[tm_pb_section admin_label=”section”][tm_pb_row admin_label=”row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” use_grid_padding=”on” width_unit=”on” padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” background_color_1=”#ffffff” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” background_color_2=”#eeeeee” padding_top_2=”30px” padding_bottom_2=”30px” padding_right_2=”4%” padding_left_2=”4%”][tm_pb_column type=”3_4″][tm_pb_text admin_label=”Text” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] The tale of a landscaper and his garden It took me 10 years to get around to landscaping my own garden. Believe it. It’s like the proverbial cobbler whose children go barefoot. Working only on Saturdays with my team, it took eight months, but it’s done. And I’m a happy camper. I bloody zenned it. Where it all began (or how the drought changed my lifestyle) It all started when we stared down the barrel of the 2016/2017 drought. Day Zero was looming large and watering plants and lawn was no longer an option. The desolation that surrounded us every day that summer had far-reaching consequences for our lifestyle. We had fewer social events at home and spent less and less

[tm_pb_section admin_label=”section”][tm_pb_row admin_label=”row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” use_grid_padding=”on” width_unit=”on” padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” background_color_1=”#ffffff” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” background_color_2=”#eeeeee” padding_top_2=”30px” padding_bottom_2=”30px” padding_right_2=”4%” padding_left_2=”4%”][tm_pb_column type=”2_3″][tm_pb_text admin_label=”Text” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Rainwater harvesting: Making the most of early spring showers As we bid winter goodbye and say hello to spring, we’re in much better shape than we were a year ago. Cape dam levels are looking good and before spring gives way to summer, we’re likely to see the heavens open up a few more times. Make the most of these early spring showers. There’s no knowing what 2020 holds. Lessons learned in 2018 were jolly tough and we’d do well never to forget them. What is rainwater harvesting? Rainwater harvesting has been around for thousands of years, especially in far-flung rural areas, but our years of drought in the city were a big wake-up call that sent thousands of urbanites scuttling

[tm_pb_section admin_label=”section”][tm_pb_row admin_label=”row”][tm_pb_column type=”4_4″][tm_pb_text admin_label=”Text” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Winter is coming! A short but wonderful opportunity to make the urgent changes required to liberate our properties from the chaos of Cape Town’s water crisis. Structural changes Now more than ever is the time to make those urgent structural changes to our properties that are now most necessary if we want to enjoy our outdoor lifestyle by next summer. The people of Cape Town, the Western Cape and many other parts of urban South Africa will need to reclaim the joy of suburban living by changing the structure and the layout of their properties. This will be challenging for many but it is vital if we are to adapt to the new reality that piped water is going to become an expensive luxury. Planning changes takes time. Implementing these changes takes more time. The planting of the ‘new’ improved garden

[tm_pb_section admin_label=”section”][tm_pb_row admin_label=”row”][tm_pb_column type=”4_4″][tm_pb_text admin_label=”Text” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] If there’s one thing that South Africans are very good at, it’s taking a k*k situation and making it better. We’ve toyi-toyi-ed our way through apartheid, braai-ed our way through Eskom power outages and we’ve laughed our way through political blunders. South Africans are survivalists and when adversity hails, we throng together and find unique solutions to survive. So what are we doing about this drought and the looming threat of “Day Zero”? Well, we’re simply going to make a plan. Yip, no doom and gloom for this nation. It might mean less ice in our brandy and coke, but hey, Newlands spring still has water so we’ll at least have beer. But seriously, have you noticed the emerging wave of creativity in the water scarce parts of our country? Not only are we making Jo-Jo tanks more sought after than

[tm_pb_section admin_label=”section”][tm_pb_row admin_label=”row”][tm_pb_column type=”4_4″][tm_pb_text admin_label=”Text” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Our gardens and outdoor areas are a lifestyle that we have chosen for ourselves and our families. So it would stand to reason that we make careful and considered investment choices that anticipate an era of climate change and water insecurity. These changes should enhance and improve our experience of our homes, especially our outdoor lifestyle. With expanded water restrictions and the spiraling cost of water it is now more important to invest correctly in our properties. Adapting to the new norm is exciting because it means re-invention and this is progress. Change it good. Property investments It goes without saying that installing solar and battery technology liberates us from the insatiable hunger of self-serving Eskom. Right now and for a long time to come, access to and the preservation of water is our new big challenge. Boreholes, rainwater storage and

Reducing the size of our lawns is the first step in reducing the cost of our water consumption and avoiding the punitive tariffs imposed on us during the summer of 2016/17. The tariffs being enforced at the present time penalize us, the more water we consume, compelling us to water our gardens using buckets and watering cans. This is a sacrifice that we have to make to save money firstly and preserve the water reserves as a result. Unfortunately for many of us, turf lawn dominates our urban landscapes in both domestic gardens and public parks. An unsightly, dry and brittle lawn certainly does not meet our current expectations. Lawn requires frequent, almost daily watering because of its shallow root system being susceptible to immediate evaporation in the summer sun. Farming too requires daily irrigation input, using enormous amounts of ground and contained water. However the use of water here

My garden is looking terrible, this drought and the current water restrictions have really taken their toll. The lawn is straw-yellow and the majority of the shrubs are wilting. Some of the young trees are thread-bare and vast areas are now barren as the smaller plants have died. The drought and water restrictions imposed on us have certainly contributed to the state of affairs, but they cannot be blamed entirely. I am responsible, because despite being a landscaper, I have not dedicated enough time to managing and planning my own garden. Like just about everyone else, I am so busy working that I neglect it. I never consider adding it to my work-load and I certainly don’t feel like making it a part of my leisure time. Watering used to be a fun past-time, but alas, those days are over now. The 2015/16 El Nino weather phenomenon was the strongest

The summer of 2015/16 has been quite severe with dry, extremely hot, very windy conditions, all exacerbated by the El Niño weather system, which is in its peak right now. Most gardens are in distress. The lawn is drying out, plants are drooping and some trees are already losing their leaves. Those of us who don’t have access to borehole or river water are being put under water restrictions and billing surcharges. To be honest January and February are the worst months of the year for a Cape Town garden. Every year is the same, El Niño or no El Niño these months are fierce. Every year this time we face the same conditions and our gardens struggle. Here are my suggestions for surviving the high summer heat. 1. Mulch the beds: Add a 5cm – 10cm layer of rough compost or mulch to the garden. Applying this in the

Here in the Cape we sit in the unfortunate position of having less rain in the traditional planting season of Spring and even less to none in the Summer when most people want to spend time engaging their gardens. This means that boreholes and irrigation systems become a necessary expense. Our water bills are based on average consumption and the meters are read infrequently. This can result in very rude council bills if water consumption is not managed properly. To reduce excessive council water bills employ us to design a water-wise garden layout, which will reduce the volume of water used and save you money. As a landscaper I would recommend the following ways to reduce water consumption. 1. Xeriscape your garden. a. Reduce the amount of lawn in your garden, as it requires more water than all the garden plants combined in the dry months. We all want green

I love my garden. There is no doubt about that. It is here from where I watch the passing of the seasons as they go by, one after the other. From this solid position the sun rises and it sets and the years go by. This is my Garden of Paradise and here is where I find peace and tranquillity at the end of my working day. Here is where I wake up to the reassuring sound of singing birds on a summer’s morning. My garden is not big, it not small either. It is just the right size. If I take a slow walk it will take me about two and half minutes from one side to other. But most days it takes me one and half hours. It takes me this long because I stop to admire all the little details that combine to create this wonderful place.

This large, evergreen, indigenous shrub is a firm favorite which we use in almost all of our gardens. I wish it was more commonly available in retail nurseries but mostly it needs to be ordered on special request. Occurring naturally throughout both the western and the eastern Cape, it can be found in forests, on hills and along streams and riverbanks. This South African beauty is a member of the Hibiscus family (malvaceae). During the dreary days of winter, onwards into the spring and early summer Sparrmannia is crowned with numerous small white and yellow flowers. Placement tips: This is a large shrub of two or even three meters in height and almost as wide. It is perfect for a number of locations. In the larger garden they can be planted under tall trees where they form a secondary canopy. We use them for screening where they are especially good

Aristida junciformis has become a favourite in my landscaping as they introduce fine-textures into the planting palette. They are neutral and so can be combined with many low and medium growing plants. Aristida junciformis has a worldwide distribution, growing from Africa through to Australia and North America. It is not to be confused with the Pennisetum grass family, although they do look quite similar. They enjoy a sunny position and medium watering in the summer. During the sunny warm months these grasses appear bright green, adding wonderful energy and presence in the garden. They flower during the late summer months producing mauve feathery plumes. In the autumn and winter the seed-heads and leaves take on a blonde straw-like appearance as they dry on the plant. Come spring time new green growth is produced at ground level and this rises up through the dried leaves quickly becoming dominant as the summer

According to retail figures across the developed world most gardeners continue to spend most of their gardening money on keeping their lawns green and healthy. However the trend is very much away from large lawns. There is now more demand for functional spaces like courtyards or paved areas set in indigenous planting. If we want to reduce the water bill then we have to move toward smaller lawns. These days landscapers are planning gardens with alternative lawns like ‘Creeping Thyme’ which is a flat growing, ground hugging carpet that is most rewarding. It can be used both formally and informally. It grows into a flat spongy mat which feels heavenly to walk or lie down on. It smells great and even flowers, pink or white depending on the variety. It is perfect in small and sunny townhouse gardens as it requires absolutely no mowing. ‘Creeping Thyme’ is not instant gratification

My crew and I have worked relentlessly throughout the winter months grooming and sprucing and now look forward to the harvest of joy that comes with the growing season. We have planted almost twenty brand new landscapes of various sizes. We got stuck in at our maturing flagship gardens creating new layouts and re-planting where necessary. It has been a bumper year of gardening and landscaping especially with this warmer and drier winter. It is going to be wonderful watching all these young gardens bursting into life in the coming months of spring. Gardens inspired by the delicate pallet of the Cape’s flora have become a specialty of mine and one that I love being tasked with. Mostly these natural gardens have a much larger bed area than the traditional garden. The spacious bed area allows for larger diversity of plant species which nature has insisted on in our part

Embankments and slopes are a landscapers dream because they can be sculptured into the most beautiful environments. My crew has spent the last several months working on such embankments. We used common sandstone rocks to retain and beautify. This we did using the dry-packed method of retaining. This differs from built walls and stone cladding in that no cement is used and there is no need for foundations or grouting as gravity holds the rocks in place. Dry packing is a clean process with no waste or mess unlike that produced by stone-masons when they are preparing rock for cladding. In true dry packing we do not break the rock up into slivers. The rocks remain in their natural state and put together like a puzzle. We use rocks in manageable sizes from grapefruit upwards to rugby-ball sized specimens. The embankment is cut at 110 degrees or at least angled

Turn off your irrigation systems now. The weak sun, cold temperatures and high humidity ensure that there is plenty of moisture available for the plants even when it does not rain for a week. Here in the Cape we sit in the unfortunate position having less rain in the traditional planting season of Spring and even less to none in the Summer when most people want to spend time planting in their gardens. This means that boreholes and irrigation systems become a necessary expense. Boreholes are very expensive to install initially but when compared to extremely excessive water bills they are cheap at the price. Remember that the cost of water increases exponentially the more we use. This increasing cost is exacerbated by the fact that our water bills are based on average consumption and read infrequently. This can result in very rude council bills if water consumption is not

As a landscaper, I not only design gardens but I also maintain and develop them. I am constantly at work in them and the winter months are my best time of the year. It is during these months that I do my garden upgrade programme. Tree and Hedge management: We do most of our tree management now in order to allow as much winter sunlight through to the garden below. My gardening crews do this by removing the lowest and all the unnecessary mid- level, secondary and downward growing branches. The result is always impressive. Our trees are totally transformed. Suddenly they appear taller and more elegant with a neat and uncluttered canopy. Re-arranging and Transplanting: When I want to try something new in the landscape, the gardening crew must first clear the area of the existing plants. These are not always discarded. They can be transplanted to better locations

I used chemical insecticides in my garden. The dreaded Lawn caterpillar came back for the umpteenth year and this time the infestation was much more widespread. My lawn was littered with the tell-tale bald leafless dry looking patches. So this summer I decided to treat the problem with insecticide. These caterpillars live in the soil underneath the lawn and come out during the night. They feed on the grass blades which results in large, yellow patches. If the population is left to build up, they can become a serious problem. Treat the lawn as soon as the infestation becomes apparent. Soon these caterpillars will turn into moths and the lawn will start to recover and the problem will seem to go away. The moths however will lay eggs at the end of their lifecycle and the worms will be back the following summer. There are many remedies for eliminating Lawn

Its Valentines month and each of us starts to ponder the love that we feel for our partners. It is for good reason that Roses are chosen to represent these relationships. Love has the same requirements as the Rose. Both need observation, nourishment and constant management. They require pruning or they become chaotic and overburdened with unnecessary dead wood. They require protection from the pests of life and both need a time of dormancy to gather strength during the challenges of the winter seasons. As with Love an unhealthy and neglected Rose bush fails to develop and bear blossoms. But just like Love, it can be resurrected. Start with pruning and reduce unnecessary branching to concentrate the plants energy. Choose the healthy upright stems and remove the smaller secondary stems. Don’t allow criss-crossing of branches, it creates chaos. Aphids and beetles are at full force at this time of year.

New beginnings are great. The opportunity to start again, to re-invent oneself doesn’t come around often. January always carries the promise of such possibility. Re-inventing ourselves has its challenges and is not as easily achieved as making changes to our home and gardens. As nurturing is essential to positive development thus so can remodelling our immediate environment contribute to the inner change we may seek for ourselves. Spring cleaning, discarding clutter, re-arranging rooms and changing the painted colour of the walls in our house will reinforce the change we seek. This is especially true in the garden where we can change our minds whenever we like. Here we can throw out the old and tired plants of the past and create something new and exciting for ourselves in the present. A garden purge in January and February is a good. Such activity acts as a catalyst for future transformation which

Natural indigenous gardens are the most common gardens that I am requested to install. This style of gardening is common throughout the developed world especially those gardens found in Australia, California and the Mediterranean countries. The wild, natural garden lets us mimic what we see in nature around us. Gardeners then had little understanding of the growing habits of native plant species, but these days we have accumulated greater knowledge and are now producing an ever increasing amount of indigenous plant species and their hybrids. With better know-how we are now able to re-create the classical garden styles of old, but with exciting new material that is uniquely South African. There are indigenous plants for all style interpretations and when chosen in the correct combinations South African plants can combine to bring into being styles resembling; • English Country gardens • French gardens, formal and informal • Italian and Islamic

What are the trends in modern gardening? The dominant trends in gardening today revolve mostly around water, using less of it to be specific. This trend now informs the design and layout of modern gardens. It is not only changing the shape of gardens but also the plants and the materials that define them. Throughout the developed world lawns areas are shrinking in size, whilst planted beds, courtyards, patios and paved areas are increasingly more popular as we demand more functionality and practicality from our gardens. Further trends as a result see us looking for outdoor furniture, garden pots and funky off beat art to deck out these spaces. The garden is changing and all this is being driven by one thing – water. Twenty years ago the indigenous section in all nurseries was the smallest and least frequented. It was a place for the fundies and nerdy plant specialists.

The arrival of spring always brings with it energy, enthusiasm and excitement. It is very infectious, rapidly charging each of us into action. Suddenly anything is possible when the lust for life comes roaring back. This is the time of year that whips the horticultural community into action. Plants are growing faster by the week. So of course everyone wants to get cracking with those garden projects. Everyone is caught up in the rising tide of spring. At this time in my career I find myself surrounded by students of Horticulture and Landscaping who are experiencing their chosen careers for the first time. Like the darling buds of spring they are loaded with possibility and boundlessness. How wonderful it is to be surrounded by such eagerness and passion. The spirit of landscaping is just like the nature of spring. It holds a promise of what’s to come, and yet does