by Stephen Smith Garden for Bees Many of you will have read that if bees become extinct, mankind will follow within a few years. Whether or not that is actually true, there is no doubt that bees play a crucial role in the pollination of our food, and they are facing a...
By Dr Connal Eardley The Bee’s Perspective Flowers provide food for bees. To plants they are sex organs. The origins of flowering plants and insect pollinators began simultaneously about 100 million years ago. Cross-pollinated plants use vector, such as wind, water or...
Members of the protea family are essentially social plants, although there are some exceptions. Fynbos are generally adaptable and, with an understanding and appreciation of the basic growing requirements of these plants, one is assured of a reasonable chance of...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_PkjoUibms Spring has arrived, which means that your lawn will be awakening to another season of growing green and lush. A healthy lawn, though, depends on how you treat it and how you mow it. Mowing looks deceptively simple, but every...
Sunday 15 October 2017 South Africans from all walks of life are joined by their love of gardens, no matter what size, shape or form. That’s why we’re celebrating Garden Day, on Sunday 15 October, with one simple ambition in mind: to encourage people to put down their...
A + APPLES Here is archaeological evidence that apples (Malus domestica) have been eaten since as far back as 6500 BC, and they have also been associated in mythology with youthfulness and health through the ages. While an apple is credited with solving the problem of...
When we think of herbs several worthy plants spring to mind, but few of them are indigenous. Could it be possible that our indigenous plants also offer culinary delights and potential medicinal benefits? The latter topic is controversial. Most herbal remedies have not...
All you chop-chowing carnivores out there shouldn’t miss out on having some lush greenery growing close to the braai area. It is not only for the plants’ attractive appearance, which will beautify these traditionally very masculine and functional areas, but also the...
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]What Is a Bee? This short series on gardening with bees in South Africa will explore the reasons for adding this extra dimension to gardening, and the pleasure that can be found in it. Our country’s bee diversity is astounding, and...
We love it when our online shoppers share their gardening experiences related to the product they bought. It's awesome to see fruits of their success through their hard gardening work, and even better when they are sharing their knowledge with...
Our mission: to catch our breaths after the ten day East Coast House and Garden Show! Ashley, Izolda, Gerald and myself headed for Port Elizabeth, destination Graaff-Reinet. So off to The Eastern Cape we went - fitting in so much over the 4 days, including the...
Trending: Recycling or upcycling anything to give new life to old things is still 'in'. Use old wheelbarrows, boots, leaking buckets or discarded kitchenware as containers for herbs or succulents. Remember: If it’s hollow and can hold soil, it can be a container. But...
Get Pruning! Spring is around the corner, which means that now is the time to trim your hedges. There are a few basic steps to stick to when trimming a hedge: Ideally, trim hedges regularly, a little bit at a time – the less you remove at once the healthier it is for...
Pruning, just like watering and feeding, is part and parcel of general plant care. It’s also easy, as long as you know why, when and how to do it. Why prune? 1. To rejuvenate: Pruning encourages new, healthy growth, which naturally means more leaves, flowers and...
There’s a month to go before spring, which means it’s time to prepare beds, wash seed trays, turn the compost and sow seed in trays for an early start. The get ready for spring checklist: Make your own germination mix Make a 50/50 mix of sifted garden soil and fine...
Roses that weren’t pruned in July can still be pruned during the first week of August. In very cold areas, pruning only needs to be done at the end of August. Roses that were pruned in July will be sprouting, and corrective pruning can be done. See which eyes have...
An inviting pathway that leads from one place to the next around a corner or simply to another part of the garden creates immediate interest making visitors want to see what’s on the other side along the way. Garden design is not complete without including pathways...
A retired old chair can be refashioned into a great planter with some easy steps and a love of succulents. What you need: An old wooden chair, with the seat removed Organic fertiliser pellets Palm peat block (reconstituted in water) Potting soil Bonemeal or...