –

Automation in nurseries across the country is being adopted. Malcolm Calder from Transplant Systems gives an insight into how savings and efficiencies can be achieved.

In today’s world of production nursery outcomes and requirements, adoption of automation is an absolute necessity.… Continue reading

Greener Spaces Better Places Update

WHAT’S GROWING ON?

01/07/2021 admin 1011 Views 0 Comments

Hi, Welcome to this month’s Greener Spaces Better Places program update. Read on to find out the latest news and highlights to keep up to date on what’s happening and how you can benefit.

Where will all the trees be? Phase 2 Report out now.… Continue reading

This spider lift can be manoeuvred over obstacles, such as this staircase, to enable plant technicians to access hard-to-reach plants (Images: Tropical Plant Rentals)

Interior Plantscaping

Spider lifts – knuckling down, or up, to the job

01/07/2021 admin 1008 Views 0 Comments

By Gabrielle Stannus

Some indoor plant technicians need much more than a dusting cloth, watering can and a pair of secateurs to complete their maintenance rounds. For Interior Plantscape Association member Mitchell Reid, Managing Director of Tropical Plant Rentals, constructing and maintaining green walls is a routine part of his job, requiring a variety of mechanised equipment including the aptly named spider lift.… Continue reading

Inside a native fig with wasp larva on rim (Supplied by Denis Crawford of Graphic Science)

Environment & Sustainability Pest and Diseases

Are gall-inducing insects pests?

01/07/2021 admin 1168 Views 0 Comments

By Denis Crawford –

Galls are abnormal growths that can form on just about any part of a plant. Why do galls form and do they harm the plants they form on?

Galls form in response to a variety of organisms entering plant tissue in some way.… Continue reading

Helichrysum italicum (Image: Foto-Rabe Pixabay)

Plant Palette Plants

Helichrysum: Immortelle or Curry Bush?

01/07/2021 admin 944 Views 0 Comments

By Clive Larkman –

I have written about a number of herbs over the years, some of which have a narrow range and only a few species. These include lavender and rosemary (now salvia) which come from the countries on the northern side of the Mediterranean.… Continue reading

Melastoma flower

Plant Palette Plants

Looks like a Tibouchina but tastes like a jam!

01/07/2021 admin 1201 Views 0 Comments

By Bruce Thompson –

Common Name: Blue Tongue, Native Lasiandra, Indian Rhododendron, Malabar Rhododendron, Singapore Rhododendron

Genus: Melastoma

Species: malabrathicum subsp. malabrathicum

Family: Melostomaceae

Origin: A pan-tropical species occurring in open forest and disturbed rainforest in north Queensland, down to Kempsey in New South Wales, the Kimberley region in Western Australia, the Northern Territory as well as Indomalaya and Japan.… Continue reading

Landscape

Closer focus on the macro view Part II

10/06/2021 John Fitzsimmons 1132 Views 0 Comments

By John Fitzsimmons –

Last issue painted the big landscape picture from the 2021 Australian Landscape Conference, leaving several rich understoreys of ideas to be conveyed in this report.

Several topics could be grouped under the subject of ‘plant selection’ and issues like using the words ‘management’ or ‘care’ in design submissions, instead of ‘maintenance’ with its connotations of a cost to be minimised rather than an investment in the ultimate health, value, benefit, utility, longevity and success of the gardens designed and implemented.… Continue reading

Conceptualising horticulture in education as a subject, tool, context and benefit. (Image: Kate Neale)

Careers & Education Education

Horticulture in education

10/06/2021 admin 1124 Views 0 Comments

By Michael Casey and Dr Kate Neale –

Horticulture has had a long history as a subject in education across all cohorts in one form or another. Watching seeds sprout and grow to seedlings has always been a popular activity within the early years of education.… Continue reading