Environmentality 18 June 2014, Jodi Jackson, My Everyday Garden

Jodi was in talking french trench and cuttings!  

What on earth is a french trench I hear you ask.  Well I didn't know either so here (according to Wikipedia) is the definition of a french trench drain 

A french drain is a trench filled with gravel or rock or containing a a perforated pipe that redirects surface water and groundwater away from an area.

According to Jodi, anyone can dig a french drain, so please readers, send in your photos!

Apologies, as when you listen to the show you will notice that due to a technical hitch the first 15 minutes or so is missing. 

Winter has decided finally to grace us and there is nothing better than getting out in the garden to warm up and start organising for spring!  It is a good time to start thinking about all the plants you have been wanting to take cuttings from - a great way to share plants with friends and neighbours and save money.  

Jodi finishing her cutting

There are lots of good sites on how to take softwood, semi-hardwood and hardwood cuttings, one of them is the Gardening Australia.  Now is a good time to take hardwood cuttings.  Hardwood cuttings are best taken from deciduous shrubs and climbers and taken in winter because they are dormant and are less likely to dry out.  So if you have had your eye on the fig next door now it the time to take that cutting!  You can also try roses, grapes, hydrangeas, and wisteria all which reward with great smells and good eating. 

Jodi's heat bed for her cuttings

If you wanted to get serious with your cuttings you might also need a heat bed if you were going to propagate a lot of cuttings over winter. Heat beds give the roots a little burst of warmth to help them along in the cooler months.

Until next week, happy gardening.

Music played on the show:

Lenka, Everything at Once
Rodriguez, SugarMan

Einstürzende Neubauten, The Garden 

Woodlock, Lemons

Next week, Conservation Volunteers Australia