Plant a colour explosion! Easy plants for your garden.
January 10, 2025 9:18 amAngelic angel wings and a dwarf morning glory can keep colour all around you from spring to autumn, and will…
The best of summer
December 20, 2024 7:43 amJoin Freddie to find out what’s new and trending in the world of bedding plants. These Flowering Favourites are available…
Mid-Summer Fillers
December 18, 2024 5:25 pmTurbo-boost your summer garden beds with strikingly colourful and easy-to-grow filler plants. These beauties are perfect when you are looking…
Salvias To Love
December 18, 2024 4:26 pmIf you are aiming for flower-filled borders all summer long, aim straight for the salvia displays in your local nursery…
Long – Haul blooms!
November 29, 2024 11:40 amConsistent flowering and easy to grow, is what HibisQs is all about. Summer is synonymous with alluring hibiscus flowers covering…
Seasonal garden stars
November 21, 2024 12:17 pmJoin Freddie to find out what’s new and trending in the world of bedding plants. These Flowering Favourites are available…
November Gardening Tasks
November 5, 2024 11:25 amAs the South African sun ushers in a vibrant November, gardeners, get ready to paint your outdoor canvas with summer’s…
October Gardening Tasks
October 3, 2024 10:09 amOctober in the garden means lovely soft coloured flowers and heady fragrances, as nature paints the landscape with a palette…
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…
September Gardening Tasks
August 26, 2024 8:25 amIt may still be a little chilly but by September, you know that spring has arrived! The days are getting…
August Gardening Tasks
August 1, 2024 3:45 pmWith the passing of the longest night and shortest day now behind us (thank goodness!), there are only good things…
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…
July Gardening Tasks
June 26, 2024 3:57 pmJuly is deep winter for us in South Africa, but that just means it’s one step closer to spring and…
The Four Ps of Spring
June 25, 2024 11:48 amRead in Afrikaans There are four annuals with pretty petals and names starting with the letter ‘P’, we often refer…
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…
Transform Your Lawn
March 18, 2024 3:06 pmA lawn is so much more than a liability that needs weekly mowing. Treat it right and it can turn…
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…
February Gardening Tasks
February 1, 2024 1:30 pmFebruary in South Africa is one of the best months to enjoy your garden, but it is also one of…
Summer Colour In A Pot
January 30, 2024 2:15 pmLet’s take a look at this beautiful ‘summer colour in a pot’! The plants in this group all love the…
January Gardening Tasks
January 1, 2024 12:54 pmJanuary, the start of the new year falls right in the middle of the summer season in South Africa. This…
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…
Summer-Flowering Bulbs
October 11, 2023 10:44 amAdd a touch of extra colour to a summer garden with these summer-flowering bulbs that can be planted in late…
Sowing Spring Cut Flowers
October 4, 2023 11:42 amAs soon as the last chill of winter has passed, you can start sowing flower seeds in trays. Growing your…
Flowers For Your Spring Garden
September 13, 2023 11:58 amRead in Afrikaans When spring arrives, so should masses of flowers in the garden. These stunning plants are all in…
Freddie’s Flowering Favourites – Petunias & Calibrachoas
May 31, 2023 11:05 amHanging basket tips: It’s time to plant lots of glorious colour and there is no better than petunias and calibrachoas…
Why Leaves Change Colour in Autumn
May 15, 2023 9:06 amHave you ever wondered why certain trees change leaf colour in autumn, and why some leaves are more red or…
Time For Hardwood Cuttings
May 9, 2023 1:03 pmMany deciduous shrubs and trees can be propagated from hardwood cuttings – an easy and fulfilling job to do. Which…
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…
Bright Shades Of Autumn
March 1, 2023 10:50 amThey are referred to as evergreen plants, but they are not quite ‘green’. These plants stand out in a garden…
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…
3 Happiness Flowers
January 23, 2023 10:57 amSome of midsummer’s flowers are like garden Prozac. Being amongst them has the ability to turn anxiety and a ‘down’…
Dazzling Summer Florals
December 14, 2022 10:12 amThese three plants will dazzle in the summer months. Fuchsia ‘Sundancer’ For a potted plant that flowers for several months,…
3 Window Box Ideas
October 25, 2022 3:36 pmThere is nothing that lifts the spirits more than planting up window boxes – it’s like creating a miniature garden…
Spring’s Most Glorious Flowers
October 25, 2022 2:58 pmThere is a good reason why we get so hyped up about spring! Feast your eyes on 10 spring shrubs…
Sizzling Summer Flowers
October 24, 2022 11:29 amDaisy power For the strongest flower power in a daisy, plant Leucanthemum ‘Daisy May’. This shasta daisy has large, snow-white…
Grow A Summer-Worthy Lawn
August 5, 2022 6:55 pmA few actions in early spring will energise your lawn to be the best that it can be all summer…
The Latest On Hydrangeas!
July 8, 2022 9:49 amGone are the days when mophead hydrangeas only flowered for a few short weeks around Christmas. They now stay with…
Ways With Autumn Leaves
May 12, 2022 11:27 amFallen autumn leaves may mean a bit more work, but they are free and make good compost or mulch. Here…
How To Prepare for Frost
May 11, 2022 3:33 pmInvest in frost fleece/cloth to cover seedlings and tender vegetables. If a severe frost is predicted it is worth covering…
Tender Plant Care for Autumn
April 11, 2022 2:23 pmIt’s coming up to the time of the year when tender plant care is a must! Look out for clear,…
Go Local With These Indigenous Bulbs
March 9, 2022 9:56 amSome of South Africa’s most beautiful spring-flowering bulbs are ready for planting in April, so it’s time to order them…
Surviving the Holidays
November 30, 2021 2:44 pmDecember is holiday month and gardening generally goes into holding mode. Getting away for a week or more means the…
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…
Holiday gardening!
November 16, 2021 12:14 pmNow is a great time to get your home and garden ready for holiday visitors, so here are some pots…
October in your garden
November 9, 2021 9:28 pmHere’s your October checklist and a quick guide to remind you what to do in your garden in October. Seedling…
Winners Of The Mayford Spring Kaleidoscope Competition!
November 3, 2021 9:29 amA few months ago we kicked off the MayFord Spring Kaleidoscope Competition where gardeners sowed a packet of MayFord flowering seed, looked…
Live Outside This Summer!
November 1, 2021 10:47 pmMove your lifestyle outdoors and make the most of the warm weather with Keter. No matter what part of the…
Indigenous Spring Beauty Nemesias
September 14, 2021 10:37 amSpring flowers the world over have a softness and beauty that captures the spirit of the season itself. Our indigenous…
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…
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…
8 Flowers for Winter Colour
July 9, 2021 12:34 pmIf you wake up one morning and think, “I’m tired of browns and greys and leafless trees, I want colour!”,…
Cinerarias – Nothing Short of Spectacular
June 10, 2021 1:43 pmThere are not many annuals that bloom through cold weather, and that bloom better the colder it gets. Cinerarias (Senecio…
Autumn Hanging Baskets
June 7, 2021 8:56 pmAlthough spring is synonymous with bright floral hanging baskets, they can actually be hanging around in cool seasons too, with…
Autumn in Bloom – Autumn Flowering
June 3, 2021 11:57 amAutumn is often called the second spring because there are so many garden flowers in bloom at this time. Not…
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…
The Value of Sowing Seed
May 18, 2021 12:09 pmApril is an important month for sowing seed for winter and spring colour. Get planning and planting now! Some gardeners…
Balcony bulbs
April 26, 2021 9:42 amImagine a little balcony or patio decorated with pots filled with flowering daffodils and tulips in spring, and imagine windowsills…
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…
December Gift Guide
November 30, 2020 5:26 pmFor plant and garden lovers, check out our selection of wonderful gifts to choose from. Get what you REALLY want…
Garden Day 2020
September 15, 2020 3:33 pmGarden Day returns for a virtual celebration of our beloved green spaces Inspirational flower crown ambassadors, a packed calendar of…
Colour in the sky
September 4, 2020 1:13 pm6 spring classics for hanging baskets To celebrate the arrival of spring, why not try your hand at planting some…
Preparing For Summer Rains
September 1, 2020 2:56 pmSouth Africa can take a sudden turn if you are not prepared. In large proportions of the interior, weather conditions…
Violas
August 7, 2020 12:43 pmViolas are irresistible. They are petite, fragrant, flowers without any fuss and come in every colour of the rainbow. What…
6 Indigenous Bulbs to Plant
May 5, 2020 12:04 pmA colourful, fragrant spring garden is incomplete without bulbs. Whether in pots or flowerbeds, indoors or outdoors, bulbs are guaranteed…
Gazanias Galore!
November 26, 2019 11:23 amWant to add colour to your succulent garden? Don’t know what to plant in your sandy soil? Looking for a…
7 Summer Roses
October 3, 2019 12:16 pmWith our strong summer sun, the summer roses that show up best and hold their colour are those with blooms…
Beacon Impatiens
August 26, 2019 2:00 pmWelcome back summer’s best-loved flowers for shade. The fast-filling bedding Impatiens Walleriana, which all but vanished from summer shade gardens,…
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…
Pansies To Brighten Your Garden
June 12, 2019 9:03 amPansies are the easiest way to add colour to the winter and spring garden! Nothing matches their charm, or the…
Exciting Cyclamens
May 7, 2019 12:27 pmAdd some colour to your garden this winter with cyclamens! Cyclamens are always a winter favourite due to their long…
End of the Season Rose Care
May 2, 2019 9:51 amBy May the rose season is almost at an end and you can look back with satisfaction (or score the…
Keep going through winter
March 4, 2019 10:13 amHow to Keep up the Flower Power Now that winter has become milder, it’s possible for roses to flower all…
6 Flowers to Plant Now For a Spectacular Spring
February 18, 2019 8:00 amRead in Afrikaans Many of the most important spring flowers need to be planted out as young seedlings in autumn.…
Hibiscus Graff
December 12, 2018 9:15 amHibiscus Graff is a new species of an improved Hibiscus series, with longer lasting flowers. The series formerly known as…
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…
5 Bulbs to Plant this Autumn
April 9, 2018 2:58 pmBulbous plants have been cultivated for centuries, primarily for their spectacular spring or summer floral display. Autumn is an important…
Exuberant sun lovers
February 19, 2018 2:07 pmWe picked a large pot and filled it with some exuberant sun lovers to lead you joyfully through the quiet…
Potted Spring
February 16, 2018 11:05 amTo celebrate spring and inspire you to play with colour, Tanya and I spent a happy, flower-filled afternoon in her…
A cheery winter trio
February 16, 2018 10:36 amColourful winter annuals and perennials are not scarce at this time of the year. We went shopping and found lots…
Pots of Autumn drama
February 16, 2018 9:42 amSpring and summer inspire potting recipes that are frivolous, flowery and colourful but autumn and winter are seasons needing a…
Surprise Spring Pot
February 14, 2018 3:47 pmJuly is a great time to plant up pots and containers for a spring pot display of the highest order.…
Boxed-in Summer
February 8, 2018 2:45 pmIt’s high summer and the nurseries are filled to the brim with pots and punnets of annuals and perennials in…
Sedum spectabile
January 11, 2018 1:07 pmSedum spectabile is a rewarding, easy-to-grow herbaceous perennial with succulent foliage, which originates from China and Korea. Commonly known as…
Senecio elegans
January 11, 2018 1:02 pmWild Cineraria Senecio is a member of the Asteraceae (daisy) family, which is the second largest family of flowering plants…
Sutherlandia frutescens
January 11, 2018 12:36 pmCancer Bush, Kankerbossie, Gansies Sutherlandia Frutescens, a small shrub, which can be upright or semi-decumbent (the stems grow parallel to…
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…
Malcolmia maritima
January 8, 2018 11:06 amVirginia Stock, French Forget-me-Not As gardeners, we are always in search of fragrance so it’s a mystery why the sweetly-scented Virginian…
Leucanthemum – Shasta Daisies
January 8, 2018 8:47 amThe Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) is every gardener’s favourite summer perennial, because it flowers non-stop and never gives its…
Cactus
December 15, 2017 12:01 pmThe benefits of displaying indoor plants in our homes are huge. Plants are a décor tool, moisturiser, therapist, climate improver…
Burchellia Bubalina – Wild Pomegranate
December 15, 2017 10:41 amThe Wild Pomegranate is a neat growing shrub, up to 2.5 m in height, with beautiful dark green glossy leaves.…
Bromelia Aechmea
December 15, 2017 10:39 amUrn Plant The benefits of displaying indoor plants in our homes are huge. Plants are a décor tool, moisturiser, therapist,…
Betula Pendula
December 15, 2017 10:34 amSilver or Common Birch The Silver Birch is one of the best-known trees in cultivation today, especially in temperate regions,…
Antirrhinum Majus
December 13, 2017 3:04 pmThe ‘Snapdragon’ For gardeners wanting an easy growing winter annual it is worth re-stating all the good qualities of Antirrhinum…
Adenium Obesum
December 13, 2017 2:38 pmImpala Lily, Desert Rose or Sabi Star Adenium Obesum, sometimes called Adenium Multiflorum, is an interesting, or unusual grey to…
Acer palmatum
December 13, 2017 2:33 pmJapanese Maple Acer Palmatum originates from China, Korea and Japan, and has become one of the most popular deciduous trees…
Frost Resistant Veggie Trellis
December 12, 2017 8:30 amIn the cold, frosty parts of the country, winter can wreak havoc on your vegetables and garden plants. Many are…
Topiaries for Christmas
November 27, 2017 1:17 pmThis year do something a little different for your Christmas tree – a topiary. Here’s a selection of top plants…
Rosa banksiae
November 20, 2017 3:37 pmYellow Banksian Rose ‘Lutea’ The Banksiae Rose is a garden favourite around the globe. It originates in West and Central…
Bellis Perennis
November 15, 2017 11:38 amEnglish Daisy The English Daisy is a dainty little perennial often treated as an annual in the warm African climate…
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…
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…
Summer Lawn Care
February 6, 2017 1:17 pmFertilising your Lawn Question: If lawns are fertilised regularly, do they require mowing more often than lawns that have not…
The Kindest Cut – Roses
January 18, 2016 6:49 amThis beautiful display of roses is one of the rewards of winter pruning, along with good soil enrichment, watering and…
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…
Spring is a Good time to Aerate your Lawn
January 15, 2016 7:28 amSpiking your lawn with a garden fork (to aerate your lawn) will boost its growth and spring is the best…
Happy Spring
July 27, 2015 10:14 amAll the lovely fragrances of spring waft along as the season gracefully bows in, the heavily scented blooms reminding me…
Dombeya rotundifolia
May 11, 2015 9:05 amWild Pear Dombeya Rotundifolia, one of the most attractive and reliable of the indigenous trees suitable for suburban gardens, has…
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…
Nandina domestica
August 21, 2014 7:07 pmNandina, Heavenly Bamboo, Sacred Bamboo For Autumn colour there is nothing to beat Nandina Domestica and its cousins. The lacy leaves change…
Burgundy Iceberg
August 21, 2014 10:39 amBurgundy Icebergs are beautiful, eye-catching roses worth planting en masse. Masses of velvety, generally wine-red flowers with a very delicate…
Brunfelsia Pauciflora ‘Floribunda’
August 21, 2014 10:18 amWherever a yesterday, today and tomorrow – Brunfelsia Pauciflora ‘Floribunda’ – grows there will be the sweet and unmistakable scent…
Bolusanthus Speciosus
August 21, 2014 9:38 amTree Wisteria The Tree Wisteria is a truly elegant deciduous tree with a neat, elongated silhouette in the landscape. It…
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