Better Homes and Gardens gardening expert Charlie Albone signs up as columnist for The Sunday Times

There isn’t much that can stump Charlie Albone if you’re looking for plant tips.

Which is great news for WA green thumbs with the Better Homes and Gardens landscape design expert joining the The Sunday Times team as a columnist.

Every week, the plant whisperer — who came to prominence on Selling Houses Australia — will share his vast knowledge nurtured over his long career in the garden.

Just don’t ask him the one question that managed to stump him — how to tell the difference between male and female apple trees.

“I remember the question well, it was during a Grand Design live talk,” he said. “I had to say, I have absolutely no idea.”

From lawn maintenance and jobs to do in winter to making the most of our WA soil — which he says is different to anywhere else in the world — Albone will answer all your questions, no matter how dirty.

“I’ve done a bit of everything from garden maintenance, landscape construction and landscape design, and run a business that does all three,” he said.

“But at the heart of it I’m a gardener, every weekend and every second I get I’m in the garden and it’s that kind of experience I think they’ll be able to take.”

Albone’s garden design credentials are first rate — he has one two silver gilt medals at the world’s most prestigious garden show, The Chelsea Flower Show and has spent 17 years working internationally and in Australia.

This year he joined the cast of Australia’s favourite lifestyle program, Channel 7’s Better Homes and Gardens, after 13 years solving gardening dilemmas on Selling Houses Australia.

His Sunday Times column will be specifically tailored to our conditions in WA.

“I like to compare soil to it being a healthy diet, and you can’t be healthy without a healthy diet so it’s really, really important,” he said.

“The climate in WA is different and the plants that grow there are different which is really exciting.”