Moth orchids are an excellent choice for ‘first time’ orchid growers Monday, 17 June 2019 15:49
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
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
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
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
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
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
Podocarpus latifolius Picture courtesy www.kazimingi.co.za
Early 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.
Plant now if you want colour in winter Saturday, 30 March 2019 09:07
Tulips & Violas grow beautifully in pots
Give your garden a little attention in April and you will be rewarded with a riot of heart-warming flowers even in the dead of winter.
The last roses of summer Monday, 18 March 2019 09:42
Christof Lindequ. Picture courtesy www.ludwigsroses.co.zaThe last roses of summer are often the most perfect ones; and as the daytime temperatures drop, your roses will take on a new intensity of colour and unfading beauty seldom seen in hot weather. Their petals unfurl perfectly and they last much longer too. If the temperatures play along, you can have roses well into April and May.
Buy winter and spring flowering bulbs Wednesday, 06 March 2019 12:25
BabianaIt's time to purchase winter and spring flowering bulbs, which are usually available from March. You don’t want to miss out on your favourites, so buy them early! March can still be extremely hot and the soil temperatures are still far too high to plant out bulbs; so store them in a cool, dark and dry place until the temperatures drop significantly in April, or even May.
Want glorious roses in autumn? Monday, 25 February 2019 10:10
Barley GoldGive your roses a little tender loving care in February and you will be rewarded with a breath-taking flush of blooms in autumn. As the weather cools down your rose bushes will produce long lasting blooms of the most intense colours. If you have not done so yet, replenish the mulch around the roots and water deeply and regularly every two to three days. Do not fertilise in February, but towards the end of the month feed with fertiliser that is high in both nitrogen and potassium like 5:1:5 or 3:1:5.
Using the colour wheel effectively Friday, 22 February 2019 09:52
Amazon Rose Magic Dianthus - Picture courtesy Ball Horticultural CompanyHow to use the colour wheel effectively when designing your flower garden, bear in mind that the colours you select will create a mood, and you can even change the perspective of your garden by using certain colours; so think about how you want to use colour, not only for the way you think it will look, but also for the mood you want to create in your garden.
It’s time to sow winter and spring flowers Thursday, 21 February 2019 11:47
Primula malaciodesIn frosty & subtropical regions it’s time to sow winter and spring flowering annuals. In cold winter regions which experience early frosts, gardeners generally start sowing seeds of slower maturing winter and spring flowering annuals in January and February; keeping them in a cool, shaded area until temperatures drop in late summer, before hardening them off, and planting out into the garden.
What to do in your veggie garden now Monday, 18 February 2019 10:38
BroccoliUnless you live in the sub-tropical regions of South Africa, it’s too late to plant slow maturing summer vegetables this month, but in the cold winter regions it is time to sow many winter crops and to start preparing and planning your winter veggie garden.