Spring

Mussaenda, more commonly known as the Bangkok Rose, creates an explosion of colour when in flower marking spring has arrived. Mussaendas explosive colour comes from the bracts or inflorescences rather than the minute flower itself. Mussaendas are a member of the Rubiaceae family and are related to Pentas and Ixoras. They range in colour from white to salmon pink to …

Overseeding a lawn is the practice of spreading seed on an existing lawn to repair grass patches or thinning without removing the entire lawn and laying new turf. This practice is often done in spring or autumn to thicken the lawn to drown out weeds in bare patches and improve the lush look of a green lawn. The same grass …

  There are many types of azaleas suited to a range of lighting conditions from full sun positions to shaded areas. This gives an excellent range of azaleas to choose from to suit almost any area of your garden. Rhododendrons have similar growing requirements and are more commonly grown successfully in cooler regions. Enquire at your local garden centre for …

Broccoli is a wonderful addition to the garden, delicious steamed, grilled, in a stir-fry or added raw to a salad (wonderful with walnuts). Here is everything you need to know how to grow broccoli. Broccoli loves the cold/winter season. It needs good drainage and plenty of sunlight, although late-maturing varieties may prefer some shade to protect them from sudden heat …

Like other cold/winter season crops, cabbage need full sun and good drainage. Soil preparation Cabbage prefer a slightly acidic and somewhat heavy (clay) soil which will prevent leaching of nutrients with the regular watering required. Alkaline soil can be balanced by adding organic compost or the pH can be lowered by adding sulphur powder. Read up on how to use …

They may have a touch of ‘granny’, but African Violets make for marvellous flowering indoor plants and are the ideal choice for terrarium displays.  Location African Violets require moderate to bright indirect light all year round to encourage flowering. A well lit kitchen bench or coffee table is perfect. They also prefer humidity in the atmosphere (thus why they are …

Spring is the perfect time for top dressing and fertilising lawns to take advantage of the warm weather growth ahead. For a wonderful green lawn right through to next year, start fertilising in early spring with Searles Robust Lawn Booster. Searles Robust is a slow release fertiliser that will slowly feed lawn roots and leaves for up to 4 months …

There is nothing better than a crispy, fresh salad and growing your own is so easy! If you’re trying your hand at gardening for the first time or simply don’t have the time or space for a large garden bed, salad can be grown straight in a bag of quality potting mix. It’s as easy as that! Supplies – Searles …

When it comes to bulbs many think of daffodils, freesia, and ranunculus but there is so much more to bulbs than the winter flowering varieties. To get reoccurring colour in your garden, bulbs are a very underrated plant.  They are easy to plant, require little fuss, and will return each year with brilliant colours. There are many types of bulbs, …

A favourite in warm temperate to tropical Australian gardens where they can grow year-round, the passionfruit originates from South America. This lovely climber has it all; lush foliage, beautiful flowers and delicious fruit! Planting Passionfruit In warmer zones with mild winters, passionfruit can be planted throughout the year. Plant only during the warmer time of year, from October to March …