Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2016 i The Gardener Magazine

The word on everyone’s lips is ‘water’ – how do we save it and how can we still garden and maintain our gardens with less of it? The facts are there and history shows that South Africa goes through cycles of severe water shortages. Amazingly enough, all of us adapt to the rules of water saving enforced by various local authorities. We collect our shower water, divert the bath water into the garden and, of course, stop running the tap when brushing our teeth! In some parts of our country the much needed rain has arrived. But folks, please, we have already adapted and learnt how to save – let’s continue to do so now, even before any new restrictions are imposed! Not only will we keep making our gardens…

While people have been eating flowers forever, they have never been trendier than they are right now. Some are used mainly for their appearance, but others taste as good as they look. One of the more flavoursome flowers is the begonia. These fleshy-stemmed plants have been cultivated for their colourful blooms for centuries, and numerous hybrids have been bred from the 900 or so species that are found in the wild. Two particular hybrid cultivars have found their way into the hearts and diets of modern society. The flowers are eaten fresh for their slightly bitter citrus or lemon flavour, while texturally they are crisp and moist, which makes them a great addition to salads and sandwiches. They’re especially suited to fish dishes and other meals where lemon is an…

Patio colour For instant colour, a potted plant is inexpensive and will last through to the end of the season. Find a position with good light and try potted poinsettias or hydrangeas, which can then be planted into the garden once they have finished flowering. Zamioculcas are hip, stylish and incredible easy to look after – they only need water once every 10 days. For indoors and patios they are a true survivor. Invest in some new pots to add colour and style to the patio setting. Builders has a wide range to choose from. Summer roses Easy, no-fuss roses are great for adding a touch of glamour to the garden. ‘Iceberg’ roses fit this category and are an excellent investment for a lovely summer rose garden. Maintenance is necessary…

Squashes in particular depend on bees for pollination. Planting herbs such as mint, thyme, borage and salvia (and letting them flower) will attract bees. Use organic sprays that are safe for bees, like Ludwig’s Insect Spray or Margaret Roberts Organic Insecticide. Most summer veggies should be planted this month. Keep pests and weeds under control, and be water savvy – recycle and reuse water where possible, don’t overwater, but at the same time make sure plants have enough to fuel their growth Water woes It is possible that water might be scarce again this year, with water restrictions in many areas. Here are five water-wise tips: • Sow and grow only what you will eat. Growing more than you need means an extra demand on the water supply. • Smaller…

White flowers in the garden help to show off other colours by creating strong contrasts, while in summer a dominant display of white has a cooling effect on the senses. These pale flowers are not bleached by the hot summer sun and can withstand the rigours of the long days better than most. We’ve picked three of our favourite white flowering plants, which have proven track records for the heat of summer. Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Daisy May’ This relatively new hybrid Shasta daisy produces a blanket of snow-white flowers on compact, clump-forming plants, and is really making a dramatic impact on the local garden scene. The sturdy flowering stems are multi-branching, with flowers produced both laterally and terminally, resulting in more flowers per plant. An extended flowering season from early…

Choosing containers Just about any container that can hold soil can be planted up with a plant. But the most important factor in successful container gardening is good drainage, helped along by proper drainage holes. Apart from plants that actually live in water, most plants do not like soggy roots in the long term, and will suffocate under these conditions. A layer of stone at the bottom of a container also improves drainage. Place pieces of old pantyhose or shade-netting over drainage holes to stop the bottom layer of drainage chips and soil from washing away. Before planting them up, place large containers on pot feet, bricks or blocks to allow the water to move freely underneath – another way to improve drainage. Watering Containers tend to dry out quickly…

GET THE LOOK This decorative container, planted with ‘My Granny’ and ‘Granny’s Delight’ mixed with purple verbena, acts as a focal point against a mass of ‘Iceberg’ roses, working as a ‘full stop’ for the end of the bed. While massed roses are always spectacular, using a rose-filled container in this way adds to the picture, drawing one’s attention to the finer details. ROSE TASKS for November The roses are on their way to the next flush in December. What we need to do in the rose garden depends on the weather – will we get good rains in the inland areas or face the same challenges as last year? In most areas water restrictions are in place, which limits the amount of water roses can be given. Rosy tasks…

What you need 200mm x 110mm PVC pipe 110mm PVC connector 110mm PVC end-stop PVC Weld Spray paint String Tomato seedling Potting soil Tools Drill, 18mm drill bit, 3mm drill bit What you do 1 Cut a 200mm length of PVC pipe and glue it into one side of the connector using PVC Weld. 2 Drill an 18mm hole in the centre of the PVC end-stop. Glue the end-stop into the other end of the connector. 3 Drill two 3mm holes opposite each other in the top of the pipe, through which you will thread string to hang the planter. 4 Thread one end of the string through one of the 3mm holes and tie a knot on the inside of the planter. Do the same with the other end…

IN BRIEF Location: McGregor, Western Cape Age: 14 years Size: 1100m2 Soil: Clay, much amended Aspect: North-west Photographed: Spring 2015 Designer: Ann Bedford It should have come as no surprise to me that in the very special village of McGregor, known for attracting souls in search of a more heightened level of awareness, I would encounter a gentle gardener for whom gardening is as much a practice as a hobby. Sitting chatting to Ann Bedford on her stoep, my senses alive to the mellow autumn buzz in her flower-laden cottage garden, I’m reminded of just how much our gardens can teach us, if we would only give up the ego desire to always be in ‘control’. As Ann points out, “gardens evolve, you merely guide”, and I think this is…

Don’t plant these! Yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus) produces masses of lush green, lance-shaped leaves forming dense clumps. Yellow flowers appear in spring. Alien invader category 1a Don’t plant these! Pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata) has lance-shaped leaves on long stems, and blue flowers that are produced from spring to autumn. Alien invader category 1b Don’t plant these! Rough horsetail (Equisetum hymale) has strange tubular stems with distinctive black stripes between the segments, and is a popular subject for floral art. Alien invader category 1a Please note that invasive species are classified according to four categories: Category 1a: Invasive species that must be combatted and eradicated. Any form of trade or planting is strictly prohibited. Category 1b: Invasive species that must be controlled and wherever possible, removed and destroyed. Any form of…

Although it is has lately become fashionable to have a natural, eco-friendly swimming pool that seamlessly blends into a garden landscape, the reality is that swimming in suburbia is not normally among filtering reeds and romantic lily pads, but rather in a gunnite or precast pool filled with chemically treated water. When installing a conventional swimming pool, the priority is usually to get a contractor in to dig a hole and fill it with water as fast as possible (so the impatient family can get swimming), rather than to consider what will be the overall effect of the pool on a garden’s landscape design. The result of such haste is sometimes a very dour and minimalistic-looking ‘hard’ landscaping element sitting in an awkward space, with very limited areas to include…

Sow for lots of flowers later Quick sowings include the always-popular summer flowers like cosmos, zinnias, and sunflowers, which are sown directly into the garden. • Prepare areas for direct sowing by digging lots of compost into the soil and raking it to a fine tilth. • Sow the seeds on a quiet, windless day on damp soil, tamp them down lightly into the soil, and water immediately afterwards with a soft sprayer. The secret is to keep the soil evenly moist (not sodden) until germination– this might require a little light watering twice a day if it is very hot outside. • When the first true leaves stand firm and healthy, you can irrigate much less and transplant the little seedlings further apart if they came up too thickly.…

Baby marrows (also known as zucchini or courgette) and patty pans are very satisfying vegetables – they are easy to grow, quick to harvest, prolific bearers, and can be eaten in 100 different ways, including as ‘spaghetti’ for those following a banting lifestyle. They need: Full sun (or at least full morning sun), fertile, friable soil (compost and well-rotted manure added) and steady moisture. Allow each plant 1m² to grow. This allows air to circulate, allowing leaves to dry off quicker. They will also grow in large pots. When to plant: Sow seed in situ from spring (along with the lettuce, beans and spinach) up until November so that they are in full production before the heat of January and February. Later in the season, when the rains start, they…

Events Gauteng Wednesday 9 Talk: Gardena, Innovations for better gardening, by John Pollard The Horticultural Society meeting Roosevelt Park Recreation Centre, Preller Drive, Roosevelt Park 09:30. Visitors R30, members R20 Enquiries: 082 951 1432 Wednesday 23 Talk: The DNA of Plants, by Michelle van der Bank The Horticultural Society meeting Floreum Hall, Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, Emmarentia 09:30. Visitors R30, members R20 Enquiries: 082 951 1432 Saturday 26 Fourways Fuchsia Club meeting Fryslan Garden Centre, 74 Witkoppen Road, North Riding, Randburg Western Cape Saturday 5 – Sunday 6 Leisure Isle Festival, Knysna Enquiries: Natalie 044 384 0134, 079 309 9549 Saturday 5 Workshop: Nature art, with artist Janet Ranson Entrance: R350 Enquiries: https://veldandsea.com, roushanna@hotmail.com Sunday 13 Workshop: Coastal foraging Forage for edible seaweed and other magical coastal ingredients. Entrance: R550,…

1 SAVE WATER WITH WONDER WATERWISE CRYSTALS Efekto has just launched Wonder Waterwise Crystals onto the local garden scene. A water-retaining polymer product, Waterwise Crystals increases the water-holding capacity of soil and promises to reduce water use by at least 50%. Because water is used more effectively, the loss of nutrients is also reduced. It can be used in virtually any form of gardening, from flowerbeds to lawns, vegetable gardens, and especially potted plants and hanging baskets. Application is quick and easy, and the effects are long lasting. www.efekto.co.za 2 BLOWN AWAY Makita has launched another twin 18V cordless tool to its range – the DUB362Z Blower, and it’s going to make the lives of contractors, garden services, municipalities and farmers a whole lot easier. The twin 18V lithium-ion batteries,…

After all, what good is a dop without a chop anyway? To be completely fair, it must be said that just a short while ago, we members of the Rainbow Nation had no option but to braai nonstop in order to feed ourselves and keep warm, thanks to Eskom and their loadshedding – which normally happened at suppertime! But forget about the Eskom anomaly for the moment as we examine the strange ‘braaiing occult’ that has cast its spell over us! There are more realistic reasons why braaiing is one of our national sports, and why we have a National Braai Day, and why we even have braai celebrities! Some true blue-blooded South African who got stuck in traffic for hours thought nothing of whipping his portable braai from the…