December Gardening Tasks
December 4, 2024 12:22 pmDecember is here and it’s time to focus on key gardening tasks for the last month of the year. Sow…
Why, What and When to prune
September 1, 2024 1:05 pmLike feeding your plants, pruning is one of the essential practises in gardening. It plays a vital role in supporting…
Creative Garden Tweaks
September 1, 2024 12:10 pmThe sap has risen; blossoms abound and new leaves are unfurling. Enjoy the gentle beauty of spring and tackle the…
Fight Back Against Frost
June 30, 2024 1:09 pmWhen temperatures drop to 0°C or lower, we like to bundle up inside with a blanket or around a fire…
June Gardening Tasks
June 1, 2024 10:53 amJune is South Africa means winter is at our doorstep, the days are getting shorter and colder making it harder…
May Gardening Tasks
May 1, 2024 6:18 am‘Winter is coming.’ The now-famous line from Game of Thrones is also true of gardening, so get your seeds sown:…
April Gardening Tasks
April 1, 2024 12:27 pmApril in Africa means warm and mild weather that most of us gardeners love. Working in the garden is a…
Month By Month Pruning Guide
March 28, 2024 10:43 amPruning is done for neatness and form, to curb natural damage and pest infestation, to tame, to allow in more…
March Gardening Tasks
March 1, 2024 9:59 amWith the long summer months slowly passing into the cooler and calm autumn days of March, it is time plan…
Every Garden Needs a Water Feature
February 16, 2024 3:38 pmFor those wanting to change up their landscaping this year, water features should be the first thought on your mind.…
December Lawn Care Tips
November 24, 2023 3:25 pmIf you are spending the holidays at home, chances are good that you are going to want the greenest and…
How To With Fertiliser
August 21, 2023 9:47 amFertilisers can be confusing as we now have access to a wide variety of sophisticated products with specialised formulations. The…
How To Make Your Own Compost
July 12, 2023 10:27 amThere is an inexpensive way to turn fallen autumn leaves, lawn clippings and other organic material that has been cut…
Prepare Your Soil for Spring This Winter
June 1, 2023 10:54 amRead in Afrikaans Everything in gardening starts with soil. If you want a garden that produces, be it beautiful ornamentals,…
Natural Gardening
May 23, 2023 1:03 pmGardening tasks like watering and feeding winter-flowering potted plants, pampering the crops in winter veggie beds, and the making of…
Garden with us this Winter
April 26, 2023 1:21 pmWinter is a busy time in the garden with the change in season and plants need to be set up…
Kynoch’s Dirt Diaries – May
April 17, 2023 2:33 pmDear Tanya… Can I submerge Juncus effusus in pond pots without soil, only with silica? Will it survive? Thank you,…
The Beauty Of Soil
March 1, 2023 10:20 amAlways be water wise! Soil is one of the most important resources on earth. Healthy soil is a living ecosystem…
Pruning in March
February 28, 2023 12:02 pmWith the long summer months slowly passing into the cooler and calm autumn days, it is time to take stock…
Get Your Blades Out – Spring Pruning
August 9, 2022 5:23 pmEarly spring requires some pruning of tired old growth to rejuvenate woody plants and neaten others. The secret of success…
Pruning: How, What and When
July 12, 2022 3:20 pmTackling pruning in the garden can be daunting at first, but it is important for healthy and robust trees and…
Ways To Fertilise Your Plants
July 12, 2022 11:57 amRead in Afrikaans In order to flourish, plants need nutrients. They may not get all the nutrients they need from…
Lawn Mower Maintenance
June 21, 2022 11:49 amWhile the little lawn plants are dormant, it’s a good idea to get any lawn mower maintenance done, services and…
Overwinter Dahlias
May 12, 2022 11:07 amIf you want to see those fat pom-pom dahlia blooms the size of a soup plate in your garden again…
What is potting soil?
April 8, 2022 4:30 pmRead in Afrikaans Technically, commercial potting soil is not soil at all, but a blend of materials like composted bark,…
Clean It Up With BLACK+DECKER
January 13, 2022 9:19 amPets add so much joy to our lives, and dogs and cats in particular have been shown to offer a…
It all starts with soil
January 10, 2022 10:02 amWe’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: feed your soil and watch your plants grow. Soil is the…
GuanoBoost – Your Garden Nutrition Solution!
December 22, 2021 12:09 pmAll living things need nutrition. You feed your body continuously – so why not your plants? GuanoBoost was founded with…
Get The Most Out Of Your Leaf Blower
December 14, 2021 1:41 pmTidying up is easy with the BLACK+DECKER POWERCOMMAND Boost Leaf Blower. Gone are the days of loud, irritating leaf blowers!…
December Checklist
December 1, 2021 3:07 pmIt’s that time of year again when you have to do constant maintenance on the garden and everything is growing…
A Cut Above with BLACK+DECKER
November 29, 2021 11:23 amChainsaws can be quite intimidating: they’re noisy, hard to control, need smelly petrol to run (and use it quickly!), and…
All-in-one lawn maintenance!
November 29, 2021 11:23 amLawn maintenance can be quite a chore at this time of year, with the grass growing faster than we can…
Neatly Does It with BLACK+DECKER
November 29, 2021 11:23 amWhen looking after your lawn, remember that it is not a single organism but rather thousands of tiny little plants…
December Checklist
November 24, 2021 4:25 pmHere’s your December Checklist of things to do in the heavy summer months to maintain your garden and keep it…
Tips to Trump Weeds
November 8, 2021 9:18 pmWith every new awakening after winter comes the weeds, and if you neglect to kill them off they will keep…
Pruning in November
October 12, 2021 4:28 pmWhen you’re pruning in November remember to prune flowering peaches, almonds and ornamental quinces as soon as they have finished…
101 Spring Tips
September 13, 2021 3:56 pm1. Creative succulents Create stunning containers by mixing succulents with different textures, colours, and shapes. These fleshy plants are tough…
The Grass is Growing!
August 24, 2021 10:09 amDon’t let the grass grow under your feet this summer! With the joy of the recent rain, soil temperature has…
Waterproofing at its best
July 30, 2021 4:44 pmEco Rubber™ is an established, proudly South African waterproofing manufacturer with its origins firmly rooted in the rugged Eastern Cape.…
27 Winter Maintenance Jobs
July 9, 2021 8:52 pmOdd jobs to do now at your address… Regular winter maintenance to keep the house and garden in good nick…
Success With Seeds
June 14, 2021 8:51 pmLast month we looked at the advantages of seeds over seedlings. Now we give you a few tips to ensure…
How to make a bug hotel for a healthy garden
June 8, 2021 9:48 pmBeneficial bugs are essential for a healthy garden, so why not provide them with their own accommodation in this five-star…
Approaching winter
May 28, 2021 1:11 pmAs winter approaches, we spend less and less time in the garden as the days get shorter and plants hunker…
Fertiliser guide for the year
May 26, 2021 1:24 pmThe Science Simply put, fertiliser is required for soils that are lacking in the nutrients that a plant needs to…
Every Drop Counts
May 26, 2021 12:45 pmThere is a limit to the amount of water that we have and that can be supplied in the pipe…
Fighting frost while still having a beautiful garden
May 21, 2021 10:26 amTired of losing money on plants that don’t survive frost and bitterly cold winters? There are steps you can take…
The Autumn Clean Up
May 18, 2021 3:07 pmJust as April is a month for planting, it is also a month for a good autumn clean up, clearing…
Weeds and Weedkillers
April 19, 2021 8:28 pmKeep on top of the invasion. The definition of a weed is essentially a ‘plant growing where you don’t want…
The Value of Earthworms
March 23, 2021 8:55 pmCharles Darwin, one of the world’s greatest naturalists, spent many years studying earthworms. He came to the conclusion that “no…
Important Information for a Successful Autumn Season
March 1, 2021 9:02 amAutumn is a time of change, of days becoming shorter and nights longer. The weather is still warm but has…
Cover Crops For the Soil
February 22, 2021 10:08 amThe ancient rhythm of cultivating vegetables has been one of work and rest, not just for the gardener but for…
Plant and replant like a pro
July 21, 2020 3:38 pmThere is more to planting and replanting than simply digging a hole in the ground. We have 8 top tips…
The Perfect Green Patch
July 7, 2020 3:00 pmA lush, green, well- maintained lawn is the perfect frame for any garden, no matter how large or small it…
The Wonder of Plant Food
July 3, 2020 9:04 amA good balance of nutrients in the soil passes into plants and again into humans in the case of edible…
Power clean your paving
June 10, 2020 1:24 pmPowafix Mortar Off is a powerful acid detergent that is effective at cleaning bricks, paving, concrete and slasto surfaces. It…
Your complete cleaning solution
June 10, 2020 1:21 pmSTIHL’s range of high-pressure cleaners provide an easy-to- use solution to keep your paving, driveway and home looking their best.…
Make Your Own Garden Gold
May 5, 2020 2:46 pmThe greenest thing a food gardener can do (apart from planting the green stuff) is to make compost. It ticks…
Always Agapanthus
April 24, 2020 1:09 pmThe name agapanthus is derived from the Greek words agape which means love and anthos flower. So these truly South…
Lemons
April 8, 2020 1:26 pmEvery garden needs a lemon tree The lemon tree has a number of attributes that qualifies it for inclusion in…
The Wonder of Vermicompost
November 26, 2019 10:00 amLees in Afrikaans What is vermicompost? We all know that earthworms in our soil are a good thing and they…
Soil preparation the natural way
November 8, 2019 12:05 pmOrganic gardening is all about natural cycles – life, decay and renewal. Mother Nature is put in charge about 80%…
Plants for organic gardening
November 8, 2019 11:38 amOrganic gardening is all about natural cycles – life, decay and renewal. It is important to choose the right plants…
Compost your food waste
October 8, 2019 2:12 pmFeed your waste to your soil, not a landfill. We all know that a healthy digestive system relies on healthy…
Pruning roses for better blooms
July 2, 2019 3:18 pmWhat do you expect from your roses? Do you want large, perfect blooms for picking or do you prefer masses…
7 Tips To Keep Your Compost Cooking
April 10, 2019 2:58 pmNothing can match the richness of home-made compost. Making your own is not complicated or time consuming. There are however,…
9 Proudly South African Roses
April 10, 2019 9:47 amSouth African roses are amongst the most beautiful in the world. For many years we have had the ‘Madiba’ rose…
The secrets to perfect compost
March 4, 2019 1:39 pmGardeners dream of making the perfect compost to feed their precious plants and make them thrive. So how does one…
Choosing Fertilizer
January 23, 2019 2:07 pmOnce one is equipped with sufficient knowledge it is easier to make choices from the wide variety of excellent garden…
Terracotta Composter
November 7, 2018 9:53 amComposting Made Simple! Scatter a few of these simple composters throughout your veggie garden for convenient, effective composting. What you…
Pruning hedges and topiaries
October 17, 2018 9:06 pmLate spring and early summer is when plant growth is most rapid and vigorous, which is why many hedges and…
Do You Have Stressed Plants?
September 21, 2018 8:36 amUnderstanding the Signs & Symptoms of Stressed Plants by Jenny Slabber A crying new-born baby is bewildering to inexperienced parents,…
Shape hedges with ease!
March 8, 2018 9:11 amIf you’re looking for a tool that effortlessly keeps garden hedges in check, look no further. The STIHL HSA 45…
Potting by Water Zone
February 14, 2018 12:30 pmPlant lovely containers to match specific water zone needs. Responsible gardening hinges on good water management to get the best out…
Contained to Grow
February 8, 2018 1:37 pmContainer Plants Instant gardening with pretty plants and a variety of containers immediately raises the spirits, and this month garden…
Lightweight, nifty shears
February 8, 2018 11:27 amSTIHL HSA 25 cordless shrub shears, with a choice of shrub cutter and grass trimmer attachments, weigh just 0.6kg and…
Edging
February 1, 2018 8:04 amStrong, flowing lines are the essence of good garden design. A common problem, however, is that those ‘strong lines’ tend…
Straw-man!
January 18, 2018 2:33 pmBeware the Straw-Man! Use PVC pipes, glue, your old jeans and some creative energy to build a discouraging decoy for…
Composting
January 18, 2018 2:04 pmPlants need nutrients, and the easiest way to feed them is with compost The importance of compost Any successful home…
Ways To Save Water In The Garden
January 18, 2018 12:47 pmIn our semi-arid country every drop of water counts, and not just in times of drought. There are so many…
Gardening Fowl
January 17, 2018 1:21 pmGardening most Fowl for your Soil As people seek a more sustainable lifestyle, it has become popular to keep gardening…
Get the most out of your soil!
January 17, 2018 12:57 pmSoil Preparation for Tip-Top Shape Soil A Variety of Plant Labels – Natural and Recycled It’s not always necessary to…
Scrounge for Containers
January 17, 2018 8:40 amBefore throwing any containers away, look at how it could be re-used or re-purposed. Instead of seedling trays use jumbo…
Garden Smoothie
January 17, 2018 8:11 amA smoothie for your garden soil Blend together banana skins, used filter coffee grounds, eggshells and some water. The banana…
Rhaphiolepis x delacourii
January 11, 2018 12:04 pmIndian Hawthorn Rhaphiolepis x delacourii is an evergreen shrub with medium- sized, tough, leathery leaves that are dark green, sometimes…
Summer pests and diseases
January 11, 2018 10:55 amSummer is a busy time of year in our gardens. The weather is very unpredictable during these months and can…
Treat your Tools Right
December 8, 2017 9:50 amWith a few minor alterations and a splash of paint, a pallet can be transformed into a handy tools storage…
Save water with green cubes
November 15, 2017 1:38 pmDo you want to conserve water and grow healthy plants? BERA® Urbanscape Green Cubes are your solution. This non-toxic and…
Red Spider Mites
November 3, 2017 11:30 amSummer sees a proliferation of red spider mites on a host of different crops and ornamentals in the garden. They…
Spring Gardening
October 3, 2017 1:10 pmWinter is history and the time has come to prepare for spring gardening. Whether you have a large garden with…
Growing Health: Lawns perfect for playing on
August 2, 2017 10:12 amExtract from book: ESSENTIAL ORGANICS the legacy of Irmela Reichardt A perfectly groomed, lush, green lawn sets the tone of…
Autumn Gardening
April 19, 2017 11:53 amAUTUMN – a busy time of year for gardening enthusiasts! The crisp morning air and longer nights is a sign…
Edging Your Beds
March 1, 2017 12:46 pmEdging flower beds and pathways attractively and neatly is as important as hemming a dress or framing a picture –…
Water saving
January 18, 2016 8:38 amWe all know that our fresh water resources are under threat and by saving water at home, we can not…
Storing Winter Bulbs
January 15, 2016 7:44 amWhen your winter bulbs have finished flowering and the leaves have died back it is time to dig them up…
Rose Strategies – Be water wise
January 14, 2016 9:39 amMany gardeners wishing to include roses in their borders might be concerned about whether they are appropriate for a water…
Repotting and Transplanting Roses
October 13, 2015 12:24 pmRoses don’t need to be re-potted that frequently because they have the ability to regenerate themselves. In winter the many…
Inventive recycling
September 23, 2015 11:39 amThis easy-to-build water feature, made from discarded household items, bubbles soothingly in the smallest of spaces and takes recycling to…
Mulch
August 31, 2015 9:13 amGardeners are often uncertain about the difference between compost and mulch. Compost is what remains once plant and vegetable matter…
Fertilising: Do’s and Don’ts
June 11, 2015 7:51 amThere are no hard and fast rules about fertilising, but a productive food garden often needs less fertiliser than you…
Soil – Dishing the Dirt
March 24, 2015 7:56 amHow to Analyse your Soil Soil is special. It is far more complex than simply the dusty stuff we try…
How to make compost heap
March 19, 2015 10:45 amScientifically, composting is defined as the biological decomposition of organic wastes under controlled conditions. Good compost is made by following…
Rosa ‘Brilliant Pink Iceberg’
August 21, 2014 7:16 pmBrilliant Pink Iceberg flowers abundantly, producing half-double blooms in surprisingly vivid tones of dark pink to white. The flowers have…
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