Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2018 i The Gardener Magazine

Aloe dawei flowers up to four times a year and comes in yellow or red. Aloe striata is a stemless aloe with blue-grey leaves with a pink margin, and lack spines. The coral-red flowers are borne in winter. Femma uses them in pots and gives them no water. Aloe vanbalenii is a distinctive aloe with twisty, sprawling leaves. Femma has a plant that produces lime flowers, as opposed to the normal shades of salmon, yellow, orange and red. Aloe greenii is an attractive plant even when it’s not flowering, thanks to the spotted leaves with pink-thorned edges. When it does flower, in January to March, it produces impressive pink racemes that are loved by sunbirds. This aloe can be grown in the shade. Aloe chaubaudii is a stemless aloe with…

The key features of a tropical garden are interwoven layers of lush plants, and bold foliage and bright colour accents in exaggerated sizes. Elements of this relaxed garden style can be incorporated into any size garden and you don’t even have to live in the tropics at all – any temperate climate will do. So if you already have the following in your garden, you’re ready to get started: Shady areas; A palm or two; Flowering shrubs and vines; A pool or pond. And if we start identifying the design principles of a perfect tropical garden further, the following points come to mind: Dramatic accent plants Plants with bright or contrasting foliage colours and exotic foliage forms are the sensual additions to the undergrowth of a tropical garden. They can…

Planning Before you start shopping for pavers it’s best to mark in the garden where you are planning to put the paving. A can of spray paint is good for this. Have a look at the surroundings and make sure you are happy with the layout, as it is likely to be a permanent part of the garden design. Make plans for the surrounds: the flowerbeds, hedging, a selection of pots, an arch, or whatever you’re planning on using. Choosing pavers Consider the following when choosing your pavers: Pavers that are less than 40mm thick should be laid on a bed of mortar to give a total thickness of 40mm or more. Thicker pavers can be laid on a bed of sand. You can choose to butt the pavers up…

I’ve been a closet fan of the mirror bush all my life, and still harbour in my garden the old shiny, green Coprosma repens with its polished leaves. It keeps on outgrowing its allocated space, casting deep shade over other plants because it does not really want to be the small tree that I keep trying to train it into. But such is the main characteristic of this large shrub from the coastal areas of New Zealand, which is part of the coffee plant family: it will just keep on growing and re-shaping itself, despite very sandy and dry soil and strong and salty sea winds, to screen other plants. In countries like Australia this coprosma is a declared weed and it should probably have the same status in South…

Training vegetables up vertical structures is a practical way to use space productively. But there is another reason for doing so: it adds beauty to what is often a utilitarian space. Place obelisks in a veggie garden and immediately the space is transformed: a one-dimensional space becomes three-dimensional. Place an archway or arbour at the entrance or between sections and you add romance and mystery. Arches invite, enticing you to peer through it, offering an Alice in Wonderland moment. Inspirational arches and arbours Use an archway as an entrance to the vegetable garden and an arbour (which can be as simple as a bench under an arch) at the end of the garden as a focal point. Besides ready-made items, arches and arbours can be made from trellis panels joined…

Winter is very much succulent season, with many of the plants looking their bright and colourful best during the cooler weather. Most kalanchoe types are grown for their attractive flowers, which usually appear during the short day lengths of winter, but some are cultivated specifically for their interesting or unusual foliage. Here are examples of three such kalanchoes, which all originate from Madagascar. They are easy to grow and thrive in many gardens around South Africa, especially in the drier areas. Kalanchoe beharensis (felt bush or donkey’s ears) This kalanchoe grows into a large shrub or small tree with stout branches that can reach in excess of 5m tall over a period of time, although garden specimens seldom reach these large proportions as they are usually pruned or cut back…

Conifers are an important group of largely evergreen plants that grow in many parts of the world, but are most significant in cold climates. They are vital to the global timber industry with a variety of different pines, spruces, firs and cypresses being grown and harvested on vast scales in both the northern and southern hemispheres. In the garden they can be found as anything from large trees to the tiniest of dwarf shrubs and spreading groundcovers, and most sizes and shapes in between. In nature some of the oldest living plants (pines) are conifers, while the largest living trees (giant redwoods) are also part of this extensive group of plants. Without conifers it’s safe to say that life on earth would be very different. Multitudes of shapes, colours and…

If you love tropical plants but the area you live in is not conducive to them thriving, you can get the look by planting your tropical gems in a pot and sheltering them on a warm patio. When choosing the plants, use a combination of large and smaller leaves of differing shapes to get the best results. The plants Codiaeum variegatum (crotons) come with vibrant leaves in various colours, and are often grown as indoor pot plants that grow in semi-shade or in the garden in dappled sun to semi-shade. The colours darken in autumn. Don’t overwater, and be aware that they may drop their leaves in very cold weather, so keep them sheltered. Neoregelia is the largest genus of bromeliads with around 90 species, each in varying colours and…

In many cultures across the world trees are often planted to commemorate births or marriages, or given as house-warming gifts. But sometimes trees are also planted in loving memory of someone lost. When I was asked by a friend to recommend a tree for a mini-forest of nineteen small trees to plant in memory of her son’s life, I delved into the treasure chest of rewarding trees that we can plant in ordinary suburban gardens to create a cool woodland – even in small gardens. I also read that our lunar gardening expert, Ilona Thorndike, reckons that the best tree planting days of the year will be the last fertile days at the end of June when it is full moon. So let’s make the most of this great opportunity…

How much space do you have? The bigger your garden the more space you will have (and need) for your compost area. There are plastic compost bins in various sizes, available at most garden centres, that will suit small gardens and produce less organic waste. Often we tend to allocate too little space to composting. You can never add too much compost to your soil, so allocate the biggest possible space you can to this area. Where should you put it? The best place for a compost area is where it will be easy to access, both from your kitchen and your food garden beds. This should preferably also be an area that is protected from drying winds and receives sun. Also ensure a source of water is nearby, which…

1 KITCHEN GARDENING Prepare planting beds for permanent crops such as asparagus, rhubarb, chives and globe artichokes by adding lots of compost and well-rotted kraal manure. Add a dressing of balanced organic fertiliser before planting. Prepare large holes (at least 1m x 1m) for new fruit trees and vines. Back-fill the hole first with the topsoil mixed with a generous helping of compost. Add about 100g of general fertiliser and a huge handful of bonemeal. Fill the holes up and water well to settle. You can now go shopping for fruit trees and vines to plant. 2 BEDDING BESTIE Primulas or primroses (Primula malacoides) are synonymous with winter and spring gardens. These tough annuals grow quickly and easily in spots with semi-shade, and are ideal for mass planting among spring-flowering…

I tried to diagnose certain of my erratic actions by reading up about obsessive-compulsive disorder on Wikipedia the other day. It said, ‘A relatively vague obsession could involve a general sense of disarray or tension accompanied by a belief that life cannot proceed as normal while the imbalance remains’. I think it all started just before Christmas about fifteen-odd years ago, when I was very tired and lay down at noon on my bed to take a power nap. But as I lay down the doorbell started to ring, urgently and repeatedly. I got off the bed and found a young man holding a shiny vacuum cleaner sitting on my ‘Welcome’ mat. Before I could slam the door in his face, he shouted that he was there to clean up…

Tip To get rid of aloe cancer, cut the affected areas out and paint the plant with an aphicide. The disease is caused by a mite. Seven years ago Femma Hackland’s garden was a conventional farm garden – roses, some beds of ornamentals, azaleas, hydrangeas – I’m sure you can picture it. And she hated aloes. Now her garden is a celebration of our hardy succulents, an ode to their beauty and an exultation of their diversity. So how did this happen? What changed? “I thought aloes were terrible plants,” Femma laughs. “My husband, Rick, loved them, but I wouldn’t let him have any in my garden.” She points to one aloe in particular. “There’s a story to this one. Our son gave it to Rick, but I told the…

Q: Do all conifers get attacked by European cypress aphids – an insect pest that has devastated some conifers in recent times? A: Not all conifer types are susceptible to aphid damage. Cypresses (Cupressusor Chamaecyparis) and some of the junipers (Juniperus scopulorum) seem to be the main targets. Aphids, which are tiny and difficult to detect, are a problem during autumn (April to June) and conifers need to be treated during this period. Preventative applications of suitable systemic insecticides need to be applied to vulnerable conifers. Thuja and Platycladus are not affected and don’t require any treatment. Q: Can large, overgrown conifers be pruned back to keep them smaller in stature? A: As a general rule conifers can’t be cut back too hard. Most of them do not produce new…

Laying pavers seems so easy and fun that anyone could do it. While that is somewhat true, there’s more to laying paving than ‘putting the pieces together’. If you’re redesigning or adding paving around your home, first you have to pick a pattern. There are plenty of options, and each has its own defining characteristics and challenges. You just need to pick the right finish for your property. Flagstone With a flagstone pattern you can include designs that are created using irregular-shaped stones arranged randomly. Stones can range in size, and you have a lot of freedom in this design because there are no defined patterns or shapes to follow. Opt for a flagstone walkway if you want to create an authentic and beautiful look. This design works best in…

GET THE LOOK Roses and poppies are wonderful winter and spring companions. Plant the poppies between the roses, and after pruning the poppies will fill the bare space. What’s nice about poppies is that the slender stems and low leafy growth doesn’t compete with the new rose growth or shade it from the sun. By October the poppies are past their best and can be pulled out, leaving the roses to steal the show. Good to know If you can’t transplant the rose immediately, put it in the shade or in a shed covered by wet sacking. Rose care for June Water once a week if necessary. Transplant or plant out new roses. There is no need to fertilise or spray in summer-rainfall areas. If the roses in winter-rainfall areas…

Herbs can easily become part of our daily lives because they have so many different uses. In June, when we celebrate Father’s Day, you’d be surprised at how many herbs can be used in special treats for Dad, as well as look after his health and fitness. Three cheers for Dad! • Botanical gin cocktail with coriander Mix together 1 cup of water, the juice of three limes, 1 cup of gin (yes!), 3 tablespoons of sugar and a few sprigs of coriander. Chill for at least an hour, then add three cups of club soda and serve in a glass with slices of lime. • Beer lovers' snack Chop up three spring onions, sprinkle them with salt and let them draw for 10 minutes. Then combine them with 1¼…

What you need Timber (we used recycled pine, which is basically pallets that have been broken down): 4 x 1070mm x 90mm x 40mm 12 x 1070mm x 95mm x 18mm 3 x 380mm x 90mm x 40mm 80 full-thread screws (4mm x 50mm) 2x 1m x 8mm natural-fibre rope 4 x nail-in wall anchors 6 x U-fencing staples Tools: Tape measure, drill and 10mm drill bit, belt sander, screwdriver, hammer What you do 1 Lay the four 4 x 1070mm x 90mm x 40mm planks on a table. Screw four 1070mm x 95mm x 18mm planks onto them. Screw one at each end, and the other two 310mm from the end planks. 2 Screw four 1070mm x 95mm x 18mm planks onto three 380mm x 90mm x 40mm planks,…