101 SPRING TIPS
1 Creative succulents
Create stunning containers by mixing succulents with different textures, colours and shapes. These fleshy plants are tough and like a sunny spot with minimum watering. Shallow pots like bonsai pots make useful containers for succulents.
2 Indoor leaf décor
Bring natural décor indoors with striking plants with bold leaves. Calatheas fit the bill in spades. These beauties will thrive in bright indirect sunlight and will even take a bit of low light. Water every 1 - 2 weeks, depending on the position in the home, and allow to dry out just a little between waterings. They like high humidity, so mist regularly in drier areas.
3 Sow strawberries
Brand new! MayFord Seeds brings you a first in South Africa – strawberry seeds! And not just any strawberry: this is a high-quality, world-class strawberry variety you could expect to be served at Wimbledon, accompanied of course by delicious whipped cream and Pimm’s! MayFord Strawberry ‘Florian’ forms a compact plant of just 35cm with bright pink flowers and is a delicious Japanese-style full-aromatic flavour strawberry. Sow in spring and harvest the delicious fruits from early summer right through until autumn. www.mayford.co.za
4 Mole free bulbs
If you have moles, plant bulbs in a plastic pot and then ‘plant’ the pot. The moles will not be able to get to your bulbs if you do this.
5 Make your own seed-germination mix
Some seed is so small that it requires a special mix to avoid the tiny roots dying off in air pockets in soil like seedling mix. You can make your own by combining ⅓ part vermicompost, ⅓ part palm peat and ⅓ part vermiculite.
6 Air plant dunk
Dunk air plants in water once a week for a good 15-minute soak.
7 Clean up
To prevent dirt from collecting under your fingernails, press your nails into a bar of soap before gardening. When you’re done, you can just wash your hands.
8 Get water to the roots
Make your own little irrigation systems that get water where it’s needed most – to the roots of your favourite plants – by using 2-litre cooldrink bottles with several holes poked in them. These are great buried in containers that need daily watering.
9 Any birds for tea?
Charming teacup bird feeders are fun to make and will lift a sheltered corner of the garden with a fun element. Sprinkle wild bird seed in the saucer, fill the cup with water and watch out for chirpy birds.
10 Mirror a meadow
A successful meadow or wildflower garden consists of a combination of flowering perennials, grasses and annuals that will flower throughout the year, including some that will self-seed. Throwing a packet of wildflower seeds over a rocky patch is not going to do it. Meadows also need good soil, water, feeding and maintenance, like deadheading regularly, to keep them looking good. Choose a sunny position and prepare the soil well before planting. As the year’s go along, a natural ecosystem will make the meadow sustainable and it will require less maintenance.
11 Activate your organisms
Compost Activator from Makhro Home and Garden is 100% natural and biodegradable, containing 29 species of live microorganisms. Adding these micro-organisms to your compost heap will give it the much-needed boost of good microbes needed to assist in breaking down organic waste more quickly. Just 500ml of
