The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) has released the results of research which has established a list of key tree species crucial to the survival of Australia's diminishing Koala population.  Primary Species for Adelaide Hills Council area: Scientific Name and/or subspecies - Common Name - Preferred soil type and location E. camaldulensis ssp. camaldulensis River Red Gum Grows on riverbanks, creeks and the edges of lakes in well-drained or seasonally waterlogged deep clays to sandy clay loams, is suitable for recharge sites, salt, drought and frost tolerant, annual rainfall 325-750 mm. E. leucoxylon ssp. leucoxylon Yellow gum, Blue-gum, White ironbark Suitable for a variety of soils, but prefers well-drained heavy soils with a high clay content, drought and frost tolerant, annual rainfall 400-800 mm. E. leucoxylon ssp. pruinosa Inland blue gum Prefers heavy clay soils in drier coastal areas with winter waterlogging, tolerant of saltladen coastal winds, annual rainfall 400-800 mm. E. microcarpa Grey box, Narrow-leaved box, Inland box On gentle slopes and plains prefers brown loams or heavier alluvial soils, but shallower soils in hill country. Tolerates poor drainage, moderately alkaline soils, frost and drought tolerant, annual rainfall 500-800 mm. E. viminalis ssp. cygnetensis Rough-barked manna gum Prefers sandy soils especially along creeks, tolerates salt-laden coastal winds, moderately frost-tolerant, annual rainfall 650-1000 mm. E. viminalis ssp. viminalis Manna gum Prefers lower slopes adjacent to major streamlines, well-drained moist alluvial or sandy loam soils with clay subsoils, tolerates heavy frosts, slightly salt-tolerant, annual rainfall 500-1700 mm. Note: Species shown in bold are Primary Koala Food Trees

Microbiologist Dr. Uwe from Neutrog has to say... "There is a raft of reasons why you should apply mulch in Winter - the most obvious are weed suppression and of course regulating soil temperature by placing an insulating blanket of organic matter down. However, a good organic mulch such as Whoflungdung will also encourage earthworms to come to the surface, thereby aerating your soil and moving nutrients deeper in the soil profile - your plants will get that benefit as soon as it warms up. If you have sandy soils, applying Whoflungdung in Winter will give your soil microbes time to break it down and get some organic material into the soil, which will improve your water and nutrient-holding capacity, which is often lacking in sandy conditions. If you’re on a block with a slope, then mulch applied in Winter can help prevent erosion from heavy rain, as the rain needs to percolate through the mulch - an added benefit is that you end up with less runoff and more water absorbed into the soil".

I took this photo after a 5 degree frost in late June. It rather nicely illustrates why I can't over-winter geraniums and pelargoniums outside! Eileen