TROUBLESHOOTING

PROBLEM Available sunlight changes through the year. In winter, The Nut casts a shadow over the garden until late afternoon; in summer it’s exposed to sunlight all day. SOLUTION Use shade-tolerant plants such as camellias, deciduous magnolias and native bushes such as the Tasmanian pepper berry (Tasmannia lanceolata).

PROBLEM The garden is on an isthmus, which means salty air and strong winds. SOLUTION Look for coastal plants – they have evolved to withstand salt and wind. Try the WA peppermint (Agonis flexuosa) or coast banksia (B. integrifolia).

PROBLEM The heavy clay soil has high salinity, as well as many rocks in the soil. SOLUTION High salinity means that what you plant will die while still young, no matter how much you water them. Gypsum (calcium sulphate) removes excess salt. It also breaks up compacted clay soil.