<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Tammy Johnson TJs Gardening Works]]></title><description><![CDATA[Friendly horticulturalist providing helpful everyday gardening advice, specialising in our soils and bio diversities throughout the Limestone Coast. ]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/blogposts</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2026 09:33:33 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Where Do Dates Come From?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Surely I’m not the only one. Ok, hands up, date lovers, who’s ever been sitting there enjoying a handful of yummy, soft, chewy dates, then randomly thought… these are so good!… Where do dates come from??

I don’t remember ever seeing a date tree or date bush in anyone’s backyard recently, and that doesn’t sound right anyway. Surely not a date palm. Like, I know there are date palms, but surely those ‘things’ you see at the top of date palms in images aren’t what I’m eating right now?

So I did w]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/where-do-dates-come-from</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac68e4dee141436ac9ff9e</guid><category><![CDATA[Plant facts]]></category><category><![CDATA[Plant species]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fruit trees]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2026 07:54:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_09ad831174cf4be5ac2e740f65bf3e32~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Little Girl, a Cat and a Frog-A Childhood Backyard Story]]></title><description><![CDATA[Now, “helping Nan weed” when you’re three is perhaps a fairly loose description of what was actually going on. There was plenty of investigating, chatting, digging and generally enjoying discovering the gardens' hidden treasures.

And then she found a frog.

A real, live little frog tucked away in the garden — which, as you would imagine, was suddenly far more interesting than pulling weeds.]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/childhood-backyard-story-little-girl-cat-frog</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a9216895f0b5f7b5a44c815</guid><category><![CDATA[For Future Generations]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nature and Conservation]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 02:00:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_5f10f5f04f764306b2c203d1b094e5c5~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Won’t Anything Grow in My Garden?]]></title><description><![CDATA[“Why won’t anything grow in my garden, I’ve tried everything.”
“I fertilise, water all the time, I even talk nicely to them. But every time I plant new plants a few weeks later, they start to look sick, go limp and die. What am I doing wrong?!”Sound familiar? Please don’t give yourself a hard time, it’s not your fault.
Most of us have been taught to garden from the top down.
But Mother Nature works from the ground up .
The world’s best gardeners don’t actually grow plants… they grow soil.


]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/why-wont-anything-grow-in-my-garden</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a64837135380d3132b0bc41</guid><category><![CDATA[Soil health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hints and tips]]></category><category><![CDATA[Environmentally friendly]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 10:43:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_c226080ce50e416c895b226365a1071f~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Get Rid of Sour Sobs (Oxalis) Naturally – Why They Keep Coming Back Every Winter]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cold, wet winter months, walk outside, and guaranteed somewhere in your garden you’ll find sour sobs!

As little kids, my brother and I would wander around the yard picking sour sobs, a few to give to mum to put in a vase, and a few for us snack on, we’d chew on the crunchy, sour stems. I can still hear Mum’s voice calling out from the back door, “Don’t eat those! They’re sour because the dogs pee on them!” ]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/how-to-get-rid-of-sour-sobs-oxalis-naturally-why-they-keep-coming-back-every-winter</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3e7820c900dddc2f387f6f</guid><category><![CDATA[Plant facts]]></category><category><![CDATA[Environmentally friendly]]></category><category><![CDATA[Plant species]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 22:32:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_351661f938114d4087f8c38c35882e6c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fracking in the Limestone Coast]]></title><description><![CDATA[There are some things in life we can replace. A dead lawn, a failed crop, a broken fence, a struggling garden.
But water?
Clean, ancient underground water systems that have taken thousands upon thousands of years to form beneath our feet?
Once they're damaged, contaminated, or depleted… there’s no quick fix for that.
This is why so many people across the Limestone Coast are deeply concerned right now about the proposed lifting of the fracking moratorium in our region.]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/fracking-in-the-limestone-coast-why-some-things-are-too-precious-too-be-messed-with</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a198e6ab2b59ee8f751dcef</guid><category><![CDATA[Environmentally friendly]]></category><category><![CDATA[Protecting What Matters]]></category><category><![CDATA[For Future Generations]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nature and Conservation]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 04:32:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_a01af3105c10497ba0ce798ec5ce2a7d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wood Ash in the Garden: Helpful Soil Booster or Old Gardening Myth?]]></title><description><![CDATA[For generations, gardeners have used woodfire ash in the garden as a kind of free homemade fertiliser. Grandparents swore by it. Old orchard growers scattered it beneath fruit trees. Veggie gardeners sprinkled it around the tomatoes and roses.



But does wood ash actually help the garden… or is it just another one of those old gardening myths that’s been passed down over time?]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/wood-ash-in-the-garden-helpful-soil-booster-or-old-gardening-myth</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0d9869cc3b47e2888e0218</guid><category><![CDATA[Environmentally friendly]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hints and tips]]></category><category><![CDATA[Self sufficiency]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 23:40:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_bfa892efc15f485f9006c3c5ddb04b1e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_667,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tree Conservation-Why Our Old Giants Matter]]></title><description><![CDATA[Big old trees cool our streets in summer.They soften harsh winds.They hold our fragile soils together during storms and heavy rain.They clean the air we breathe and provide shade on those blistering forty-degree afternoons when the garden — and we ourselves — are struggling.

But beyond helping us… trees are also home.

Entire ecosystems live within them...]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/tree-conservation-why-our-old-giants-matter</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a04f4bdff1c06f8d4a4a2d7</guid><category><![CDATA[Environmentally friendly]]></category><category><![CDATA[Australian native wildlife]]></category><category><![CDATA[Self sufficiency]]></category><category><![CDATA[Plant facts]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 12:34:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_2f4da5738a7f4678828f11e57fe5f90b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Backyard Chickens That Raised Us]]></title><description><![CDATA[The air’s cooling off, the sky that soft lavender-pink, and my two-year-old granddaughter grips the torch like it’s a sacred treasure.
My five-year-old grandson walks beside her, whispering about “monsters” in the dark.
They’re on an important mission.
They’re heading down to pen up the chickens! Let’s be honest… eggs aren't cheap right now.

Walking out to the pen and collecting warm, freshly laid eggs from your own backyard chickens feels almost rebellious in the best way...]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/the-backyard-chickens-that-raised-us</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699d90d2f5362f0f94334e07</guid><category><![CDATA[Garden maintenance]]></category><category><![CDATA[Environmentally friendly]]></category><category><![CDATA[Self sufficiency]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:53:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_9afcb9d0f4924809a4b8a061e57c9c53~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ How to Be Self-Sufficient in Tough Times (Starting in Your Own Backyard)]]></title><description><![CDATA[We don’t need to overhaul our lives overnight to feel more secure.
Sometimes it’s the smallest shifts that make the biggest difference.
Walking down the street to grab a loaf of bread and a carton of milk instead of jumping in the car. Getting a little fresh air, and saving a few dollars while we’re at it.

Planting a few herbs by the back door. A handful of continuous pick lettuce..]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/how-to-be-self-sufficient-in-tough-times-starting-in-your-own-backyard</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bdd8a64a91a3eec30acb5a</guid><category><![CDATA[Environmentally friendly]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hints and tips]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 05:20:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_1e188e66e68e44d9aa594dc3940ea2d3~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_666,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Make Blue-Tongue Lizards Safe and At Home in Your Garden]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of the most special things about blue-tongue lizards is that they’re not just passing through.

In the wild, when conditions are right, blue tongues can live 20 years or more, with some thought to reach closer to 30 years in safe, undisturbed habitats.



That means the blue tongue you spot today could still be sharing your garden decades from now, sunning itself in the same warm patch, patrolling for snails, and watching generations of plants come and go.]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/how-to-make-blue-tongue-lizards-safe-and-at-home-in-your-garden</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698335e3f1094fef14ec4eaa</guid><category><![CDATA[Environmentally friendly]]></category><category><![CDATA[Australian native wildlife]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 02:29:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_a9ffc1e95d4949ee866a2db26322d294~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_497,h_640,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Barn Owls, Nature's Own Rodent Control (No Chemicals Required)]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s something almost other-worldly about the first time you see a barn owl glide across a paddock at dusk.
And here in South Australia, we are lucky enough to call them our own.
An adult barn owl can consume several rodents each night. A breeding pair raising chicks can remove hundreds over a single season. It’s not about eradicating rodents entirely.
It’s about maintaining equilibrium.]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/barn-owls-natures-own-rodent-control-no-chemicals-required</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a579f28676163b5c22df00</guid><category><![CDATA[Australian Native Wildlife]]></category><category><![CDATA[Environmentally friendly]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:59:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_f61885b958bc4f6aa4bd6b793ae85076~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_614,h_640,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Do Kookaburras Laugh Before Rain? Old Garden Sayings… Or Weather Wisdom?‍♀️]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rain, Ants &#38; Laughing Kookaburras, Let’s Myth Bust a Few

If you grew up anywhere near a backyard, paddock, or washing line, you’ve probably heard at least one of these:
“The kookaburras are laughing — rain’s coming!”
“The ants are coming out — there’ll be a storm.”
But are these just old wives’ tales… or were our grandparents quietly onto something?]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/do-kookaburras-laugh-before-rain</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699f61d6f5362f0f943448a2</guid><category><![CDATA[Australian native wildlife]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hints and tips]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 21:23:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_8b0b73fea0604eadac0d45a098d2fb11~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Can I Do with a Narrow Side Yard]]></title><description><![CDATA[ The side yard, that narrow strip running down the side of the house that often ends up forgotten, bare, or treated as a thoroughfare rather than part of the garden.
When it’s approached with intention, a side yard can become one of the most productive and rewarding parts of the garden. ]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/what-can-i-do-with-a-narrow-side-yard</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69865b2d7004b379055295f6</guid><category><![CDATA[Design ideas and concepts]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hints and tips]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 02:04:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_c156511a86424f8296ff97f4317f03bf~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Is That Black Soot on My Plants? (Sooty Mould Explained)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sooty mould can look a little alarming, especially when a plant resembles the sole survivor of Ash Wednesday, but once you understand that it’s the consequence, not the cause, you’ll start to see it differently. The good news is, it’s very fixable once you understand what’s really going on.]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/what-is-that-black-soot-on-my-plants-sooty-mould-explained</link><guid isPermaLink="false">697dd093afd4a3da350ec6e1</guid><category><![CDATA[Pests, diseases and disorders]]></category><category><![CDATA[Garden maintenance]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hints and tips]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 2026 10:20:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_924cf2cdf06c479c9b79df5c3ecec24d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Does Water Run Off My Soil Instead of Soaking in?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Have you ever watered the garden… only to watch the water bead up, run sideways, or disappear into cracks like it’s actively avoiding the soil? Chances are, you’re dealing with hydrophobic soil, Let’s gently unpack what’s going on, why it happens, and how we can bring that soil back to life ]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/water-run-off-soil</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696783a57d3bee3fd10431d5</guid><category><![CDATA[Soil health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Garden maintenance]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hints and tips]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 21:20:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_e9823bccaa52480c9b4853e167814106~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats in Indoor Plants: Simple, Natural Solutions That Actually Work]]></title><description><![CDATA[Written and edited by Tammy 18th Dec 2025 If you’ve ever watered your favourite indoor plant and been greeted by a cloud of tiny flying insects… welcome to the world of fungus gnats. They’re super annoying, but totally fixable. Fungus gnats are one of the most common indoor plant pests, especially in warm, humid homes or potting mixes that stay damp for too long. Let’s walk through exactly what they are, why they show up, and how to get rid of fungus gnats naturally, without harsh chemicals....]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/how-to-get-rid-of-fungus-gnats-in-indoor-plants-simple-natural-solutions-that-actually-work</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6933fad1ca96695b8d654d76</guid><category><![CDATA[Pests, diseases and disorders]]></category><category><![CDATA[Indoor plants]]></category><category><![CDATA[Soil health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hints and tips]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:33:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_d143621606fc4f848cea00b83d411579~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Anthurium Care Guide: How to Keep Them Thriving Indoors]]></title><description><![CDATA[Here’s the good news: with the right care, your beautiful new Anthurium won’t just survive the holidays… it can thrive beautifully all year round.
Let’s unpack where these stunners come from, what they need, and how we can keep them glowing long after the Christmas decorations are packed away.]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/anthurium-care-guide-how-to-keep-them-thriving-indoors</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69335dee21dbaf583f86f601</guid><category><![CDATA[Plant species]]></category><category><![CDATA[Indoor plants]]></category><category><![CDATA[Plant facts]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:38:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_4ae88813dfdf41b083ec6097d9b6700c~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_568,h_320,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Pink Flowering Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata Rosea Plena)]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you’ve wandered down the main street of Naracoorte recently, you’ve no doubt noticed the stunning canopy of pink that’s stealing the show right now. The Crataegus laevigata rosa plena or simply Pink Flowering Hawthorn, is putting on a stunning display, a sign that spring has truly settled in.]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/pink-flowering-hawthorn-crataegus-laevigata-rosea-plena</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6911bfb96a008158d9e33ae6</guid><category><![CDATA[Plant species]]></category><category><![CDATA[Deciduous Ornamental trees]]></category><category><![CDATA[Design ideas and concepts]]></category><category><![CDATA[Plant facts]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 10 Nov 2025 21:22:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_ce9398ea84c04cebbda7139d7abffdcf~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Millipedes-Why are they crawling around my house at night?!!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ever stepped on a millipede in the middle of the night and wondered what on earth they’re doing wandering the hallway? Turns out, these little curl-up critters are more about moisture than mischief. Here’s how to keep them out of your home (and off your toes) the eco-friendly way!]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/millipedes-why-are-the-crawling-around-my-house-at-night</link><guid isPermaLink="false">690bbac810581b7a365ec910</guid><category><![CDATA[Pests, diseases and disorders]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hints and tips]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 06 Nov 2025 21:30:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_517ae1e41849496ca3bab3af3681ee7b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_640,h_640,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Identifying &#38; Controlling Aphids on Fruit Trees, Roses &#38; Ornamentals.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ok, hands up who's having issues with Aphids right now?? Let’s take a look at the most common aphid species you’re likely seeing in your backyard, what signs to look out for, and how to tackle infestations using gentle, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods that keep your garden, and its' helpful critters, in balance.]]></description><link>https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/identifying-controlling-aphids-on-fruit-trees-roses-ornamentals</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68fa05fb90c0a4856189a6a1</guid><category><![CDATA[Pests, diseases and disorders]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hints and tips]]></category><category><![CDATA[Garden maintenance]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 26 Oct 2025 21:55:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/319139_7818e5b0750040ffbc159ca7df3e6a1c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_462,h_640,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tammy Johnson</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>