Episode: # 11 16/06/07
Presenter: Phil Dudman

Kangaroo Paws have got to be one of the most striking of all our native plants and they put on a beautiful show. Why is it that so many gardeners struggle to grow them well in Queensland?
For starters you need a soil that is brilliantly well drained. If yours is heavy then there are a few things you need to do to fix it.

Throw down heaps of compost and a whole lot of sand as well. Mix and dig it all through and finally you will be left with a bit of a mound that will also help with drainage. Any kangaroo paw would dream of such a lovely, free draining soil.

Another problem you may find is a disease called x-spot which thrives in the Queensland humidity and spraying doesn’t seem to help. All you need to do is prune it out by taking the affected pieces right back to the base.

Even if your plant is totally covered in the disease, cutting it all down is exactly what it needs. Try using a pair of hedge shears, a brush cutter or even a lawn mower to cut the whole lot down to ground level. It may look vicious but it will liberate the plant of all the disease and will stimulate a lot of new growth and beautiful blooms.

It is a good idea to give them a good feed and follow up with t decent drink. That will help them to come back strong and healthy.

If you have any other questions about how to care for your plants, or anything garden related then why not join The Garden Gurus Online Club. You can get your questions answered by a Guru as well as heaps of other benefits. Joining in June puts you into the draw to win one of three sets of Garden Guru tools.

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