CATEGORIES

A Garden Full Of Rooms

When the time has come, the best way to scale down is to surround and enclose yourself with much-loved plants...

the colours of mexico

when it comes to colour and vibrancy, there’s nothing like mexican garden or patio styles for inspiration. sunny yellow, electric blue, warm oranges and reds are all combined in a colour scheme that shouts bold and beautiful. 

an apple a day, the​​​​​​​ doctor's way...

a while back we were approached by dr nevin stewart, a hobby cider maker from guildford in surrey, england, to see if we were interested in sharing his ‘juice and strain’ method of making apple cider at home. when it comes to apple season there is always a good supply around, and what better way to use them up? what we wanted to verify before publishing is how easy it is to find the equipment you need in south africa, and also how easy cider really is to make. while experimenting with beer brewing for the ultimate braai magazine, we also made good use of the time and made a batch of apple cider, with the help of brad and chris from beer bros. our conclusion? cider is very easy to make, and is very tasty indeed. we’ve adjusted the steps for local products available. this is nevin’s story:  

Garden Ferns

Who needs flowers when the foliage is so spectacular?

Plan For Success

July is when winter really starts to bite. Everything goes dormant, including the gardener, which makes this the month to plan for spring and summer, look back at lessons learnt, and undertake the basic garden tasks at a leisurely pace.

3 Succulents That Contrast Splendidly With Aloes

Many other succulent-type plants combine effectively with aloes in the garden. Some have contrasting foliage both in terms of colour and texture, adding interest to the landscape and enhancing year-round good looks. These three indigenous plants are ideal companion plants for aloes of every shape and size – they have colourful foliage and attractive flowers that add to their appeal. Use them in gardens or plant them in mixed succulent pots for a lovely display that requires very little water.

Viva La Difference

how to prune different rose types

Shopping For The Perfect Tree

Tree planting is about visualising an end result and then having the energy and patience to make it a reality. It’s also about thinking before you plant.

A Love Letter

Can you write a love letter to ensnare a husband (or wife)?

3 Great Evergreen Hedge Plants

Hedges and screens are an integral component of the modern-day garden, offering privacy and in some instances security while affording protection from winds and weather. They may be clipped or trimmed into formal square hedges or else left to grow into informal screens. The plants selected for this purpose are generally quick-growing evergreen shrubs with a dense growth habit, and flowers and colourful foliage are subsequently of secondary importance. Hedge plants need to respond well to regular clipping and continuously make new growth to maintain a long-lasting neat appearance.

Clivias Today

These days clivias are about so much more than just orange.

Get Ready For A New Rose Season

Every September offers the promise that this could be the best ever rose season. Forget last year’s disappointments, because the nice thing about roses is that they are forgiving – every year is a fresh start!

Striking 'Lemon Flame' Veltheimia For Spring Colour

Striking 'Lemon Flame' Veltheimia For Spring Colour

Gardening With Bees

Gardening With Bees

Up Close And Personal With The Chelsea Flower Show

Inspiration from the keynote gardens.

Indigenous Hedges And Screens: Keeping It Green

Many gardeners are hesitant about hedges and unsure about screens. A hedge, they reason, will take a long time to grow and need a lot of maintenance, but that’s not necessarily so.