GARDENING: This summer, bring nature to your living space and create a festive garden

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From water-wise indigenous gardens to colourful and fragrant flowers, ‘tis the season to celebrate by also bringing joy into the garden. Here are some summer garden essentials, according to the experts.

It is no secret that nature has a positive effect on mental health, such as transforming stress into a more relaxed and positive mental state, as a 2016noted. And yet, there is a “separation sickness” in modern society where people have become disconnected from nature and, therefore, themselves, according to Anthea Myburgh, an animal communicator and constellation therapy facilitator at Ubuntu Healing.

Fragrant flowering plants such as the climbing star jasmine and the indigenous starry wild jasmine are easy to grow and also quite popular this time of year, Smit says. “These are often planted at the entrance of homes or on the patio — it’s welcoming and add something special to festive season entertaining at home,” she adds. These sweet flowers are also excellent to implement with gazebo garden structures.

The agapanthus come in many different varieties today, with the “Agapanthus ‘Amethyst’, ‘Poppin purple’, and the ‘Blue ice’ being some of the favourites this season,” says Smit.Close-up of The Cape Honeysuckle . Image: Gallo Images / Home“Early morning is the best time to water the garden, as it allows plants sufficient water to get through the heat of the day. When water is applied in the middle of the day, much is lost through evaporation,” Smit explains.

The water-holding capacity of soil can be improved by incorporating “compost, mulching, and water retaining crystals”, says Smit. She explains that a thick layer of organic mulch, approximately 10 cm, will retain soil moisture whilst also providing nutrients to the soil and plants. When planning a water-wise indigenous garden, set out by establishing which plants occur naturally within the rainfall area, she suggests. These plants will need minimal watering once established and are already perfectly adapted to the local climate, Smit adds.There are a wide variety of options to choose from. Succulents are well adapted to deal with a lack of water and are exciting garden plants that come in “dramatic and often bizarre shapes and textures”, notes Smit.

 

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