Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2017 i The Gardener Magazine

PS: Don’t forget to celebrate Garden Day on 15 October! Please let us know on Facebook and Instagram how you celebrate, and don’t forget to share your pics! Book accommodation, check! Book flights, check! Book car hire – oops, don’t need that – I’m travelling with friends! Now that I’ve got all the boxes ticked I just need to pack! Where am I off to, you ask? The Bedford Garden Festival, undoubtedly one of the highlights of my gardening year, and this year I get to spend an entire four days there! It’s not just about the gardens either, folks – if you’re thinking of taking along a co-driver, don’t worry about keeping them entertained! There is so much besides gardening, such as classical music concerts, talks, workshops, country markets…

IN BRIEF Location: Warner Beach, KZN Age: August 2016 Size: 1000m2 Soil: Sandy Style: Formal Designers: Tanyavisser.com This garden is a classic example of how the face of gardening is changing in our sun-bathed and water-scarce country. If the design brief for a typical, very modern South African garden dictates the use of a limited and tough plant palette and the best quality hard-landscaping elements available, to create a lifestyle garden requiring very little maintenance and water usage, then the designers of this garden in Warner Beach achieved their goal with distinction. Scale symbiosis with building and nature The nearly overwhelming presence and strong architectural design of this large, multi-storied dwelling, which dominates a steeply sloping plot, had to be balanced but also complemented. This was achieved by an equally…

Nurserymen are always feverishly busy in their growing fields to bring us new plant releases. They trial useful species and varieties tirelessly to inspire us into planting rewarding plants that will fit into the ever-changing face of gardening. You will notice that our choice of ‘new releases’ for 2017 are either good for you, or kind to your water bill. Social (wild) garlic The hardy and easy-to-grow Tulbaghia violacea has always been a very popular indigenous perennial, grown for its bountiful mauve flower clusters on tall stems above clumps of greyish-green, strap-like leaves with a garlicky odour. The flowers, leaves and stems are edible and can be used for their flavour or as a garnish. Wild garlic has traditionally been used as a medicinal plant too, and is also planted…

Sunlight is one of the most essential ingredients in growing bonsai, but too much of a good thing can be harmful and many bonsai die in the summer months because of incorrect treatment. Yes, lots of sunlight is necessary, but the blistering heat of an African midsummer’s day can potentially kill all but the hardiest of plants. Our bonsai differ from their full-sized cousins growing in the ground in the sense that they live in relatively small pots that can only hold a limited amount of moisture. They can dry out in the space of just a few hours, and a couple of days without water can easily kill a bonsai. It’s common to water bonsai three times a day in summer: morning, midday and evening. Bonsai should always be…

Manure is usually something that we think of as smelly, albeit useful for our garden, but difficult to obtain from a reliable source, especially if you live in the big city. Added to this, there’s the problem of using manure that may come from animals that have been inoculated with hormones and antibiotics, which is not going to be very good for your organic vegetable garden. Which is why it’s time to take a closer look at green manures. According to Gardening Know How, ‘Green manure is a term used to describe specific plant or crop varieties that are grown and then turned into the soil to improve its overall quality.’ This is a wonderful dual benefit, for a plant to be both useful as a growing crop, and as…

Transplant seedlings in seed trays when they have developed their first true leaves. Plant out in the afternoon or early evening when it is cooler. Thin out planted seedlings insitu as they become sturdier. They grow better because there is less competition for water and nutrients. Thinned seedlings can be transplanted elsewhere – this acts like a succession sowing because their growth is set back. Protect seedlings and young plants against snails and slugs. Water more often as the days get warmer, and mulch around large vegetables to keep beds cool and moist. WANT MORE FOR YOUR MONEY? Pinch off the growing tip of sweet peppers when they are 15cm high, and of brinjals once 5 – 6 leaves have formed. This encourages the plant to branch, which increases the…

1 PERENNIAL POWER Top perennials to plant now in all regions include agapanthus, gauras, fuchsias, nemesias, osteospermums and geraniums of all kinds. Also go for lavenders, gypsophilas and masses of pretty but tough angelonias. 2 JASMINE TIME The October stalwart must be star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). This versatile creeper, with its glossy, darkgreen foliage and aromatic, pure white flowers, can be used to trail over pergolas and fences, or as a groundcover under trees if planted en masse. It grows well in pots too 3 POT UP AMARYLLIS BULBS Use good-quality potting soil that drains well, and pots that are just a little bigger than the bulb’s girth. Beware the planting depth: the bulb’s ‘shoulder’ must protrude above the soil surface, and the ‘nose’ should reach just above the pot’s…

As we grow older, it naturally means that our offspring will start producing their own offspring. These days I always seem to be in the company of grandmothers, some experienced and others rookies. But oh my hat, things sure have changed since I was last in the family way! Both parents-to-be now call themselves ‘pregnant’ – in my day only the lady found herself in this state. And stork parties, the last time I checked, were strictly women’s business too, but no more! They have morphed into elegant unisex luncheons with professional catering, estate wines, photographers and videographers, and emotional speeches. And instead of being asked to bring baby powder or a drooling bib as a gift, you’re asked to pen down poignant advice and tips for the new parents,…

Banksian roses are tall-growing climbers that retain most of their foliage through winter, bursting into bloom during mid to late spring. They’re vigorous and shrubby in habit but benefit from some means of support for their bulk. Unlike most roses, they should only be pruned after flowering as they bloom on the previous growing season’s hardened wood – winter pruning would remove the spring flower buds before they even open. These roses are tough, cold hardy and easy to grow. Rosa banksiae ‘Alba Plena’ (white banksian) This produces clusters of fully double white flowers about 3cm across, delicately fragrant with a distinct violet scent. Plants are robust and reach larger proportions than any of the other similar roses. They’re often planted on farm fences for a beautiful spring show, and…

Strelitzia juncea, the crane flower, narrow-leaved bird of paradise or rush-leaved strelitzia, is a striking, long-lived perennial endemic to a small area of the Eastern Cape in the vicinity of Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage, Patensie and Humansdorp. S. juncea is one of five species in this mainly South African genus, the others being S. reginae, the bird of paradise or crane flower from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, S. alba, the white bird of paradise from the southern Cape, S. caudata, the mountain strelitzia from Swaziland, the northern provinces of South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, and S. nicolai, the giant bird of paradise or wild banana from the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Apart from Strelitzia, there are two other members of the family Strelitziaceae, the spectacular traveller’s tree…

GET THE LOOK The love affair with old-fashioned Antico Moderno roses continues, because nothing creates as sumptuous a show in October as these full-petalled varieties. Whether your garden consists entirely of roses or has just a dedicated portion, roses stand out when all the supporting elements in a rose garden are kept as simple as possible. A well-clipped, low hedge (such as buxus, abelia, duranta or escallonia) formalises the rose bed (and hides the bare base of the plants) and the abundance of colour is offset by the velvet green of a well-tended lawn. The rosy effect is enhanced by climbing roses up the side of the house and on a screening wall. Try these: Three new ‘oldfashioned’ varieties ‘Sylvie-Joy’ – Fairy-Tale rose The large, apricot-shaded blooms have a delightful…

GCA GRADEN CENTRE Competition 2017 GARDEN CENTRE OF THE YEAR Greener Tidings SIZE CATEGORY WINNERS LARGE Greenside Kwekery MEDIUM Greener Tidings SMALL Clarks Tuinsentrum REGIONAL AWARDS Free State Greenside Kwekery Gauteng North Plantland Menlyn Gauteng South Garden Pavilion Eckards Limpopo Greener Tidings North West Clarks Tuinsentrum Western Cape Stodels Nurseries Bellville DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS Best Food Department Stodels Nurseries Bellville Best Garden Care Stodels Nurseries Milnerton Best General Plant Department Plantland Menlyn Best Indoor Department Greenside Kwekery Best Inspirational Display Greener Tidings Best Outdoor Colour Stodels Nurseries Bellville Best Staff Stodels Nurseries Bellville Most Waterwise Nursery Stodels Nurseries Milnerton INDEPENDENT GARDEN CENTRES PLATINUM PLATINUM Garden Pavilion Eckards Greener Tidings Greenside Kwekery Bk. Stodels Nurseries Bellville GOLD Clarks Tuinsentrum Garden World Hecker Nursery Plantland Menlyn Stodels Nurseries Kenilworth Stodels Nurseries Milnerton…

If a poll were taken of the world’s most popula r herbs, it’s a safe bet that ba sil would be in the top 10. It of fers in stant gratification – a delicious fragrance, flavour that enhances but never overpowers, and it ’s easy to grow, ha rvest and u se. What more could we want ? Picked too much basil? Basil sprigs will stay fresh if kept in a glass of water, at room temperature. Chop up leaves and freeze them with water in ice cubes. Drop the cubes into sauces and soups for that fresh basil flavour. Basil loses its flavour when dried. Could basil be boring? Perish the thought! Because sweet basil is such a popular herb it’s easy to get into a rut, using it…

EASTERN CAPE 20 – 23 October 2017 Bedford Open Gardens 2017 Bedford’s farm, town and township gardens are open every year during the Garden Festival. It’s a three-day touring adventure with renowned country gardens, pretty town and township gardens, scrumptious regional food, fine wines and fun-loving farmers – we love sharing them! Time: 08:00 – 17:00 Tickets: The price per garden varies from a donation to R20 per person, payable at each garden gate. Enquiries: info@bedford.co.za, www.bedford.co.za 19 – 23 October 2017 The secret gardens of Victoria Manor and Die Tuishuise Linger in six of the 18 secluded little gardens behind the historic cottages in Market Street and breathe in the calm and sense of timelessness. The gardens are normally for the exclusive private enjoyment of guests booked into the…

Planting Garden Day Ideas In the lead up to Garden Day, visit your nearest nursery or garden centre to get inspired. (Visit the Life is a Garden website www.lifeisagarden.co.za to locate your nearest Garden Centre or nursery.) What you do in your garden on Garden Day is completely up to you, but we think it’s a great opportunity to get together with friends and family so that as many people as possible can celebrate together – it’s all about growing goodwill. Here are some ideas on how to celebrate: Use fresh flowers and greenery from your garden to make flower crowns for everyone. (See how below.) Invite friends for a bring-‘n-braai, and use herbs from the garden to flavour the meat. Invite neighbours and friends round for rooibos tea en…

Most gardens, irrespective of size, need an infusion of smaller plants for lending seasonal colour to the landscape. Some are annuals, others are perennials, and there seem to be numerous ‘filler plants’ that are neither. These include many newer hybrids of well-known colourful flowering plants that are propagated from cuttings and last for a season or two before needing to be replaced with fresh stock. Selection criteria Ideal filler plants need to be easy to grow in a wide range of climatic conditions, and should be able to adapt to different soil types. They should bloom for relatively long periods and maintain a neat and tidy growth habit. A long breeding process is often required in order to select strains or clones with the very best garden performance, and new…

All gardens demand upkeep throughout the year, no matter how big or small they are, but you need not become a slave to your backyard. It simply needs rethinking and cutting down on the high-maintenance elements. HARD WORK: THE LAWN We all love the feel of cool greenery under our bare feet and the pretty sight of an emerald green, park-like expanse. But a lawn actually consists of thousands of hungry and thirsty little plants all demanding constant attention. Some lawn types, like indigenous buffalo grass, are slower growing, thus needing less cutting and grooming, but you will still have to waltz across it with a lawnmower at least once a week. Edges also need neatening up, which requires yet another machine, some skill and, of course, more time. LOW-SWEAT…

1 CONTAINER GARDENING What’s made container gardening easier is the variety of patio vegetables bred for growing in pots or other small spaces. Plants are compact, generally have smaller fruit, but with higher yields. Being dwarf, the containers don’t have to be as large, which reduces costs (for the potting medium) and lets you fit more into less space. The ‘Simply Delicious’ patio vegetables are accompanied by labels with detailed plant information and care tips. Salad bowls of cut-and-come-again lettuce, Asian greens and herbs are available as part of the ‘Simply Salad’ range and from Healthy Living Herbs. Any type of container will do, provided it has drainage holes and is deep enough to accommodate the roots. The shallower the container, the quicker it dries out. TRY THIS A modular,…

This is the sixth in our Working with Wood series presented by Greg de Villiers. Throughout the series we will introduce you to some amazing new tools on the market that take the ‘work’ out of woodwork. Both trendy and classy, this little coffee table is a cinch to make. WHAT YOU NEED Cutting list 8 x 400mm x 200mm x 42mm pine Tempered glass 500mm x 500mm x 6mm Wood glue Howard Feed & Wax 4 x self-adhesive glass protective pads TOOLS Festool Track Saw and Multi-Function Table, Festool Jigsaw, Triton Belt Sander, Bessey K Body parallel clamps, tape measure, pencil, combination square, soft cloth What you do 1 Cut all your timber to size with the Festool track saw. 2 and 2a Glue and clamp two pieces of…

WESTERN CAPE Friday 6 and Saturday 7 Spring tree and plant sale Garden Route Botanical Garden Nursery, 49 Caledon Street, George Gates open at 08:30 – 16:30 on Friday and from 08:30 – 14:30 on Saturday. Enquiries: Fadia 044 874 1558, info@botanicalgarden.org.za Friday 20 – Sunday 22 A festival of flowers through Trovato House Trovato House, Coach Road, Wynberg 10:00 – 16:00. Tickets: R50 Enquiries: Kim Zimmerman 021 852 2656 GAUTENG Wednesday 11 Talk: Indigenous Gardening, by Malcolm Hepplewhite Roosevelt Park Recreation Centre, Preller Drive, Roosevelt Park Enquiries: 082 951 1432 Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 Shibui Bonsai Kai Bonsai Exhibition The Floreum, Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, Olifants Road, Emmarentia. Admission is free. 10:00 – 17:00. Enquiries: Derry Ralph 011 788 6104, 082 435 7126 Wednesday 25 Talk: The illegal trade…