Sceptics say that you can’t have a garden with chooks. They dig up plants, they make a mess of mulch, they leave droppings around, but this could be said of many pets. My experience is that a garden just isn’t
More...Garden Design
Bank Stabilisation
Sometimes you come across a job that involves steep slopes or banks, and these need to be stabilised correctly to ensure you don’t lose your soil and / or plants to runoff or erosion. The following information is a rough
More...Bulbs & Perennials
There are many beautiful plants that may be grown from bulbs, tubers, corms or roots. Many are suitable to grow in pots or small spaces and produce prolifically in the first season. They provide seasonal colour and many are excellent
More...Drought Tolerant Produce Plants
With Melbourne’s potential for very hot periods during summer, for exposed positions we need to think about heat tolerant produce plants. Even though there are many garden plants that burn and suffer through the heat without protection, there are also
More...Duo or Multi Fruit Tree Planting
Duo or multi planting is our preferred option (rather than double or multi grafting) when two or more trees are wanted in a small space. The resulting multi trunked, single canopy tree, is easy to manage and prune. You can
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Fruit Tree Espaliering
Espaliering is a fantastic way to grow trees (including fruit trees) in smaller spaces. It does require regular work and is definitely not recommended for the lazy gardener or those scared of secateurs, however the effort is well worth it. Espaliering
More...Green Roofs
Green roofs are rooftops equipped to grow gardens. They can grow food, be a place to relax in, help control internal and external temperature, or any combination of these. An additional benefit is boosting the productivity of solar panels during
More...Heather’s Garden in Lower Templestowe
As a Horticulturalist, it is always a delight to visit the garden of a fellow plant lover. I recently had the pleasure of walking around, admiring and discussing plants with Heather, a long time Bulleen Art & Garden customer. Heather
More...Holiday-Proof Your Garden
Planning to get away for a break is a part of summer in Australia. But the last thing you want to happen is to go away on a holiday, only to find a dead garden when you return. So before
More...Improving soil which has been under concrete
A question which regularly gets asked at the nursery is “what do I do with my soil now I have removed the concrete?” The issues that arise with soil under large areas of concrete include compaction, hydrophobic soil, lack of
More...Indigenous Gardens
We sometimes speak to customers who are a little confused about what exactly an indigenous plant is. Yes, they are all Australian Natives, however the definition is a little more detailed. Specifically, indigenous plants are those that occur naturally in
More...Lawn Alternative Planting Options
Lawn alternatives are a group of plant species far more suited to our growing conditions than traditional lawns. They can be used as a beautiful and practical substitute for your open spaces. So why not plant species that require little
More...Lawn Alternatives
Vast expanses of patchy, dead and weed infested lawn areas taking up space in your backyard? Are you a slave to the drone of a lawnmower on your day off? Instead you could be out in your garden enjoying your
More...Nectarine – Nectazee Standard
Of the fruit trees growing at BAAG, one that stands out as a great plant selection is the Nectazee standard at the front entrance (our north eastern parterre bed). Nectazee standards are part of the Fleming’s Trixzie miniature fruit tree
More...Ornamental Edible Gardens
Since Ancient Times, Edible Gardening and producing food was motivated by survival. The Egyptians, the Persians and the Romans developed ‘Paradise Gardens’ that became increasingly elaborate, intermingling ornamental and edible plants. In Medieval Times, Christian Monastery Gardens used function in
More...Permaculture
Feeling daunted by permaculture terminology? Wondering what it all means and whether you can have a slice of the Permaculture pie? Let us lead you gently through zones, elements and relative locations with our simple guide, leaving you feeling relaxed,
More...Permeable Surfaces
When water hits a non-permeable surface it will follow gravity to the lowest point, normally a drain. The water then flows down through the storm water pipes into channels and rivers and streams. In heavy downpours the speed this may
More...Plant Tiles
Plant tiles create stunning, alternative lawns and outdoor solutions instantly at half the cost of using traditional pots! Each tile covers the same area as ten traditional 100mm pots. As the plants grow, the roots bind the media together so
More...Planting Guide – the ‘how’ and ‘when’
When it comes to planting good timing helps, but life goes on if you miss it. There are quite a few good horticultural reasons for planting trees, shrubs and perennials in autumn or winter; however life has a habit of
More...Raingardens
What is a Raingarden? Raingardens capture stormwater from hard surfaces and filter it through layers of sandy soil. These layers help to slow the rate of stormwater entering our waterways while also filtering out pollutants, excess nutrients and chemicals that
More...Reducing the heat with vegetation
As the temperature begins to rise and water conservation continues to impact on gardeners, people are watering less and are looking to find alternatives for vegetation. But by using some simple planting techniques you can help to decrease the heat
More...Screening Ideas
As time goes on, land and space is becoming more valuable. House blocks are reducing in size and buildings are taking up more and more of the average backyard. Not only are the buildings getting closer, but more and more
More...Selecting & Laying Turf or Lawn Seed
A small patch of green lawn in the front or back yard provides a versatile space that can be enjoyed year round, softens and reduces the impact of extreme weather while decreasing water runoff from hard surfaces into our rivers
More...Shady Gardens
Many established suburban gardens have large and established trees, which cast shade over part or most of the garden. Also, as housing densities increase, and many taller homes are built, being able to garden successfully in shady areas will become
More...Using Colour in your Garden
With a little planning and preparation it is easy to achieve a garden with colour and interest all year round. Design Techniques with Colour There are many techniques to successfully combine colours in the garden, and some of these can
More...What is Urban Ecology? – A few thoughts from BAAG’s CEO
I have been lucky to have been able to spend much of my working life surrounded by plants; studying and working in the natural environment, in local gardens and in garden centres. Like many of us, I love the opportunity
More...Why your garden matters!
Every garden is its own (or is a unique but connected) ecosystem containing an extraordinary array of living organisms including plants, fungi, bacteria, microbes, insects and animals that all impact on the health and resilience of the living network. We
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