5 Reasons Why We Need to Harvest Rainwater

People often choose to harvest rainwater for economic and environmental reasons, but there are other reasons too. Here are some of the benefits of rainwater harvesting:

Velvet Daisies

They are relatively slow-growing plants that are easy to grow and can withstand harsh conditions, with their adaptative leaves most certainly aiding as sun protection.

Absolutely Abelia!

Long-living shrubs that manage to maintain the look of their pretty foliage in all seasons are a strong framework against which seasonal plants can play their temporary roles in a well-planned garden. Modern abelia hybrids are part of the stalwart list to plant.

5 Tall Evergreen Hedges

Surrounding your garden with an imposing hedge is like planting a 'neighbour' you have chosen yourself and like a lot!

Growing fynbos at Madibri

Many gardeners are apprehensive about growing fynbos outside of its natural habitat, believing it to be difficult and too much effort. Nico Thuynsma has proven otherwise, spending the last 25 years illustrating just how easy it is to grow these wonderful plants both in South Africa and around the world.

Go Gourmet With Autumn and Winter Veggies

Google the term 'gourmet' and the general consensus is that it refers to any food that is nicer, more unusual, of better quality or more sophisticated than its ordinary counterparts.

Timeless Elegance

Plant the look that South African gardeners will never tire off...

Why Leaves Change Colour in Autumn

Have you ever wondered why certain trees change leaf colour in autumn, and why some leaves are more red or yellow than others? Let's explore this interesting topic.

10 Houseplants For 2022

Plant feature

Using hyacinths as indoor décor

Some of the most popular spring bulbs to grow indoors are hyacinths. They provide a wonderful fragrance to the home and can be styled in so many ways to complement your décor. The best part is that they can be forced to flower in winter to give you that springvibe before spring actually arrives.

To DIY or not to DIY

Before you break out the tools and get started on a DIY garden project, honestly gauge your skills versus the difficulty of what you're about to undertake. Here are some points to help you with the decision.

Savvy storage

There is always room for more storage, and what better way to pack away the hosepipe, wellies and half a bag of potting soil than in a neat and functional planter with storage underneath. It's easy to make and will be ready to use in no time.

Modern nesting box

This nesting box uses 30° angles for a modern twist on a classic.

Resilient Rose Garden

Like all other sectors in the garden industry, rose growers have been working towards a poison-free garden, and the moment seems to have arrived.

Oregano

Oregano is a zesty, savoury herb for slowcooked winter feasts, which means that you should get it going now for a good supply of leaves from June onward. Fortunately, it is frost hardy.

The Basics of Biophilic Design

As we continue to fill our homes with screens and gadgets, and our cities with concrete and paved roads, we begin to lose sight – literally – of the natural world around us. In an effort to combat this transformation, architects are adopting a concept known as biophilia – “an innate and genetically determined affinity of human beings with the natural world.”

Slicing, Seedless, Pickling Cucumbers

Plant a cucumber seed in spring or summer, and in around 50 - 90 days you can begin harvesting off the vine.

Take Fuchsia Cuttings

Fuchsias are perfect for hanging baskets and pots, and add bright colour to a summer garden.

Growing Edibles Is Cool!

So, it seems that one of the positive spinoffs of Covid is that more ‘under 35s’ are growing their own edibles, and finding that it’s a great way to de-stress.

Time's Up!

Nothing reveals the dark side of yourself, your besties and your dearly beloveds better than a game of 30 Seconds!

What to Prune Now

With the long summer months slowly passing into the cooler and calm autumn days, it is time to take stock of your garden with your pruning tools at hand.

Birds of a Feather

Why every garden needs a bird feeder

Easter Basket

Turn your garden bits into an upcycled basket just in time for the children to enjoy hunting for Easter eggs.

Masters Of Shade

There are not many plants that can turn shade into a fairy landscape of dainty flowers in a season when most others are over it. Plectranthus will do just this!

Local Treasures: Gazania

Although South Africa has many treasured indigenous flowers, only one actually goes by the common name of ‘treasure flower’, and that is our beloved gazania.

Working And Playing With Nature

In an era where small gardens are the norm and our footprint has an impact on the planet, there is a lot to think about when designing a garden. The topics at the top of the list are water scarcity, food security and destruction of habitats – all big deals if we want to exist in harmony with our world.

The Malaise Of FOPB!

Living remotely from others leads to a bigger reliance on remotes and their confusing buttons. It is terrifying if you suffer from FOPB…

Autumn Splendour

Fiery shades of red and orange make for a bold autumn display.

The Allure Of Lavender!

This herbaceous plant, a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, is so famous that its common name is even used to describe a colour. Most of us will associate the term lavender with a gentle shade of light purple that symbolises elegance, refinement, serenity, purity and luxury – the latter two probably due to the Latin word ‘lavare’, which means to bathe and to wash. One can just imagine how the conquering and decadent Romans bathed in bunches of lavender sprigs and flowers, draped their newly washed togas over the bushes to permeate them with the fresh smell, and stacked dried stems of leaves and flowers in dark corners to repel plague-infested fleas!

A Haze Of Purple

The evergreen ribbon bush, a compact shrub with dull-green leaves and abundant spikes of two-lipped deep purple flowers with darker purple spots, is a selection derived from Hypoestes aristata and was developed at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical garden. It carries the apt varietal name of ‘Purple Haze’ and is widely cultivated in gardens all over the country.