DOWN TOOLS

Winter in the garden gives you space to review last season’s successes and failures and time to reflect on how you want to garden in the coming season. Gardens editor Heidi Bertish compiles a visual diary of ideas, inspiration and considerations for jungle-inspired balconies, meditative green spaces and gardening in tune with our heritage and climate

- HEIDI BERTISH

Wild at home

A semi-shaded garden path, courtyard or balcony has never looked as seductive as when filled with a homegrown jungle of big bold-leafed Delicious Monster and elephant ear plants. Plant yours straight into the ground with a generous helping of compost or into a planter filled with nutrient-rich potting soil. Encourage your plants’ natural inclination to climb by planting them beneath a mature tree or attaching a trellis to your balcony wall for them to clamber up.

WHERE TO BUY

The Atrium atriumplants.co.za; Plantify plantify.co.za

Tree hugger

Increased urbanisation calls for more intense use of green – on our rooftops, building facades, and in pockets between buildings. Trees can remove two-thirds of all carbon dioxide created by human activity, and ecologists concur that forest restoration is one of our top climate change solutions. Planting trees in large planters on the balcony or grouped in the garden creates shelter and habitat for birds and canopy-covered green rooms to connect with nature. Here, a tranquil grove of Viburnums and mondo grass in a Joburg garden designed by Landscape Designer Shirley Wallington makes for a great take-home idea for your own meditative green space.

Shirley Wallington shirleywallington.co.za

True to nature