Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2018 i The Gardener Magazine

Hip, Hip Hooray! Here we are at the beginning of a brand new gardening year! New years usually arrive with ‘resolutions’ in tow – firm promises to ourselves that more often than not involve something along the lines of: • Visit the gym at least twice a week. (Oh, and install Google maps on your phone so you can actually find the gym that you have been paying a membership fee for the last two years!) • Eat more fish and chicken. Reduce your chocolate intake! • Drink less. • Quit smoking (again). • Undergo dramatic weight loss – soup diet for five weeks! What I find very interesting about most people’s resolutions is that they normally involve eliminating a negative behavioural pattern, and more often than not these need…

Don’t prune anything and everything in winter, which some still regard as major pruning time. Many spring- and summer-flowering deciduous shrubs set flower buds on the previous season’s new growth, so, if pruned in winter, you are literally cutting off the forthcoming flowering season’s potential blooms. The shrub types that should not be pruned in winter include hydrangeas, weigelas, spiraeas, forsythias, chaenomeles, berberis and even some roses, like many of the Old English rose types, which only bloom in spring. Instead, prune these plants immediately after their spring or summer flush of flowers is over. Pruning climbers Keeping woody climbers neat can be a continuous challenge as their tangled growth is difficult to maintain. Many that have large woody stems, like wisterias and petreas, can be treated in much the…

Use the right soil Digging up some soil from the garden is not going to bring success in container gardening, so don’t do it! Commercially produced potting soil has been carefully screened for weed seeds and soil-borne diseases, plus it contains fine bark, organic material and sharp river sand, which will help with drainage but will retain enough water to keep the roots evenly moist. Also add • It’s always a good idea to mix a handful of organic bonemeal into the potting medium – it assists with strong root growth and will not burn plant roots. • Slow-release granular fertilisers are also beneficial if mixed into the potting soil – especially if you are planting a more permanent focal plant, like a strelitzia. • Two very light mineral products…

Water correctly By watering your plants correctly, you will avoid stressing them. A stressed plant is vulnerable to pests and disease. Overwatering can, however, be just as bad as underwatering. You should water close to the ground to ensure that you get water down to the roots of the plant. Don’t water the leaves of a plant – this is wasteful. When to water, and how much? • Newly planted seedlings and sown seed need regular water in order to germinate. Water lightly and constantly, until the plants have established. Don’t overwater – the soil must be moist, but not soaked. • Water the rest of the garden once or twice a week, depending on the weather conditions. Make sure that you water long enough to get ample amounts of…

The spekboom or porkbush, also known as elephant’s food, olifantskos, soetspekboom, suurspekboom, igwanishe (Xhosa) and intelezi (isiZulu) has multiple uses in ornamental horticulture and is suited to almost every South African garden, except those in the very coldest areas. It is native mainly to the eastern summer-rainfall parts, occurring in full sun on dry, rocky hill-slopes from the Eastern Cape through KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland and Mpumalanga to Limpopo, and is also found in the Little Karoo in the Western Cape. In parts of the Eastern Cape it is such an outstanding feature of the landscape that the vegetation is known as spekboomveld. A member of the African and Madagascan family of spinystemmed succulents (Didiereaceae), Portulacaria is endemic mainly to Southern Africa, and there are six other species, found in Namaqualand, Namibia…

Safety precautions Always make sure the herb is correctly identified by its botanical name, and do some research regarding the correct dosage. Herbs benefit our pets almost as much as they benefit us. There are herbs that aid digestion, ease skin irritations, deter fleas, get rid of worms, act as a tonic and address problems of inflammation and arthritis. Many of these herbs, such as lavender, thyme, comfrey, parsley and borage, are regular features of the herb garden, while there are also speciality herbs that are just for their exclusive use, such as cat and dog grass, which benefit the digestive system. Although herbal remedies should never replace a visit to the vet, they can be introduced into your pet’s diet to naturally stimulate, regulate or adjust body functions that…

Healthy soil, regularly enriched with organic material, will have a crumbly texture and will become so easy to work with that a hole can actually be made with your little finger when planting a flower or vegetable seedling. The organic matter improves the structure of any soil by encouraging a mass of small animals, friendly fungi and good bacteria to break it down into smaller parts. Microorganisms deeper down turn it into humus, which provides the life-giving nutrients that are taken up by plant roots. Soil preparation is very important if you want to grow anything successfully. There are different ways to go about it, including the conventional way where beds are marked out to the desired shape and size, dug over to spade depth and enriched with generous amounts…

Feeding Healthy lawns require regular applications of fertiliser at 4 – 6 week intervals, starting in early spring and continuing through the growing season. Apply fertiliser during a cool part of the day and water thoroughly immediately afterwards. Always read the recommended application rate on the packaging and spread the fertiliser accordingly. It’s always a good idea to keep a garden diary and make a note of when the next date for fertiliser is due. Many a good gardener starts off in spring with great gusto but then reneges on later feeding. Lawn grass needs to be kept in tip-top condition on a continuous basis. Weeds Weeds in lawns are a continuous problem for most gardeners. Early spring is the time to start with applications of selective broad-leaf weed killers…

Take cuttings of Pelargoniums, salvias, lavenders, fuchsias, daisy bushes, penstemons, rosemary, and all kinds of groundcovers like arctotis, osteospermums and trailing gazanias. Taking softwood cuttings When you propagate plants from cuttings, you will have new plants that will be identical to the mother plant. You will need • Rooting medium – the commercial ‘seedling mix’ is perfect, or you can mix potting soil with washed, coarse river sand, or add in vermiculite or perlite to get a light medium that will hold moisture without becoming waterlogged. • Hormone powder – available from nurseries. • A container with drainage holes at the bottom. • An old pencil or stick. • Sharp, clean secateurs. Do this 1. Cut off sturdy stems about 8 – 12cm long. Cut them off below an ‘eye’…

Cordless blowing Whether clearing fallen leaves and garden debris or doing a quick clean up of your verandah or outdoor living area, the STIHL BGA 45 Cordless Blower is the ideal tool for getting everything neat and tidy again, quickly and easily. With its cordless technology the job is done in next to no time, without any trailing cables, emissions and without the need for hearing protection. Lightweight (just 2kg) with an integrated 18V battery, it offers the ultimate pick-up-and-go mobility when you need to get small jobs done in a jiffy. Available from STIHL dealers nationwide. www.stihl.co.za; A first in wheelbarrows Lasher Tools has introduced a 100% recyclable wheelbarrow aptly named the EcoBarrow, that is patented worldwide. It’s the first of its kind and is fully resistant to corrosion,…

Ferns have been a prominent part of the vegetation on earth for millions of years and are a major component of the vast coal deposits formed during the carboniferous period. Today these leafy gems still contribute enormously to ornamental horticulture around the world, offering solutions to damp and shaded areas of the garden where few flowering plants survive. Their distinctive shape, form and texture lend many options and possibilities to the landscape on both large and small scales. Ferns are widespread and found growing in a great diversity of climates, making them suitable plants for gardens and homes virtually everywhere – there will always be a fern that’s good for your garden. Large ferns Tree-like ferns are widespread through tropical and temperate climates, and two species are indigenous to South…

1 Organic mulches Good examples of organic mulches are coarse compost, leaf mould, wood chips, grass cuttings and straw. These mulches should be replenished frequently as they are broken down by soil organisms like earthworms, and by cultivation when the soil is prepared for new plantings. The main value of organic mulches is the continuous enhancement of the soil structure to sustain healthier plant growth. Where to apply In mixed borders that are seasonally changed with spring- or summer-flowering bulbs and bedding plants, and also in mixed shrub beds that are densely planted. 2 Inorganic mulches Gravel, river pebbles, cut stone and colourful stone chips are examples of inorganic mulches of a more permanent nature. These materials are mostly used as a decorative layer. The biggest advantage of a fairly thick layer…

Tree-planting advice When investing in a tree for your garden it’s advisable to give it the best start by planting it in a way that will promote strong roots and healthy growth. Try this: • Dig a square hole at least double the size of the bag or container, and at least double the depth. Keep the topsoil separate to one side and remove the subsoil. • Mix compost into the topsoil to put back into the hole. • Water the hole well before adding the enriched topsoil. Add a few handfuls of superphosphate or bonemeal. • Cut the plastic bag away from the tree gently, and if the roots have become compacted loosen them gently before placing in the hole, making sure the top of the tree’s soil is…

Lawns From December to February use a fast-working product that is high in nitrogen, like LAN, for a luscious, dark green carpet. Follow this in autumn with a 7:1:3 or an organic lawn fertiliser alternative still high in nitrogen to promote vegetative growth for a green lawn. In frost-free areas you can carry on with the 7:1:3 every month until August. In frosty areas wait until September and then use 2:3:2 or an organic lawn fertiliser alternative for root growth. Apply agricultural lime for acidic soil and topdress with lawn dressing or river sand. In summer change back to 7:1:3 until it all starts again in December with LAN. Flowerbeds Feed your flowerbeds 3:1:5 SR (N) or 8:1:5 for roses and flowers every 4 – 6 weeks throughout the year.…

Turn it into a container Just about anything with a cavity can be turned into a plant pot as long it has drainage or you can make drainage. There is an endless supply of containers that make pretty planters, like washing machine drums, kitchen equipment – colanders and muffin tins, old furniture, baths and basins, tyres, and even old shoes. Grow seed Seeds can be planted in degradable packaging like egg boxes and cardboard tubes. Plant straight into the ground when the seedlings are big enough and the packaging will keep the roots from being damaged. You can also make your own newspaper pots. See our video on how to fold them on www.thegardener.co.za/2017/10/16/makeseedling-pots/; Some more ideas • Use wine bottles to create edging in the garden – plant them…