Vibrant boxes, alive with colour, will transform a simple windowsill into an eye-catching display of flowers and foliage — from inside and out.

Troughs laden with flowers offer a bright and cheerful welcome Read the rest of this entry »

Seed pans, wicker baskets and basins make ideal homes for small plants. Choose these containers for succulents and seaside plants, which won’t mind if the shallow soil dries out from time to time on hot sunny days. Read the rest of this entry »

Capture the spirit of autumn with a clourful harvest of decorative fruit and vegetables. Choose inedible varieties you won’t be tempted to pick, and enjoy this display on chillu autumn days. Read the rest of this entry »

The term ‘bulb’ includes corms, rhizomes and tubers — all of which store food beneath the ground during periods of drought and dormancy (see box, far right). They are mostly associated with spring, but the autumn-flowering plants in the main arrangement on the facing page grow from corms. Read the rest of this entry »

Use plants as a decorative feature at Christmas. Plant festive container arrangements to decorate the house, stoep and patio and give visitors a cheery welcome. Read the rest of this entry »

Be creative when choosing pots. Add excitement to your garden, by re-using worn-out or unwanted objects, from both outside and inside the home, in an unexpected way. Read the rest of this entry »

Suspended anywhere from a door to a tree, baskets of flowers have an old-fashioned appeal. But with the right plants and container, the hanging basket can have a place in even the most modern of settings. Read the rest of this entry »

Flowers offer the container gardener not only colour but also texture and shape. When planning a display, you need to look at the size of the plants, the outline of their flowers and whether the foliage is glossy or muted. Striking a balance between colour, texture and shape can create a beautiful tapestry effect. Read the rest of this entry »

One pot of plants looks hot and sunny, another cool and restful. The versatility of container gardening means you can introduce any colour you please to create exactly the look you desire. Read the rest of this entry »

Though plants have inspiring scents and shapes, they make their impact with colour. Follow these simple rules to using colour with flair.

For a successful colour combination use the wheel as your guide and mix only opposite (complementary) or adjacent (harmonious) shades. Green is the neutral of the plant world, but can still have impact. Read the rest of this entry »

Soft colours in gentle harmonies enhance a terrace, a patio or a quiet corner of the garden on sunny days and long, balmy twilit evenings.

Shades of mauve and pink are enhanced by the lilac-grey mulch, which was not only used in the pot but also spread onto the ground at its base. Read the rest of this entry »

Transport yourself to another land with displays inspired by foreign influences. The oriental look is well suited to containers, since it uses few plants and limited colour. In pots you can also create the perfect conditions for exotics that would normally be unattainable. Read the rest of this entry »

Create the impression of nature running wild to give your garden a relaxed, spontaneous look. Choose containers with worn finishes and plants with soft outlines for happy informality.

Whether you live in the town or country, you can create an exuberant and relaxed style of container gardening that gives an atmosphere of unrestrained nature. Read the rest of this entry »

Creating a successful colour scheme is not just about choosing the right plants. To get the best results you also need to consider where you plan to put the container. Read the rest of this entry »

White a single container can create a focal point, several pots grouped close together can completely transform a bare patio or balcony. Make the most of the flexibility of containers to achieve the effect you want. Read the rest of this entry »

When choosing a tree at a nursery, bear in mind all the cha acteristics that make a good bonsai, then try to find a tress that shows potential in as many of these criteria as possible. Read the rest of this entry »

A very wide range of tools can be used to create deadwood features in bonsai. Each has its strengths and weaknesses and it is up to you to decide on the amount and kind of deadwood work you want to do, which will, in turn, help decide on which tool would be the best for your purposes.

Chisels

A set of sharp hand chisels and gouges are good for small tasks such as stripping the bark and wood of a small juniper. Chisels are, incidentally, also useful for experimenting with grafting. Read the rest of this entry »

A beautiful bonsai deserves a beautiful container. The container completes the image started many years before as a seed or cutting. The tree was acquired by the artist, designed, trained and nurtured until it was ready to be planted into its final show pot, resulting in a serenely beautiful image of a bonsai.

The container of a bonsai has been likened to the frame of a picture; it is the finishing touch that makes a good tree an exceptional bonsai. It is more than this, however, as it is also the home of the tree and so needs to provide an environment for the roots that will ensure healthy, vigorous growth to maintain the health of the top parts of the tree. Read the rest of this entry »

It is very important that a balance is maintained between the top parts of the tree and the bottom parts. This means that the volume of the canopy should be similar to the volume of the roots. If the roots of the tree are heavily pruned while the canopy is left alone, the tree will not be able to supply enough water to the top parts of the tree and it will get badly dehydrated, the tree will wilt, some branches may die and, in the worst case, the whole tree will die. Read the rest of this entry »

A combination of half coarse river sand, silica sand or fine stone chip (2-4-mm particles) with half good-quality compost is a suitable general mixture. The proportions can be adjusted slightly, depending on the area where you live. Read the rest of this entry »