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Chookz Gardening the good life

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22.01.2022 PLEASE DON’T SPRAY YOUR CITRUS WITH INSECTICIDE Especially 'organic' bactericide Bacillus thuringiensis (aka: 'Bt') In perfect synchronicity with the growth of ...fresh new leaves... these spectacular ‘Swallowtail’ butterflies may visit your Citrus to rear their next generation on. There are 6 species on the Australian mainland (and 2 more found on Australian islands) that seek-out cultivated and native Citrus in gardens or in pots. This Chart shows what the female butterfly look like and where they are found. Keep an eye-out for them. Maybe you could even allow her eggs to grow into an adult butterfly on your Citrus? The Chart is FREE to Share, download and print-out. [The butterflies will be actual-size if printed onto A3] You can help raise awareness of these butterflies by putting them up in garden centres, nurseries, kindies, schools, offices, homes...

19.01.2022 I grow plants for many reasons: to please my eye or to please my soul, to challenge the elements or to challenge my patience, for novelty or for nostalgia, but mostly for the joy in seeing them grow David Hobson

16.01.2022 "Getting Started" This e-booklet started as a guide to new growers of Australian plants in the 1970s. It was updated in 2003 and covers Myths and Fables, The So...il, Selection of Plants, Plant Propagation, Potting On, Planting Out, Watering, Pest Control, Potted Plants. It's available as a free download from the ANPSA web site: http://anpsa.org.au/download.html#started

15.01.2022 Green roofs everywhere. Living roof cottage in Sankt Corona am Wechsel, Austria

15.01.2022 Did you know that over a quarter of Australia's butterflies use native grasses as their host-plants and at least 26 species use 'Tussock Grasses'. Tussock Gra...sses (Poa species) are a large group of native 'clumping' grasses that come in different sizes and shades of green. Some species support only a single butterfly whilst others are used by many. Two of the most used are 'Slender Tussock Grass' and 'Large Tussock Grass'. Few native grasslands remain and even these are hanging-on in remnant patches. Can you help bring them back? They make great additions to gardens, verges, habitat corridors, parklands, regeneration projects... More about Slender Tussock-Grass here: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl More about Large Tussock-Grass here: https://www.anbg.gov.au/.../train.../poa-labillardierei.html

07.01.2022 The days are shorter, temperatures drop, but backyard bird-watching never stops! Birds in Backyards Winter surveys are underway! Join in the fun - count birds f...or 20 mins and let us know about your space. Are your resident spinebills loving the native shrubs in your garden? Do the rosellas come for a drink or the Currawongs for a bathe in your birdbath? Your surveys show the Birds in Backyards team what birds are visiting gardens seasonally and what it is about those gardens that attracts them. Head to the website for info and instructions, including free webinars: www.birdsinbackyards.net - register to join in.

07.01.2022 An article I wrote that might be of interest to group members "Top 10 Plants That Date Your Garden and Create Ecological Dead Zones"

06.01.2022 NEST BOXES: Are you looking for a nest box for a small bird, possum or microbats? Or perhaps for parrots or kookaburras? Different species have different requir...ements in a nest box. There are several books available with nestbox designs and specifications so have a look online for one. Whilst a nestbox cannot replace a tree hollow, they can still greatly benefit wildlife by providing shelter and safety, as well as a place to breed. These boxes were made by the Belgrave Mens Shed. They're made from durable exterior timber, have hinged lids and even come with the wire and hose (to protect the tree) to hang them! The folks at the Mens Shed also repair damaged boxes if yours needs a little TLC. For more details and to place an order for a nest box, contact John at [email protected] or send a message via the Belgrave Mens Shed Facebook page. UPDATE: Mooroolbark Mens Shed also make nest boxes. Check with a Mens Shed local to your area to see if they make them. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Where should I hang my nest box? Generally, the majority of species prefer a box with a north-east to south-east aspect. This allows some warmth from the morning sun, while avoiding direct sun in the middle of the day. Nest boxes should be located so as to minimise impact from weather, such a rain, wind, and harsh sunlight. Boxes should be placed as high as possible. This avoids vandalism and disturbance from humans, and minimises the risk posed by domestic and feral animals, such as dogs and cats. How long until someone moves in? Don’t be surprised if it takes some time for native fauna to occupy your nest box. With the exception of Rosellas (who are inclined to move in straight away), most indigenous fauna species like to suss out a hollow before setting up house, so don’t be too upset if it takes a little while! www.sgaonline.org.au/nestboxes/ Monitor your nest box! A number of familiar introduced species, especially the Common Myna, Common Starling and House Sparrow all nest in tree hollows, and they will happily use nest boxes intended for native birds or mammals. They tend to be very aggressive around nest sites, and Mynas have been recorded driving nesting birds away and tossing their eggs and nestlings from hollows or nest boxes, or even building their nest on top of other birds’ nests, crushing the eggs or smothering the nestlings. They are ruthless competitors for nest boxes. If unwanted introduced birds start to use your nest box, the best thing to do is remove the nest material that they have added. You must be persistent (removing it perhaps several times a day), as some species will keep trying to nest in the box for several days before eventually moving to another site. Honey bees may take over your nest box to use as their hive. This is a surprisingly common occurrence, and they should be removed with great caution, preferably by someone who knows what they are doing. Contact a local apiarist (bee-keeper) for assistance. Rats may also pose a problem, either by nesting in the nest box, or by eating the eggs and nestlings of birds using the nest box. The easiest way to combat this is to set up a collar on the trunk of the tree to prevent the rats climbing up to the box. Removing rats already in a nest box should only be done with great caution. https://birdlife.org.au//ed/INFO-Nestboxes-nativebirds.pdf

Chookz Gardening the good life | Local service