Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2017 i The Gardener Magazine

CHELSEA 2017 There is a carnival atmosphere at the start of the Chelsea Flower Show. The excitement builds as you get to the gate and then walk through the show waiting to discover what’s new around the next corner. It is undoubtedly the highlight of the gardening scene in the UK, if not the world. If we look at the trends from this year’s show, there is unfortunately very little that is new in this regard. More of the same colour trends, like copper, were evident, and many gardens a recreation of natural environments, in some cases with weeds and all. Pretty is not a word to describe most of the main feature gardens, and in some cases by being true to the areas they represent, sometimes far-flung places, they…

GET THE LOOK By October our roses will be looking like this! On the lower level ‘Tawny Profusion’ is bordered by blue and yellow pansies and bedding begonias, while on the upper level ‘My Granny’ spills over the edge, complemented by darker pink ‘Granny’s Delight’ and Antico Moderno roses ‘Heatherby’ and ‘Fragonard’. It’s a picture of spring, with the pansies providing colour through winter and early spring when the roses are still sprouting. The shallow roots and compact growth of these spring annuals don’t compete with the roses, although all need regular watering to perform at their best. The arching nature of ‘My Granny’ softens the raised, built bed – other roses with this habit include ‘Kinders van die Wind’, ‘Fiery Sunsation’, ‘Peach Sunsation’ and the various ‘Fairy’ roses in…

What you need • Organic fertiliser pellets • Palm peat block (reconstituted in water) • Potting soil • Bonemeal or superphosphate • Stones • Large terracotta container • A bucket for mixing soil • A selection of plants. We used: 1 x Pennisitum setaceum ‘Fireworks’ 3 x Lobularia ‘Frosty Night’ 3 x Echeveria elegans What you do 1. Make a soil mix by combining ½ potting soil, ½ palm peat, a handful of organic pellets and a handful of bonemeal or superphosphate and mixing well in a bucket. 2. Make sure there are drainage holes in the pot and cover with a layer of stones. 3. Fill the pot ¾ of the way up with the soil and begin planting. The star-of-the-show pennisitum is planted in the centre, with the…

Erythrinas or coral trees are amongst the most colourful and spectacular of our indigenous flowering trees, their vibrant blooms dominating the landscape during late winter and early spring both in the wild and in suburban gardens. The nectarrich flowers are frequented by birds in a wide array of different species, adding to the allure of these magnificent trees. Hybrids and colour variants add to the range found in gardens. Erythrinas propagate easily from seed, cuttings or large truncheons. Erythrina lysistemon (common coral tree) This tree is of lesser stature than the coastal coral tree, reaching 3-10 metres in height at maturity. It is usually found growing in drier areas than E. caffra and has a wider distribution range. Trees have a broad or wide trunk covered in grey bark, sometimes…

Spring gardens are filled with flowers and blossoms of every shape and hue, much of this floral splendour provided by low-growing plants of a shrubby or perennial nature. Fortunately many of these plants grow relatively quickly and will develop into vibrant displays in the spring garden even if they’re planted out now at the beginning of the season. Most flower prolifically in spring but continue to grow and bloom during other parts of the year. Use these prolific plants for filling up empty spaces in the garden, especially in areas where recent dry conditions may have had an adverse affect on plants. Daisies from Africa Osteospermum hybrids (African daisy) Osteospermums (previously called Dimorphotheca daisies) have been hybridised extensively during the last half-century or so, resulting in a seemingly endless stream…

The technique of using wire to change the shapes and styles of bonsai trees developed around the middle of the 18th century in Japan, so as far as the ancient art of bonsai goes it is a fairly new technique. It is a relatively easy principle to understand, but one that takes a bit of practice to master. Wire is wrapped around a branch or branches of a bonsai tree. The branches are then bent into a new position, and the wire keeps the branches in the new position until they have grown enough to be able to retain their position once the wire has been removed. This process can be done all year round but is probably best done in spring when the branches are flowing with sap and…

One of South Africa’s most important contributions to world horticulture is the Barberton daisy, a beautiful, usually orange- or red-flowered herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae family. The genus Gerbera has about 40 species distributed in Africa, Asia and South America, of which about 15 species occur in South Africa. The scientific name Gerbera jamesonii commemorates the German naturalist Traugott Gerber (1710-1743) and the Scotsman Robert Jameson (1832-1919). Jameson operated a jam manufacturing business in Durban and later a gold mine near Barberton, where he collected the plant in 1884. However, the actual discovery of the plant had been made some years earlier in 1875 by William Greenstock in the Houtbosch area of Mpumalanga. On his return to Durban, Jameson brought back plants or seeds, which were grown by John Medley…

AUGUST EVENTS WESTERN CAPE Thursday 31 August – Sunday 3 September Cape Homemakers Expo This year’s theme is ‘A Tribute to your Home’. There will be ideas and demonstrations, deals and competitions, all to do with your home and garden. Cape Town International Convention Centre, 1 Lower Long Street, Cape Town Tickets: R80, pensioners R70 and kids under 12 enter free. Enquiries: 021 511 2800, www.homemakersonline.co.za/exhibitions. GAUTENG Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 August Clivia and orchid plant market and bonsai show Some of South Africa’s finest clivias, orchids and bonsai will be on show, with world-renowned breeders attending. Experts will also be on hand with advice, while plants to be found nowhere else will be on sale. Laerskool Rooihuiskraal, c/o Panorama and Maraboe Streets, Rooihuiskraal, Centurion Enquiries: Martin 083 937…

In natural conditions the members of the Proteaceae family grow in poor, well-draining soil with a low, slightly acidic pH of between 5 and 6. The plants prefer hot, dry summers and cold, wet winters, but many will grow well in summer-rainfall areas too. Soil Bad drainage is a recipe for disaster, although some species and cultivars are more tolerant of heavy soil than others. Prepare the soil well by mixing in well-decomposed compost that is low in phosphates. Simply filling the planting hole with compost is not a good idea as this only forms a reservoir for water to stand in, which will increase the chances of root rot. Slightly raised beds or mounding of heavy soil will improve drainage, and so will adding a little gypsum to break…

Organic gardening is all about natural cycles – life, decay and renewal. In part one we look at soil preparation. Some say muck and compost is the key to organic gardening. Others say planting companion plants and encouraging wildlife are just as important. Conservationists insist on indigenous (or even endemic) planting to save water too, and as far as feeding yourself goes, the purists reckon that you should only plant heritage vegetables. Here at The Gardener we agree with all of it, but also believe in using modern technology and products to convert the suburban gardener to organic gardening and eco-friendly principles. Mid-winter is the perfect time to start off with organic projects and to stock up on handy tools and organic products to start gardening the natural way. Good…

Tough love – how to harden off seedlings Seedlings that were sown indoors last month will have sprouted and may even have their first set of true leaves. But they are still too tender to be transplanted outdoors and need to be hardened off, by being exposed to sunlight and outdoor conditions over a period of 10 days to two weeks. Sean Freeman of Living Seeds, who farms in one of the coldest parts of Gauteng, shared his tips with us: • Gradually expose the seed trays/pots to sunlight, starting with three hours a day for days one to three, five hours of sun a day for the next three days, and the whole day for the next three to five days. • Water the soil the day before transplanting…

1 STILL TRENDING ARE POTTED TREES AND HOT LEAVES Consider members of the Ficus family like Ficus benjamina as perfect trees to grow in large pots on your patio and also indoors. To complete the ‘jungle look’ that is so trendy this year, also plant a Monstera deliciosa (delicious monster) and Philodendron selloum in patio pots or in the shade of trees to supply the ‘tropical’ look that so many gardeners love. 2 PRUNING DUTIES If some of your shrubs have grown into barelegged, gnarly old bushes with a little growth at the top, bite the bullet now by pruning them hard. Plants that can be pruned firmly include poinsettias, plumbagos, tecomas, hypericums, heliotropes, solanums, canary creepers, golden showers and buddlejas that are finished flowering. 3 START PLANTING SUMMER BULBS…

My Grandpa christened me ‘Performance Tested Bull’ while I was still at agricultural school. The July edition of The Gardener containing my love letter to a farmer had barely hit the shelves in a small country town when I received an answer... My Beloved Anna(tjie), I have all my life been told that I am a very handsome man, so thank you very much for agreeing. This proves that great minds think alike. My bulldozer and I are like two peas in a pod and seldom apart. It has had a few ‘conversions’, so to say, to change it into a ‘combined implement’. If I want to push ahead and move some earth, I use the blade (that is maybe the part that excites you the most!), and if I…