It’s time to embrace your inner floral artist and bring beautiful blooms from your own garden indoors. The best flowers to use as cut flowers are flowering perennials, shrubs and even trees that have flowers and foliage as they last long in water and provide all...
If at all possible, the new agapanthus varieties on the market this year are bigger, better, more intense in colour and destined to become garden favourites in no time. In previous issues of The Gardener we’ve talked about the fantastic Agapanthus ‘Blackjack’ that won...
Salvias may be tough and low-maintenance, but we’ve got some tips that will help you to unleash their superpowers in the garden. Imagine a group of plants that are so attractive and useful that their awesomeness couldn’t be contained in a whole library. These plants...
These three plants never disappoint in the perennial quest for effortless garden beauty. We’ve all had those moments when we yearn for a low-maintenance garden that can still captivate with its vibrant colours and textures. But choosing the right plants can be a...
The magic mathematics of a good-looking pot, starts with a thriller, a filler and a spiller. Potted magic This ratio of plants is the beginning of potted success. Our contrasting colour combination here will brighten up any spot in need of a makeover. You will need: A...
In South Africa, if your lavender has been in your garden for more than two years, well, you’re a botanical boss! If not, we have some suggestions. Lavenders love warm and dry conditions, plus they are relatively hardy against the cold and can withstand light frost....
Lavender brings life to the garden with its vibrant purple hues and a fragrance that puts perfumes to shame. A sun-loving superstar that attracts bees and butterflies while keeping pesky insects at bay, it thrives in well-drained sandy soil. This botanical diva is...
If your garden has seemed different in recent years, with that familiar buzz much quieter, the air less colourful and alive, it's probably not your imagination. Bee and butterfly populations face alarming declines worldwide. That's a scary thought, considering that...
Hydrangeas are like the spring’s pompom, cheering on the season. Blooming from spring to autumn, this flower is so beloved that it even has its own holiday! Hydrangea Day is celebrated on January 5th, which is perfect since it is a time of year when the beautiful...
While your garden is peaking and is filled with vibrantly coloured flowers during spring, it is precisely the right time to create a stunning bouquet from the fruits of your labour, so that you can enjoy the sights and smells of the garden inside your home. It only...
There are few things nicer than walking in your garden, soaking up the sun, smelling all the different fragrances of the flowers and hearing the bees humming away. One specific plants comes to mind when picturing this image, and it is the lovely Lavandula dentata...
By: Nolo Ndhlovu Absolutely anyone can master patio or container gardening. These are words that will make beginner gardeners dance with joy, especially if you know nothing about gardening! Most plants aren’t finicky about the type of pots you plant them in; you must...
How many times have you walked past a house in a lovely neighbourhood, and all you could smell was the aroma of the food being cooked that almost makes you feel like asking for a seat at that dinner table. It is as if the herbs and spices they’ve used are calling you,...
It’s that time of the year again where the green industry plays an important role in reminding people about the importance of planting trees. Arbour Week has been celebrated since 1800, founded by two lovers of nature, husband and wife team Julius and Carrie Sterling...
We are complicated beings that experience all sorts of complex emotions, from the ones we enjoy, like feeling love or contentment, to the emotions we wish we never experienced, like anxiety and sadness. From the green we see to the peace we feel Most of us live in a...
Imagine trying to teach a child about the laws of nature and how the ecosystem is one big cycle of giving, and then you're suddenly inspired to grow some plants that attract insects. This would be great! These insects will help pollinate plants, and the child can...
If you’ve recently purchased a house or are experiencing a need to change your Feng Shui into a modern jungle, your goal should be to turn your concrete environment into a comforting home you can blissfully flourish in. Indoor plants can do just that! A world filled...
The title of this article reminds us of a short children’s book by Lizzy Rockwell. The first few lines of the book say, 'I am a plant eater. Plants reach out for the sun; they grow in the ground. I eat different parts from different plants, sometimes I eat the leaves,...