Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2019 i The Gardener Magazine

In the fields of gardening and landscaping, it’s not often that you get the chance to build a garden of your dreams. As we all know, gardening is expensive, and it’s rare that a multi-millionaire is happy to spend some of their fortune on building a garden on a massive scale. But Garrick Hawkins, one of Australia’s wealthiest merchant bankers, and his wife, Evelyn, did just that when they built Mayfield Gardens in the unforgiving climate around Oberon in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. They started out landscaping around their Georgianstyle home, which has a wraparound veranda and 360° views of the countryside, but in 1984 the family purchased the surrounding farmland, expanding their gardens into it. Over time the project grew and grew into the gardens they are…

Anthuriums are popular indoor plants as they are easy to care for and produce long-lasting flowers, but they can also be grown outdoors. Follow these simple steps to ensure your anthuriums last: ● Light: These plants need bright, indirect sunlight. With too little light the flowers will not grow and in direct sunlight the leaves may burn. ● Water: Anthuriums don’t like being overwatered. Make sure the soil is well draining and wait for the soil to dry out before watering. ● Humidity: As anthuriums are tropical plants, higher humidity is better for your plants to flourish. ● Repotting: If you are planting indoors and want your anthurium to grow tall, you can repot annually in spring if needed. ● Height: Anthuriums can grow up to 800mm, so can make…

Regular maintenance to keep the house and garden in good nick is something you cannot skip. So if you have to spend the cooler months grafting away to fix stuff, smile as it can save you frustration, injury, money and even insurance claims later. In the garden and around the house Light up your focal points and plants, the pond and treacherous steps with garden lights fitted with low-energy light bulbs. Motiondetecting outdoor lights for security purposes versus those that burn all night is also a way to save on electrical power. Remove large, overhanging branches close to the house, and also check the centre of large trees for dead or diseased wood. If the garden has been too shady in summer and most of your trees happen to be…

Tork Craft biscuit jointer A biscuit jointer is used to join two pieces of wood together providing a quick means of getting a perfectly flush joint, while at the same time reinforcing the joint and adding strength to the joinery. It uses a small circular saw blade to cut a crescent-shaped hole in the opposite edges of two pieces of wood or wood composite panels. An ovalshaped, highly-dried and compressed wooden biscuit is glued into the slot and clamped together. The wet glue expands the biscuit, further improving the bond. WHAT YOU NEED 20mm pine cut to the following dimensions: 1 x 350mm x 300mm (outside of armrest) 4 x 140mm x 65mm (dividers) 1 x 350mm x 140mm (compartment cover) 1 x 350mm x 70mm (compartment bottom) 1 x…

Pratley Perlite Mining, part of the Pratley stable of companies that first brought its solutions to market in 1948, actively mines a mineral called Perlite at a unique deposit in South Africa. The ore is processed using proprietary technology to produce major products such as Grolite® for the farming industry. It is a distinctive, naturally-occurring mineral employed as a horticultural or hydroponic growing medium. Grolite® allows for improved fertiliser efficiency, which boosts plant health and growth. It also promotes water drainage while retaining the required moisture, leading to healthier plants and increased crop yields. It maintains optimal soil aeration, a critical factor in normal plant growth to supply oxygen to roots in adequate quantities, essential for healthy plant growth. Available at selected nurseries and from Pratley. www.pratley.com…

Some plants are cultivated for their attractive colourful foliage rather than their flowers, and in the succulent world there are many such plants. During winter or periods of drought the leaf colour is enhanced significantly, the bright red and scarlet hues of the leaves making a profound statement in the landscape. Use these plants to brighten up the winter garden to great effect. Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Fire Sticks’ The pencil plant (Euphorbia tirucalli) is abundant in the warmer regions of our country where it seeds itself readily and often forms almost impenetrable thickets. The fashionable garden variety ‘Sticks of Fire’ has golden-yellow branches with coral-orange tips and tiny leaves. Drought and heat deepen the colours to red, which makes the plant stand out like a beacon. ‘Sticks of Fire’ is often…

1 It’s time to replace those dead light bulbs, with low-energy or LED bulbs. While you are busy, you might as well wash the light covers and shine the chandeliers. 2 Wash the windows – it gives you a better view onto your garden. 3 The wood of the front door and the backdoor swells and gets stuck if not treated and sealed regularly in wet weather. Also oil the hinges, unless you like the ‘creaking door’ effect. 4 Make an appointment to have your air conditioners serviced by a professional company. 5 De-clutter, clean and organise your work place or study – hospices and old age homes would appreciate all your old magazines and books. 6 Check all the electric cables around the house. Frayed wires and some DIY…

1 Daisy days are here again Some of our prettiest daisies start flowering this month. Fill up your garden with their bright and happy faces: •Euryops virgineus(honey euryops or river resin bush) This shrubs covers itself in masses of small bright yellow flowers with a sweet fragrance. The leaves are bright green and needle-like. •Felicia ‘Out of the Blue’ (kingfisher daisy) This little shrub just smothers itself with small blue daisies with yellow centers. •Arctotis hybrids Check out the nurseries for the latest and brightest hybrids of these wonderful groundcovers. Arctotis ‘Radiance’ come to mind with its bright red daisy-like flowers. 2 Use the Elephant’s food much more The humble Portulacaria afra (spekboom or elephant’s food) is a carbon guzzler of note and has great garden potential if used in…

Anthuriums are exotic plants with unique, almost bizarre flowers that make them undeniably irresistible. The name stems from Greek, meaning ‘tail flower’, which perfectly describes their shiny, tropical flowers. This traditional garden staple is making a big comeback, and with so many colours there is certainly an option to suit every garden. Anthuriums are also hardy and long lasting – a good investment for your garden in 2019. Varieties The classics: When thinking of anthuriums, red is often the first colour that comes to mind. If this appeals to you, ‘Matiz’ and ‘Michigan’ are slightly different red varieties, the former with an orange-red hue and the latter closer to a pink-red. The leaves also have slightly different shapes so your choice will depend on your garden aesthetic. Another classic choice…

Indoor plants are the new popular design trend. When choosing your indoor plants it’s important not to forget the role that containers play in completing a look. The explosion in the popularity of indoor gardening has made the choices for container types endless, and whether you’re going for traditional or ultra-modern there is bound to be a perfect container for you. BASKETS Woven baskets add a natural element to indoor spaces and pair perfectly with larger plants. Big, overhanging leaves or tall plants stems work best to provide a balance that highlights both the plant and the container. Combine the natural with the modern by using coloured baskets with simple stripes like black or white to make your indoor plants more striking. A classic option with both POTS versatility and…

There are so many reasons to love cymbidiums: They are easy to grow and will flower even without much attention, They have long-lasting flowers in a range of colours, shapes and sizes, and, Most of them flower during winter to brighten up those cold days. There are few places in South Africa where cymbidiums won’t grow – they are tough and can handle fair amounts of cold, even with some light frost. The plants can even handle hot summers. It was always thought that cymbidiums couldn’t be grown and flower along South Africa’s east coast, but with careful selection you can find a few cymbidiums that will even flower in places like Richards Bay. Cymbidium plants have oval to rounded pseudobulbs that sit just above the substrate, and long grass-like…

Primulas are winter’s most magical flowers. Their airy, lacy flowers are produced in such abundance that they fill a garden bed or border, creating drifts of colour in shades of lavender, rose, white or wine-red. Not surprisingly, the open-pollinated Primula malacoides are also known as fairy primulas. Despite their delicate appearance, these are reliable, easy-growing and undemanding plants for light shade areas. For a spectacular effect, interplant them with spring-flowering bulbs that also like semi-shade, like daffodils or tulips. There are some Primula malacoides hybrids that are more compact, with large dense flower clusters in darker pinks and purples, as well as a light pink and white as part of the mix. Another primula variety is Primula obconica (German primrose), which looks like a sturdier version of the fairy primula,…

Health – Wellness – Sustainability The Herb Farm Gardenette is a compact herb, plant and gift shop at The Herb Farm that will help you live a sustainable, healthy and organic lifestyle. The owner, Neil Becker, has this to say about his new venture: “The beautiful herb gardens are here for people to enjoy and get them excited and hopefully inspired to also have a piece of paradise at their own homes. The Gardenette’s select product range is based on the plants in the gardens and is carefully put together to help you create your own green space at home, whether it be a herb, vegetable or container garden. Ready-to-use herbal products and gifting complements the unique offering at The Herb Farm Gardenette.” Herb Plants Galore! An extensive range of…