Garden journal
Gardening guides, seasonal tips and plant notes from Heckers.
Featured storySpring Gardening
For a lot of us looking at our garden beds this time of the year can be disheartening. There tends to be a lot of bare patches of dirt, devoid of any colour or greenery. While these bare patches can be depressing, one should rather look at them as a blank canvas full of promise […]
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener planting a succulent bowl is easy and fun whilst still allowing you to put your personal spin on it. Succulents are an amazing family of plants which have adapted to harsh conditions by storing water in modified fleshy stems and leaves to conserve the precious little water […]
When we face challenges in our garden such as hot and dry weather it is always a good idea to step back and have look at how nature handles these problems. Leaves collect on the forest floor and form a protective blanket that conserves water and breaks down to enrich the soil. When walking through […]
If you’re like me then your fingers should be itching to get into the garden after the rain. It is amazing what rain does to our mood after the dry weather, it inspires, invigorates and encourages us. Our gardens are filled with fresh promise after the rain and the work we do now will save […]
With South Africa being a drought-prone country and water a scarce resource, we are all affected as gardeners. The rains have been scarce this spring and it seems likely that we will be experiencing a dry season this year. Yet there are ways to keep the watering down to a minimum (mulching being one of […]
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 […]
Myrtle – Botany Myrtus, with the common name myrtle, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae The genus Myrtus has three species recognised today: Myrtus communis – Common myrtle; native to the Mediterranean region in southern Europe. Myrtus nivellei – Saharan myrtle; native to North Africa. Myrtus phyllireaefolia In the garden Myrtus […]
Walking through the garden this week, one thing is clearly evident; spring has come early this year. The peach trees are starting to blossom and all around the garden, buds are swelling heralding the end of winter and the start of spring. We are sure to have a few chilly days left, but it seems […]
Walking through the garden this week the signs are all around us that nature is waking up from her lengthy winter slumber. During this time of the year our gardens tend to look a bit faded and lacking in the colour department. For a quick fix, flowering annuals are perfect, but for those of us […]
A Cymbidium with its roots exposed As spring starts heating up your Cymbidium blooms will slowly start fading and finish flowering. At the nursery we get a lot of questions from gardeners on why their Cymbidiums haven’t flowered this year or even for a few seasons in a row. The reasons for them not […]
Just imagine the sight of masses of rose blooms swaying in the breeze spreading their intoxicating fragrance to all who take the time to admire her. This is the promise of a rose blooming profusely in October. To ensure that she can stun us with her beauty there’s a few things we have to look […]
A plant seed truly is a miraculous thing. They can lay dormant in the soil for decades at a time and as soon as conditions are favourable enough they spring to life, continuing the cycle of life anew. Growing from seed is always such a journey for me, starting when you sow the seeds and […]
ALOES Aloes can be rated as some of the most rewarding indigenous plants, and although largelyoverlooked have enormous potential as garden plants. The stark beauty of their strange andinspiring architecture makes them suitable as an accent plant in a variety of settings. BENEFITS They are available in such a diverse range of forms and sizes. […]
We are excited to introduce you to the world of mulch, a must-have for any garden enthusiast. Mulch is a fantastic addition to any garden as it provides numerous benefits that help keep your plants healthy and happy. In this brochure, we will explain what mulch is, its benefits, and how to use it in your garden. WHAT […]
SPEKBOOM A industrious little plant with a very big heart that acts as a carbon sink and is a true South African hero. It seems rather unassuming for a plant with a growing reputation for saving the planet To name just a few of its amazing attributes:– Easy to grow– Low maintenance– Reduces soil erosion– Makes a […]
AZALEAS Botanically they are called Rhododendron but in South Africa they are still commonly called Azalea and for the purpose of this article they will be referred to as Azalea. The two most readily available varieties are: Azalea indica: These Azalea varieties have oval, pointed, dark- green leaves and the shoots are covered with small flattened hairs. These versatile […]