Q&A with Gerry
When Gerry VanWees arrived in Darwin back in 1989 after a long, hot road trip up the west coast, the Territory got itself a keeper. His first job was as a ringer on Bonrook Station, followed by years of carpentry work in Arnhem Land where his love for the Top End landscape and environment really took root.
Eventually, Gerry settled on 33 acres at Darwin River. Managing that land sparked a lifelong passion for gardening - digging, planting, and experimenting with what works best in our unique climate.
These days, Gerry’s all about sharing that hard-earned know-how with others from building healthy soil and mulching to choosing hardy tropical plants that make any garden pop. Full of practical, Territory-tested advice, he’s proof that if you love where you live, the garden grows right along with you.
Dive in for more information about Gerry’s passion for gardening:
What is your favourite plant and why?
My favourite plant at the moment is Radermachera Summerscent. This is a hardy tropical plant from Asia that can handle full sun, has a nice soft white flower, easy to prune and is great for hedging and screening. Also, it’s hard to ignore the humble Croton that comes in such a variety of forms and colours. Also a hardy plant that's great to use because of the ‘wow factor’ in the colour.
What is your best tip for a water efficient garden in the dry season?
The best tip for saving water in the dry season is to improve the overall health of your garden by creating and improving the nutrients in your soil by fertilising twice a year with a good organic fertiliser. The key ingredients are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. A strong healthy garden requires less water!
What is your best tip for a water efficient garden in the build up?
In the build-up, it’s important to get some mulch happening in your garden. Organic mulches are the best. Benefits includes cooler soil temperature, help retain moisture beneath the surface, keep the weeds down and when it breaks down it helps to improve the soil quality. It even looks good!
What is your best tip for the garden in the wet season?
The wet is the ‘green season’! This is the best time to get into the garden and plant out any new plants you have been thinking about. This is the time of year your garden gets to benefit from our seasonal rainfall and you will get maximum growth in your vegetation.
Anything extra you would like to add about gardens that you think could benefit the community?
The best advice I can give the community on gardening in the Top End is to check out the Living Water Smart website which clearly explains the benefits of watering 3 times a week or less instead of having a daily watering cycle.
