Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2020 i The Gardener Magazine

If you have got to this point then congratulations are in order! You have successfully downloaded the very firstever, pioneering, brand-new digital copy of The Gardener magazine! Who would have thought that a virus pandemic would alter the course of our lives so much: our businesses, livelihoods and the way we interact with the people around us? I feel some days as if we are living in a parallel universe, and all I want to do is step out of it! The virus has shut down our printers and crippled our distribution company. The effects have been so drastic that several large and trusted brands in the magazine world have closed their doors and will no longer be publishing our favourite companions, which we have loved and supported for years,…

Get dad something novel this Father’s Day The versatile GTA 26 battery-operated handheld chainsaw from STIHL is the ideal gift for the woodworking or gardening enthusiast. Compact and lightweight with a 10cm guidebar, the innovative GTA 26 offers an impressive and accurate cutting performance, quiet operation and a long battery life - everything you need for pruning, cutting up branches or working on wood-based projects. www.stihl.co.za Gardening Gifts Celebrate Father’s Day with a gardening gift from his favourite child. Beautifully crafted garden goodies are available at www.tanyavisser.com. Hanging Bird Feeding Cage There’s nothing better than a garden teeming with life. Bring all the birds to your yard using this hanging bird feeding cage from Eva Solo. Made from ceramic and stainless steel, it is robust and sturdy enough to hang…

The white ironwood is a tall or spreading evergreen tree, usually 7 – 20m high. It has smooth, light greyish-white bark and a rounded crown covered with shiny, trifoliate, lance-shaped leaves with wavy edges. It occurs widely in summer-rainfall parts of South Africa, from the southern Cape to Limpopo, and extends into tropical Africa. A member of the buchu family (Rutaceae), its leaves impart a lemon aroma when bruised. The minute, light green flowers are carried in dense clusters at the branch tips from early to mid-summer (November to January), and are followed by green, rounded berries that turn purple when ripe. The tree performs best in full sun and prefers well-drained loamy soils, but will also do well in heavily composted sandy soils. Saplings are best planted out in…

Argyranthemum ‘Grandaisy Red’ is a new intergeneric hybrid that is a cross between an annual chrysanthemum (painted daisy) and a perennial daisy bush. The result is a free-flowering, tough and bushy plant that grows up to 35 – 45cm tall with bright and bold daisy flowers of 6cm across. This plant is punted as a breakthrough for patio and balcony pots as it will heartily bloom for months on end, from July to October. Go potty with daffodils Plant up a terrarium Charming chasmanthe Dividing aloes Preserving parsley Red therapy Success with shade lawns Sow bokbaaivygies A bonsai succulent Make paper pots…

Treat yourself to a lovely new cyclamen variety called ‘Pipoca’. This fabulous and sturdy little plant is a vision of frilly flowers above a dense skirt of small, serrated leaves. It produces a mass of lantern-shaped buds with an acid-yellowish-green colour that softens when the buds open up fully into shades of magenta, purple or salmon. Cyclamens are typical cool-weather-flowering houseplants, adding cheer to any indoor room. Place them in bright, indirect light and water from below when the soil medium starts feeling dry to the touch.…

1 Cake Pan Birdfeeder Baking lovers (or ex-bakers with extra equipment) will love this DIY, and it is by far the quickest and easiest one on the list. This cake pan birdfeeder is great to hang outside your kitchen window. Tie twine around a block of wood or two icecream sticks glued into a cross and pull the twine through the hole in the cake pan. Fill with bird seed. 2 Lego Birdfeeder This is a great craft for kids, or a way to use those old Lego pieces stuck in a box in the garage. All you need are a few pieces of Lego and a flat space to place your finished masterpiece. Build a wide base with a rim for the birds to stand on. Leave some space…

Rose care for June Transplant roses that are in the wrong place. Plant winter annuals like pansies, violas, primulas and alyssum as a border in front of the roses, or poppies between the roses. Water once a week. Continue dead-heading to keep bushes looking neat. Spray in winter-rainfall areas to prevent black spot, rust or downy mildew. Spray with Chronos or Rose Protector. Fertilise roses in the sub-tropical areas to encourage blooms in winter. Plant a rose ‘Clocolan’ If you’re looking for a rose that grows without any special care, ‘Clocolan’ is a good choice. It grows into a broad, chesthigh shrub that continuously produces large, old-fashioned blooms in a warm golden-apricot colour. The flowers are borne on pickable stems on huge candelabras as well as sprinkled on shorter side…

Pathways are an integral part of any garden, but are often left as a last thought or are not given a thought at all. Pathways are more than just a way to get from A to B – they create structure and movement, and highlight the parts of the garden you want people to see most. This checklist will help you decide on the perfect pathway for your space. 1 CHOOSING THE SPACE Usually this question is already answered when you decide to build a path, but it is an important consideration nonetheless. The number one factor in deciding where your pathway will go should be the natural routes you use to get from one place to another. There is nothing worse than having to follow an obscure pathway when…

Dry beans are a power food second to none, and they ‘beef up’ slowcooked comfort food like soups, casseroles and stove-top stews. They are also a staple food in many parts of the world, being a rich source of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Half a cup of cooked dry beans contains about 115 calories and provides 8 grams of protein. They also contain phytochemicals that are believed to help prevent osteoporosis, heart disease and some cancers. Where do herbs come in? During slow cooking, beans absorb flavours to produce a succulent dish, which means that when herbs are added you get to enjoy all their subtle flavours. A QUICK GUIDE TO COMBINING HERBS WITH BEANS • In general, most beans go well with herbs like parsley, rosemary, sage, savory…

Every gardener looks forward to spring, but good-looking spring gardens require some early preparation. When planting daffodils, the quintessential spring bulb, your preparation starts this autumn. Daffodils can grow in a number of conditions and places, but they look particularly spectacular in pots. Steps: Choose any container with adequate drainage and place a layer of pebbles at the bottom – bulbs don’t like to be waterlogged. Fill the bottom of the pot with a mixture of two parts potting soil and one part compost. Push the bulbs firmly into the soil, with the pointed side facing upwards, about 5cm apart and as deep as twice the size of the bulb. For a fuller look in a deeper pot, plant the daffodil bulbs in two layers or choose a different, shorter…

Hydrangea quercifolia (oak-leaved hydrangea) may be a summer-flowering scrambling shrub, but that is not where its value ends… The conical flowerheads of creamy white flowers last well into autumn, turning pink with age. They are beautiful to pick for the vase! The large and deeply lobed leaves are dark green in summer, turning to rich shades of bronze, burgundy and purple before the plant goes to sleep in winter, giving this graceful old-fashioned shrub a very exotic appearance. It is very hardy to cold and frost. Requirements Dappled shade; Compost-enriched, loamy soil; Water generously and regularly; Mulch with pine needles. Note: Planting an oak-leaved hydrangea now will give it ample time to settle in during winter for fast, active growth in spring.…

Those of us who have been lucky enough to visit the Chelsea Flower Show over the years have always had a hankering to grow the giant alliums that are often a part of mixed borders. The plantsmen at the show are masters of combining grasses, short and tall annuals, and perennials to perfection so that they look like they have been there forever, rather than the actual short couple of weeks prior to the show opening. Alliums are always a favourite for this type of planting, mostly thanks to their long stalks that proudly display ball-shaped clusters of flowers. The good news is that now we can grow them at home. Packs of the large purple allium bulb are now available online from Hadeco (www.hadeco.co.za). They reach a height of…

Senecio candicans ‘Angel Wings’ is sure to catch the eye, whether growing outdoors in the garden or sitting indoors in a pretty pot! This frost-tender succulent is a fast grower that reaches up to 40cm high, with a rounded, evergreen growth habit made up of large, heart-shaped, silvery white leaves with slight indentations on their margins. Short, dense hairs on the surfaces of the leaves feel velvety to the touch. This striking plant grows actively from early spring to autumn, when it goes into a short period of dormancy. Just like its cousin Senecio ‘Dusty Miller’, it will produce bright yellow aster-like flowers in summer. Requirements Position Full sun or light shade outdoors, and bright light indoors. Soil Any soil will do as long as it drains very well. It…

Syzygium paniculatum (brush cherry) is the favourite of many a topiary lover because it grows fast and easily, and responds so well to the regular clipping necessary to create a formal shape. How to ‘train’ a standard topiary Our topiary in the making… We planted a young syzygium, which had already been given the first pruning treatment to shape it into a standard, in a pot. The next step was to stake and protect the main stem, as it must be kept very straight while growing strong enough to support the heavy crown in future. We used a sturdy stake and string to tie the plant to the stake and then covered it with a ribbon of hessian to give it a neat finish. Then we paid attention to the…

A perennial that starts blooming in spring and keeps up a never-ending supply of flowers until late autumn deserves its place in any garden, especially when it does this with virtually no maintenance! Scabiosa columbaria (wild scabious or pincushion flower) varieties are such plants, and an added bonus is that they call all butterflies and other insects to feed on their nectar. Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’, with its lavender blue flowers, and Scabiosa columbaria ‘Pink Mist’, with delicate pink flowers, are two varieties to try in your garden. The plants are hardy with low mounds of ferny foliage supporting sturdy flower stems. The flowers resemble perfect little pincushions with a dense combination of small and large petals – hence the name pincushion flower. Plant: In well-draining soil; In full sun;…

While composters come in all shapes and sizes, this stackable composter is one of the easiest to use, and it is also sturdy and practical. The multiple tiers make it simple to maintain your compost heap, and you could also add a lid to make it waterproof. Importantly, it is also cheap and easy to make in a day from standard treated wood. What you need Cutting list for CCA-treated fencing slats (for four composter tiers) 16 x 600mm x 75mm x 22mm – longer sides 16 x 555mm x 75mm x 22mm – shorter sides 16 x 180mm x 75mm x 22mm – legs 2 x 505mm x 22mm x 22mm – longer cleats for wire 2 x 400mm x 22mm x 22mm – shorter cleats for wire 128…

Tulbaghia violacea (wild garlic or society garlic) Wild garlic is perfect for the hottest spot in your garden, and even in light shade, and is able to withstand prolonged periods of drought. But if you treat this bulbous, clump-forming perennial well, with compost-enriched soil and regular water, it will flower even more impressively. The leaves are narrow, long and strap-like with a fleshy texture and a strong garlic smell when bruised. Mauve tubular flowers arranged in umbels are produced on sturdy flower stems and appear from summer to autumn. They also smell of garlic, and are great pollinators for butterflies and bees. Both leaves and flowers are edible. It is believed that these strongly aromatic plants discourage snakes, moles and aphids. Chlorophytum saundersiae (weeping anthericum) Botanists refer to these plants…

Most bonsai trees are styled to have a triangular silhouette. This is more obvious with traditional bonsai styles, i.e. Northern hemisphere trees, but is still relevant with our African styles like the baobab and the flat crown. However, sometimes you need a fair bit of imagination to see this triangular shape – it is a bit like seeing the constellations in the stars. Sometimes the shape seems invisible until somebody points it out, and after that you can’t help but see the triangle. Here is how it works. A miniature tree that has not been styled is simply a small bush. The branches grow out in arbitrary directions, and there is a whole lot of foliage. Our task as bonsai growers is to create a beautiful, stylish miniature tree out…

Weed helpers Weeds in paving can be difficult to control, but No Weed Paving RTU from Efekto is effective against grasses like kikuyu and kweek, annual broadleaf weeds, and certain perennial broadleaf weeds and sedges. This ready-to-use, nonselective, systemic, foliar-applied herbicide is for the control of weeds on paving and surrounding areas. Apply to actively growing weeds and not to weeds suffering from stress. Perennial weeds should be sprayed when flowering is initiated or in mid-summer to early autumn. www.efekto.co.za Your complete cleaning solution STIHL’s range of high-pressure cleaners provide an easy-touse solution to keep your paving, driveway and home looking their best. With high-quality components and an extensive range of attachments for a variety of cleaning tasks, these machines offer powerful cleaning performance. STIHL now also offers a range…

Saving space is not the only reason for growing veggies vertically. Veggies twining up obelisks, tumbling over archways, vining up a tepee or acting as a green screen beautify a veggie garden while also making it more productive. Veggies grown upwards are generally healthier, and less susceptible to fungal disease because the leaves dry off quickly after watering and there is better air circulation. Going vertical is an effective alternative way to grow pumpkins, squashes, watermelons and other melons that take up so much ground space. A tepee hideaway, planted with peas or runner beans and flowers, is a sure way to entice kids into the garden, and maybe even get them gardening. Re-purpose all that stuff you were going to throw away. Mount old gutters on a wall for…

What you need A glass jar, preferably with a cork or stopper A plastic funnel or a sheet of paper to roll up to form a funnel (or both) Fine gravel Small tumbled pebbles Activated charcoal (Available at pet stores for use in fish tanks. This stops the water from going green). Terrarium tool set (extendable) – available online from Soil mix of 1 part of each: peat, coconut husk, potting soil Selection of plants – we used and moss Top terrarium tips Use contrasting colours of gravel and pebbles for a more exciting look. The ideal finished terrarium should be ⅔ empty space and ⅓ planted up. Choose plants that provide different levels in the container: short, tall and medium plants. Don’t add too many plants;…

It could be said that this little plant is the succulent world’s natural bonsai, as it definitely resembles a miniature tree with its delicate branching stems bearing many small rosettes that create a rounded crown. Another thought that arises when gazing at the dwarf aeonium, as it is commonly known, is that it looks like a plastic plant. The slightly sticky rounded leaves are lime-green with red stripes if grown outdoors in sunlight, or glossy green with virtually no red markings if grown indoors or in shade – which is by far the better option. The growth season for aeoniums in general is during the cool temperatures of winter and spring, when they also prefer regular watering. These plants don’t like to get too hot (they can go semi-dormant in…

If it’s the ‘wow’ from flower power you’re looking for, then poppies are just the thing. While some gardeners don’t like to buy seedlings when they can’t see any blooms on the plants, poppies offer their best when planted early in the season, soon providing blooms that will keep going right through to late spring. Striking new hybrids are available in mixed colours as well as in single colours for those with specific colour schemes.…

Lilium bulbs are available now and must be planted immediately. The planting depth is twice the width of the bulb. Fill up your hanging baskets with pansies, violas, petunias and alyssum. Cut back perennials like Michaelmas daisies, physostegias, penstemons, salvias and achilleas (yarrows). Light up your herb garden with frilly ornamental kale, which is ready, as seedlings, to plant now. Don’t prune evergreen plants that have the potential to get frost damage. Pruning will encourage new growth, which is especially tender to frost, in sunny, unpredictable weather. In frosty gardens it is best to leave old stems or leaves on perennials that have finished flowering and are going dormant. Simply tie the spent stems and foliage together with raffia or string, as this will protect the centres or crowns of…

Indigenous bokbaaivygies (Cleretum bellidiforme) should be sown in large drifts in the sunniest of spots so that you can enjoy their satiny flowers with the many lance-shaped petals in the most dazzling colours. The flowers of these annuals are not their only assets; the succulent green or maroon-tinted leaves add more sparkle, with their raised surface cells modified to store water glistening in sunlight. If bokbaaivygies are sown now you can expect germination in 7 – 14 days, followed by rapid vegetative growth during winter before the happy flowering faces appear in late winter or early spring. There are two ways to sow… 1. Sow directly Cultivate the soil to a fine tilth after enriching it with compost – any garden soil is good, and willeventhriveinpoor sandy soils. As the…

It’s amazing how much energy a touch of red can add to an otherwise predominantly green planting scheme, such as in this walled inner sanctum of a holiday home. A fever tree (Vachellia xanthophloea) casts its high and dappled shade over a pencil plant (Euphorbia tirucalli), Cape thatching reed (Elegia tectorum), confetti bush (Coleonema pulchellum), two aloe hybrids and blue chalkstick (Curio ficoides). All of these are indigenous and sporting an early winter look, with the aloes flowering or about to. Central to this calm scene is a bold, blood-red laser-cut steel sculpture depicting a watsonia in flower. Other touches of red… There are more red elements further along in this small garden: deck chairs and a scarlet clerodendron (Clerodendron splendens), an old-fashioned scrambling or semi-climbing plant from tropical West-Africa…