Mindy__ What method do you use to keep them small? I have several and right now I am growing them in pots for size containment. I would like to plant them in a small wooded area at the rear of the property, but they would need to be restricted in size, for protection of many other native plants and shrubs now growing there. I now have them in the front garden and they are starting to bloom. They are a great addition in their present location, but I'm concerned about their long term survival, as the roots are restricted and they require frequent irrigation, in the long term absence of rainfall. (Like now!) They are about 5 years old and 5-6 ft. tall and are single stem (trunk) shrubs. Any advice would be appreciated.

Yes, squirrels are vindictive. They are pulling my new plantings out of my pots and throwing them on the ground. If you have a new plant they will chew off its stem. They have the strangest way of showing you their love:)I have noticed that the bottlebrushes look exceptionally beautiful this year. Maybe due to the weather?

You're having a bad time, aren't you Penny? Have you been fertilising? If you have been, stop it at once! As Mallee points out in reply to your banksia question, fertiliser can be poisonous to some natives, expecially those in the Proteaceae family, which include banksias, grevilleas and waratahs. Some people fertilise those plants with a special native fertiliser, which, if sparingly used, can hurry up young plants a bit. However there's no real need to fertilise native plants at all. If you have fertilised your potted grevillea it may be possible to flush some of the excess phosphorus out of the soil by lifting the pot so the water can run out the bottom easily, and then watering generously. Mallee's other point about poor quality water is another good one. Have you been using water polluted with detergent? If you are in a position to use rainwater only on your Proteaceae it's a good idea. Can you use bore or townwater where you are? If you are restricted to greywater, you could try keeping a jug beside the sink where you put the detergent-free water (such as the rinse-water from the teapot). Trish

We moved into the house two years ago and it was already a good size. That being said it’s stems burst from the two days of winter in January 2017 so it’s still recovering.