Category 20

When it comes to adding productive trees to your garden, it’s easy to just think of fruit trees. But nut trees provide a productive and nutritious addition to the harvest each year and there’s a nut tree to suit every climate and situation.

Walnuts, almonds, pecans, macadamias or pistachios, it’s hard to meet a nut you can’t love. Nut trees have been grown right across the world for centuries and Australia is lucky enough to grow most common nut varieties. Our commercial nut industry has seen rapid expansion in the last ten years thanks to growing demand for plant-based milks and foods, and recommendations from health professionals to include nuts as part of a healthy diet. Their versatility has meant most of us (those with allergies excluded, of course) would be hard-pressed to go a week without some type of nut making its way into our diet. So what about growing them at home?

Citrus is a mainstay of Australian yards. From the ubiquitous lemon tree in the corner through to a kumquat in a pot on the balcony, citrus has so much to offer home gardeners if cared for correctly.

When they’re healthy and productive, backyard citrus is a great addition to any size home garden. As well as providing nutritious food during winter, citrus offers many advantages to a permaculture garden. Hardy, compact and evergreen, citrus can perform tasks like windbreaks and shelter, and dwarfing varieties means they can be happy in a pot which can be moved to suit your needs.

Citrus is a hungry crop and requires regular maintenance to ensure high yields and pest deterrence, but a well-maintained example of a variety chosen to specifically meet your needs will bring many benefits.