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This fast growing tree aloe is used for its architectural shape and thrives in cultivation |
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Picture courtesy Gareth Bedford
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 Tree Aloe, Boomaalwyn - Aloe barberae
The
tree aloe is the tallest of the South African aloes and can reach 15 to
18m. It is found in a broad coastal band that is slightly inland, from
East London in the Eastern Cape, through KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland and
Mpumalanga, into southern and central Mozambique. Its habitat is
subtropical coastal forests, kloofs and well-drained river valleys,
where the summer rainfall is at least 1 016 to 1 524 mm per annum, with
little or no frost.
This fast growing tree aloe is used for its architectural shape and
thrives in cultivation. It makes an excellent focal point in the garden
and is great to plant in bold clumps in gardens and office parks.
It is perfect in rock and pebble gardens and grows well in large pots.
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The white parts of citrus contain hormones that promote plant
growth. Soak all your citrus peels in a large bucket of hot water for
a couple of days before straining and watering your seedlings and
cuttings with it.
Lemon peels are also a good deterrent to keep cats out of your pot
plants because most cats do not like the smell. They need to be replaced
regularly.
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Winter, spring or autumn are the best times to spray for Mealybugs because natural sprays can also kill beneficial predators and these natural predators are not as active during the cooler months |
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Picture courtesy Scott Camazine
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There are several species of Mealybugs. They are scale insects that
are related to Australian bugs and are treated in the same way. Most
adult species secrete long delicate, white wax filaments that partially
camouflage the female, while she spins an egg sac. The long tailed
mealybug does not lay eggs and the young are born live underneath the
wax threads that form a halo around the female. The males on the other
hand, are short-lived as they do not feed at all as adults and only live
to fertilize the females. Male citrus mealy bugs fly to the females and
resemble fluffy gnats.
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Known for its resiliency and tenacity, the Sand Olive grows in gardens throughout the country |
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Pictures courtesy Roger Hooton
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Sand Olive, Hop Bush, Sandolien, Ysterhout – Dodonaea viscosa angustifolia
The Sand Olive is indigenous to South Africa but
its centre of origin is believed to be Australia, where it occurs in
all the states. It is widely distributed throughout the southern
hemisphere, extending to sub-tropical and tropical areas of the northern
hemisphere. It grows wild along both the east and west coasts of South
Africa and is known for its resiliency and tenacity, tolerating a wide
range of growing conditions.
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Winter, spring or autumn are the best times to spray for Australian bugs because even natural sprays can also kill the beneficial predators of Australian bugs, and these natural predators are not as active during the cooler months |
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Australian Bug, Fluted Scale, Cottony-cushion Scale - Icerya purchasi
Australian Bugs are native to Australia and spread to California in
1868 on imported orange trees infested with this scale. They thrived in
the balmy climate and spread quickly, devastating Citrus orchards. They
are now widespread and in some parts of the world these scales are kept
in control by a predacious ladybird that is originally from Australia.
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