Planting & Growing

The scent of lemon is refreshing, sharp and clean. When crushing a leaf from a lemon tree, oils are released which create the familiar lemon fragrance that we know so well. Check out our list of the easiest lemon-scented foliage on offer. Lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora) A deciduous, woody shrub to 2.5m tall, flowering in spring. The leaves have an …

  Ground cover plants are an essential accessory in the garden. Plant them in rockeries, under trees and in garden beds to cover bare patches of earth as a natural mulch alternative. Floriferous groundcovers Calibrachoas: If you want serious colour and wow factor, you can not go past the range of Calibrachoas that are readily available in stores. Flowering almost …

So you have decided your plant needs a different home in your garden. A little bit of prep work will ensure your plant doesn’t suffer shock from the move.   What is transplant shock? Many plants suffer from transplant shock more often than you’d think. In fact, transplant shock in plants is an unknown topic for many gardeners. When uprooting …

Coastal gardening can be challenging, but a little research and advice from your local garden centre staff will go a long way in creating a successful garden. There are several factors that need to be considered before selecting your plants.   Coastal Soil Type No matter where you live, knowing your soil type is a key ingredient to successful gardening. …

For many of us the idea of having a large garden seems a distant dream. Many of us live in a house or unit with limited outdoor room, we rent or we just don’t have the time to garden on a large scale.  Potted Gardens are our reality.   I love the look of aged terracotta pots in the garden …

Are you tired of plain, green murraya or English box hedges? How about a hedge with a difference that creates a talking point at barbecues and inspires the envy of your neighbours? These little beauties are reliable, fast growing hedging plants that are sure to grab the spotlight.   Metrosideros ‘Fiji Fire’ This tough performer is excellent for hedges up to …

Unused sloping backyards, reduced mobility and better control over soil structure are some of the many benefits to installing raised garden beds. The answers to the following questions exemplify why raised beds can be a really good idea. Why can’t I grow anything in my soil? Unless you are blessed with an abundance of deep, rich, volcanic soil in your …

As gardeners, most of us are fully accustomed to growing plants in containers or directly in the ground, but for some who lack the generosity of garden space, growing plants can often be a struggle with space restrictions, difficult corners to tackle or an overabundance of tree cover to block out sunlight. Well what may seem like obstacles should possibly …

One of the first fruits which come to mind when we think of summer is the fleshy, juicy mango with its golden sunny flesh tempting us. If you have a little room in your back garden, you won’t be disappointed planting one of these divine trees and raiding its offerings. Planting Plant young mango trees in a sunny position in the garden, where there is …

My favourite place to garden is on the eastern side. It is truly a pleasure. Eastern facing gardens usually get morning sun, which usually isn’t as harsh as our afternoon sun. I find many plants that thrive in full sun conditions also thrive here in half shade especially plants that sometimes get their flowers burnt in full sun conditions. Selecting …