Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2016 i The Gardener Magazine

I’ve had a busy few weeks, but hey, what’s new? It’s this frenetic energy that keeps me inspired and full of new ideas to implement and share with you. I also had a very special milestone in my gardening career a few weeks back, I was inaugurated as the newest president of the South African Nursery Association. This has been on my personal goals list for many years and I am honoured and humbled to have been chosen to serve the nursery industry of South Africa for the next two years. My lovely family were all with me to mark the occasion and shed a tear or two with me! Now back to the inspiration part – many of you have been waiting for this issue to delve into our…

What struck me most at this year’s show was how the designers managed to bring their ideas to reality with their gardens. Some took inspiration from nature, as Cleve West did when he looked back on his childhood and discovered an oak woodland, or how Andy Sturgeon represented the idea of the grandeur and space of the Natural History Museum that he used to visit as a child. It’s not just about creating a beautiful garden – it’s about what the designers see, how this vision is interpreted, and what ideas we can take from it. There were pieces of every garden that I loved, some more than others, but I always come away inspired with a thousand new ideas and a sense of rebooting and excitement for our spring…

• Plant in full sun, although some grow in dappled shade. • Well-drained soil is important. • Plants can be damaged by harsh cold and frost in winter. • Some may need indoor protection in cold climates during winter. • Plant out in spring in colder areas or winter in warmer climates. • Plants mature rapidly to put on a fine spring display. • Fertilise with water-soluble plant food (3:1:6 formula is ideal) every 3-4 weeks. • Deadhead (remove spent flowers) regularly to prolong blooming. • Check for fungal diseases on leaves and spray as necessary. • Caterpillars often eat young flower buds, so inspect for symptoms and treat. • Prune back straggly growth in summer or autumn. • Pelargoniums will need to be replaced with fresh young plants from…

Even if we do everything in our power to get rid of ‘green’ household waste on a compost heap or in a worm farm, we still generate other organic waste, such as spoiled food scraps, which becomes smelly and attracts flies and other pests. With the assistance of EM (effective microorganisms) called bokashi, this waste can be safely and easily fermented to form an effective nutrient that can be used in garden soil. To start with, you need two sets of containers with taps to drain the liquid, as well as a supply of bokashi, which is available through several commercial suppliers. You can use any organic waste – raw or cooked meat, fish, vegetable peels, bones, cooked leftover food, cheese, small scraps of paper and even torn cardboard. Spread…

Jamie Oliver’s eight essential herbs to grow at home are rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, oregano, sage, marjoram, mint, and what he calls the soft herbs, which are basil, chervil and coriander. His growing tips • Water the herbs every day in summer. • Place herbs in pots on a saucer and put water in the saucer so that the soil draws it up. • Trim herbs regularly to prevent them from flowering, which affects the taste of the leaves. • Give herb plants space to grow – overcrowding can kill them as it reduces air circulation. Jamie’s herbs for roast chicken are rosemary, thyme, bay or sage, or a combination of these. He stuffs the herbs into the chicken’s cavity, along with a lemon that has been pricked with the…

Carrots, beetroot, radishes and turnips are usually the safest to sow first in spring, because they germinate at lower soil temperatures. Their flavour is best when grown during cooler months and they are great space savers because they grow downwards, making them ideal for small gardens. What they have in common is the need for full sun, and soil that is not too fertile but is friable and drains easily. Their roots don’t develop well in heavy or compacted soil, but digging over twice to aerate it and adding coarse compost can lighten the soil. Crop rotation know-how Because root crops don’t like fertile soil, they should follow crops of cauliflower, broccoli or cabbage, for which the soil was enriched. TIPS FOR SUCCESS • Carrots must be thinned out or…

GAUTENG Friday 12 – Saturday 13 Workshop making perfumes with essential oils and plant carrier oils. Enquiries: The Herb and Indigenous Plant Guild 011 393 3427, 076 265 4948, patsyspotions@vergeer.co.za, www.patsyspotions.co.za Friday 26 – Saturday 27 Twenty-module herb course, one module a month. Enquiries: 011 393 3427, 076 265 4948, patsyspotions@vergeer.co.za, www.patsyspotions.co.za Saturday 27 Fourways Fuchsia Club meeting on fuchsia bonsai Fryslan Garden Centre, 74 Witkoppen Road, North Riding, Randburg Enquiries: Peter 082 454 7513 or Martin 084 582 7354 Saturday 27 – Sunday 28 Clivia forum plant market and clivia show Venue Laerskool Rooihuiskraal, C/O Panorama and Maraboe Streets, Rooihuiskraal, Centurion Enquiries: Martin 012 656 1904 NORTH-WEST Saturday 27 Orchid sale and open day Plantae Orchids, Brits Enquiries: Nollie 084 752 6823 or Tinus 084 458 1199, info@plantae.co.za, www.plantae.co.za…

Our handyman (he used to be a surfer dude and male model!) came flying over the garden wall... I heard a strange rumble in the bathroom, followed by a bloop-bloop sound, but ignored it. As it was early morning, I thought it was simply one of those noises in my head that would quieten down later in the day. But just as I was inhaling the wonderful aroma of my first mug of coffee, I detected another ominous smell in the air. That’s when I realised there was big trouble brewing near the washing line at the backdoor. Overnight, raw sewage had started to boil from under the lid on an underground sewage pipe, and it had shamelessly spilled onto the paved area around it. Dear reader, I know this…

Leap into spring at Garden World’s annual Spring Festival, which inspires gardeners with award-winning designer gardens, from Friday 29 July until Sunday 4 September. This year the show is bigger than ever, and 22 gardens will compete for best on show. This includes the work of 12 landscapers who are participating for the first time. Internationally recognised designers Ray Hudson and David Davidson once again designed this year’s Kirstenbosch South Africa Chelsea Exhibit, which won a Gold Award, and this will be recreated by them at Garden World. There will be an even greater emphasis on waterwise gardening this year, with display gardens from Rand Water and SANBI’s two flagship botanical gardens, Walter Sisulu and Pretoria. The spring festival programme of talks includes the ever-popular Margaret Roberts on herbs, a…

You will need: • An urn or garden pot that is round and quite tall – the width of the pot should be approximately 25 cm • 10 stems of white iris • 10-20 stems of Liriope ‘Pure Blonde’ • 10-15 stems of variegated veronica, without flowers • A well-soaked block of floral foam WHAT TO DO 1. Push the lip of the urn gently down into the foam. Use a knife to cut along the inside edge of the mark created by the urn so that it fits snugly into the urn. 2. Cut the irises to the right height (the same height as the bowl of the urn, plus 2-5 cm for inserting into the foam). Place one iris into the middle of the bowl. Now add another…

Builders has a range of pots that are just waiting for you to pot up some colourful plants for indoors and out. While you are selecting some of these beauties, grab a bag or two of potting soil and a watering can, along with your favourite plants. Remember these tips when planting up your pots: • Drainage – the most important factor in any container. Apart from plants that live in water, most plants do not like soggy roots. A good layer of stone at the bottom of a container is essential. • Soil – always use commercially produced potting soil that has been carefully screened for weed seeds and soil-borne diseases. It should also contain fine bark, which will help with drainage but retain enough water to keep the…

As Britons are a nation of gardeners, most people with access to a garden or allotment grow herbs. Even those who don’t often grow herbs in pots on their windowsills. According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), popular annuals are basil, coriander and dill, while caraway, chervil and parsley are grown as biennials. Perennial herbs that feature in most gardens are borage, chives, fennel, marjoram, mint, rosemary, sage, tarragon and thyme. • Dill is a hardy annual growing 1m high. It works well as a feature plant, with feathery blue-green leaves and yellow flowering heads. Plant it in full sun, in rich, well-drained soil and water regularly in summer. Dill has an affinity with fish, and fresh leaves can be added to cottage cheese, omelettes, cucumber, cold soups, veal and…

Get beds ready Diminishing yields, disease, compacted or heavy soils and poor drainage are indicators that the soil needs regenerating. Vegetables do best in fertile, friable soil that allows the roots to draw up oxygen and water, and the best way to achieve this is by double digging. Double digging aerates the soil to a depth of 60cm and incorporates compost, but doesn’t affect the soil life or displace the topsoil. It is only necessary to double dig beds every 4-5 years. In between, beds just need to be topped up with compost and topsoil, which is lightly forked in. Make your own germination mix Make a 50/50 mix of sifted garden soil and fine compost. The finer the soil texture the better the contact between the seed and the…

Citrus trees are generally grown for their fruit, but there are certain types of citrus that are used more for their ornamental appeal than the nutritional value of the fruit. Often referred to as ornamental or miniature oranges, these citruses have masses of small fruit that is not really palatable. They make attractive specimen plants in pots for sunny patios and swimming pool surrounds. Look out for these ‘ornamental citruses’ – they are unsurpassed for adding that romantic allure to the garden, especially when the little trees are smothered in scented blossoms. x Citrofortunella microcarpa (calamondin or Panama orange) This is a large shrub, occasionally a small tree, with a dense, bushy growth habit that is clothed in lush green leaves all year round. The foliage is the perfect foil…

The easiest way to stay in touch with nature and to add a little homeliness and style to any room is the flowering houseplant. Thanks to modern growing techniques and state-of-the-art greenhouses, we can pick and choose between a wide array of flowering favourites such as African violets, chrysanthemums, cyclamens and azaleas, just to name a few. The advantage of the colder months is that the flowers of many houseplants last much longer than they normally would in summer. You are thus making a good investment in eye candy if you buy them now. Flowering houseplant rules Stick to these basic rules and the pleasure and value of flowering houseplants will be yours: Water: Too much of it is sometimes the reason why houseplants die. The key to success lies…

In gardening terms, most hybrid pelargoniums are usually referred to as geraniums. This name has applied to the popular garden and potted plants since they were first cultivated in the 1700s, when the first plants collected, largely from South Africa, were taken back to Europe. Today they continue to be grown in huge volumes for spring and summer colour all over the Northern Hemisphere. Many international sporting events illustrate just how important these plants are, with displays of geraniums gracing television screens all around the world. Locally, pelargoniums continue to lend a blaze of colour to the late winter and spring garden. It’s safe to say that most of the hybrids cultivated today are derived from species with a South African origin, although a few species occur . Main classifications…

GET THE LOOK This garden is as pretty as a picture, the gardener having cleverly used roses to complement a mixed planting. Glowing ‘Salmon Sunsation’and ‘White Sunsation’roses are planted en masse among pink and white gaura with bold clumps of Margaret Roberts lavender and edged with a clipped hedge of golden Duranta ‘Sheena’s gold’. The urn, filled with pelargoniums, gaura and solanum in the same colour scheme, acts as the central focus. Other bedding roses that could be used to equal effect are ‘Tawny Profusion’, ‘Deloitte and Touche’, ‘Ice Sunsation’, ‘Granny’s Delight’, ‘Dawn Sunsation’and ’Pink Profusion’. ROSE CARE FOR AUGUST • Roses that weren’t pruned in July can still be pruned during the first week of August. In very cold areas, pruning only needs to be done at the end…

HOT LEAVES Page through any decor magazine and, along with in-vogue botanical prints on upholstery, you’ll see thick stalks with dramatic leaves gracing huge glass vases. You will also notice that bold-leaved houseplants like the old ‘parlour palm’ seem to be in fashion again. Maybe you should think about planting some bold foliage plants in your garden to supply leaves for such indoor displays? Consider these for inside and outside veratility Years ago, no lounge or patio was without a Monstera deliciosa (delicious monster). These ‘monsters’ escaped from their supporting moss sticks to later cover huge expanses of wall. In temperate climes they were planted with another green giant, Philodendron selloum, in the shade of trees to supply the tropical look that so many gardeners love. And now their leaves…

The English herb garden is usually formal, with a central birdbath, sundial or fountain as a focal point and well-defined pathways that divide up the space. Pathways should be wide enough to accommodate a wheelbarrow. Position low-growing perennial herbs towards the centre and taller, shrubby herbs towards the outer edges, filling the area in-between with annual herbs and flowers. Use formal clipped hedges to define pathways and boundaries. Suitable herbs are rosemary, lavender, buxus and santolina (cotton lavender). As additional features or focal points, use urns filled with herbs or flowers, standard topiary, or a bench under an arbour. The herb information in this article is supplied by Healthy Living Herbs (www.healthyliving-herbs.co.za).…

Lunar gardeners choose optimum days for specific gardening chores, as it results in a more rewarding gardening experience, with better yields and beautiful blooms. Set your spring garden schedule to make way for the new growing season ahead. Choose the days marked as'harvest' at the start of the month to clear spent beds and prepare for seed sowing. Keep newly sown seed trays undercover on chilly nights and move to a sunny spot during the day. After Full Moon, plant out all edible seedling and bedding plants.…

What you need SA pine cut to the following lengths: 6 x (500 x 155 x 25mm) for the front and back 6 x (200 x 155 x 25mm) for the sides 18 x (200 x 80 x 25mm) for the base 2 x D-shackles (10mm)2 x (700 x 12mm) pieces of rope2 x (2200 x 12mm) pieces of rope6 heavy-duty cable ties80 cut screws (4 x 40mm)Light oak wood sealer Tools Tape measure, combination square, pencil, hand saw, chisel, rubber mallet, belt sander, paint brush, 16mm drill bit, sash clamps 1 On all the side pieces, mark the 30mm finger joints using a tape measure and a square. The depth of the finger joints should be the thickness of the timber you are using. Transfer these markings to the…

1 ACTIVATE YOUR SOIL Easy Green Humic Total Soil Activator improves soil in a short space of time. The product is 100% organic and nontoxic, and offers benefits such as enhanced root growth, improved soil aeration, improved nitrogen and nutrient uptake, and also detoxifies soils. It also breaks up clay soils and adds substance to sandy soils while stimulating beneficial soil microorganisms. This water-soluble product unlocks beneficial phosphates and will not burn plants. It can be used on everything, including lawns, fruit trees, roses, ornamentals, bonsais and vegetable gardens. www.easygreen.co.za 2 DECORATIVE WATERPROOFING Coprox Waterproof Dualcoat is an easy and effective cement-based waterproofing or decorative wall and floor coating suitable for interior surfaces such as bathrooms, showers and kitchens. It provides waterproofing and an aesthetically attractive decorative finish, all in…