Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2017 i The Gardener Magazine

Climbers cling to and twine themselves around wire and pole structures to end up in a shameless cloud of colour above your head. It’s virtually impossible to ascertain the precise mature size of a typical climber, as most are promiscuous growers that send their side branches far and wide, even beyond the boundaries set for them by the gardener. Some people question whether it’s worth growing climbing plants in a garden, if they are so undisciplined and are always trying to escape its confines, which means they need regular ‘taming’ sessions with sharp tools to keep them in check. The answer is a resounding ‘yes’! Not only are they valuable for aesthetical reasons, but also as a solution to many gardening headaches. Trees can take years to grow large enough…

5 Ways to create healthy soil Healthy plants send their roots deep into healthy soil that holds moisture and nutrients. You can build up the health of your soil in the following ways: 1. Deal with sandy or clay soil by digging in about 8-15cm of compost when preparing for new beds or lawns. For existing plants, spread a layer of 3-6cm of compost around the plants, simply leaving it on the surface for the worms to dig in. Repeat this every year – even with good-quality loamy soil! 2. Avoid thatching in an ailing lawn by either raking or spiking to break the matted roots and to stop compaction. Treat afterwards with a 2-3cm layer of fine compost or commercial lawn dressing. 3. Worst case scenario: Heavy clay! If…

In his article Neem die etiket met erns op (take the label seriously), Dr Gerhard Verdoorn of Griffon Poison Centre says: There is an unwritten rule in the agrochemical sector that the label almost guarantees the efficacy and safety of pesticides. It is the duty of the user of such pesticides to study the label and to strictly follow the instructions on the label. It is becoming increasingly clear that consumers do not read labels, which can lead to accidents and dissatisfaction with results obtained. Research has shown that 70% of the effectiveness of the pesticides is determined by the correct application of the product, and not the quality of the product. And by reading the label, you can learn how to apply pesticides correctly, and therefore effectively. The labels…

Sun sense Sowing veggies in rows from north to south allows maximum exposure to the sun. EARTHWORM CENSUS When tilling the soil in preparation for new crops, look out for earthworms. They tell you a lot about the garden. Only a few, or none at all, means the soil lacks organic material, and it should be worked in asap. A quick green manure crop of mustard, which is dug in before it flowers, builds up humus in the soil. Plenty of earthworms means you’re doing it right, so keep on composting! Crop rotation tip A natural way to build soil health, which produces stronger plants, is to rotate your crops. Sow broad beans where lettuce, spinach or carrots grew, and brassicas where beans, spinach, beetroots or carrots grew. Garden peas…

Peperomias are grown as indoor pot plants all over the world and there are in excess of 1000 species and many cultivated hybrids to select from. They originate from tropical forests and acclimatise well to growing conditions inside the home. Inflorescences consist of spikes of minute flowers, usually cream or white, that curve or bend at the ends of the stems. This gives rise to the common name – shepherd’s crook. The flowers are secondary to the attractive fleshy or succulent leaves that make peperomias such popular houseplants. Peperomia caperata ‘Luna Red’ Peperomia caperata is commonly called emerald-ripple pepper because of the corrugated appearance of the leaves. This particular hybrid has grey-green leaves with a red hue and prominent red leaf stems (petioles). The flowers are creamy-white. The glossy lustre…

Mandevillas, formerly known as dipladenias, are a group of handsome climbing plants with tubular or funnel-shaped flowers that originate from South and Central America. Today there are numerous hybrids for the garden. Many are relatively shrub-like in habit and are usually referred to as bush dipladenias, although they still have the tendency to climb if given the opportunity and a means of support. Others are vigorous and require ample space and uncluttered structures to creep upon, with no competition from other plants. Flowering commences in spring and extends right through summer to autumn. Cultivation These rewarding plants grow best in full sun in a position with free air movement, and are not happy growing against walls or other structures. Plant them in coarse, well-drained soil with plenty of compost or…

With gardeners being forced to save every drop of water, we need to look at some hardy, tough planting options that don’t have a thirst. This pot recipe does just that with drought-tolerant plants and good soil preparation. What you need 1bucketpottingsoil ½ block of coco peat, reconstituted in water 2 cups vermiculite A handful of organic pellets like Bio Ocean A handful of bonemeal or superphosphate A handful of water-retaining granules like Wonder Stockosorb Waterwise Crystals Gravel for drainage A suitable container – we used a wide-mouth terracotta pot A selection of hardy plants Gravel mulch 1. Mix all your soil ingredients together – the potting soil, coco peat, vermiculite, organic pellets, bonemeal and water-retaining granules. 2. Add a layer of gravel to the bottom of the pot…

Most people are aware that bonsai is the Japanese art form of the miniaturisation of trees. We in the West tend to use the term bonsai as an umbrella term referring to all small plants in small pots, but in Japan and China more of a distinction is made between bonsai, which are simply a tree or a number of trees in a pot, and other forms of miniature tree plantings, such as saikei, which are miniature landscapes utilising additional props like stones to represent mountains and pieces of glass to represent rivers lakes and oceans. Bonsai originated about 2300 years ago in what is now China. A new spiritual concept called ‘The Chinese Five Agents’ (water, fire, wood, metal and earth) became popular. One of the concepts involved the…

What you need: Log cutting list 2 x 200mm diameter x 25mm thick (body) 1 x 110mm diameter x 25mm thick (head) 2 x 180mm x 35mm (ears) 1 x 80mm diameter x 25mm thick (tail) 2 x 60mm diameter x 25mm thick (feet) Wood glue Wood sealant Tools: Chainsaw or handsaw, clamps, sanding block What you do: 1 Mark the logs and secure them to a workbench for safe cutting. 2 Use a chainsaw or handsaw to cut the disks as per the cutting list. Cut the ear pieces at an angle to get the desired effect. 3 Sand all the pieces smooth with the sanding block. 4 Start assembly by gluing the ears to the head and clamping until dry. You can use small nails to hold the…

Limpopo Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 Haenertsburg Food, Wine and Beer Festival Haenertsburg Village, Magoebaskloof Enquiries: 082 370 8567, www.foodandwinefestival.co.za Western Cape Monday 3 Kay Montgomery – A Quarter Century of Gardening in the Weekend Argus The Athenaeum, Boundary Terraces (next to WP Cricket Club), Campground Road Entrance: R20 Enquiries: Glenda 021 531 5713, info@capehorticulturalsociety.co.za Friday 7 – Sunday 9 The Cape Orchid Societys’ Autumn Show: Disas and Diamonds John Winter Hall, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens Entrance: R15 for adults, R10 for scholars and pensioners, from 09:00 – 16:00. Enquiries: Bev Schram 083 252 4659, president@capeorchidsociety.co.za Gauteng 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…

When the time has come, the best way to scale down is to surround and enclose yourself with much-loved plants... For some folks the house and garden are like two separate entities. There is the inside and then there is the outside, and so be it. This is definitely not the case at the Johannesburg residence of Robin and Gail Kuper. Their patio doors are always thrown wide open, fusing the indoors with the outdoors and allowing them to stay intimately in touch with nature and their precious garden. And around the house, in narrow passages behind high walls, practical hard landscaping solutions like paving are softened with pretty displays of containers brimming with favourite plants and hybrid collections. Scaling down from a park-like garden to a rubble-filled plot of…

When planting spring-flowering bulbs in April, one seldom thinks about food. It’s mostly about creating swathes of yellow daffodils, purple and red anemones and sweet-smelling freesias, in anticipation of the floral joy they will bring in early spring. But did you know that bulb merchants at this time of year also supply disease-free onion sets and garlic and waterblommetjie bulbs, to enable you to grow a fine harvest from bulbs without having to bother with seed? Onions Available: 35 bulbs per pack Planting time: March to April Harvest ready: September to October Good reasons to grow your onions from sets (bulbs) • Planting bulbs (instead of seed) is faster and easier. • Commercial onion sets also consist of short-day cultivars, making them a bit hardier and able to better stand…

GET THE LOOK The saying ‘less is more’ applies even to the rose garden, as illustrated in this layout where red ‘Satchmo’ roses are displayed beautifully when planted sparsely among snow-in-summer and silvery irises. This kind of layout suits large shrub or Panarosa roses as well, like ‘Sympa de Bellevue’, ‘Scarlet Panarosa’ and ‘Burgundy Panarosa’. Of course, any rose colour scheme can be used, but the combination of red, white and silver always looks fresh and crisp. The bonus for the roses is that they have room to grow and their lovely shape can be easily seen. That’s why the arching Panarosa varieties are such a good idea for this kind of treatment. What’s to like about Panarosa roses? Panarosa roses grow between 2m and 3m high and wide, with…

Outside our office is a border planted up with Salvia greggii hybrids, which are described as upright-growing, woody-based perennials. These salvias are evergreen, flower from spring to autumn, like full sun, and are cold and frost hardy. These are attributes shared by most popular salvia types. But you can’t expect these plants to perform well year after year without helping them along a bit, which means cutting them back quite drastically in autumn. Tanya grabbed her secateurs and set forth to show you how to cut back your salvias. 1. Remove most of the spent flowering stems first, to open up the bushes for closer inspection. 2. Look down into the centres of the plants where new growth has started sprouting and cut off the woody stems produced by the…

When selecting a pump you should consider three key points: • The type of application; • The water flow required; • The water lift required. The type of application It goes without saying that there are a variety of pumps available for a variety of applications. We usually classify water pumps for decorative and aesthetic use into: • Ponds: Ponds containing aquatic life, such as plants or fish, usually need an epoxy-filled flow pump with a coated, open impeller. • Fountains: Clean water with no filter usually needs an epoxy-filled submarine pump with an uncoated, open impeller. • Dams: Large bodies of water containing aquatic life need an epoxy-filled, high-volume pump with a biofilter. • Drainage: Chemically treated water, grey-water or stagnant water needs an oil-cooled, bottom-suction-style pump, with an open impeller and good…

DON’T FORGET LETTUCE It may not have the same nutritional benefits, but lettuce can be sown, or seedlings transplanted, in most gardens that are sheltered from frost. Plant a range of differently coloured leaf lettuces – they take up less space than conventional head lettuces. In winter, lettuce needs full sun and consistently moist soil. Adding Epsom salts to the water improves the flavour. Most of us have at some stage in our lives been urged to ‘eat our greens.’ And our parents were right all along – ongoing research into brassicas has found that no other vegetable group is as high in terms of vitamin A carotenoids, vitamin C, folic acid and fibre. Even more impressive, their growing reputation as an antioxidant vegetable group means that eating your greens…

1 Mulch your bulbs with old compost, dry grass and leaves, peat or bark. Planting annuals or groundcovers in between bulbs will also protect them and serve as mulch. 2 Plant all spring-flowering bulbs with the pointy side up, except anenomes, which should be planted with the pointy side down. Bulbs with fingers or claws, like ranunculi, should be planted with the fingers pointing downwards. Small bulbs like anemone, leucojum, muscari, lachenalia, tritonia and ranunculus should be planted 5cm deep, and larger ones like hyacinth, freesia and Dutch iris should be planted 10cm deep. Use a dibber or bulb planter to do the job. 3 Feed sweet peas once a month with a fertiliser high in potassium. Remember to feed other winter- and spring-flowering annuals regularly too. 4 Prune evergreen…

Lunar gardeners follow the moon's 28-day cycle and weekly phases to determine the days best suited to plant above or below ground vegetables. Another basic lunar rule is that pest control and weeding are best tackled in the last quarter for both ease and effect. An exception states that worms and snails can be successfully controlled during the waxing phase, when performed on barren days, with best results achieved by early morning hand removal. Spray control is best begun a few days before the New Moon.…

“The fact that the bottlebrush has such an aggressive attitude has an effect on the other shrubs in the bed along the street-facing fence, which is only a few metres long.” Some of the plants growing in my yard have become vegetative giants. I’ve looked up the predicted mature size of each species and hybrid in my gardening books, and it looks as though most have exceeded these dimensions, except for the forest elder (Nuxia floribunda), which is supposed to be growing into a sky-hugging sentinel at the garden gate. This is a funny specimen of a respected indigenous tree, as despite being evergreen it daily drops a bulk of old leaves in the driveway, like it’s trying to shed something that’s bothering it. Maybe it doesn’t like the rusted…