Welcome to Gardening in South Africa!

Two types of plants are recommended for a firescaped garden: ‘fire retardant’ and ‘fire resistant’. These, together with a planting method which is designed to…

Nothing rivals Ranunculus for their abundance of flowers when there is little other colour in the winter and spring garden. In South Africa you can plant from April to late May, and to extend the flowering season, staggered plantings can extend to mid-June. Learn how to plant and grow these beauties with other annuals in garden beds and pots, and how to make them last longer in a vase.

Greens, and especially herbs are not just healthy for us humans but also for our furry friends, as they contain many valuable vitamins, minerals and secondary plant substances to boost our immune system and general wellbeing. Learn about pet-friendly herbs to plant in your garden, what they are good for treating, and practical ways to use them to enhance the health of your pets.

Practical ways of using herbs to improve your pet’s health and wellbeing Greens, and especially herbs are not just healthy for us humans but also…

One of my most popular sections on this website is my regional “Gardening Month by Month” guide, where you will find the most important gardening tasks to do for each month.  And if you are an avid gardener you know that June can be quite a busy month in the garden. These articles have evolved over many years and have become far too long to include them in their entirety here, so I have included some of the most important gardening tasks for June below.

Your garden should never be drab and especially not in winter, so if it doesn’t inspire you at this time of the year, or you just want to add a little more winter cheer and colour to certain spots you will find this article helpful. Planting shrubs which flower or produce showy fruits in winter is an economical way to add colour to your garden each season without breaking the bank, and if you plant some now, you will reap the rewards next season. Gardening requires patience and planning ahead is the name of the game. Find some inspiring winter winners below.