BetterHomesAndGardensAustraliaDecember2015_

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS, DECEMBER 2015 bhg.com.au 119

Grow a flight path

It’s time to get

tomatoes in for fruit

all summer long.

Key to climate zones

Z5 Z6 Z7 Z8

Z1 Z2 Z3 Z4

Give your garden an extra dimensionwith plenty of

plants to tempt birds to drop in. Pokers, or kniphofias,

provide a tempting snack, as do many of our own native

plants such as banksias, callistemons, correas, fuchsias,

hakeas, melaleucas, grevilleas and acacias. It pays to

choose plants so that something is in flower every month

of the year. Including a few perches, placed well out of the

way of neighbourhood cats, will also help the cause. Birds

also appreciate a ready supply of water, both for drinking

and splashing about in, so set up a birdbath or shallow

bowl of water. Having plenty of insect-devouring birds

around a garden is a great way to reduce chemical use too.

Petunias or tomatoes? Go crazy and plant both!

In each issue we give

ideas, tips and planting

advice for different climate

zones, so it’s important to

find the zone number for

your area. Naturally, there

will be cooler, warmer,

wetter and drier areas

in each zone, so ask

a horticulturist at your

local nursery which

zone best matches

your conditions.

Flowers

All zones:

Ageratum, portulaca

and sunflower.

Zones 2–5:

Aster, begonia,

calibrachoa,

Californian poppy,

celosia, cosmos,

dahlia, impatiens,

marigold,

nasturtium,

petunia, phlox,

salvia, Sturt’s desert

pea and verbena.

Zones 6–8:

Alyssum,

calibrachoa,

gomphrena, petunia,

phlox, salvia, vinca

and zinnia.

Vege tables

All zones:

Capsicum, eggplant,

lettuce, tomato

and zucchini.

Zones 2–5:

Beetroot, broccoli,

brussels sprouts,

cabbage, carrot,

celery, endive,

pumpkin, radish

and silverbeet.

Zones 6–8:Beans,

chilli, cucumber,

marrow, squash

and sweet corn.

PLANT

NOW

V

cember

Petunia