A good harvest starts with healthy soil.
Soil

Start with your soil

Early autumn is a good time to take a close look at your soil and do some prep work for your new crops, writes Penny Woodward.

Jian Liu's food forest in Melbourne.
Basics

What is a food forest?

A permaculture concept, a food forest promises a self-sustaining system that produces an abundance of food if designed well. Here's why Jian Liu created one in her Melbourne backyard.

Growing plants that are indigenous to your area will help attract native bees.
Bees, poultry & livestock

Encouraging native bees

If you follow these basic principles in your garden, native bees and other beneficial insects will know they’re welcome, writes Karen Sutherland.

Teddy bear bee (Amegilla bombiformis)
Bees, poultry & livestock

Bring in the bees

There's heaps to do in the summer garden, including encouraging bees to visit and stay. Our horticultural experts have some tips to help you take care of these precious pollinators.

Plan your vegie bed in layers to make the most of space.
Build your garden

Top 5 tips for gardening success in a small space

Small gardens can be incredibly productive and Jian Liu has 5 tips to help you get more out of your limited space.

Beach Bananas
Growing in pots

Native plants for indoors

There’s a stack of Australian native plants from rainforest areas that are naturally suited to low light, so are perfect for growing indoors, writes Karen Sutherland.

Clear your yard of any possible hazards for chicks.
Bees, poultry & livestock

Raising chicks naturally

While the mother hen has the lead role in the chicken-raising show, Jessamy Millers says there are steps owners can take to ensure chicks are robust and healthy.

Hairy flower wasps are pollinators and parasites of beetle grubs.
Build your garden

Encouraging good wasps in your garden

Despite their fearsome reputations, wasps, with a few exceptions, are pollinators and can help keep pests away. Denis Crawford takes a closer look at some of the goodies.

Chooks provide much more than fresh eggs and fertiliser.
Build your garden

Feathered friends

Chooks provide many things from fresh eggs to fertiliser for your garden, and they can even become feathered friends to the family, writes Jessamy Miller.

native herb spiral
Growing in pots

Make a vertical herb spiral

New to gardening? Try this herb garden spiral.

Heirloom pumpkins
Build your garden

Why grow heirlooms?

Heirloom edibles are important to our survival, and that of the planet. That's why our horticultural editor, Penny Woodward, loves growing them. Find out why ...

Composting is an important way to turn waste into nutrients for your garden.
Compost & mulch

Smart composting

Jian Liu has discovered a few tricks for harnessing all the benefits of compost, with minimal effort.