If you have achieved planting success you now probably have a pretty garden that makes you happy and content without asking too much more of you. If not, take heart as planting success relies on easy words like ‘climate’, ‘planning’, ‘position’, ‘pre

Bonsai growers often ask me for advice. Without even looking at their trees I can give them the most valuable advice they will ever get: “Water your plants!” Folks, it is that simple. Without water your plants will shrivel up and die. Yes, we all kno

Unusually, Jozi Carnivores was not born out of a passion for carnivorous plants, but rather as a solution to several problems that Renee was facing. “I had no interest in these intriguing plants at all. However, I was by chance exposed to an incredib

Fact file: The basionym of Merwilla plumbea is Scilla natalensis. A basionym is an earlier, valid scientific name of a species that has since been renamed. Merwilla plumbea, also known as the wild squill, is a member of the Hyacinthacea family. It is

Gardening in shady areas can prove to be tricky. Begonias fill that gap beautifully, each plant producing masses of jewel-like flowers to brighten the darkest of corners. Begonia semperflorens hybrids can vary in size: the very dwarf type can be used

February is the hottest month of the year, and there’s nothing more refreshing on a hot day than a long, icy drink. The trouble is that most soft drinks are full of sugar, while the healthy option (drinking loads of water) isn’t everyone’s ‘cup of te

If you’re lucky enough to have enough space to grow sweet melons, also known as spanspek or cantaloupe, you are bound to have plenty of melons that may be in need of preserving for leaner months. Planted in spring and summer, sweet melon fruit forms

Permaculture is the finest guide for sustainable, organic food gardening. It is a complete ‘system’ that ultimately becomes self-generating, with synergies between environment, plants, animals and people so that nothing is wasted. It’s about benefitt

The Shasta daisy is every gardener’s favourite summer perennial, because it flowers non-stop and never gives its owner any problems. We have often waxed lyrical about the beautiful Leucanthemum ‘Daisy Mae’, with its large white single blooms, but wha

‘Sacred Red’ is a new Antico Moderno red rose that has the look and feel of an antique rose with its massive, nostalgia-shaped blooms. Dark red, almost red-black, outer petals frame the bloom’s inner, full-petalled centre. Each bloom is an impressive

Plant quick-growing catmint as an insect-repelling plant around tomatoes, or as a border where cabbages, broccoli and kale will grow during the cooler months. It keeps aphids away, while the sprays of mauve flowers attract bees. If the plant becomes

To many gardeners, the scale of the gardens at Mauritzfontein could seem overwhelming. Only the brave attempt to garden in the Karoo on this scale, 9 hectares, and only the fearless tackle the even more arid Nama Karoo. To landscape designer Arthur M

Tick the box: the first month has come and gone without too many dramas! I for one am delighted that I can now officially say that I can smell the end of summer, just peeping her nose around the corner. I’m looking forward to the tasks I have planned

Mesembryanthemum cordifolium(previously Aptenia cordifolia) can often be seen growing between cracks in urban spaces and along disturbed areas. It is also commonly known as the baby sun rose. The bright green succulent leaves are heart-shaped, and th

There are many of us who can’t resist an old tin, particularly one with a retro look to it, and they can be made useful by turning them into planters. They look very good planted with succulents and make an appealing rustic display grouped together.

The cabbage tree or kiepersol is a medium-sized or large tree in the cabbage tree family (Araliaceae), occurring on mountain slopes, rocky outcrops and along forest margins from the southern parts of the Western Cape to Limpopo, and north to tropical

As passionate gardeners, we are occasionally startled and surprised to find that some form of mushroom has popped up overnight on our lawn, appeared in the flower bed or is lurking in some shady spot in our garden. Some of us disregard these fascinat

Agave victoriae-reginae is a long-lived, exceptionally slow-growing succulent with short, triangular leaves artistically arranged in a dense symmetrical rosette. The dark green leaves, which grow to 22cm in length, are hard and leathery with dark tho

Set your Valentine’s heart on fire by growing your own MayFord chilli seeds this Valentine’s Day. MayFord’s ‘Long Slim Cayenne’ chillis will be ready to harvest within 75 days, just in time for winter as a hot and spicy addition to warm dishes and sa