Time to tweak the garden
STYLE: FREE-FLOWING INCORPORATING EDIBLES AND BRIGHT BLOOMS Pollinator gardens are still trending this year.
The holidays are behind us and the year is well on its way. Maybe this is the moment to think about what you want from your garden this year. If you have tuned into the trends for 2024 you will notice that pollinator gardens are still top of mind. There is a swing towards easygoing edibles and a desire for bright, optimistic colours.
Naturalistic planting
Naturalistic plantings that use mainly grasses and flowering perennials are trending as pollinator gardens. The style is free-flowing and informal, with a focus on plant diversity, and with the aim of providing an environment for pollinators as well as other garden creatures to thrive.
This naturalistic style of garden can evolve, although it still needs an eye for good combinations, contrasting textures, and the grouping of plants for impact. Once established it needs minimal maintenance, less watering and is sustainable, needing only to be tidied up in winter or spring.
Try this:
Perovskia (Russian sage) is a favourite for naturalistic plantings because of its fine, silvery grey foliage that is highly aromatic and its spikes of blue flowers that attract bees, butterflies and nectar-seeking birds. Perovskia Bluesette is
a more compact plant that grows into a medium high, bushy shrub (56cm high) with deep blue flowers from spring through to autumn. Plants tolerate both heat and frost. Fertilise once a month.
Hot pink
If you are wanting more colour in the garden, think pink. Pink flowers are lively and combine with most other colours, especially blue. Hot pink combines particularly well with bright lime green that is the colour of the year. Just be aware that hot pinks (with a yellow base) and cool pinks (with a blue base) don’t work well together.
Try this:
Scaevola Touch Deep Pink has striking pink fan-like small flowers that cover this tough little drought-resistant plant, which
grows 15cm high and wide. In cold areas it grows as an annual but in warmer climates it performs as a perennial. Plants need plenty of sun to flower and soil that drains well. Its flowers attract pollinators.
Perk up your outdoor living space with pots of petunias, geraniums or whatever flowers catch your eye at the garden centre to bring the space to life. Also perennial herbs like rosemary and lavender with their aromatic foliage can be thrown onto the fire to add fragrance to your braai.
Try this:
Lavender Meerlo (Lavandula x allardii) is a variegated green and creamy yellow lavender with very fragrant leaves. Although it produces spikes of light blue flowers in summer, its foliage is its main attraction.
It grows into a small shrub 60-90cm high and wide, making it a good specimen for pots. It grows in full sun to partial shade in well drained soil. It is very drought, humidity and heat tolerant once established.
Easy to grow edibles
For time pressed gardeners, edimentals are an appealing option that require less effort than vegetables. Edimentals are edibles that are also ornamental, which means they can be incorporated into the garden. They are mostly perennial vegetables and herbs, as well as flowers with edible blooms such as lavender, nasturtium and rose petals.
Try this:
Nasturtium
Ice Cream
Sundae is a free flowering nasturtium with multi-coloured flowers that change from bright yellow to scarlet as they mature. The edible petals have a subtle peppery flavour. The young leaves can be added to salads. This nasturtium is ideal for hanging baskets.
For more information: www.ballstraathof.co.za