Hanging baskets are the purest joy of spring gardening.
If we dissect the contents of the magnificent spring hanging baskets photographed by our editor, Tanya, in London a while ago, we will find a limited selection of champion plants used repeatedly to great success. All of them are freely available in our country, and some of the pretty hybrids used, like pelargoniums and bacopas, actually have South African origins.
Since it is already September and early spring has arrived, why not try your hand at planting some hanging baskets of your own? You needn’t have started your baskets ages ago for this spring look – it is quite possible to get the look in a very short time.
6 spring classics for baskets
Pelargoniums
Having kept our ears on the ground, we know that there are new and early flowering ranges of pelargoniums like ‘Marcada’ and ‘Tacari’ for instance. These interspecific pelargoniums are very floriferous, self-cleaning, have a high resistance to weather conditions, and need less water than other peltatums. They have compact growth habits so keep a neat shape, and carry their large and showy flowers above the plant’s canopy. The semi-trailing ‘Marcada’ range flowers are either red, pink or magenta, while the showy flowers of ‘Tacari’ are available in a large range of colours including two-tone shades.
Petunias
Esta historia es de la edición September 2019 de The Gardener.
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Esta historia es de la edición September 2019 de The Gardener.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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FIRE AND Feathers!
On a dreary winter's day, a screen of fiery and feathery leaves puts up a fight against dullness!
GET THE ladies in!
At this time of year, early-flowering shrubs vie with each other to get the most attention. We say: Trust those with female names for frills and butterflies. They go the extra mile to flower their hearts out.
Vegetable Soups and dumplings
Vegetables make the most delicious soups and classic combinations are always a winner.
Yummy sweet potatoes for your good health
Boiled, baked or braaied, sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are a delicious and healthy winter comfort food. Just a dollop of butter, a little seasoning and you are good to go.
Pretty and functional
If cooking is your main thing, you would probably be more interested in the culinary value of the three herbs and some of their varieties we are describing.
Dried Seedheads & Pods
Autumn and winter are the best times to see what flowers produce the best seedheads that can be left on the plants to feed the birds and bugs and for harvesting for dried arrangements.
SO MANY FACES and so many choices...
Whoever associated a Cotyledon orbiculata (pig's ear) with the ear of a pig obviously did not know about all the varieties and cultivars this species in the genus Cotyledon has.
COLOURFUL Cold Weather WINNERS!
If it comes to a vote, these dependable shrubs will be the top candidates for prime performance in winter and in other seasons...
What makes a garden sustainable?
It is interesting to note that the United Nations defines sustainable development as: “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
Nurturing NATURE-The Story of Kraal Garden's Transformation
Nestled within Prince Albert's rustic embrace lies a gem that is a testament to the transformative power of human vision and nature's bounty.
