Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2021 i The Gardener Magazine

Practicality – Is it, for example, practical to pave a steep slope, or should we consider terracing first? What difference will it make if we choose cobbles over large flagstones for a specific area? Do the pavers need to be non-slip, or does it not matter? Can we minimise cutting pavers by designing the dimensions in multiples of the paver size? When considering water run-off, which way should stormwater be directed off the paved surface? Can we use grass pavers as an option, and does it make sense when considering purpose and also from a water-wise point of view? Purpose – Is the paved area to be driven over, walked on or used as an entertainment space? Is it merely aesthetic or decorative? Is it a solid area, broken or…

Many gardeners assume that the tree wisteria (Bolusanthus speciosus) is exotic due to its common name, it’s glamorous appearance and the sheer showiness of a mature specimen in full bloom. Rest assured that this spectacular tree is one of our own, and one of the most beautiful specimen trees in the country, at that. Indigenous to much of tropical East Africa, the tree wisteria can be found natively all the way from north-eastern South Africa through Mozambique to Angola, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Eswatini. Thanks to its striking appearance, it has also been introduced as an ornamental tree in Australia, India and other parts of Africa such as Kenya and Uganda. It is a protected species in South Africa, so can’t be cut down or damaged in any way. A…

Pets also need some pampering in winter. Like people, animals feel the cold and their immune systems are put under pressure by cold weather. There are skin complaints, joint inflammation and arthritis that can flare up as well, especially in older animals. Besides being kept warm, cats and dogs, even birds, can benefit from healthy herbal tonics added to their food and drinking water. Using herbs to ease digestive problems and expel worms are other ways to help to maintain a pet’s general level of health, while herbal washes keep coats and skin healthy. (It is always important to stress that herbal treatments should never replace a visit to the vet.) According to Mary Wulff-Tilford and Gregory Tilford, authors of Herbs for Pets (Bowtie Press), the greatest healing potential of…

Green ponds and slimy water features can be a big problem for many of us. The long, hot sunny days of summer create a lot of green ponds and frustrate a lot of pond keepers, and during summer I get calls just about every day about green ponds and how to fix them. Thankfully, there are solutions to help keep algae under control, which I will share with you below: Algae comes in different forms: you might just have pea-green water, or you might get filamentous or blanket weed algae. Or if you are very unlucky, you might get both! Algae are simple chlorophyll-containing plants that need carbon dioxide, sunlight, water and minerals. Koi ponds definitely have lots of available minerals for algae, like nitrates, but algae growth tends to…

What you need Quick-set cement Water Sandy Large botanical leaves with strong veins Wire Tools: Gloves, pliers 1. Mix the quick-set cement with water until it is the consistency of a slushpuppy. 2. Make a mound of sand for each leaf, and place your leaves upside down onto the mounds. Cut off any long stems from the leaves. 3. Wearing gloves, pack the cement onto the leaves. Prevent the cement from running off by placing sand under the edges of the leaves so that they curl upward. Make sure that the cement coverage is consistent in thickness to prevent breaks and cracks once dry. 4. Cut 5cm-long pieces of wire and bend the ends together, creating a loop. Place the loops into the wet cement, just below the leaf stem.…

Leucadendron ‘Cream Delight’ This hybrid of L. salignum is a medium-sized and compact shrub with a mature size of about 2 x 1m. Sturdy maroon stems are topped with cream cones touched with a blush of pink in July and August. Great cut flower. Aulax ‘Bronze Haze’ A variety of A. cancellata that grows up to 2m high and 1.5m wide, with spectacular deep bronze foliage colour in autumn and winter. Feathery bright yellow flowers appear in early spring. Great cut flower. Leucospermum ‘Sweet Lucy’ A variety of L. bolusii that reaches up to 1m high and wide. This sweet-smelling little shrub attracts birds and honeybees and will grow perfectly in a pot. Flower buds are encased in dark pink bracts, opening into clusters of petite creamy white flowers in…

If you are amped to start a collection of succulent plants that are mostly indigenous to our continent, why not go for all the miniature aloes readily available on the commercial plant market? We are blessed with top-notch local plant breeders who are passionate about aloes, from the large and stately to the really tiny. From their expert knowledge and flighty fingers arose the most beautiful little aloe hybrids and selections for collectors as well as those who can only garden in pots or in very limited garden space. Aloe species are naturally very tough and forgiving succulents needing limited care, but modern gardeners demand a little more from their plants, which aloe breeders have attended to. They have bred fast-growing miniature hybrids with more than one flowering period in…

Propagation is also an ideal practice for the curious next-generation gardener. The best way to learn about how plants work is to get up close and experiment, and propagation provides that opportunity. It’s like a plant bootcamp for indoor gardeners. As you examine their roots, watch how they grow, and adjust to their conditions, you will learn more about your indoor friends than you ever could in your regular care routine. There are some basics to remember before you get started, and some specifics in the types of propagation and their methods, but once you get the hang of each one, you can apply one of them to (almost) any plant you buy. Make more for yourself, make more for your friends, and become the resident master propagator in your…

According to the language of flowers, stocks symbolise bonds of affection and promptness with a meaning that reads, “You’ll always be beautiful to me”. Stocks love basking in full sun but can handle semi-shade too. Tolerating harsh frosts is one of their plusses, with the other major drawcard being their scented blooms, which are a winner as cut flowers and used indoors during winter and spring. Stocks are not demanding when it comes to maintenance, but regular watering and feeding will make your display come alive with colourful and vibrant flower shows. Whether your rockery needs some colour, your flower bed needs a front or back border, or you just have a sunny spot that could do with some brightening up, stocks will do the trick. They’re available in colours…

Order lilium bulbs and plant them this month for rewarding garden, pot and cut flowers in late spring. These are some of the most spectacular garden flowers and worth growing with these tips: How to grow lilies in the garden Lilies like cool, temperate climates with reasonable rainfall. Choose a position in the garden where the flowers and foliage can get a bit of sun but the bulbs will remain cool in the soil, like near the base of a shrub. Prepare the soil well – lilies need very good drainage. Dig up the bed to a depth of at least 20cm and improve the top soil with loads of well-decomposed compost or leaf mould. Add coarse sand to heavy clay soils as well to improve drainage. Do not allow…

Lobelia Lobelias are dainty, prolifically flowering annuals that can create a pretty border in the foreground or billowing cushions of colour between other plants. They are mostly available in sky blue and deep purple, but there are also rose pink, lilac, white and a mix of all the colours. Lobelias like morning sun and shade in the afternoon, and moist, compost-enriched soil. To prolong their flowering season, feed regularly with a water-soluble fertiliser. Antirrhinum If you want blooms with long stems (between 65 and 90cm tall) to pick as cut flowers, you should go for ‘Madame Butterfly’ or ‘Rocket’ in mixed or single colours. If you just want to look at the blooms and enjoy them in your flowerbeds, try ‘Snapshot Mix’, which has a dwarf growth habit. Just make…

Rose of the month ‘Afrikaans’ is for lovers of brilliant orange roses with a golden heart. It will stand out from all the other roses for its vibrant blooms that cover the tall bush from top to bottom, so plant it with the purpose of showing it off. The bush itself is robust with glossy green, disease-free leaves. A fully grown bush is 2m high and wide. Also good in large containers. Rose care for July It is time to prune the roses. In most regions this can be done from 20 July to the first week of August. Delay until mid-August in very cold areas. After pruning, renew and aerate the soil around the roses. Dig down to a depth of 30cm, adding lots of compost and an application…

BEST DAYS FOR JULY…

What you need Lowroundbowl Pieces of terracotta pot or stones Succulent potting medium (make your own by mixing together 60% potting soil, 10% akadama*, 10% fine silica sand, 10% coarse gravel and 10% organic fertiliser like Atlantic Bio Ocean) Large stones or pebbles Decorative gravel Aloes (we used the following aloes: Place stones or pieces of terracotta over the pot’s drainage hole and fill the pot halfway with the potting medium. Place the largest aloe off-centre and group smaller aloes in clusters around it. Fill in with the potting medium and firm it down. Place large stones or pebbles in gaps to mimic a natural landscape and finish off by covering soil with decorative gravel. Water well and place in a sunny spot.…

Having a large vegetable garden may be the dream of every veggie grower, but it is the discipline of growing veggies in a small space that is the making of an effective gardener. Maximising the productivity of a small space is about picking the right vegetables: suitable container varieties, cut-and-come-again varieties, compact growers and those that are quick to harvest. It is also about planting methods that optimise the yield, such as succession planting, high-density planting and interplanting. Compact growers with high yields Leafy greens top the list: Swiss chard, dwarf kale, Asian greens such as pak choi and tatsoi, leaf lettuce varieties, rocket and beetroot, for its leaves as well as the root. In square-foot gardening, the general practice is to plant four Swiss chard plants in the equivalent…

‘Everillo’ is a highly decorative grass-like groundcover with narrow, arching, lime-green leaves that gradually turn golden yellow in the warmer months. It flowers rather inconspicuously with brown flower spikes in summer, but they are not the reason why we love this versatile ornamental grass so much. Its best attribute is that it can be used to illuminate shady areas, or to add great contrast and texture to sunny spots with its lovely foliage colour. Mature size about 50 x 50cm. Uses: If planted along the edge of a raised area or pathway, the fountain-like growth habit and soft foliage will spill over and soften the hard landscaping. Perfect for mass planting around any focal point, like a statue, bird bath or any other garden sculpture, to highlight it. Lovely choice…

Kalanchoe tomentosa (panda plant) is an erect, multi-stemmed succulent up to 90cm tall with loose rosettes comprised of furry, oval leaves. The light grey velvety leaves are covered in dense hairs and look like they have been dipped in chocolate. This plant is native to Madagascar, where it grows in harsh terrain in rocky soils. Insignificant yellow-green tubular flowers appear in spring and summer. It is for the lovely foliage and ease of growth that this slow-growing succulent has become a favourite container plant. It likes a few hours of morning sun and fairly dry conditions (especially in winter). If kept indoors, grow it on a sunny windowsill or in bright, indirect light. Water only when the soil feels dry, and feed regularly during the summer months with a water-soluble…

Based on our sowing guide, it is thumbs up for sowing garden peas in many areas. The soil is still cold, which may hamper germination, but if you are raring to go, here is an easy way to get peas started in cold soil. The secret is to pre-sprout them: Decide how many peas you want to plant. Rather than planting the whole crop at once, consider starting with one row, followed in two-week’s time by a second row. Put the seeds for your first planting between two layers of wet paper towel, in a plastic bag or airtight container. Close or seal the bag and keep it in a warm room (but not in direct sunlight) for 24 hours. If the seeds have filled out and you can see…

What you need Old wooden garden trellis Turbo screws (4mm x 20mm) Spray paint (we used Rust-Oleum Orange Gloss) Tools: Pliers, cordless drill, hammer Steps Disassemble the old trellis by levering it apart with the hammer. Use pliers to remove all the staples. Lay out the wood to make a pattern of your choice, using three long pieces as legs. Screw the wooden slats together. Spray-paint and leave to dry. TIP Trellises are great for aiding climbers in the garden. Never place your trellis directly onto a wall that gets afternoon sun; this could burn the plant’s leaves. Always leave a 5cm gap between your trellis and the wall to allow for sufficient airflow to keep your plants cool. Watch on Garden Tube SCAN ME…

Being stuck with my hand on a mouse for so many years of writing, editing and proofreading gardening articles has not actually bred a great love for this little piece of, lately, wireless technology. I have killed many a mouse by bashing it in frustration against other stuff when it didn’t want to respond. Old mouse bodies litter my office! A permanently uncomfortable position (especially if you have to troll through thousands of photographs of unnamed plants) has taken its toll and I am now left with a typical case of ‘mouse arm’ – great flames of pain shoot through my wrist and up my arm! The fact that I simultaneously use this same arm while formally working to do other things (which I had better not mention) is not…