Welcome to Gardening in South Africa!

Water-wise and xeriscape gardening is simply landscaping that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation, and it doesn’t mean you have to plant a desert landscape! With a little know-how and planning you can still create your dream garden.

Yarrow Mix. Image by Roland Steinmann from PixabayPerennial plants are wonderful additions to the landscape. While trees and shrubs may act as the bones of a garden, perennials provide the muscles that hold everything together. The season-long statement they offer is unmatched, as you can plan and design your perennial garden to shift with the seasons. Because perennials come back year after year, they are a good long-term investment for gardeners on a budget.

Protea emojiDating back 140 million years Proteas are considered to be among the oldest families of flowering plants on the earth. Sadly, today nearly half of South Africa's Proteas face extinction, with some wild populations having dwindled to a single individual!

King ProteaThere are flowers we admire because they are beautiful, and there are flowers we admire because - once we understand them - we realise just how extraordinary they are. There are flowers that are useful. There are flowers that are culturally and nationally important, historically significant, paleontological salient, economically valuable, ecologically essential, and flowers that are instantly recognisable and majestic. Proteas - the flower that holds a world - belong to all these categories.

Key strategies for growing vegetables during long hot and dry seasons include; improving soil health and mulching, implementing water-saving methods, making smart plant choices, and intercropping.

Drought Picture by klimkin from pixabayMeteorologists are warning that a severe El Niño could develop in 2026, triggering significant concerns for South African’s and especially our farmers. Forecasters indicate an 80-90% chance of very strong El Niño conditions persisting through summer with above-average temperatures, dry spells and even drought. There are many ways you can save on water and still keep your plants alive. This article will show you the options you have, and the sooner you start to prepare your garden the better.

If you are trying to limit your exposure to toxic and synthetic chemicals in your garden and home essential oils can be valuable tools. They are well-known for their wellness virtues for humans, and can also be precious allies to protect your plants naturally and ecologically.

Calendula Image by Светлана from PixabayCompanion planting with cool-season vegetables will improve pollination, attract beneficial insects, repel unwanted pests, and improve growth. Here are some of the best companion plants to grow with your favourite cruciferous vegetables. Many of these companions will also transform your veggie patch from boring to inspiring.

Pollinator Plants Image by OrsonCarte from PixabayWild bees and other pollinators are in decline worldwide, and one way gardeners can help is by planting flowers that provide forage. Annual flowers have always been a favourite for gardeners as they provide instant seasonal colour and are relatively easy to grow. The annuals listed below will not only create a colourful garden, but will also ensure a continuous source of high-energy nectar and pollen to sustain pollinators in winter and spring when food resources are scarce.

Dwarf Citrus Image by Gustavo Fring from PexelsDwarf, double-worked, and triple-grafted fruit trees represent some of horticulture's greatest innovations. They allow gardeners to enjoy abundant harvests in spaces once thought impossible. While they cost more initially, their earlier cropping, easier maintenance, and space-saving qualities make them an excellent investment.