Reader garden Where succulents and cactuses take centre stage
This striking garden often rewards visitors with a colourful bloom or two among the many thorns!
Although Annelize Verwey has been living in her home in Melkbosstrand for more than 30 years, she only developed a passion for succulents and cactuses about three years ago. “While out driving one day, my eye was drawn to a plant someone was selling next to the road,” says Annelize. “That was the day I bought my first two succulents and I haven’t looked back since. I’m addicted!” she says, laughing. “Whenever I’m on holiday, I look out for succulents in every town I pass through.”
When Annelize eventually ran out of space for all her potted succulents, she decided to convert her front yard into a formal succulent and cactus garden. It soon became the talk of the town and locals would make a point of taking a stroll along her pavement pathways to get a better look at all the plants. “The other day, a lady told me that she used to walk on the beach every morning but has now changed her route so that she can walk past my garden because she sees something new every day,” says Annelize. “I love the fact that other people enjoy my garden. I also enjoy seeing new flowers or foliage for the first time.”
CACTUS OR SUCCULENT?]
All cactuses are succulents, but not all succulents are cactuses, explains Buck Hemenway of the Calitzdorp Succulent Society. “There are more than 40 plant families in which succulents occur, of which cactuses are but one,” he says. Succulents store water in their leaves, stems or roots so they can survive for quite a while without being watered. Cactuses have tough, thick skins and seldom have leaves. Cactuses and other succulents have the same survival techniques and can grow in equally harsh conditions.
Design considerations
Initially, Annelize didn’t know much about succulents and cactuses but she gradually expanded her knowledge with the help of a few experts in and around Cape Town. Gideon Coetzee, a regular succulent trader at the popular Milnerton Market, was soon her greatest source of information – most of Annelize’s plants were purchased from him. He also helped her with the planting. Other experts include Braam van Zyl of the Oukaya Farm Stall and Nursery in Wellington and Eduard Cornelissen of The Old Jail in Vanrhynsdorp. Friends such as Kobus and Ina Maritz of Goodwood also helped with the layout of the garden. >>
LEARNING CURVES]
Annelize admits she made a few mistakes when she started out and lost a number of plants as a result. “I soon learned that not all plants like sun all day and some need a bit more water than others,” she says. “Succulents and cactuses should also never be planted too deeply or their roots will become soggy and rot.”
This is also the reason why she hasn't used a layer of plastic or a weed barrier under the gravel – it would cause drainage problems.
If no rain falls, the garden is irrigated once a week with borehole or grey water, but only superficially. “Plants usually die from too much water rather than too little,” says Annelize.
The winter rainfall in the Cape can result in plants getting too much water, so good drainage is essential. “In winter, I cover the pots in which my quiver trees are growing with plastic to keep out excess water.”
In the three years since she started the garden, Annelize has never added fertiliser, although she recently bought Vermi Pure to experiment with.
The garden takes shape
“I first divided the garden into four sections and then gradually bought plants until I had enough to lay out the first section,” says Annelize. “I always buy plants that I'm drawn to. It was important, however, to find out how big the plants would get because my garden is so small. I also like to choose different colours and textures, such as plants with grey leaves or with a ‘beard', as well as plants of varying heights or with interesting shapes.”
To ensure good drainage – essential in a succulent garden to prevent the plants from rotting – she mixed two parts good quality garden soil with one part sand. For the hard landscaping elements, Annelize used a combination of stepping stones, rocks, gravel and wood. “It would be boring if everything was just flat. Gideon, Kobus and Ina all have a very good sense of what must go where and it was a team effort to get the design to what it is today,” she says. Different rocks in various sizes and colours add life to the garden and show off the plants to best effect.”
The plants sometimes get infested with aphids, which Annelize combats with an appropriate spray from the nursery. “I'm not a fan of using poisons but occasionally you don't have a choice. It also took me some time to work out which plants prefer less sun but, in general, I would say that about six hours is sufficient.”
Does she sometimes get pricked by her plants? “I've received quite a few jabs – especially when I pull out weeds,” says Annelize with a chuckle. “You need a good pair of gardening gloves and some long thin-nose pliers or something similar when you work in this garden!”