Q&A with Mike & Tania Young

FAVOURITE PLANT: Unfortunately I can’t grow my favourite, which is peonies. But what I can grow, and love, is Protea ‘Arctic Ice’. It’s structural and strong with a massive white flower head. (Tania)

A SUSTAINABILITY TIP: We use the dry leaves that fall from the cabbage tree to feed our fires. (Mike)

A RECENT IMPROVEMENT TO THE GARDEN: Mike has woven little solar-powered lights through the hanging orb and the cone-shaped tree. They look amazing and add magic to the garden at night. (Tania)

GARDENING ADVICE: If you grow lavender then appreciate that it usually needs to be replaced every seven years or so as it gets so woody – we’ve just done so. It grows along the front of our house where it tolerates the direct morning sun. (Tania)

THE BEST TOOL IN THE GARDEN: The leaf blower. I used to sweep everything by hand, but this is a game changer. (Tania)

HOW DO YOU MANAGE ALL THE CLIPPING: In summer Mike dedicates two to four hours a week to this task. If he lets it go then it’s more of a six-hour job. There’s a lot to do with all the different types of hedging plus the pittosporum balls, lilly pilly and bay trees. (Tania)

A KEY ADDITION TO THE GARDEN: Pea straw. It feeds the garden nitrogen, is a great mulch and keeps the garden looking tidy. I apply 10 bales a year in the lead-up to winter. (Tania)

ABOVE Tania can’t resist hydrangeas; the white ones are ‘Bridal Bouquet’ and the blue/ mauve ones were grown from a cutting – she places cuttings in water and if they grow shoots they are planted in small pots before transitioning to the garden.