Keep an eye out for these styles

TECHNOLOGY 2019 COLOUR 2019

Candide Voltaire, in his story of (1759), wrote that tending one’s own garden resulted in “a productive and peaceful life”.

Candide, a community gardening app, has drawn inspiration from that philosophy that is location based to help reconnect with your garden, to interact and share gardening knowledge, with access to a plant data base and tips and advice. Candide is free for download in Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store and follow on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. The Pantone Color Institute, an international forecasting colour authority, has chosen Living Coral as the “Colour of the Year”, inspired by the natural world.

Dulux has chosen Spiced Honey, a warming and stimulating colour, for 2019 to reflect positivity and optimism.

LOCAL GARDENING 2019

Gardening on a shoestring budget: In many instances, gardeners are facing budget restraints and rising food prices as well as the need to garden economically. This can be done by growing plants from seed, and by growing your own vegetables. Even the smallest garden or balcony can find space for pots, hanging baskets or windowboxes for vegetables.

Waterwise gardening: As drought conditions continue, the need to reduce water use is vital. Rainwater tanks under roof down- spouts are now part of the urban landscape and grey water systems are being installed by responsible homeowners.

Resilient landscaping: Swales (boggy patches) to harvest rain run-off, grasses to filter heavy rain and wetland zones to slow and direct the flow of water to low-lying areas of a garden will become mainstream in 2019.

Indigenous splendour. Throughout the summer the striking Cape honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis) blooms attract bees and birds to the garden.