Garden journal
Gardening guides, seasonal tips and plant notes from Heckers.
Featured storyGardening Tips
Attracting butterflies to your garden can be quite a conundrum at times. We want beautiful butterflies to grace our gardens but not their caterpillars which are the larval stage of butterflies. Caterpillars feed on their specific host plants, whilst causing some damage to the plant, it is not enough to harm them permanently. The host […]
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Natural Swimming Pools: More Beauty, No Chemicals
The question is always: to mulch or not to mulch? In this article we give you a breakdown to make the best decision for your garden! With the hot and dry we have been experiencing the past few weeks, all our gardens are literally feeling the heat. One of the easiest and simplest methods to […]
10 Fountains to Bring Your Garden to Life
It seems like pruning time has come early again this year due to the mild winter we have been experiencing thus far. What a pleasant surprise it was to have roses flowering throughout winter. And even seeing plants such as Clivias in bloom a lot earlier than we normally do. Despite the risk of a […]
Despite the heat we have been experiencing the past while, roses are still looking great and continue to give colour and delight to gardeners. Roses are actually quite resilient plants that can take a beating and survive to delight us with their vivid colours. Below are some tips that you can use to get the […]
What a fitting time of the year it is to talk about Hydrangeas; due to their favourite epithet being “Christmas flower”. Growing into a handsome big shrub that gets covered by brilliantly coloured big blooms, a must have for gardens with shady areas and a sure bet to enthral with their flowers. They tend to […]
Growing garlic gives you an ample supply of one of nature’s best healing herbs. Garlic is one of those amazing plants that has been used by mankind since recorded history. There are many different types of garlic, with most belonging to the Alium sativum group of plants. Garlic is known mainly for its bulbs, however, all […]
One year’s seeding is seven year’s weeding. Weeds tend to be our nemesis when gardening and many an hour has been spent methodically and sometimes frantically digging those persistent buggers out of the garden. Yours truly has developed a habit of pulling out weeds no matter where. I have to admit it does provide certain […]
Here’s a handy compost guide on making compost and mulch with material collected from your own garden. Don’t let all those free leaves go to waste!
With the change of the season it is time to start with autumn planting in anticipation of all the winter and spring colour. With most of the summer annuals finishing off and going to seed, an autumn planting is a must to get a head start on your winter and spring gardening. It does feel […]
Rose pruning seems to have come a bit earlier than usual this year with our roses thinking that it is already the end of July. Fret not, as you can still prune your roses even if it is a bit early. Left unpruned, roses eventually carry out their own pruning by not nourishing the thinner […]
One of the first signs that spring is on its way is when the Azaleas begin to grace us with their stunning blooms. Erupting in spectacular colours, they herald the arrival of spring. Azaleas that are botanically known as Rhododendron are a favourite in gardens both big and small due to their versatile nature. They come in different […]
The colour green has an instant calming effect and in today’s crazy pace of living, plants provide a reprieve for one’s soul. As a result, we need green spaces in our lives. This is all the more reason to get started on an excellent source of green: your lawn. The better care your lawn receives […]
Spring is finally here, and with it, many of our favourite flowering plants. The first that comes to mind are Clivias. Clivia minniata is one of our more famous plants in South Africa and it has managed to find its way into gardens around the globe. Not only do these flowers produce amazing flowers during spring, […]
All seeds hold within the amazing promise of life. You will find that growing plants from seed can be a very rewarding experience and that you actually become attached to your little seedlings. You can grow from seed to feed you and your family or you can grow to fill your garden with an abundance […]
Don’t let the heat get you down by bringing some cooling colour into your garden with Heckers’ guide on an amazing selection of colourful flowers for this summer. With the intense heat we have been experiencing lately we can definitely say that summer is here. Luckily there are plants that thrive in this scorching weather […]
With the rains finally arriving, our gardens have suddenly been transformed into an oasis of green and colour. With this change, the creatures and critters in our gardens also spring to life. These denizens are often misunderstood and unappreciated. However, they play an integral role in maintaining a natural, healthy equilibrium in our gardens. When […]
Hydrangea throughout the seasons Hydrangea macrophylla is one of our garden plants that best showcases the extreme differences in seasons. From looking like nothing more than a bunch of twigs during winter to its stunning bountiful blooms in summer. Hydrangeas are also known as the Christmas flower owing to their amazing flowering during the festive season. […]
Remember the days when fruit actually had a taste? The best way to guarantee that you can enjoy nature’s bounty is to grow your own. The advantages of healthy homegrown fruit are legion. Not only do homegrown fruit taste like real fruit should, sweet and juicy, but you will save money as well has lower […]
Besides their flowers, their appeal also lies in how exceptionally easy they are to keep. One could almost say that they “thrive on neglect”, with even the most uncared for plant still having the chance to astound with its blooms. With that in mind, providing your Cymbidium with its preferred growing conditions can only result […]
Strangely enough, one of my favourite flowers belongs to a plant better known for its delicious fruit. Blueberries have the most elegant white bell shaped flowers. The best part is that as soon the flowers fade those tasty berries start growing. Blueberries are packed full of antioxidants, making them a true super food. Read on […]