Long-time entrants share tips for winning gardens
“GRANDMA’S bushes” were the places to be for Kevin and Lola Steinmullers’ grandchildren when they were growing up.
They would build cubby houses and play football in the much-loved garden.
The Steinmullers, who live in Cathro St, have competed in The Chronicle Garden Competition for almost 40 years.
In that time, there were only two years they didn’t enter - when they were an exhibition garden and when they travelled to Sydney for a wedding.
They first entered their front garden in the competition in 1979, but it wasn’t until they entered both the front and back gardens that they started to win awards.
“The first year we entered the whole garden in we won a highly commended award and we haven’t stopped since,” Mr Steinmuller said.
He said gardening had long been a passion for he and his wife.
“I keep on saying what else are we going to do?”
“We’ve got to do something now we’re retired and we can’t sit and watch television,” he said.
“We enjoy gardening and we do it all ourselves.”
He also said he loved meeting new people every time he opened his garden, including people from all over the world.
“It is amazing when they tell you that your garden is their favourite and they think it should win,” he said.
“Lots of them say ‘We
think yours is better’ and I always tell them that the judges’ decision is final. That’s it.”
Mr Steinmuller’s advice to any newcomers to the competition or those looking to enter again, was to “do it all yourself”.
“It’s really pleasing to do
everything yourself. We went and got the garden rocks ourselves from Pittsworth,” he said.
Mrs Steinmuller said the couple also grew their own
seedlings.
The Chronicle marketing manager Stacey Hixon said she was looking forward to an exciting competition with entries already flowing in.
Entries close for The Chronicle Garden Competition on Monday, July 31 at 4pm and entry forms will appear in the paper once a week until then.
For more details about the competition contact Ms Hixon on 4690 9434.