Are Garden And Lawn Pesticides Dangerous?

Are Garden And Lawn Pesticides Dangerous?

Few things are as frustrating as watching a once-green lawn turn patchy, thin, or discoloured. In South Africa’s warm climate, pests and diseases can take hold quickly, leaving visible damage that spreads faster than most people expect. The quick fix has often been to...
How to get rid of lawn caterpillars

How to get rid of lawn caterpillars

‘Lawn caterpillars’ is a catch-all term for a variety of lawn pests in grub or worm form, that can devastate your garden. They eat your grass, and many will also have a go at your bedding plants. You can never get rid of every critter, but you can control them early...
How Do I Spot Lawn Diseases?

How Do I Spot Lawn Diseases?

It is easy to spot the fungal lawn diseases if you know what you are looking for. There are three main lawn diseases that commonly afflict gardens in Gauteng (and elsewhere in South Africa). Spot them early, however, and you can easily save your lawn. All are caused...
Poisonous Garden Plants to Avoid in Gauteng

Poisonous Garden Plants to Avoid in Gauteng

Datura stramonium commonly called ‘Moonflower’ or ‘Malpitte’ (above image) Many plants are poisonous to some degree. Some plants have poisonous seeds, leaves or sap, while other plants have varying levels of poisonous compounds throughout their structure. Highly...
Essential tools for a great lawn

Essential tools for a great lawn

A beautiful well-kept and manicured lawn is always the ideal centre-piece of a great garden. It doesn’t matter if it’s a huge sweeping lawn, or just big enough for a few people to sit on. Lawns are focal points in garden design and aesthetics. However, lawns are often...
Top annuals to add to your garden

Top annuals to add to your garden

Here are our 10 top picks to make your garden burst with summer colour!1. Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)2. Marigolds3. Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus)4. Impatiens5. African Daisies (Dimorphotheca spp.)6. Petunias7. Zinnias8. Cosmos9. Salvia (Salvia splendens)10....
Should I Invest in Organic Lawn Care?

Should I Invest in Organic Lawn Care?

Many people wonder if switching to organic lawn care is worth the time and cost. Choosing this approach does mean a shift from old habits, but the payoff can last for years. Healthy soil, fewer chemicals around pets and kids, and a garden that supports birds and...
Frost and how to Protect your Garden

Frost and how to Protect your Garden

Frost can do a great deal of damage to garden plants and lawns. If you live in a frost-prone area, such Gauteng or the Free State, it’s a good idea to know how to predict it and take steps to protect your garden. What is frost, and when does it occur?Frost forms when...
Swimming pool design ideas for your garden

Swimming pool design ideas for your garden

There are few things better than relaxing in a swimming pool on a hot summer’s day, and a pool can certainly be the perfect addition to your home and garden. But when you have a beautiful garden, the last thing you would want is to bring the overall aesthetic...
How Often Should I Mow My Lawn?

How Often Should I Mow My Lawn?

You’d think that you’d know how often to mow your lawn based purely on how long your grass is. However, there are a few things to consider, to ensure long term, problem free, maintenance of a beautiful lawn. Here are some pointers on managing your lawn:Firstly, grass...
Feng Shui in your Garden for Balance and Harmony

Feng Shui in your Garden for Balance and Harmony

The top 3 Key Feng Shui Principles for Your Garden:Feng Shui Garden IdeasWhy Feng Shui Gardening Benefits You Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of placement, is all about arranging your environment in a way that promotes balance, harmony, and the optimal flow of...
How to Implement  your Garden Design

How to Implement your Garden Design

Garden design from scratch offers you the exciting opportunity to express your personal taste and style. Think of your garden as a blank canvas, with you as the artist ready to create something beautiful. The garden will evolve as plants, trees, and shrubs grow, but...
Garden pathway design and tips

Garden pathway design and tips

The function of a garden pathway is to lead you from one point to another – without stepping on lawn or plants. However, making it a focal point of your garden adds interest and encourages exploration of your garden. Garden pathways should never look too neat, but you...
Create a healthy lawn and reduce the need for fertiliser.

Create a healthy lawn and reduce the need for fertiliser.

We know that many people do not like leaving grass clippings on a lawn but it does the lawn a world of good. This alone can reduce the amount of fertilizer you need by half. Bag the first and last mow of the season, though, to reduce weeds.Add white clover seed as it...
What is lawn aeration and what will it do to your lawn?

What is lawn aeration and what will it do to your lawn?

What does lawn aeration involve? Lawn aeration involves the removal of small soil plugs or cores from the grass or lawn. There are hand aerators are available but the most effective way of aerating your lawn will be with a mechanical aerator. The aerator machine...