November Magic 2007
Hints & Tips

November is a magical time of the year with the welcome of summer and the rains finally here. The early planning of maintenance routines is a priority for gardens as this will determine what sort of garden you will have this summer. In the long run this planning will save you time and money. With all the rain we have had you should have a feeding program that will continue throughout the summer months. If you have time, take samples of your soil and get a soil analyses done at the sugar research station in Mt Edgcombe. The analyses will tell you what is deficient in your soil and what fertilizer you need to put down to rectify the deficiencies. This is particularly important for your lawns as it is one area of your garden that always suffers. Generally you can put the same fertilizer down on your lawns as you do in the flower beds. If you do not have a fertilizer distributor (you can purchase one from Modern Mowers) then sprinkle by hand, by spreading a handful per square meter. Preferable feed after it has rained as this will prevent the fertilizer burning your grass. I suggest that if you have a very large lawn area and garden then purchase a fertilizer distributor. It will save you tons of time and energy. Remember during summer cut your lawns at the highest level on your mower as this encourages a deep root system and prevents weeds from sneaking through the grass.

November is also a very pretty time of the year with many of the groundcovers coming into bloom. One in particular that is in full bloom as we speak if the dwarf white Agapanthus, which should last for 3 weeks under ideal conditions. Some of the Plectranthus will be pushing flower spikes and will flower in summer. Be careful not to over water Plectranthus as they are very susceptible to rot. Another favorite is one of the Aloe species called Aloe cooperi. Not a very large plant but its form and flower spike that stand up above the leaves makes it a very beautiful form plant. Try and plant them in large numbers as many flower spikes create a very special feature in your garden.

This is what is in flower in November/ December. You should try and plant these in your garden for next year as well as in dry and rocky areas in your garden and you will have so much to enjoy in early summer.

Ground cover:
Becium obovatum or Cat=s whiskers. It is a herb that is found in grasslands. This groundcovers to small shrub has become very popular as a landscape plant in Durban gardens. It flowers throughout summer with white to mauve flowers and the upper lip frilly. Easily grown from cuttings.

Tree:
Greyia sutherlandii or Natal Bottlebrush. You can find this tree growing well and flowering in gardens in Pinetown and Kloof. To me one of the most spectacular trees I have ever seen flower. It is deciduous in winter and in late spring to early summer produces scarlet red flowers. Sunbirds love this plant.

Bulbs:
Crinum macowanii or River Lily. Found from the coast to the mountains, leaves spreading or arching, with the leaves forming short stems. Flowers found on erect stems, opening upwards, with the stems later reclining. Flowers bell shaped, pale to dark pink in color. It s a bulb that creates a wonderful form plant in your garden. Try and plant them in large numbers in your garden as they give a lovely show at this time of the year.

Scilla natalensis or the Large blue Scilla. This bulb is widespread in the Eastern summer rainfall regions and can grow in the coastal regions up to 2000m. It has large erect leaves that mature after flowering. Flowers are on long flower spikes and are purplish blue. The bulb is used as a soap. Easily grown from seed.

Watsonia confusa. Another great bulb that grows in grasslands and which make very beautiful garden plants. Flower spikes stand up above the foliage and the individual flowers are pink to purple.

Remember feed your garden, prune correctly and check to see what is in flower at this time of the year.

Spring has Sprung 2007
Hints & Tips

Spring has Sprung and the rainy season has graced us with its gentle beautiful rain drops. This winter was one of the driest we have ever had, which is both good and bad. Positive in the sense that we had a spectacular flowering season of trees and all Aloes. Negative in that we had the worst felt fires in living history which has destroyed many farms and crops. We now welcome spring with arms wide open. What does spring mean for a gardener? Longer days, rain, warmer weather and soil, new growth of trees and shrubs, flowering of spring flowering trees, shrubs and bulbs. We have so much to look forward to. This is what is in flower in August/September. You should try and plant these in your garden for next year.

Trees:

Rothmannia globosa or September Bells. Not a large tree that is ideal for small gardens which produces spectacular white bell-shaped flowers with a wonderful scent.
Halleria lucida or Tree fuschia. Shrub to small tree, multi stemmed, crown spreading with drooping foliage. Flowers are tubular, orange to dark red found on old branches which attract many nectar feeding birds.
Erythrina lysistemon and caffra or Coral Tree. Both these trees are in full bloom throughout the Durban region. Easy to grow from trungeons and which flower for at least 6 weeks in July - September.
Bridelia micrantha or Coastal golden leaf. If you drive up Fields Hill too Kloof look on the left of the winding road and you will see the tree coming into new leaf with its spectacular golden leaves. Ideal for a medium sized garden.

Shrubs:

Poygala myrtifolia or September bush. Shrub with spectacular mauve to bright purple flowers that will flower from late winter into spring. It can grow to 3 metres.
Mackaya bella or River bells . Creamy white flowers and grows from 2-6 metres. Great for shade or sun.

Bulbs:

Scadoxus puniceus or Snake lily. You will see this bulb in flower all over the Durban Botanic Gardens. It will flower now in August - September then come into leaf for summer before going dormant in winter. Plant in the deep shade for spring flowering.

Tips for August:

Prepare flower beds for spring planting. Add lots of compost and fertilizer to your new flower bed, turn over well so that compost and topsoil is well mixed. Rake level and water which settles the newly prepared flower bed.

Cut your lawn short and rake hard with an iron rake. This removes all the dead grass from the previous season which is called thatch. If left this thatch can create fungal problems and prevent fertilizer reaching the roots of the lawn. Once cut short spike the soil with a long fork which aerates the soil. Fertilize with superphosphate at a handful per square metre. Topdress with lawn dressing which you can buy from Grovida. Water well once you have followed my instructions.

Mulch flower beds with mushroom compost. This keeps the roots warm, prevents weeds growing and helps improve the organic matter in the soil.

Prune shrubs that have finished flowering such as Tecoma capensis and Plumbago auriculata. Cut the shrubs to half there size. New growth will be initiated as soon as the days lengthen, get warmer and the rains begin.

If you have orchids this will be a good time to repot those that have finished flowering. Many of the orchids such as Oncidiums, Dendrobiums and Phalaenopsis will be initiating flower spike for flowering in September to November.

Plant shrubs and groundcovers for summer. This is the ideal time to do planting as the plants are slightly dormant and will initiate new growth once the roots are established and the rains start falling.

Win For Durban at the 2007 Chelsea Flower Show

Members of a team from the Durban Botanic Gardens went to London from the 14th - 20th of May to build the exhibit, which represented the City of Durban at the famous Chelsea Flower Show.

The team included Christopher Dalzell, Curator, Lynton Lauderdale, Manager Special Services, Mike Oxland, Manager, and Francois Lenferna chief horticulturist and designer of the exhibit, both from Production and Display, and horticulturist from District Two in Phoenix, Ricky Chetty.

After a week of working incredibly hard under stressful conditions, the team enjoyed the fruits of their well-earned labour.

On Tuesday 22 May when the Show's awards were announced, the City of Durban exhibit received a SILVER GILT Medal, which is one level below GOLD in the Greater Pavilion Section.

"This is an incredible achievement," said Dalzell. "My congratulations go to our designer Francois Lenferna, who is responsible for the creative and artistic inspiration which was what the judging panel was looking for.   I am so proud of the team and we are excited to put Durban on the Chelsea map.  We believe this will be a tremendous boost for tourism in KZN."

The exhibit, a mere 56 square metres, depicted the natural flora and fauna of KwaZulu-Natal, capturing the province's richly diverse culture.

Set amongst a variety of colourful indigenous plants and a stretch of beach sand, is a rickshaw decked with beading and flowers and life sized beaded animals: a leopard, a zebra and a buffalo made by wire artist Cosmo Mafoti.

Wonderful Winter 2007
Hints and Tips

When designing your garden there are many factors you need to take into consideration. For example, small gardens will not accommodate large trees that have invasive roots or that produce too much shade. Large gardens on the other hand will require large form plants thus keeping the garden in proportion. Examples would be shrubs that form small trees when mature, or groundcovers that grow fairly tall to hide walls and fences. There has been a trend in South Africa for the past 10 years towards growing more indigenous plants. There are many reasons for this. Indigenous plants attract more birds and butterflies, require less water, and do not become invasive. It is important to plan your garden so that it flowers throughout the year. Winters in Durban are spectacular, with warm sunny days and many very attractive plants that flower throughout the dry winter months.

Listed below are a few trees, shrubs and groundcovers that will flower in winter that you should add to your garden.

Trees:
Erythrina lysistemon or Coral Tree: Grows to about 10 metres under ideal condition. Red flowers in winter that attract many bird species.
Cussonia spicata or Cabbage tree: Grows to about 3-10 metres and is deciduous in winter. A great form tree for a large garden.
Halleria lucida or Tree Fuchsia: Small shrubby tree grows 2- 8 metres and flowers on the stem
Aloe barberiae or Tree Aloe: large form plant that can grow to 10 metres. Flowers in winter.

Shrubs:
Tecoma capensis or Cape honeysuckle- flowers in June and July and has many different colours from yellow to red. Great for birds.
Mackaya bella or River bells- creamy white flowers and grows from 2-6 metres. Great for shady spots.
Plumbago auriculata or Plumbago- white and blue flowers that require full sun to flower best.
Dombeya burgessiae or Pink white pear- large shrub to small tree that flowers best in full sun.

Groundcovers:
Crassula multicarva or Fairy Crassula- pink to red flowers in July. Flowers well in shade and sun. Likes it fairly dry.
Bulbine natalensis or broad- leafed Bulbine- grows best in full sun but like water and will flower for many months in winter.
Aloe arborescens,chabaudii, maculatea all great plants that will flower in June and July and do not require much attention.
Kniphofia praecox or Red Hot Poker- likes moisture around the roots and full sun to flower well. Very spectacular when in full bloom.

July is the time of year that you plan your garden for spring and summer. The days are cool and dry which makes working easy and less disruptive than in the wet, hot summer months. This is also the time of the year to prune trees which may be too large for your garden, or which have lost their shape and size. Many trees lose there leaves in winter, which then makes it easier to see what you want to remove. Once shrubs have finished flowering in winter, prune the shrubs to the size you want. This is also the time of the year to plant shrubs, trees and groundcovers. Do not overwater once you have planted as the plants are generally dormant in winter, except for the flowers that are produced. Do not over water your lawns which are generally dormant till the first rains in September when the days get longer and the soil warmer. Prune the roses you have in your garden. Remove thin, dead and dying branches and keep 6-9 healthy canes for the spring growth. Make sure you prune new growth that is facing outwards as you want to get a vase type effect. You can also mulch your flower beds now and give a good watering as a once off.

Remember, the Botanical Society plant sale on the 1st and 2nd September where you can buy all these plants I have spoken about.

Grow Orchids in your garden

You will be shown how and where to grow a large number of different types of orchids in your garden. Like all plants, orchids have specific needs - as long as they are catered for, they will grow and flower!

Repot Orchids if different types

It is important that orchids be grown in the correct potting medium. Most orchids commonly grown are epiphytes (they grow on trees in nature), meaning that they cannot be planted in soil. You will be shown how to pot your plants, and what to plant them in.

Sultry Summer 2006
Hints and Tips

November, the start of a sultry summer, has to be one of the most beautiful months of the year with so much in flower all over Durban.

Trees such as the Cape Chestnut Calodendrum capense, are flowering in Kloof in varying shades from light to dark pink. These trees will flower for a month in October/November. The Cape Chestnut is easy growing and will provide you with flowers as well as superb shade in the summer months to come. Another plant that you see in flower in November is the fabulous Agapanthus, not long lived in Durban due to high rainfall and humidity. Agapanthus prefer a drier climate such as the Mediterranean climate of Cape Town.

With over five inches of rain already recorded in November, rainfall has been welcomed in this past month. Rain speeds up the growth of plants making pruning a frequent necessity. Feed plants well as the rain leaches out nutrients. Mulch flower beds to keep weeds down and prevent moisture loss. Weeds and insects are more prevalent in summer because of the humidity, so ensure you remove and treat before they take over your garden. Fungal problems on some of the more delicate foliage must be treated such as black spot on roses and powdery mildew on Zinnias if you have annuals in your garden.

Container plants need to be prepared well before planting. Buy sterilized weed free potting medium to prevent weeds, such as onion weed from growing. Repot once a year as the medium tends to break down and become sour. Once this has happened it will rot the roots of your plants. Feed your container plants throughout the year with either a slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote or a water soluble fertilizer such as Chemicult 18.18.18.

We have many magnificent indigenous plants and in particular bulbs and tuberous plants that do well in containers which flower spectacularly in summer. The most common would be the Pineapple plant, Eucomis autumnalis which has leafed out and then will flower near the end of November into early December.

The other spectacular plant is Agapanthus praecox which has either blue or white flowers. They tend to flower better, when planted in large clumps.

Other plants that do well are:

Ifafa Lily (Cyrtanthus sanguineus)
Flame Lily (Gloriosa superba)
Chinkerinchee (Ornithogalum saundersiae)
Berg Lily (Galtonia candicans)
Large spur flowered bush (Plectranthus ecklonii)
Stoep Jacaranda (Plectranthus saccatus)

Here are a few tips to think about leading up to the December holidays and the following sultry summer months: