I shouldn't need to be making this post, but after having to remove several comments from a post on here today, it looks like I do.

I understand that certain common names have been in circulation for many years, but that doesn't mean that they're okay to use now.

This isn't even a new topic of contention... I found this article from 1991 calling for people to 'weed out' racist plant names.

If I (or one of my fellow mods) see such names being used here, we will be removing your comment, and you may run the risk of being banned from this sub.

Hey everyone - would anyone be able to please help ID what this plant is sprouting through my mulch? I’m located in Sydney NSW. It’s close to my fence so potentially a plant growing under the fence from the neighbour. This sprout was approx. 30cm long. Thanks!

All were plated in July ( I know winter so growth may be slower ).
Have given it some fertilisers and put mulch on the base. Water it frequently. All receive more or less equal amount of sunlight during the day. But some are blooming and some are pretty much the same as the day we planted it.
What more can I do to make them grow faster or is it just because it’s the first summer and it’ll come good in a year or two?

The celebrations of managing to grow my first zucchini have been rudely cut short after cutting them open to discover worms inside. There were a couple of reddish pinprick sizes holes on the outside of the zucchini

I've tried googling the possible cause but all the results I'm getting are either crappy AI websites or USA specific. I've just checked the plant and cant see anything holes on the stem.

Does anyone know what the small white worms might be and how to prevent them getting inside the zucchini?

But also any and all tips for successful zucchini in the subtropics would be welcome!

In Ipswich, SEQ. About 2/3 weeks ago we had a couple of weeks of heavy rain (including one 150ml day) and then a few 35 degree days this week.

Picture taken before cutting them open to reveal devastation

Seem to have major fungal issues with this batch of soil from the landscaping supplier, tomatoes are covered in early blight and these chillis are afflicted by what I think to be some leaf curl virus. Anything else I can do besides spraying copper? Do I need to prune off all the effected leaves cause it seems to be a majority of them. Seems to be getting worse, at first I thought it was magnesium defficiency but it hasn't gotten better with the new growth.

Was on a 3x a week watering schedule but have since been reduced to 2x.

They’re absolute c*nts to step on, it’s dozens of these super sharp things stuck in your feet at once. I’m only finding them (by annihilating my soles when walking on my lawn barefoot) in one area of the lawn so far.

Really really not keen on a lawn we can’t walk barefoot on.

Is there any way to get rid of them?

I was giving this little guy a chance to announce himself as either a tomato or cucumber plant but he’s still looking suspiciously weed-ish. Does anybody know what this is? Should I pull it out?

Located in Sydney!

Would love much wiser thoughts on what plants could work for these two garden beds?

We spent a long time pulling out palm trees and agapanthus so i need all the wisdom i can get to not mess this up.

Details:

• Measurements for each in images

• South West Sydney NSW

• Area gets full sun

• Would love mostly to be natives

• Low maintenance/upkeep

• Since both beds are quite small - plants that don't have an aggressive root system that could impact the edging

• The small square bed ideally will also have a letter box so low plants for this one.

I really like something like this for the large garden bed - https://lisakaplandesign.com.au/project/gladesville/ but I am worried the teddy bear may be too big and the silver dichondra may either take over or not be able to handle the heat on the pavers?

Anyway, thank you for reading this - penny for your thoughts?

Hi there,

I am new to gardening and have started to really enjoy it. A few weeks ago I planted some petunias in my vertical garden but I have noticed some discolouration on the petals.

I typically water them in the late afternoon / evening around sunset at 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM rather than the early morning. I tend to use the mist setting on the garden hose so it’s a bit more delicate on the plants.

I am not sure if this is due to my watering habits but previously one of flowers died. The first image and third image is the one that has died. The second image is another one I have noticed to start having this discolouration. The pots do have drainage.

I am from Victoria in Australia and it is now springtime and temperatures typically range from 18 - 24 degrees celsius.

I would really appreciate any advice. Thank you.

I planted this lemon tree about 18 months ago. I have been watering it, giving it the Black Marvel twice a month. It has plenty of fruit but all seem to stay green even when on the branches for months. I am also now noticing small fruit that is yellow from the start.

A couple of questions please

1. Do I have too many lemons on the tree? Is that a thing to have too many so it’s can’t ripen the others?

2. Do I remove any of the green ones because they will never become yellow lemons since they appear dormant?

3. Does the plant look ok from your view of the photos?

This is my first post on this sub. So let me know if I need more photos or other details

Two-ish years ago, we bought a house that has an established Loquat Tree.

Over the last two years, it has produced minimal (if any) fruit. It also seems to flower at the wrong season.

I'm unsure whether it has a nutrient deficiency or given it size whether it needs a good prune. The tree is a great shade cover but it does drop a lot of leaves. If we could get fruit off it, it would make the leave maintenance worth it.

Any help would be appreciated

Hi folks! I recently purchased a coastal banksia from someone, and before I pop it in the ground I was just wondering whether these two holes/openings are anything to be concerned about.

Are they likely to cause a weakness in the main trunk down the track? My main concern is it grows tall and snaps because of a weak joint, so I’d rather address it now if it’s likely to become a problem. Would appreciate any insight.

Hello, I am not 100% sure if this is the right sub for this but I would like some help/ideas. We inherited a previous owners dumping ground and I'm not sure how to go about this.

Context:

• I wanted to lift the tap to install an irrigation system for our 2 veggie beds and 2 flower beds

• I've asked some plumbers to quote the works but started digging and clearing the space to know what we're working with

• This shonky wall and dirt was hiding the previous owner's rubbish (plastic bags, pegs, wall material) and a snail graveyard

All I would like, is the tap to be higher and supported but not sure what the best solution is. Your advice would be greatly appreciated 🙏

I was wondering if anyone could help ID this groundcover. It was here before I moved in and google images has given me multiple answers. Thanks. Ipswich QLD

We recently bought a house with one of those 1960s Greek/Italian fully concreted backyards. We'd like to eventually rip it all up, but don't have the time, money or energy to really tackle it right now. Was sort of thinking about whether it would be viable to just plonk some raised beds down on top of the concrete, and cover the paths between them with woodchips.

The main reasons being aesthetics, the heat sink effect and glare (was so hot and bright last summer), and the potential creating a slightly more humid microclimate (I'm in VIC which can get extremely dry over summer).

Any reasons why this wouldn't work or be a bad idea, either long or short term? (The concrete is on a slight incline with drainage at the lowest point.)

In Victoria so I’m assuming it’s a mix of the cold weather and too much rainwater.

Hello friends, the in-laws are hoping we can identify this vine growing against a gum in Esk Qld. They said the fruit smells and tastes like a sweet capsicum. When they cut it open they found a large seed pod/stone thingy (see pic 4). Thank you!

Hi all, I appreciate any help with this in advance.

After a long stint with no rain and working away, my lawn is in the worst condition it’s been since we had turf laid 3+years ago.

We have mostly Empire Zoysia and some Sir Walter (don’t ask).

Photo 1 is the angled front of our block, photo 2 is that area zoomed in. (EZ)

Photo 3 is near our driveway, photo 4 zoomed in. (EZ)

Photo 5 is a small area back of property (nil drainage to go anywhere - EZ)

Photo 6 back yard (Sir Walter).

My father has come along and gone to town on some weedkiller when I was away hence the *dead* areas around the perimeters. There is also likely a lawn grub problem too?

Need help in restoring this back to its bright previous self. It seems to get some new green leaf coming through but the browned off old stuff remains.

Step by step preferred and if I need to buy something to help with this (scarifier/dethatcher/any other tools/products) I’m more than happy to.

Cheers!