Garden Management

It’s simple, right? What’s to know? Pop in some gravel and a few large shards of broken pot for good drainage, perhaps even a bit of sand to take up space, and fill with potting soil. Finally, pop in the plant. Not so fast.

Many factors influence micro-climates: some we can manipulate to our benefit, others we either have to live with or find ways to mitigate their influence. It is worth taking the trouble though because even the smallest change in conditions can have a significant impact.

When designing gardens these days, especially wildlife gardens, we talk about mimicking a habitat. But it is challenging to translate a habitat type legibly and functionally, especially in small gardens. A woodland arrangement, for example, requires more than one tree to suggest woodland with its understory community of shrubs, perennials, bulbs, grasses, and groundcovers.

Do you have a slope or bank ready to be dressed more creatively than the default retaining wall blocks or mown lawn? An eye-catching cocktail dress rather than a comfortable pair of jeans; a brightly coloured pashmina to replace a worn monotone windbreaker? Aside from adding a beautiful feature, this style detail/ element increases the sustainability of the garden too, for it saves on lawnmower fuel, provides level planting pockets for better water penetration, and provides h

There is never a good time for a garden to be without a comprehensive cover of foliage blanketing the ground. Whether faced with a cold winter, fierce summer sun, drought, wind, or torrential rains, the right plant cover can keep the garden intact, and add beauty and year-round interest while performing these duties.

Many perennials and bulbs ‘cover’ the ground effectively and are often included in this plant category, but, for this article, we focus...

So, what's new regarding mulch? It helps us save on water, fertilisers, and harmful poisons!  I’ve got mulch on my mind! Daytime...

"By Anno Torr Frost Protection A simple, effective way to protect tender shrubs against frost Put your tender plants to bed! Many of us...

By Anno Torr Leaves are falling, summer rains are on the wane, winter rains are inching closer, and the nights are longer – welcome to...

Water-wise Gardening - Where are we? As a landscaper, I feel we pay lip-service to water conservation in the landscape industry. Despite...

“There is no clearer illustration of the extent of human dominance of the Earth than the fact that maintaining the diversity of ‘wild’...