Spread festive cheer with gift of living trees
AVOID the crowds and take a “green”, more convenient and relaxed approach to your festive shopping this year.
Festive trees – choose a living tree! Many indoor trees are suited to this purpose – or opt for a “local is lekker” indigenous tree that can be replanted into the garden after the holidays.
Some of the options for daring and different festive trees include: wild gardenia (Gardenia thunbergia), Henkel’s Yellowwood (Podocarpus henkelii ), or a thorny number like a wellbranched fever tree (Vachellia xanthophloea). If you are a traditionalist, trust on conifers like Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Gold Crest’, for that gorgeous green and gold touch.
Entertaining over the holidays? Solar garden lights are the way to go… Garden lighting remains a big trend – light up pathways, trees and feature plants the eco-friendly way.
Easy to use and readily available, it’s time to treat yourself and your garden – or wrap them up as a stunning gift option for friends that have it all!
Add a living touch to festive gifts. Fact – plants make thoughtful inexpensive gifts and are typically well received!
A simple pot of seasonal colour (seedlings or indoor plants) can easily be transformed into gifts for grannies, aunties and even teachers. Succulents (like the gorgeous green and red crassula), bonsai and trees are a safe option for grampa’s and uncles. Herb gifts are loved by “almost everyone”, as are bird feeders, trendy garden tools and DIY kits.
Roses are long lasting and meaningful gifts. With a multitude of special names and colours to choose from, you can add perfume and colour with favourites like ‘My Granny’, ‘Forever Friends’, ‘Peace’ and many, many more.
Feed the lawn to turn it green fast
The key to greening up your lawn is nutrition. All lawn fertilisers are specifically blended for this purpose. Watering is essential after all fertiliser applications, so make sure you plan the monthly fertiliser application to coincide with your watering schedule. Be informed and aware of the watering restrictions in your specific area – most regions only allow watering between 6pm and 6am. Schedule accordingly.
Tidy up the edges
Neaten the borders of your flower beds with edging materials such as cobblestones or wooden poles. Edging is available from leading garden centres in a range of different lengths, heights, colours and styles. Galvanised, powder coated, wooden and synthetic options are available – so there is sure to be a style that suits your style!
Sparkling pool
Summertime is pool time and an inviting pool is a tired mom’s best friend! Maintain your pool programme and nip algae in the bud at the first signs of infection. Busy kids are happy kids and when it comes to pools, the louder and more raucous the better… Add to the festivities and replenish flowering containers with bright red flowers. Invest in floating candles to add sparkle to an ordinary evening (and extend the play time).
Ponds, water features and bird baths need to be replenished more regularly in the heat. Consider “aquaponics” – water plants act as natural filters and they look great! (PS water lilies bloom from December!)
Take a moment to… smell the roses.
On a peaceful summer’s evening, with the crickets chirping in the background, sit down quietly in your entertainment area and admire your efforts. If you see anything that looks neglected, hide it away with trellis panels or bamboo screens – nurseries have many options in stock to hide any unsightly thing.