Easy guidelines for pruning roses Monday, 22 July 2019 15:25 Written by Darlene Roelofsen
Image by pasja1000 from PixabayIn this article you will learn how to easily prune all types of roses from climbers to miniatures with confidence. The various provinces start pruning at slightly different times so read on to find out when to start pruning your roses.
Cheerful Kalanchoes for your garden & home Wednesday, 17 July 2019 14:52 Written by Darlene Roelofsen
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Image by Karolina Grabowska from PixabayAll Kalanchoes are popular plants for the garden and home, but the little ones, appropriately called “Flaming Katy” have become one of the most popular flowering succulents in South Africa and the world. People love to use them for instant colour indoors because they are easy to care for and are available all year round in full bloom. And, because they are inexpensive they can be discarded once they’ve finished blooming. However, frugal gardeners transplant them into the garden or outdoor pots, knowing that if cared for correctly, they will return and flower again every winter and spring.
Crystals and gemstones for your garden Thursday, 04 July 2019 18:10 Written by Darlene Roelofsen
Quartz Image by Sharon McCutcheon from PixabayWhen people hear the word “crystal” many will associate it with chandeliers, wedding goblets or bowls, some may think of snow or salt, and others will immediately think of them in their beautiful symmetric mineral and rock forms, produced by the earth over millions of years. Mankind has always had an affinity with crystals, and places like New Mexico and Arizona have known energy vortexes, caused by meteorites and other natural phenomenon that produced an exponential amount of crystals in the earth.
New Potato and Asparagus Monday, 24 June 2019 12:30 Written by Darlene Roelofsen
Hadeco Potato Pot Gardeners who love growing and eating their own produce, are in for a particularly fine treat this winter. In June and July, renowned bulb growers, Hadeco, will be supplying nurseries around the country with sets of top quality asparagus crowns and certified clean seed potatoes.
Sweet Bay is an herb of poets, oracles, warriors, statesmen and doctors. Monday, 24 June 2019 10:50 Written by Darlene Roelofsen
For most people, bay is the least understood herb, and one which is tossed into soups and stews without a second thought, and then relegated to the back of the spice cabinet once again. This is understandable because the aromatic leaf from the bay tree doesn't taste like much other than, well, a leaf! But steep a few leaves in a warm broth or sauce and your dish will become infused with fragrant flavour.
Moth orchids are an excellent choice for ‘first time’ orchid growers Monday, 17 June 2019 15:49 Written by Darlene Roelofsen
Moth Orchid. Image by Albrecht Fietz from PixabayThe exquisite moth orchids are popular among novice and experienced growers alike because they are easy to grow and produce the elegant arching sprays of long-lasting blooms that can be seen in so many design magazines across the world.
Urban homesteading is trending around the world Monday, 14 September 2020 18:46 Written by Darlene Roelofsen
Recycled baby food jars with succulents. Image by Erica from PixabayDuring these trying times people are spending a lot more time at home and looking to save a buck wherever they can. Make the most of this time by researching sustainable living to meet your needs, save money, and help preserve the environment at the same time. Read more below on this fascinating subject.
June need not be a dreary month in your garden Friday, 07 June 2019 13:22 Written by Darlene Roelofsen
CamelliaJune is an interesting gardening month and the shortest day and longest night is on June 21st, after which the days gradually start getting longer, but very slowly at first so that you hardly realise it. And in the warmer regions, after about three weeks, you will notice that many plants have already begun to grow again - spring in Durban starts in late July!
Growing asparagus is not difficult - all you need is patience! Friday, 31 May 2019 15:38 Written by Darlene Roelofsen
Asparagus. Picture courtesy Julie FalkYou don't need a large garden to cultivate asparagus yourself, and all you need is patience, because although asparagus is easy to grow, it takes at least a year or two from the time you plant until you can start harvesting, but as the plant gets older, more and more shoots are available for harvest over a longer period of time.
Peace Lilies improve air quality. Wednesday, 15 May 2019 14:40 Written by luis
Peace Lilies can grow outdoors - Image by Adriano Gadini from PixabayPeace Lilies are renowned for improving air quality indoors, and are one of the most commonly known houseplants in South Africa and also one of the easiest to grow, and may be grown outdoors in frost free regions. The NASA Clean Air Study found that these plants are fantastic for improving air quality indoors because they have one of the top removal rates of toxic solvents like formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene and carbon monoxide.Plant Blueberries Friday, 05 April 2019 13:16 Written by luis
BlueberriesAutumn is a great time to plant blueberries - read everything about growing these nutritious berries at home
Transplant evergreen shrubs and trees Saturday, 30 March 2019 10:28 Written by luis
Podocarpus latifolius Picture courtesy www.kazimingi.co.zaEarly autumn is the best time to transplant evergreen shrubs and trees that are planted in the wrong place in your garden; whereas deciduous trees and shrubs are traditionally transplanted in mid-winter, when they have lost all their leaves and are totally dormant. As the temperatures drop in autumn, the day length decreases and plant sap slows down; thus reducing the shock and trauma that can occur when moving evergreen trees and shrubs which are actively growing.
