ABC Organic Gardener

03/11/2025

The annual Frog ID Week is almost here! And it's very easy to take part: all you need is your smartphone and some time to head outside with the free FrogID app. 🐸

During the week of 7-16 November, head out into your backyard or to a local pond, dam or creek and help the Frog ID team target priority frog species they're keen to learn more about. 🔊 Turn up the sound to hear the calls they are looking for!

📅 FrogID Week: 7-16 November
📲 Download the app: www.frogid.net.au

Image / audio credits in order of appearance:
🐸 Atheron Tablelands Whirring Tree Frog (QLD), Mike Swan / Dane Trembath
🐸 Booroolong Frog (NSW), Jodi Rowley
🐸 Coastal Banjo Frog (NSW), Tom Parkin
🐸 Copland’s Frog (NT, QLD, WA), Stephen Majony / Paul Doughty
🐸 Davies’ Tree Frog (NSW), Jodi Rowley / Stephen Mahony
🐸 Eungella Whirring Tree Frog (QLD), Stephen Mahony
🐸 Giant Burrowing Frog (NSW, VIC), Jodi Rowley / Josie Stokes
🐸 Knife-footed Frog (NSW, QLD, SA, NT, WA), Chris Jolly / Dave Stewart
🐸 Magnificent Brood Frog (QLD), Jodi Rowley / Wise Lum
🐸 Moss Froglet (TAS), Stephen Mahony / Tim Smith

Your FrogID recordings are verified by Australian Museum scientists and contribute to vital frog conservation research and environmental monitoring.

02/11/2025

Adding a natural pond to your garden enhances the environment for you and the local wildlife 🐝🦎🐦

Vivi Scarpari of Vivid Tones Horticulture has created a beautiful watery oasis on her property. In our latest OG magazine, she shares what she's learned from the experience. Three of her favourite plant choices for in or around a big or small ponds are:

💦 Upright water milfoil (Myriophyllum crispatum)
💦 Swamp isotome ((Isotoma fluviatilis)
💦 Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

You'll find more tips from Vivi and our selection of gardening experts for each climate region in our latest issue. Just look for the latest issue in your local newsagent or selected supermarkets.

31/10/2025

Karen Sutherland, Edible Eden Design, has been a part of the OG writing team for quite a while now, sharing the knowledge she has gained through a lifetime of digging deep in her own garden and designing green spaces for others. 🌿Karen has many specialties, including native plants, and in our latest issue Karen shares tips for growing five water-loving edible plants that will add a cool touch to your garden. 🍃

Discover what plants Karen suggests, as well as other water-wise gardening ideas from OG gardening experts in our latest issue: Early Summer 2025 which is on sale NOW. Just look for the latest issue in your local newsagent.

30/10/2025

TOO MUCH WATER? 💧 If you struggle with temporary flooding or soggy soil in the garden then soaks and/or swales might be the answer. And good news...work in big & small gardens + can be filled with plants!

In our latest issue, award winning landscape architect Emmaline Bowman from STEM Landscape Architecture and Design explains how these simple but effective design techniques work and how they can help you can manage water on your property and reduce runoff.

Issue 161 - Early Summer of ABC Organic Gardener magazine is onsale now. Look for it at your local newsagents or selected supermarkets.

29/10/2025

We can't wait for you to see what's inside our new issue! It is for the Early Summer months, so we're diving into all things water – from quick fixes for common watering woes to tips for reducing run-off and creating climate resilient gardens. It's filled with practical organic solutions – and we think you're going to love it. 💦

You'll find the Early Summer 2025 issue at your local newsagent and selected supermarkets. Get a copy and then get gardening! 🌿

27/10/2025

💧 What do plants, people and wildlife all have in common?
Our shared need for water — to drink, grow, clean, play and thrive. And when do we notice it most? When the heat of summer sets in and supplies start to run low.

That’s why the theme for our Early Summer 2025 issue is — you guessed it — water!

From working out how much (or how little) your garden really needs, to helping birds and bees stay cool, and managing those pesky mozzies that come with backyard water spots — this issue dives deep into every gardener’s summer essential.

Keep an eye out for our beautiful new cover featuring sticky everlasting daisies spilling over a pond rock. 🌼

Image: iStock

24/10/2025

Wondering what to get up to in your garden this weekend? Here’s some tips 🌱

Happy weekend gardening!

23/10/2025

Do you know where your blooms were born? 🌸
In this story from ABC Landline read about the call for better labelling of cut flowers to be sure we're supporting local growers 🌻

About half of Australia's cut flowers are imported, but there is no requirement to add a label informing consumers of their origin.

22/10/2025

Organic gardeners are the best! We take on anything, and learn as we go. That's why we love gardening: so much to learn – and grow! 🌱

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21/10/2025

If you enjoy zesty citrus flavours, 🍋you might want to try growing the tangy bush treats recommended by Karen Sutherland in our Spring issue. Read on for tips about lemon myrtle and Geraldton wax -- beauties in the garden and the kitchen! 🌱

Add some zest to your harvest and kitchen with native edibles such as lemon myrtle, which can be grown in most parts of Australia.

20/10/2025

Birds are a popular topic here at OG; we love to watch them out there in the wild and we know they can be important pollinators in our gardens. So having a contributor like adds an important element to our content.

Georgia has written stories about how to bring more birds into your garden, insect-eating birds that help us out with pesky pests and how to help nocturnal native animals stay healthy in an urban environment. She has the expertise we love to share with you all, on a topic that means a lot to us as gardeners. 🐦