GardenTalk Issue 1, 2016 - Be Garden Wise

Garden talk

Issue 1, 2016

Be

Garden Wise INSIDE

Seasonal gardening made easy • Waterwise • The mystique of Eastern gardening • Grow your own • Beautiful Buxus • Indoor plant style

Be Garden

Contacting us Contact us on 0861 G-A-R-D-E-N (427336)

Dear Gardener

Queries:

To provide you with excellent service, we have a team of dedicated and passionate gardening experts and there are several ways of directing your gardening queries to us: Online: gardenshop.co.za

Call 0861 G-A-R-D-E-N (427336)

Email us on info@gardenshop.co.za Connect with GardenShop! Daily gardening posts, updates on new plants, trending gardening ideas and seasonal pictures from our garden centres.

GardenShopSA Editor: Deborah Hele

e-mail: deborah@gardenshop.co.za Publisher & Ad Sales: First Wave Media cc e-mail: gardentalk@firstwavemedia.co.za

Our first issue of the year is full of prudent and invaluable gardening advice, suggestions and ideas allowing you to embrace this beautiful time of the year with confidence, motivation and a smile.

While all the hectic flowering and activity of summer might be over, now really is a wonderful time to start wising up to an array of important gardening activities and to prepare garden beds so they’re ready for the cooler months. From mulching, fertilising, lawn care to visualising your spring garden with bulb plantings, the best plants to choose and of course all the essentials for attracting birdlife to your garden. Your secateurs, shears, rakes and spades are going to get a real workout.

It’s a great time to grow your own vegetables and GardenShop offers you a terrific selection of seeds and varieties to set you on the path to self-sufficiency. In this issue we provide you with all the information you need to know about sowing your own vegetable seeds.

We also explore Eastern gardening, its décor influences and plant choice – from beautiful bonsai to the calm, gentle aura of Gardenias and bamboos. Plus there’s GardenShop’s gorgeous range of exclusively imported pots and ornaments inspired by the magic of the East! And of course, there’s no shortage of ideas for wise gardeners to discover superb ways to creatively use indoor plants in and with glassware.

Be Garden Wise Best wishes

GardenShop Tel: 011 516 9700 Fax: 011 516 9701 PO Box 70966, Bryanston, 2021 GardenShop proudly supports:

GardenShop proudly supports BirdLife South Africa.

Making a difference to our birds and their habitats.

Conservation.

Education.

Awareness.

first wave media GardenTalk is published on behalf of GardenShop (Pty) Ltd by: First Wave Media cc Tel: 011 640 7354 Web: firstwavemedia.co.za Postal: PO Box 28845, Sandringham, Johannesburg, 2131

Wise

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Waterwise Gardening Create gardens that are sustainable and able to withstand the challenges of every season.

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Autumn gardening made easy From bulb planting, lawn care, fertilisers and container plant care.

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For the Birds! Everything you need from GardenShop to keep your feathered friends flocking home.

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Eastern Gardening Inspirations Create gardens that truly inspire a feeling of tranquillity, serenity and reflection.

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The Beautiful Buxus The classic ‘box hedge’ is a real delight

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Indoor Plant Style Discover the beauty and benefits of indoor plants in unique glass vases

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Grow Your Own Sowing your own seeds for autumn and winter harvest

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‘Cha Cha’ and ‘Can Can’ Cordylines for a touch of class

Dance your way into every season with Cordylines ‘Cha Cha’ and ‘Can Can’.

Colourful, weeping and variegated foliage in blends of colour.

‘Cha Cha’ and ‘Can Can’ are fast growing making them suitable for accent both in the garden and containers. Both plants must be protected against serious frost in the winter.

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Waterwise Gardening

Plumbago – Cape Forget-Me-Not

What does it mean to be a waterwise gardener? It means as gardeners we need to respect water, understand the value of water, conserve it and must use it wisely and responsibly at all times. We need to create gardens that are sustainable and able to withstand the challenges that every season brings.

The three main pillars to successful waterwise gardens are soil preparation, selection of plants and mulching.

Soil preparation Invest in your soil. Spend time enriching with compost. By composting we return nutrients that we have ‘taken’ from our soil.

Compost will greatly reduce our dependence on chemicals, such as artificial fertilisers and pesticides. Compost, a valuable component to soil preparation for planting will most importantly improve the soil’s capacity to hold and retain water.

Selection of plants There are a wealth of plants suited for waterwise (low water use) gardens. Select carefully and group plants according to their water needs.

Drought tolerant plants

Dymondia margaretae – Silver Carpet: A compact, neat, ground hugging plant with small yellow daisy-like flowers. It is perfect for those tight areas inbetween stepping stones and sunny courtyards.

Clivia miniata – Bush Lily: Magnificent trumpet-shaped red, orange, yellow or cream flowers in spring. Make sure to plant in shaded areas.

Phormium – New Zealand Flax: Ideal for plant structure and linear architectural lines in gardens and containers. Gaura lindheimeri – butterfly bush with their showy white and pink flowers will attract beneficial birds and bees.

Low water usage plants

Varieties of Hemerocallis – Daylilies come in every colour of

the rainbow, yellow, orange, maroon, pink, purple and red. They can be used as a border along a path or driveway. Suitable for growing in containers. Nothing can beat the Plumbago – CapeForget-Me-Not shrub – for its ease of growth and the flowers are a massive attraction for birds. Lavender varieties - with its incredible fragrance and beautiful flowers will attract beneficial insects, bees and butterflies.

Medium water usage plants

Part of our Cape Floral Kingdom, this rich reed-like plant Chondropetalum tectorum – Cape Reed is stylish and elegant with its graceful foliage. Plant Osteospernums – African daisies for their showy array of flowers, dazzling purples, whites and yellows will attract a host off butterflies to your garden. Carex – Sedge grass, are dense forming low-growing ornamental grasses ideal for mass planting. Plant in full sun to take advantage of the contrasting foliage.

Mulch Mulching is an important gardening management technique in gardens making the transition into waterwise. Mulch will ultimately stabilise soil temperature, retain moisture in summer and will also protect roots from cold weather temperatures.

Mulches also help to prevent weeds from growing. Mulching is advised in all areas of the garden. Mulches come in different forms, most popular include the bio-degradable mulches like grass clippings, sawdust, bark chips, well-rotted manure and garden compost.

Enjoy the transition of gardening wisely and sustainably for the future, share your waterwise gardening knowledge freely for generations to pass down and love your plants that bring everyone joy and hope.

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Essential Mulch for Waterwise Gardening In periods of drought and hot weather mulching is essential for the retention of moisture in the soil. This essential waterwise product is proudly made by Culterra, with 50 year’s experience in producing top quality South African organics. Culterra’s Mulch will stabalise soil temperatures, retain moisture in summer and will protect roots from cold weather temperatures. Culterra Mulches will also help to prevent weeds from growing.

Be Garden Wise and Mulch.

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Plant Bulbs for Spring Magic

In April we start experiencing cooler temperatures and this is exactly the time to plant bulbs that will flower in spring.

For beautiful swaths of indigenous colour plant Freesias.

• Soil must be cold and moist • Prepare planting area well by digging in generous amounts of compost and 2:3:2

Autumn gardening made easy

• Plant bulb at correct depth, depth instructions are on the packaging • Water well after planting • Fertilise every two weeks

Lawn Care

Continue with watering, mowing and fertilising. Maintain a regular programme that will continue until the end of April. It is difficult to keep lawn looking good, especially in periods of drought.

Suggested Lawn Fertilisers to assist: • Bio Ganic for Lawns • Vita Green 511:5 (16) Lawn & Foliage Feriliser Tips for using and storing of fertilisers: • Follow the recommended application rate and do not overfertilise • Water thoroughly after each application • Store under the roof • Most importantly, keep away from children and pets

Plant Division

Divide and split perennials and ground covers, like Agapanthus, Red-hot pokers, ornamental grasses, Day lilies, Alstromerias and Asters.

Refresh your plants in containers Now is the time to pull out your drab looking summer plants and replace with fresh plant material for the upcoming autumn and winter months.

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It’s cool to garden in autumn!

After the tremendous drought and heatwaves we experienced this summer the thought of magical temperate days ahead in the cooler garden are enough to inspire us to action.

Any new design or developments are best done during the cooler season months as newly planted gardens will establish most successfully and emerge strong and robust by the time winter’s chill arrives. Roots have time to regrow and take up nutrients and water needed to feed and cool the plant optimally in the first few weeks. This minimises planting stress which in hot weather, often results in plant loss and dejected gardeners!

So let’s get planting, feeding and collecting autumn leaves to make mulch and compost in this time of plenty to be ready for a wonderful winter season.

Contributor: Jenny Slabber from Talborne Organics

• Can I fertilse my garden in winter?

Vita Organic Fertilisers can be applied any time of the year. The scientific explanation made simple is that water-soluble, fast release chemical fertiliser is salt based so nutrient uptake is by osmosis which requires a capillary action to move the high concentration of nutrients from the water in the soil through the roots to all parts of the plant. Cool weather reduces the transpiration from the leaf surface which reduces the circulation of plant sap so plant tissue can be scarred or damaged as a result. Vita Organic Fertiliser does not contain salts so nutrients are mostly released by microbial soil life, which naturally adjusts release in cool soils when plant growth slows.

• How can I protect plants from frost?

Many of our favourites plants only flourish in cooler seasons. So just like we need to eat, so plants which are living creatures also need to continue feeding. Potassium is important to ensure strong and hardy cells before the winter season as well as promote lots of flowers so apply Vita Fruit & Flower 3:1:5 in March or April for cool bloomers!

• Will my leafy veggies not burn when applying nitrogen in autumn or winter?

A: The nitrogen in Vita Organic Fertiliser is formulated for a sustained release over about four months. The nitrogen sticks to soil particles which acts as a buffet so when the plant needs to take up nitrogen it can access it on demand. Nitrogen in Vita fertilisers should never burn if applied as per directions. Go ahead and feed leafy greens and herbs with Vita Veg 6:3:4 with planting or with Vita Green 5:1:5 as a topdressing after four months when required.

• Getting the best bloom when planting colour seedlings

The Eco-Green Seedling Food is an all-in-one compost and fertiliser ideal for planting winter colour beds, containers or hanging baskets.

The 1kg pink packet covers an area of 5m2 and ensures blooms continue throughout the winter. Apply more seedling food as a topdressing after three months to maintain the blooms.

Be garden wise and fertilise!

Growing T oget he r Vita Veg 6:3:4 (16) Vegetable and Herb Fertilizer Fertilizer for Certified Organic Growing Best for:

a Planting vegetables, herbs + berries a Feed vegetables, herbs + berries a Feed lawns, tropical gardens + trees a General application: 100g/m2 every 4 months

healthy soil = healthy plants = healthy people 8

Naturally Good

www.talborne.co.za www.facebook.com/Talborne

Just a bit more for Azalea Encore

ON PROMOTION

Plant Encore Azaleas in our cooler months to enjoy their spring flowers until the first frost as well as giving them time for their roots to establish without damage from cold temperatures in winter. With the summer heat winding down and cooler temperatures on the way, autumn is the perfect season to plant Encore Azaleas.

Tips for growing successful Encore Azaleas: •

Azalea Encore prefer an area with good filtered shade or in a sunny position with afternoon shade. Azaleas require 4 to 6 hours of sun to produce their flowers. However in the summer it is important that they are not exposed to the harsh sunlight to maintain their flower vibrancy.

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The soil should be acidic and well drained to promote healthy growth and to prevent root rot. Add nutrients to the soil with organic matter, but not fertiliser (fertilise in spring). Azaleas have a shallow root system, which means roots are shallow. It is advisable to dig a hole that is twice the size of the root ball so that the roots grow wide and not deep. This will prevent the risk of root rot.

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In the first year of growing to protect your Azalea through their first winter as well preserving moisture in summer, apply a 3cm layer of mulch after planting. You may also want to place protective covering in winter to allow strong root growth.

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Fertilise your Encore Azaleas after fear of frost and watch them flower and grow.

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Following spring’s first showcase of flowers, lightly prune to encourage growth and increase flowering for remaining seasons.

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South African Gardenshop – proud supporter of locally grown and manufactured products.

We give you an abundance of beautiful indigenous choices!

Inspiring garden ideas all year round.

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Bring the Birds home There is nothing on earth that can replace the joy of watching different birds make their way into our gardens.

Children delight when they see birds return to stock up on some food. We love to sit outside and watch how they chatter, feast on berries from our trees and dig their beaks into the soil for fresh earthworms.

At GardenShop we undertand the importance of attracting birds into your gardens, our birding departments offer you the very best in bird food – nectar feed, suet, bird puddings, raw peanuts and seed.

Our extensive range of feeders, feeding stations, roosting nest boxes, nesting logs, bird baths, bird tables and accessories will all help you to bring the birds flocking home.

GardenShop treats for our fine-feathered friends GardenTalk

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Our pieces of nature, whether a flowering orchid in a bathroom, a bean seedling in the kitchen from a school project, a courtyard with tropical plants or a swim-

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ming pool with patio plants are places for relaxing, enjoyment and interludes. To really ‘feel’ our places of interludes you need to take it one step further and start thinking of gardens that truly inspire the feeling of tranquillity, serenity and reflection. Eastern-inspired gardens with statue and lantern ornamentation, rocks and stone, water and plants will give you the tools to design and create your own Eastern setting.

Eastern gard 2 Eastern elements available at GardenShop 1.

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Bamboo, Rocks, Gravel and Stone Statues Bonsai Windchimes Gardenia

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dening

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Container Style Versatile, unique and exclusive to GardenShop Flora Imports’ magnificent range of European and Asian imported pots – from countries including Italy, Germany, Thailand and Malaysia – are a sight to behold.

Whether your penchant is for terracotta or a glazed finish, square-shaped, round, rectangular or something truly unique, the selection affords you gardening creativity second -to-none. From simple to elaborate, the possibilities are limitless to help you plant the perfect pot.

Their versatility in adding instant colour – whether you choose individual plants, mixand-match varieties even vegetables and herbs – means you can adapt your interior or exterior landscapes as seasons change too. And of course they provide bold focal points in your garden - and even on balconies - and add to the design and architecture of your living space.

Visit GardenShop for your summer container makeovers.

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The classic beauty of Buxus is found at GardenShop, part of our exclusive Collection range.

GardenShop’s Collection of Buxus ( commonly known as the Box Hedge) glossy, small leafed evergreen medium sized shrubs that can be pruned to form a hedge, shaped into plant balls, trained into lollypop standards and columnar topiaries. Shapes that form the basis of any formal garden. You can clip them any time you like, but better in summer and not on a very hot day or a wet day. Use a sharp pair of pruners or shears and cut away.

They are very rewarding and fun to trim especially into shapes. Sprinkle some fertiliser such as Neutrog’s BioOcean or Vita Grow 2:2:3 (16) at the base of the plants in spring and again after their trim. If it is dry weather then the fertiliser will need to be watered in.

R995

R450

(excludes pot)

R495

Box Buxus

R450

R695

R995

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Correa alba

There are not many plants that can claim to be drought, salt spray tolerant and frost hardy! … add to this creamy white flowers and contrasting grey green leaves.

Could this be the perfect plant?

• Correa alba is a fast growing, evergreen shrub that has leathery grey-green leaves. It has a dense rounded habit and can get to 1.5m in height. It is however easily pruned and can make a good hedge or small shrub.

• Correa grows in the sun or partial shade. It is not fussy about the soil it is planted in but prefers well-drained soil that has been enriched with compost. It needs average water until established.

Once established it is wonderfully waterwise.

• Correa is drought and salt spray tolerant and is frost hardy. It is a low maintenance shrub that can be pruned to shape during the year.

• Cream coloured bell-shaped flowers can occur throughout the year with a main flowering period We have over 100 different varieties of fresh herb plants, being autumn.

• Correa alba is such a toughto and grow hardy shrub.

It is easyown to grow .and is just the shrub to plant in encouraging gardeners their that difficult spot in the garden!

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Why you need plants indoors • Indoor plants purify the air • Plants indoors can make your brain work better • They can help with preventing allergies • Plants are known to improve your sleep • Plants can improve your mental health

GardenShop Collection

Indoor Style

Uniquely planted up glass vases. Living art pieces with Maiden Hair

Ferns, Flowering Cymbidiums, Sanseveria, Firesticks and Syngoniums.

Creatively planted up, these ready to give real life vases are exclusively

R195

grown and produced for GardenShop.

R155

R295

R495

R395

R395 GardenTalk

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Grow your Own Growing your own food is easy and healthful.

Everybody can grow vegetables, it depends on your soil, seed quality, water and sun. To ensure a successful crop from your seeds the first consideration is your soil. Healthy soil = healthy plants!

Contributors: Gilda & Linda Gilvad, Sought After Seedlings

What you need to know: •

Choose the location of your vegetable planting in a position that receives at least 5 hours sunlight per day.

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Bare in mind shadows from tall trees, buildings (especially from your neighbours) and wind tunnels. The winter sun is lower in the sky, take this into account.

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If your soil is not in good condition i.e.: too much clay or too sandy, add copious amounts of organic matter e.g.: from your own compost heap, dried leaves, grass cuttings without seeds in them. If you can get manure from a good source not using antibiotics or hormones on their animals, that’s great! Make sure you dry your manure out before digging it in to your soil or simply buy a good organic compost.

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Should your area have really irretrievably bad soil, simply raise your beds with wood, bricks, gum poles, etc or use pots - especially if you only have a patio or balcony. If this is the case, mix your ‘new’ soil with lots of compost and fill your area.

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Soil should be loamy and sweet smelling.

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Germination of seeds can take place in seedling trays or directly in situ (straight into the ground).

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Plant your precious seeds 1.5 times the size of the seed in depth. Remember that your tiny seeds should not be planted too deeply, as they will not be able to grow out of the soil. Water your planting site before you plant and very lightly after you plant. Tiny seeds can wash out of seedling trays or away in the garden, so use a fine rose spray or your bottle top waterer to prevent this from happening.

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A light sprinkling of sifted compost over the seeds will be appreciated by them.

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Never omit mulch. Bare in mind that thick mulch will be difficult for a tiny plant to push through so limit your mulch to allow space for growing.

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Using a good quality seed will give you good germination, so don’t use too many seeds in one planting space, as you will have to thin the small plants out, which is really just a waste.

Water every day with love and enjoy watching your garden grow. It’s all part and parcel of being Garden Wise!

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Garden Value

Garden MORE for less with these gardening SPECIALS Available while stocks last.

Quantities are limited.

Valid from 1 March – 30 April 2016 Many more offers in store!

Images featured serve as a guide only. Actual colour variations may occur in some instances.

Vita Grow 3.1.5 Fruit and Flower Fertiliser Certified organic fertiliser for flowering shrubs, trees and roses. Apply every 2-3 months. 5kg.

IDEAL for POTS

Plants to Hedge Range of plants suitable as hedging. Evergreen and hardy varieties. 4l.

3 for

Petunia ‘Cascades’ Bigger pot for better impact.

Range of perennial Petunias for lasting colour. 25cm.

150

R

135

R Cyclamen Ideal for autumn and winter flowers. Plant en-masse in the garden. 14cm.

(Excludes pot).

6995

R

3 for

150

R

Peace Lily Easy-to-care for indoor plant. Longlasting flowers.14cm.

4995

R

Garden Wise Mix Choose from Salvias, Violas, Solanums, Gooseberries and more. 15cm.

any 3 for

100

R

Assorted Roses Be wise and choose from the following trusted varieties: Just Joey, Double Delight, Blue Moon, Duftwolke and Duet. 5l.

any 2 for

150

R

Angelonia Varieties Perfect for pots and flower beds.

4l. (Excludes pot).

3 for

100

R

WATER WISE

INSTANT COLOUR

IDEAL for POTS

Wonder 7.1.3 Lawn and Leaf Fertiliser Fertiliser for the use on all things green. Apply every 6 weeks. 5kg.

7995

R Angel Wings A no-fuss, easy to care for, free flowering perennial.

Available in 3 colours.4l.

any 3 for

100

R

Indigenous Bulb Combo South African gems to plant now for spring colour. 50 x Freesia + 25 x Tritonias Mixed Colours.

79

R

95

Azalea ‘Encore’ Varieties Summer, autumn and spring flowering. Many colours to choose from. 17cm.

6995

R

Buy 1 get 1 Free

795 per set

R

Multifeed Flowergro + Classic Soluable fertiliser for general use. 500g.

Glazed pot selection Superior quality imported glazed pot selection. 3 pots per set.

GardenShopSA

Rose Iceberg Standard Masses of white flowers all year round.

Free-flowering.

10l.

195

R

0861 G-A-R-D-E-N (427336) gardenshop.co.za