Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2017 i The Gardener Magazine

As in fashion, gardening trends come full circle and things that were popular in days gone by make a reappearance on the scene. The latest gardening trend to make a comeback is the displaying of plants on logs, roots, stumps and bark, known as a stumpery. Dating back to the Victorian era, stumperies were chosen to display precious specimens collected by the plant hunters of the age, who travelled far and wide in search of new species to bring back to their countries. They were especially favoured for displaying plants like ferns, making this a useful tool for the sometimes difficult, shady areas of gardens. Some of the more famous stumperies can be seen in places like Biddulph Grange in Staffordshire, England, which is considered one of the first stumperies;…

Weave a little magic into your garden with the scents of indigenous plants Imagine sitting in your favourite spot in the garden. Now add the sweet scent of wild jasmine wafting on the breeze, and the nutmeggy, spicy scent of Cape may that you’ve just brushed past. In this way, clever placement of scented and aromatic plants can bring enchantment to your garden. The foundation of a fragrant garden is plants with aromatic foliage – plants that release their fragrance when touched. Plant them where you are most likely to have a close encounter with them, such as beside paths, steps and gateways, between paving stones, or in easy reach beside a bench, in raised beds or in window boxes. Next time you are shopping for plants, rub their leaves and…

Endemic to South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, Watsonia is a genus of 52 species comprising evergreen, winter- and summer-growing cormous plants in the iris family. They vary from dwarf members just 100mm high in flower (W. minima) to the giant W. vanderspuyiae, which can reach over 2m high. Popularly known as suurkanol due to its sour-tasting corms, W. borbonica is a winter-growing plant producing erect, bright green leaves and masses of funnel-shaped flowers. It is one of the most spectacular and easily grown watsonias and comprises two subspecies: the white-flowered subsp. ardernei and the deep pink-flowered subsp. borbonica. Subsp. borbonica is native to the southwestern and southern parts of the Western Cape, occurring on rocky mountain slopes from Tulbagh to Bredasdorp. It grows in large, dense colonies and flowering in…

Leeks are a milder member of the onion family, and although the growing season is long (about four months) it is shorter than onions. They don’t take up a lot of growing space either as plants are spaced 15cm apart in in rows 15cm apart. What’s nice about leeks is that both the white stems and the green leaves can be eaten, although it is the white stems that are the delicacy, delicious in quiches, winter stews and soups or baked with other cuisine companions like kale, potatoes and spinach. The green section is ideal for soups that simmer slowly on the stovetop. Good to know To prevent soil getting in-between the leaves, slip a cardboard tube (toilet roll) over the young plant. It will biodegrade. Isn’t growing leeks complicated?…

Coniferous groundcovers afford year-round good looks to gardens, especially in colder climates where so many plants lose their leaves in winter. They often change colour in winter, adding to the impact and effect that they offer the landscape and making them invaluable plants for covering banks and cascading over rock gardens and retaining walls. While there are numerous low-growing and wide-spreading conifers, these three options are amongst the best for local growing conditions. Juniperus conferta (shore juniper) A robust conifer with ascending branches clothed in apple-green, prickly needles, shore junipers are larger in stature than the others in this selection and can grow up to 50cm in height and spread some 2-3m in diameter. They are fantastic plants for cascading down large embankments as they effectively counter soil erosion when…

Lilyturfs and mondo grasses are some of the most commonly used plants in landscaping. They are effective groundcovers and edging plants in gardens on both a micro and macro scale. Most of them are evergreen, although some may die down and go dormant in winter, while they are able to adapt to both sunny and shaded growing conditions. This makes them particularly useful in areas that have variable sunlight levels or where light changes significantly between winter and summer. All of these plants are of Asian origin, and ordinary gardeners often battle to tell the difference between ophiopogons and liriopes. A couple of subtle differences to look out for are that ophiopogons spread more haphazardly by means of underground stolons whilst liriopes tend to form neater clumps that thicken as…

GET THE LOOK A rose-covered arbour, like this one in a Kokstad farm garden, is the most romantic of all rose features, and is so simple to recreate. For starters, select the right rose, like ‘Clair Matin’, ‘Cherry Garland’, ‘Wedding Garland’ or ‘Crème Caramel’. The rose needs to be vigorous, so that it will quickly grow up and over the gum-pole framework in a single season, but must also flower from the bottom upwards. Plant a rose on either side of the arbour and train them up the framework. The secret is to encourage lots of flowering side shoots by retaining 10cm-long stubs of the side shoots from the past season. Another clever idea is to put a trellis against a wall, to support the side shoots and add to…

ACTION 1 PRODUCTS TO SHOP FOR NOW • Be an early bird and start buying some of the wide variety of available spring-flowering bulbs now before they sell out. It’s still too early to plant them as the soil temperature needs to cool down. • Buy a specialised microelement mixture to treat azaleas and gardenias that may be turning yellow and will be needing a pep up. • Also stock up on acidic fertiliser and acidic mulch (bark nuggets) to feed azaleas, camellias, brunfelsias and gardenias before winter. Hot tip when considering bulbs Choose ixias, babianas and freesias to plant at the end of the month in huge swathes. These indigenous bulbs have the grace to ‘nationalise’ in the garden, which means they can just be left in the ground…

Good to know Do 2-3 sowings of broccoli so that you have a long and steady supply. Allow 3-4 weeks between plantings to space the harvest over time. ASK THE EXPERTS Tomato season is coming to an end, but with the right care they can still be productive until May. Jenny Slabber from Talborne Organics answers these queries: Q: I’ve noticed that the bottom leaves of my tomato plant are going yellow. What causes that? A: The problem is likely to be water stress, which prevents the efficient uptake of nutrients. Also, as leaves age nutrients are relocated to the new leaves and this could be the reason for the leaves turning yellow. What to do: Feed with Vita Fruit & Flower 3:1:5(18) organic fertiliser at a rate of 5ml…

Open Gardens KwaZulu-Natal 25 – 26 March Kloof Conservancy’s Indigenous Open Gardens Show The theme to this year’s show is Indigenous Colour. In addition to the five gardens on show, there will be gardening advice and activities for all ages. Entrance: R60, including entrance to five gardens, as well as tea/coffee and cake. Enquiries: info@kloofconservancy.org.za, www.kloofconservancy.org.za 4 – 5 March Highway Festival Open Gardens While gardening talks and open gardens are the heart of the Highway Festival, there are events that will appeal to just about everyone. With mountain biking to hikes, talks and a garden competition you are invited to enter, the calendar is jam-packed! The Gardener’s Tanya Visser will be talking on 3 March at 18:00. 5 Galloway Road, Winston Park The back garden of this property…

March is considered a harvest period and the time to sow and plant cool season veg varieties. In the first quarter, sow leaf seeds to plant out at month end. Cauliflower and broccoli are grown primarily for their 'flowers; so are best planted on 'flower' days during both the second/third moon phases for firm flower heads, sturdy stems and strong roots. The last quarter coincides with the autumn equinox - when lunar gardeners usually use the week to harvest, clear, trim, shape and prepare for autumn annuals.…

“It takes 5 minutes to cut down a tree son, but it takes 15 years for that tree to grow.” When you drive into Kokstad on the R56, you can’t help but be curious about the house with the indigo boundary wall. Ten years ago architect Wayne and fine artist Julie-Ann Buss created their dream property. For them it was an exercise in lateral thinking. What Wayne refers to as ‘the estate’, tongue firmly in cheek, consists of their home and his office, separated by the garden. It’s apparent on entering Wayne’s architectural firm, Ikamva Architects, that this couple have a creative partnership. A composition of sneezewood and mosaics adorn the walkway. From the office space a path meanders through a forest of poplar trees. Wayne and Julie-Ann cultivated many…

What you need • Container of your choice • Gravel for drainage • Potting soil • A piece of driftwood • A selection of plants, including some air plants and a bromeliad • Wire 1. Make sure that the container has drainage holes, then place a layer of gravel in the container to improve drainage. 2. Fill the pot to halfway with potting soil. 3. Arrange the plants in the pot, leaving a space for the driftwood. Fill in with potting soil and press it down. 4. Attach some air plants and a bromeliad to the driftwood with a bit of wire, and place it in the pot. Make sure that it’s secure. The plants Tanya chose a selection of plants that contrast in colour and texture. Begonia‘Cool Breeze Rouge’…

Liriope muscari (lilyturf ) Lilyturf is a robust evergreen or deciduous perennial with tuberous roots and slender, strap-shaped leaves that develop into neat clumps of various sizes, depending on the variety or selection. Flowers are borne in late summer and early autumn, on slender stems held amongst or above the foliage. The most common colour is mauve or purple although white forms do occur. Some of the most popular cultivars include: Liriope muscari ‘Evergreen Giant’ has lush green foliage 60cm or longer, and pale lavender flowers. It forms large clumps and is used extensively in landscaping. It is good in pots, too. L. muscari ‘Variegata’ has prettily variegated leaves with green and gold striations. Purple flowers appear above the foliage, which generally dies down in winter before the new spring…

Salvias are amongst the most ornamental flowering plants, cultivated for their abundance of colourful flowers and long-lasting displays in the summer and autumn garden. They are found growing throughout most of the temperate and tropical parts of the world, and are usually described as being cosmopolitan in terms of origin. There are even some indigenous salvia species, although a large percentage come from Mexico and parts of North America. Many garden hybrids extend the range of cultivated ornamental sage plants, which adds up to an enormous group of easy-to-grow and rewarding plants for enhancing your garden. Salvia plants enjoy sunny positions, well-drained soil, and often survive in dry, impoverished conditions. Some are cold and frost hardy while others from warmer, subtropical climates are less so. It’s important to select the…

What you need SA pine cut to the following dimensions: Tabletop slats 4 x (1445mm x 93mm x 32mm) 4 x (470mm x 93mm x 32mm) Cleats to fasten slats 2 x (475mm x 50mm x 32mm) 2 x (480mm x 93mm x 32mm) Hinge support 2 x (505mm x 50mm x 50mm) Legs 4 x (700mm x 93mm x 32mm) 4 x (415mm x 93mm x 32mm) 4 x 350mm galvanized T-hinges 1 x rectangular plastic planter (500mm x 175mm) 24 x (4mm x 60mm) full-thread cut screws 72 x (4mm x 40mm) full-thread cut screws 20 x (4mm x 25mm) full-thread cut screws Wood glue Wood filler Sand paper Tools Tape measure, pencil, combination square, hand saw, marking gauge, rubber mallet, wood chisel, cordless drill and square bit,…

Western Cape Saturday 4 Succulent Pot Plant Workshop The Pink Geranium Nursery, c/o Waarburg Rd and R304, Stellenbosch Entrance: R150, including pot plant, workshop and light refreshments Enquiries: events@thepinkgeranium.co.za Gauteng Saturday 11 – Sunday 12 Johannesburg Succulent Society Autumn Show Floreum Hall, Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, Emmarentia Entrance: Free, from 09:00 Enquiries: jhbss.info@gmail.com, rauschanthony@gmail.com 11 February – 31 May The Lifestyle Garden Design Show This year 10 concept gardens will celebrate excellence in diverse, contemporary South African style. A full programme of events runs in conjunction with the show. Lifestyle Garden Centre, c/o Beyers Naude Drive and Ysterhout Avenue, Randpark Ridge Entrance: Free Enquiries: 011 792 5616, 011 792 8244, www.lifestyle.co.za, www.lifestylecollege.co.za KwaZulu-Natal 11 March Autumn Planting Workshop: What, where, how to plant Increase your food garden’s production with…