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Life amid vincas

Elaine and Richard Nyersh in their garden. Picture: Gerald Moscarda

A recent Habitat story highlighting how well vincas grow in the summer heat was no surprise to Elaine and Richard Nyersh, who mass-plant vincas in their Stirling garden. Deryn Thorpe paid them a visit to get their tips for growing the plants over summer and autumn.

Mr Nyersh, the main gardener, said he had been growing vincas for three years and had not bought new plants since the first year as they self-seeded.

He had selected a wide range of colours when he first bought the plants and enjoyed the contrast between the flowers, which have five petals in shades of pink, rose, lilac, peach and white, some with a darker contrasting “eye”. Vinca foliage is dark green and slightly leathery.

Before planting Mr Nyersh improved the soil with soil conditioner, he then provided complete granular fertiliser and every two weeks applies Thrive liquid fertiliser. The home has a bore which was used three times a week during summer, with extra hand watering on hot days.

He said the plants were pretty easy to grow. In spring he sowed marigold seeds to add to the colour display, saving his own seed from the previous year’s blooms.

In the back garden, height in the garden beds is provided by flowering frangipanis and yuccas.

To provide winter colour to the garden, when the vincas stop flowering or are removed, the couple have planted poincianas.

Elaine Nyersh said people were always stopping to take photographs of their front garden. “When the sun is out the garden just glows,” she said.

Mr Nyersh, who gets many of his garden tips from reading Habitat, said: “I spend hours in the garden, away from the telephone, peacefully on my own. Gardening is good therapy and I enjoy the rewards of creating a beautiful scene.”

Deryn Thorpe visits homes for garden consultancies. Phone 0405 473 960 or email dthorpe@amnet.net.au.