Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2022 i The Gardener Magazine

We all get our love of gardening from somewhere. Actually, that’s not quite true – almost all of us get our love of gardening from someone. I remember gardening with my parents on the weekends, and it is certainly where the spark started. Along the way I have been inspired by so many other gardeners, but it was definitely those first memories with my parents that were the real beginning. Young and old, wee can also all continue to learn from our parents and grandparents, and continue to be inspired by them too. Which is why it was so nice to get the following letter the other day from Maritza Moolman, about her ouma: Yvonne Schlebusch, 88 years of age, is a retired teacher and a beloved mother and grandmother.…

When it comes to indigenous edibles, a few spring to mind, especially the fruit of the marula tree that was so memorable in Jamie Uys’s iconic film Beautiful People (1974). In it, wild animals like elephants, baboons, ostriches and warthogs gorge themselves on fermented marula fruit and then find themselves quite drunk. For those who are not as old as me, you can still see clips from the movie on YouTube for a good laugh. Amongst the more than 22 000 indigenous plant species found in our country, there are a host of edible ones including grains, roots, leaves, berries and fruits. However, there are also about twice as many that are poisonous, so it’s good to be sure before eating any plant. Here are some of the most common…

Available in a stunning array of colours, these arum lilies are often called calla lilies and originally come from our own local Zantedeschia species. They grow from rhizomes and flower in spring, making them great for pots as well as bright and really unfussy indoor plants for a brightly lit area. They need: Light, friable soil with added compost and good drainage; To be kept moist but not waterlogged. In fact, most of the potted calla lilies you will get this season will come in self-watering pots with wicks to keep the soil moist, making them very easy to care for; Feeding once a month with a liquid fertiliser; Mulching: In the garden, add a layer of mulch to suppress weeds. In autumn, the plants can be left to die…

The Spring Equinox on the 23rd marks the sun’s return to the equator and towards the southern hemisphere. As days become longer, soil temperatures increase and the new growing season accelerates. Lunar gardeners advise to plant spring leaf veg, herbs and flower seedlings in the 1st quarter phase, so note the relevant icons at the start and in the last week. Warmer region gardeners can first plant at the start and succession plant at the end. In cooler climates, plant only after the Equinox and New Moon.…

Miniature tea bush Leptospermums are indigenous to both Australia and New Zealand, with several varieties making superb garden plants with low maintenance and hardy properties. Leptospermum ‘Cherry Brandy’ is a popular dwarf cultivar that grows to a height of around 0.5m. This compact evergreen variety produces a mass of cherry red flowers in August and September resulting in a blaze of brilliant colour. The small leaves are aromatic and dark green with wine-red tinges. New foliage growth is brilliant red, and as such the plant is always displaying colour of some form in the garden. It performs well in full sun and prefers sandy, well-composted soil, with good drainage being essential. ‘Cherry Brandy’ is hardy, drought- and wind-tolerant, and performs well in sandy coastal conditions that contend with salt spray.…

Argyranthemum Commonly known as the marguerite daisy, this is a must-have in any spring garden. The traditional blooms add a sunny lightness to any bed, the lobed petals coming in an impressive range of colours. It is regularly mistaken for a chrysanthemum due to its similar appearance, and is often incorrectly labelled so in stores. One of the most popular species is Argyranthemum frutescens, which looks its best during the spring months but will flower up until autumn in the right conditions. Carnations One of the world’s favourite cut flowers, the carnation has a long history going back to Greece’s golden age. The genus name, Dianthus, was given to them by Greek botanist Theophrastus and literally translates to divine flower, indicating just a small part of their appreciation for this…

Feast your eyes on happy yellow and crisp white, and allow your mask-free nose to be filled with the sweet scent of nature once again. Our picks for September are fabulous for small gardens and excellent for flower-filled patios and balcony gardens. Sweet broom (Cytisus racemosus) is a dainty but tough shrub that grows up to 2m tall and 40cm wide, hailing from the Canary Islands. It loves full sun and very well-draining soil on the alkaline side. Water usage once established is moderate and it tolerates cold very well, but not frost. The many side branches are thin and flexible with small alternate leaves, and an abundance of bright yellow, sweetly scented pea-like flowers are produced in spring and mid-summer, followed by pod-shaped fruits. The flowers attract many pollinating…

If you’ve awakened your lawn by giving it its first spring feed and a nourishing blanket of lawn dressing last month, chances are that it will already be looking quite good. But, remember that it consists of thousands of small plants that will require almost constant attention in summer. So stick to a regular feeding program, regular and deep watering, and above all, correct mowing. Maintenance tips: To make your job easier, invest in the right type of mower to maintain your lawn. There are different types of machines suitable to different types of lawns and garden topography, developed to give you comfort and not to punish you. Blunt lawn mower blades rip, shred and tear grass, causing damage. They needtobesharpenedat least three times a year. Trimmers are made only…

These pretty tropical plants belong to the ginger family and are now available as indoor plants with dark green leaves and exotic flower bracts in shades of light pink, dark pink, lilac and white. These plants are often referred to as common turmeric, as‘Curcuma’ is derived from the Sanskrit word kunkuma, which means turmeric. Curcumas are often treated as you would a bunch of flowers that last a long time, as they will flower for up to three months, but after that they will become dormant. They can either be discarded, composted or planted out into a frost-free garden. What they need They need plenty of bright light and temperatures between 20° and 35°C. Water every third or fourth day and don’t let them dry out. They must have well-draining…

The way we live now causes us to regularly shout, “Shut the dinges up already, man!” First there is the sudden click of something shutting down, then the ominous darkness descends, and the next minute a cacophony of house alarms start blaring all over. The neighbourhood dogs’ sensitive natures tune into this chaos and start barking non-stop, as they are more scared of the dark than we are by now. And to round it all off, the droning of generators adds a harsh, discordant note to this mixture of sounds. Due to the hearing impediments of some souls lucky enough to have an ‘artificially’ powered television set during an Eskom power break, you can hear their surround sound (or ‘woofers’, as I call them) clearly in your own, suddenly quiet…

Nourish mixed gardens and seedlings Talborne Organics recently launched its new range of plant foods made from plants like potatoes and sugar beets. These liquid fertilisers are packed with essential amino acids for the protection and growth of plants. Nourish Multi-Plant is one plant food that can be used on anything from outdoor gardens to indoor plants, seedlings and edibles. It is a balanced formulation of nitrogen and potassium, which are essential for healthy plants. Simply mix with water and use as a foliar feed or soil drench in all growing phases of your plants. www.talborne.co.za Fly management Keep flies under control with Protek’s reusable and disposable Flyzone traps and baits. They contain a non-toxic, organic protein bait that is safe to use around the home and garden. For the…

Dianthuses provide one of the most spectacular year-round colour displays in your garden. In their traditional colours of pink, purple, red, white, and even bi-coloured, these beautiful little flowers are as striking as they are generous. These compact bedding plants are grown for the classical beauty of their flowers, which is multiplied into a magnificent show when planted en masse. Added to this is the fragrance of their blooms, making them a must-have in the summer garden. They are so versatile, combining beautifully with many annuals and complementing spring- and summer-flowering bulbs as well. Water your dianthuses once or twice per week during dry periods, and add a general-purpose fertiliser once a month for added flowering potential. Dead flowers should be removed promptly to promote continued blooming. After the flowers…

If you’re looking for a colourful groundcover to form carpets of blooms in your garden, look no further than Convolvulus sabatius. Also known as ground morning glory or blue rock bindweed, this stunning Mediterranean native is a wonderful fuss-free addition to spring and summer gardens. Although related to other highly invasive species in the Convolvulus genus, ground morning glory is not considered invasive and is safe to plant in home gardens amongst other ornamentals. After planting in spring, the woody growth spreads quickly to cover beds with gorgeous green leaves that have a subtle grey tint. Once summer arrives you’ll be treated to masses of purple funnel-shaped blooms that cover the entire area. With a classic Mediterranean flair, this groundcover is perfect for rocky gardens, sprawling over low walls and…

✓ Plant these trees: Arbor Week is from 29 August – 4 September and the two indigenous trees chosen for 2022 are fabulous garden trees. They are Dais cotinifolia (pompon tree), which flowers spectacularly in pink from November to February, and Peltophorum africanum (weeping wattle), an excellent tree for beekeepers that has acacia-like foliage and showy yellow flowers from October – February. ✓ Pest patrol: Keep an eye out for invasions by lily borers in plants like clivias, arums and agapanthus, which can cause huge damage and even kill off the plants. As they feed, the yellow-and-black-striped larvae tunnel deep into the centres of the plants. Holes and prominent tunnel marks in the leaves are an indication of their presence. Catch them by hand to kill them or use a…

What you need: 4 x 900mm x 94mm x 22mm PAR (Planed All Round) timber (panels) 4 x 124mm x 12mm x 8mm PAR timber (trim) 1 x 116mm x 116mm x 22mm offcut (top) 16 x 40mm x 4mm screws Panel pins Wood glue Wood filler Woodoc 50 Marine (Matt Clear) Fine steel wool Mineral turpentine Sandpaper Selection of swage barrels to extend the standpipe of the tap Tools Tape measure, flat spatula, drill driver with a 3mm screw pilot, sander, pencil, ruler or set square, hand saw, sander, fine-bristle paint brush Steps Apply three coats of the Woodoc 50 Marine to all sides of all of the timber, including the top and trim pieces; Allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next coat; Sand lightly with…