Colour in the garden in autumn is always welcome, and when it comes from one of South Africa’s most reliable sub-shrubs, what more could you ask for? When it also offers refreshing and cooling blue flowers as a change from the traditional autumn colours of rust, copper, red and orange, it is an absolute essential plant for the garden. Read the rest of this entry »

The vividly coloured, glistening flowers of these succulents make them popular garden subjects, but their other attributes include interesting foliage, drought tolerance and adaptability to adverse conditions. Read the rest of this entry »

Also known as speedwell, veronica is a beloved old perennial that may have an upright form with spiky flowers, or be a low-growing, mounding creeper. Both types bloom in blue, as well as pink, white, lavender and rose, in late spring and summer. Give upright growing veronicas one of the best spots your garden has to offer. The plants produce dozens of 45-cm-long flower spikes, which can be cut regularly to prolong flowering. Any flower with flat blossoms, such as gloriosa daisies, looks great with upright veronica. Read the rest of this entry »

Gardening in the searing summer sun is always a challenge. Not only do plants wilt in the heat, but gardeners also suffer. But hot summers don’t mean that you can’t have a colourful garden. Numerous care-free plants with tropical temperaments crave high temperatures and strong sunlight. Read the rest of this entry »

Mild winters are the saving grace when you live in a climate where summers are a little too long and often too hot for comfort. In some areas, winter is a season of ample rainfall and cool temperatures that can be enjoyed in the company of numerous garden plants. Although many plants slip into dormancy where winters are mild, there are plenty of evergreen trees, shrubs and perennials, as well as hardy annuals, that will keep the garden vibrantly alive with greenery and flowers through the slow season. Read the rest of this entry »

Every climate has its problems. In the interior and in mountainous regions, winter comes early and stays late, much to gardeners’ frustration. This may explain why gardeners in cold climates often create beautiful gardens. They may be the result of long winter nights spent planning and dreaming. Read the rest of this entry »

Compost Materials Branches (an armful or two)

• Wooden poles (3 or 4) Hay
• Grass clippings
• Leaves
• Weeds
• Sawdust
• Kitchen garbage
• Manure (horse, cow, chicken, rabbit, dog)
• Wood ash or limestone Rich topsoil
• Water Read the rest of this entry »

The compost heap should have free contact with the earth so that the various organisms present in the soil can readily migrate up. If the compost heap is built directly over growing vegetation, particularly grass, an acid layer forms, which acts as a barrier to the entry of earthworms and microorganisms. Read the rest of this entry »

SOIL

Soil is generally used in compost heaps. Fertile soil contributes a large population of organisms which help decompose the compost materials, as well as minerals which the organisms need to live. Soil also helps prevent the loss of nitrogen to the air in the form of ammonia gas. Use very thin layers of soil—perhaps 1/8 inch—in the compost heap. It is important not to use too much soil, because it may add too much weight to the heap and compress the materials underneath. Soil is used as an insulating layer after the compost heap is completed. A 2-inch cover layer is sufficient to conserve moisture and heat. Read the rest of this entry »

Materials

Wood

Frame:

2 pieces, 2 by 2 by 36 inches

2 pieces, 2 by 2 by 38 inches

Sides:

32 pieces, 1 by 4 by 36 inches

Furring strips:

2 pieces, 1 by 3 by 36 inches

Roof:

1 piece, 40-inch square (or half an old door)(or corrugated tin) Read the rest of this entry »

Roses require extra care in climates that experience regular winter freezes. Freezing damages the delicate cells in foliage, canes, and roots—protect your roses by insulating them from severe temperatures. People living in USDA plant hardiness zones 6-7, with minimum temperatures between -10° and 10°F (-23° and -12°C), should allow the last blooms of autumn to develop hips and remain on their plants, fortifying the roses for winter. With the first frost, mound loose soil over the bud union and lower canes, then mulch heavily with straw. Read the rest of this entry »

Roses grown in containers require annual repotting to keep them healthy and obtain optimal blooms. Rootbound plants become stunted and produce limited foliage and flowers. If a larger container is not an option, prune the rose severely: remove about a third of its canes and selected roots. This will shock the plant to produce new roots and shoots. Follow these easy steps when repotting your favorite roses: Read the rest of this entry »

Regular, deep waterings are best for most roses. Always follow them with several dry days to allow the soil to dry. For container plantings, more frequent irrigation is a must, especially in hot weather. Read the rest of this entry »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »