Browse through our many Garden Tips collected over the years.
Select an area of interest from the list below, then click on the title to see all tips about that subject or use the search button below if you are looking for something specific.
It is benifical to find out what kind of soil is in your garden. Most soils fall under three categories: clay, loam, and sand.
I have added a simple test for you.
•Clay soil will form a perfect ball when you mold it.
• Sandy soil will fall apart when you try to mold it into a ball.
• Loamy soil will form a shape, but will fall apart when you apply a little pressure .
Clay is the smallest of particles. Clay is smooth when dry and sticky when wet. Soils high in clay content are called heavy soils and its always a good idea to work extra sand or organic matter to it to improve the drainage. Loam is a mixture of sand, silt, clay and organic matter and is the best and easiest soil to plant with.Silt is a soil particle whose size is between sand and clay. Silt feels smooth and powdery. When wet it feels smooth but not sticky. Sand is the largest particle in the soil. When you rub it, it feels rough. This is because it has sharp edges.
There is another way to test the soil and that’s to get a empty jar with a lid. Fill the jar a third with the soil and fill up with water. Shake very well and leave settle overnight. You will then see the way it settles:
• Sandy soil will settle almost completely on the bottom and leave the water looking fairly clear.
• Loam soil will appear very dark and rich with pieces of organic matter still floating in the water.
• Clay soil will produce a distinct line of clay along the upper sediment layers.
Although it is tempting to add sand to clay soil to improve its drainage, don't do it. It can just make matters worse. You need to add it in massive amounts. Peat moss or well rotted compost makes a good amendment for clay soil; apply 3 to 6 inches, mixing it into the native soil as deeply as you can. Never make a flower bed by digging out the original soil and replacing it with black dirt, compost or sand; this will lead to drainage problems where the fill and native soils meet. If you have heavy soil never add compost or organic materials directly to a bulb planting hole. The decaying organic material may encourage rot in bulbs. Clay particles are extremely small and tend to pack together, leaving no room for air or water movement. Generously amending or top dressing with compost, leaf mold, composted manure or other organic matter will gradually improve the texture of your soil. The good news is that clay tends to be much higher in nutrients than a sandy soil and all it not lost.
Plants for coastal and exposed gardens( 1 items )
Coastal areas and exposed gardens are also harsh and unforgiving environments requiring special plants which are capable of surviving in these conditions.
Garden Design( 1 items )
Planting a new border can really improve your garden and is very interesting to have the opportunity to watch as it develops. It's cheaper to buy smaller plants if you have the patience to wait and watch them grow. Trees and shrubs will cost more but take less maintenance. Herbaceous perennials may have more maintenance but return year after year. To have a successful border in your garden, involves some planning before planting.
Plants for shade( 1 items )
Brighten up dull corners of your garden with the following fantastic shade lovely plants and shrubs.
Bare Root Perennials( 3 items )
If you have just received your first bare-root perennials, you may be surprised by their appearance, just roots and very little green growth. Don't worry! Most bare-root perennials are shipped dormant, and will flourish once planted.
Amaryllis( 3 items )
Amaryllis or botanically named "Hippeastrum"" are real popular indoor beauties, they give lots of floral joy during the dark days of winter and early spring. They originated in South America's tropical regions. They make excellent pot plants and provide spectacular flower effects. Amaryllis bulbs are one of the easiest bulbs to bring into bloom. We offer many beautiful varieties including various shades of red, white, and pink. If an amaryllis is cared for properly they can produce blooms for up to 75 years. Our Amaryllis bulbs are of the best bulbs Holland has to offer..
Annuals( 2 items )
Annuals and patio plants are very important as they provide lots of colour next to perennial plants and are of great value for patio - basket and decking gardening
Clematis( 2 items )
Clematis, a much loved climbing plant for the garden, easy climbers in a great variation of shape and colours. There are even some clematis that grow as a non climbing perennial plant.
Fruit( 5 items )
Growing your own fruit provides you with fresh produce and are a delight in any garden. They blossom with lovely flowers and also present you with the delicious fruit. They can be grown in containers; which has the advantage of being portable for those frosty nights. The container should have adequate holes at the bottom for drainage of the excess water.
Control pests and diseases( 4 items )
Faded leaves and flowers can cause fungus disease, so it’s important that you remove them as soon as they appear. There are smoke bombs made specifically to control whitefly, just light it in the evening in your greenhouse until morning. Hand spraying with an insecticide is a more effective method because this will not kill off any valuable insects. If you spray your plants as soon as you notice greenfly, you will isolate the problem while leaving the other insects to do their thing. In the colder months try to avoid watering in the evening.
Flower Bulbs( 24 items )
Flower bulbs is wide group of products for the garden, you have spring bulbs (planted in autumn and blooming in spring), and you have summer bulbs, ( planted in spring and bloom during summer) Hundreds and hundreds of lovely bulb varieties are available, from very old to very new varieties. Make use of our more than 100 year family expertise and you will have some great flowers to talk about.
Growing your own vegetables and herbs( 10 items )
Growing vegetables in your garden can be very gratifying; you can grow them in containers, hanging baskets and in between your normal border plants. It is not as hard as you think and is suitable for large and small gardens. For best results you need to plan your garden in advance. (Location, soil, and drainage).
LawnCare( 4 items )
A well kept lawn is the mirror of any gardener. It requires a good basic set up and regular care but hates too much fertiliser, too much water and a too low cut.
Passiflora( 1 items )
Passiflora, to many an exotic plant from holidays in South America ( where they originate from), Commercially they are being grown for fruit juice made from the fruits of some of the cultivars. For the garden they are great climbing plants, ideal for trellis- patio gardening or just in a pot.
Perennial Plants( 18 items )
Perennial and herbaceous plants are the dressing of any garden, you should not be without them, as they provide lovely shapes, fragrances, colour, a range of flowering times and plenty of staying power giving you new blooms to appreciate as spring moves into fall.
Propagation( 8 items )
Propagation by stem cuttings is the most common method to propagate many plants especially from your most favourite shrubs. They are quiet easy to root. The key to propgation is providing the humidity. The four main types of stem cuttings are herbaceous, softwood, semi-hardwood, and hardwood. Remember not all plants can be propagated from cuttings such as Eucalyptus.
Roses( 8 items )
Roses are very popular in gardens for centuries, they became very fashionable due to the Emperess Josephine ( wife of Napoleon). She was a dedicated rose lover and raised herself a fine double rose variety. In roman time wealthy people used to take a rose bath, very expensive, as you needed numerous amount of petals to do so.
Shrubs( 32 items )
Shrubs are liable partners in your garden, they provide privacy, colour and shape. Due to a wide range of shrubs available you can select flowering times all through the gardening season, from winter until October.
Trees and Hedges( 11 items )
Trees create depth of view in your garden, their shapes and colours evoke a sense of tranquility, they are the homes of birds and squirrels, so take good care of them. Hedges provide humans with privacy and a green and colourful backdrop, but are equally important to birds and insects small animals as they provide shelter and food.
Water Plants( 5 items )
A pond is a great addition to the garden, water gardening is great fun to do and you will be amazed by the lovely colours and shapes of some of the water plants. Your garden wild life will be stimulated by a pond, you might see bees drinking water, frogs roaming about, toads taking a dip, and birds taking a sip.
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Remove early Begonia buds!
Whether in flower beds or in containers, remove any early flower buds to allow the Begonia plant to reach full size as quickly as possible.
Early Flowering Begonia
Plant Begonia tubers in a flat box in a mixture of potting compost and sand. Place the tubers in a 2-3 inch layer and keep them moist and moderate warm (60 -65 degrees), at a sunny location. This will enhance early sprouting and rooting of the tubers, harden the plants off by the end of April - early May and transplant the plants around second week of May into planters or the border. Be careful that a late night frost doesn't damage the tender plants. If night frost is expected, cover the plants for the night with an old newspaper. Begoniaplants like a lot of water, feed them regularly with a summer plant fertiliser.
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Garden Tips 
