The Garden Diaries: Northern Territory in December

The Garden Diaries: Northern Territory in December

View the video

The Garden Diaries: Northern Territory in December

View the video
×

More D.I.Y. Advice

Person planting spinach 03:11

Planting & Growing How to grow vegetables Watch our step-by-step guide and find out everything you need to know about how to grow fresh vegetables in your garden.

Six plants that repel mosquitoes and flies

Planting & Growing Six plants that repel mosquitoes and flies Using plants is a natural and effective way to repel mosquitoes, flies and other insects from entering your home. Here’s a list of the six best insect-repelling plants.

grow herbs

Planting & Growing Gardening for kids Gardening is great for the kids—it teaches them a love of nature and the environment, where food comes from, how to care for plants and the joy of reaching a goal. Here are some ideas to get them outside and in the garden.

Geraniums

Planting & Growing How to create a low-allergy garden If you suffer from hay fever or other allergies, then being out in the garden can, at times, be less than enjoyable. But there are some steps you can take to create an allergy-friendly garden so you can spend more time gardening and less time sneezi...

protein

Planting & Growing 10 high protein foods you can grow at home Grow these high protein vegetables and protein rich foods at home in your very own garden. Whether you’re a vegetarian or are trying to eat healthier, here’s our list of top 10 high protein vegetables to grow at home.

How to control weed organically

Planting & Growing How to control weeds organically There are plenty of organic ways to keep weeds at bay without the need for nasty chemicals. Here are some top tips from Eco Organic Garden.

fiddle leaf fig

Planting & Growing How to grow and care for a fiddle leaf fig With lustrous, wide, violin-shaped leaves and prominent veins, this upright leafy tree will create a graceful backdrop of luxurious fresh foliage in your home or garden. But to keep it in the best health and appearance, there are some tips and trick...

pizza pot

Planting & Growing How to grow your own pizza herbs View our guide on how to grow perfect pizza herbs at home. Create adaptable and different tasting pizzas by adding a sprinkle of your favourite home-grown herbs.

Replay

It’s December in the Northern Territory and it’s hot and sticky. But that’s no excuse not to get out into the garden. Here are some ideas for what to do at your place.

Hero plant this month: Screening plants

This month, it’s all about screening plants. For example, Murraya paniculata is a great screening plant for the garden. With its pretty, white flowers and dense growth habit, murrayas can grow up to 4m. With regular trimming, they’ll provide a great screen. Plant in  a sunny position in well-drained soil. 

Lilly pillies are another great screening plant that work well in small backyards. They are fast growing but can be trimmed to size and shape. Choose from varieties such as the smaller growing ‘Baby Boomer’ and the psyllid resistant, ‘Resilience’. Lilly pillies will thrive in fertile, well-drained soil, in the sun or a semi-shaded position.

Screening plants

What else to plant

For the tropics, heliconias work well with their striking flowers and architectural foliage. Gingers are also looking good in store now. Plant in moist, well-drained soil.  

Give the vegie patch some planting love too. Plant eggplants, coriander and mint will also do well. Mint prefers a shady spot, rather than full sun and keep it contained in a pot.

Plant snake beans too. These are favourites for the tropics and produce big crops of stringless beans.

Potted herbs

Maintenance

It’s hot and humid, but that’s all the more reason to get into the garden and keep up with the maintenance.

Keep an eye out for pests such as caterpillars and grass hoppers. An excellent, organic control is to squash them between your fingers. If you want more advice on other organic controls, pop into your local Bunnings and speak to some of the experts.

It’s a great time to re-fresh indoor plants. When repotting, using a quality potting mix. Always wear a mask and gloves when handling potting mix.

Mulch the garden before the wet season. Pine bark chips are a good choice. But use what works at your place. Mulch protects the soil and keeps weeds at bay.

A person checking for insects on their plant

Harvest

The garden is still very productive in December. Pick pumpkins, sweet potatoes, lemon grass, chillies and basil.

There you have it, some ideas for what to do in the garden in the top end.

Herbs and vegies

Our Perfect Plant Promise

Remember the Perfect Plant Promise. All our plants (except seedlings) are guaranteed for 12 months. If you're not 100 percent happy, return your plant (with the receipt or tax invoice) and we'll refund it.

Start planting today

Check out the wide range of plants online or visit your local Bunnings Warehouse to find out how you can bring your garden to life.

More D.I.Y. Advice

The best low-maintenance plants for your garden

Planting & Growing The best low-maintenance plants for your garden Low-maintenance plants are a great choice if you don’t want to spend too much time tending to your garden. Here are the best plants for creating an attractive garden that’s also easy to care for.

Drought tolerant plants

Planting & Growing How to choose drought tolerant plants If you live in an area that doesn’t get much rain, you need to save water or you simply want a low-maintenance garden, then using drought tolerant plants is a great idea. Here’s a list of things to consider before you go out and buy them.

Geraniums

Planting & Growing How to create a low-allergy garden If you suffer from hay fever or other allergies, then being out in the garden can, at times, be less than enjoyable. But there are some steps you can take to create an allergy-friendly garden so you can spend more time gardening and less time sneezi...

Vegetable garden

Planting & Growing How to start a vegetable garden Nothing tastes better than home-grown vegetables. To make it easy for you, we’ll take you through some things to consider like where, what and how to plant vegetables, as well as how to feed and care for them.

Protect Your Garden From Snails, Slugs and Leaf Eaters

Planting & Growing Protect your garden from snails slugs and leaf eaters There is a wide range of highly effective and innovative products available to gardeners to help them care for and protect their plants against insects, snails and slugs.

A bee on a flower

Planting & Growing How to attract bees and butterflies Unfortunately, bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects are under increasing threat due to pesticides, parasites and climate change. We can help them by using responsible gardening practices, planting flowers and providing them with shelter.

Worm farm

Planting & Growing How to make a worm farm A worm farm can turn your organic waste into rich fertiliser to feed your garden. It’s also a fun and rewarding way to get the kids actively involved in the environment.

Six plants that repel mosquitoes and flies

Planting & Growing Six plants that repel mosquitoes and flies Using plants is a natural and effective way to repel mosquitoes, flies and other insects from entering your home. Here’s a list of the six best insect-repelling plants.

Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.
Top of the content