Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2020 i The Gardener Magazine

I love the scent of the holidays, the long days starting with early soft colours, the sunbirds maximising the early morning light and dewdrops, the slow cups of coffee and the many cups that go cold because I am in the garden from early. Somehow, I mislay a cup somewhere in the shrubbery and then end up making another. Then family and friends pop in (more than usual!) and the coffee cups pile up, so that by evening the entire sink is vomiting with them. If only they could self-wash… Also, imagine if coffee mugs could record the many conversations they hear, on a built-in hard drive. I’d call it the ‘eardrive’, and when we are frantic in the winter months when nothing seems to be going right and it’s…

Plant Salvias For long-lasting colour in a garden, you can’t go wrong with salvias (sages). There are so many different types that come under the headings annuals, biennials and perennials, evergreen and semi-evergreen shrubs, that there are plenty to choose from, including the culinary herb varieties. Salvias prefer full sun, but many will do well in semi-shade. The soil should be good, well draining soil enhanced with loads of compost. Water well in the growing season and add a layer of mulch. Remove faded flowers to encourage more flowers. Daylilies As the name suggests, daylilies (Hemerocallis) have flowers that last for one or two days only, but they have a long succession of flowers and come in a wide range of colours. This makes them rewarding to grow, and flowers…

Plant ornamental kale These cool-season annuals are just the thing to add colour to the winter garden or to plant in pots. Although they are edible, they are used more for their ornamental value and should be treated as large flowers. Plant in full sun or semi-shade in slightly acidic soil that is rich and has good drainage. They don’t need a lot of water but will suffer stress if left too long without a drink. The colours form during cold spells but if the weather is too hot they may bolt. Watsonia Anyone lucky enough to see a field of flowering Watsonia in the wild will want them in the garden. The tall flower spikes come in a variety of colours from white and pink to purple and orange.…

Plant echinacea Echinaceas are hardy perennials that can take the cold, and even snow. There are many new hybrids that produce spectacular colourful flowers on string stems that last well in a vase. The cone-shaped centre, the reason for the common name coneflower, is a magnet for butterflies in summer and the birds love the seed heads in winter. They are heat and drought tolerant so make excellent bedding plants for any garden. Echinaceas can grow in full sun or semi-shade and in just about soil that has extra compost added to improve drainage. Water well while the plants are establishing. Tulips Tulips (Tulipa) will only grow in cool or cold ground. Once they are planted, moisture and cold temperatures trigger growth, and after this has happened they can never…

Plant aquilegias A pretty perennial wildflower that likes partial shade, aquilegias or columbines are airy and soft in appearance with wonderful bell-shaped flowers in riveting colours. Sow seed straight into garden beds and once established they will self-seed and you will have them in the garden for years. They are not too fussy about soil, but heavy clay soil is to be avoided. Keep watering and feed with liquid plant food once a month to encourage growth and brighter flowers. sow alyssum Broadcast seed in well-prepared soil and cover very lightly. When seedlings have more than four leaves, thin them out to 15cm apart. They grow very quickly and will do well with added organic fertiliser. Also sow eschscholzias (California poppies), hollyhocks and linarias. Zantedeschia Coloured arums have grown in…

The broad-leaved coral tree is an ideal specimen tree for medium-sized or large gardens. Occurring naturally in the eastern parts of South Africa from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, and inland to Limpopo and Zimbabwe, it inhabits rocky hillsides, grassland slopes and scrub forest in full sun, reaching 5 – 12m high. It is deciduous and summer-growing, the intense deep-red or scarlet flower clusters appearing from late winter to late spring (August – October), followed by large, soft and velvety light green leaves that mature to grey-green. The striking long seed pods take many months to mature, and when ripe split lengthwise to reveal oval-shaped, bright orange-red seeds, each marked with a prominent black dot. The tree has a beautifully sculptured, rough, corky bark, and when mature it develops a…

The "hot veg" varieties to sow/plant before the Full Moon are fruiting types like peppers and chillies. Plant hot root and tubers like garlic, onions or radish on days marked after the Full Moon but before New Moon. The last two days are best for hot leaf veg like chives, mustard and rocket. The overall best planting days for fruit and root edibles, and annual and perennial flowers are the "fertile" days just before the full moon. The "harvest" days are good for produce picking and deadheading annuals to encourage new blooms. BEST DAYS FOR JANUARY…

Good edging plants that either calmly complement or create a bright colour contrast are just what you need to perfectly finish off a mixed border. Try these beauties in your summer garden in full sun or even light shade. They can also be used as fillers and spillers in mixed containers. Acorus gramineus ‘Golden Edge’ This versatile groundcover, which has bright golden foliage, is also known as the Japanese rush. The golden tufts of soft, arching grass can be used as an ornamental border for shrub and perennial beds, in large groups as mass planting subjects, as bright fillers in containers, and even in ponds as aquatic plants. The mature size is about 30 x 30cm. Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ or ‘Breathless’ This new euphorbia will leave you breathless when the…

Plant Gaillardia Commonly called blanket flowers due to their spreading nature, gaillardias are short-living perennials with the brightest of daisy-like flowers. They also self-seed, repeat flower for a long season of colour and are frost hardy. Plant in full sun in well-draining soil (avoid clay soil) and wait for the butterflies. They prefer poor soils so avoid fertiliser. Divide the plants every 2 – 3 years to keep them going. Lachenalia For full sun you can’t go wrong with the indigenous Lachenalia. They need good drainage and light soil, and work well planted in rock gardens, at the front of garden beds or in pots. Avoid using compost when planting, and add sand to lighten the soil. Water regularly throughout the year but don’t water in summer. Lift bulbs in…

Plant pansies, poppies and primulas The winter and spring colour marvels for the garden, these annuals are popular and delightful in the garden. Each of these will find a place in the garden: primulas like light shade, pansies are not too fussy and poppies prefer full sun. Plant all in rich loamy soil and keep the plants moist. Continually remove spent flowers to encourage more flowers and bushy growth, and feed every two weeks with liquid plant food. Sparaxis Sparaxis is easy to grow with striking colourful flowers, and planted closely in groups of 25 or more will brighten a rockery or flower border. They will grow in poor soil but do best with loads of compost and good drainage. They need watering right through winter, and you’ll need to…

Plant Anigozanthos Commonly referred to as kangaroo paw because the flowers resemble such and even have a woolly texture, Anigozanthos are perfect for a splash of colour as tall plants in a flower bed and are good for pots. They are a good choice for frost-free gardens in full sun or light shade and like sandy loamy soil with good drainage. Water well when flowering and not at all in winter. Tidy the plant after flowering by cutting off the blooms. Gladiolus The tall, dazzling stalks of Gladiolus flowers are why they are so welcome in the garden, but they are also easy to grow. The modern hybrids flower in the summer and grow to around 1m tall, and you can have them flowering in batches to cut perfect blooms…

Plant gaura Just like whirling butterflies, the flowers of Gaura lindheimeri dance in the breeze from early summer into autumn, making a special display in the colour you choose, from dark and light pink to pure white. They are sun lovers but can be planted in semi-shade and are heat and humidity tolerant, surviving periods of drought. Plant in well-draining soil enriched with compost and general fertiliser and water three times a week, then watch them blossom. Divide the clumps in autumn. Dahlias These bushy plants produce dazzling displays of large flowers in a huge range of colours and colour combinations. They love a sunny, warm spot and lots of water. They are not fussy about soil, but it must drain well and the whole clump must be planted as…

The Growroom Something that we spotted when we were out and about recently was the spectacular Growroom. On display at the Garden World Garden Design Show, it stole the show, and we felt we had to share it with you. It is a spherical structure that works as a greenhouse of sorts, made from laser-cut plywood. The structure is 2.8m high and 2.5m wide, so you can comfortably stand inside it, or make use of the integrated seating area. The shelves are able to accommodate approximately 400 pots of 15cm diameter, so it becomes quite a show! What a wonderful place to relax and enjoy your garden from. The Growroom can be used for any planting, including vegetables and herbs, as the spherical shape allows sunlight to reach all the…

Plant Coleus For all-season colour, coleus (Solenostemon) is the plant to get. They grow in spots of full sun to shade and are very low maintenance. The combinations of colours and markings on their leaves make these very special plants and their flowers are not important. In fact, cut the stalks with the flowers off before they bloom to keep the leaves bushy. They come from the tropics so love heat, moisture, and rich soil, and will not like frost and will have to be covered in winter. Mulch will help with water retention, but avoid it touching the stems or they may rot. They grow well in containers. Chasmanthe The easy-to-grow indigenous Chasmanthe is tall and elegant for the back of flower beds. Once planted they can be left…

Plant Yarrow Achillea millefolium (yarrow) is an easy-to-grow perennial that thrives in full sun in every kind of soil from heavy clay to sandy soil. The pure white variety is the medicinal one that can be used for many discomforts including cuts, earache, and nose bleeds. The wonderful coloured hybrids of yarrow not only provide excellent colour but can be used as natural insecticides, companion plants and compost activators. With a twice-weekly watering and a couple of spades of compost every now and then it will live forever. Yarrow is a good indicator plant because it’s always the first to show that watering is needed Lilium Lilium comes in many colours and is one of the world’s favourite cut flowers. It is also one of the few bulbs that can…

Time to start a Bokashi bin Plant heucheras There is such an array of tantalising colours that it is hard to choose which of the selection of heucheras to plant. The leaves are the stars while the flowers are small and dainty. Most of them like a semishade position in the garden and they grow well in pots. They are particularly drought-tolerant and need little water – once a week during hot summer. Although the flowers will attract butterflies and birds, cut them off once they start going over to make the plant bushy and to get more of the pretty leaves. Galtonia Indigenous Galtonia hails from the southern Drakensberg. They are available from suppliers for home gardeners to grow, and it is well worth having these pretty flowers in…

Plant lewisia What could be more perfect than a flowering succulent that requires little water and a weak solution of all-purpose fertiliser once a month. These plants are ideal for rock gardens, between pavers, in flower beds and in pots for indoors as long as they have good drainage and moderately fertile soil. The sprays of flowers come in shades of pink to deep magenta, yellow, peach and orange, appearing from late spring to early winter. Begonias Tuberous begonias are perfect for a shady spot in the garden or in pots. They like good drainage and rich soil with added peat and compost. They grow well under trees or on a lightly shaded patio, and can also be grown indoors in a light area. They don’t like frost and wind.…