The Gardener Magazine

The Gardener is a monthly, national magazine dedicated to inspiring gardeners, providing practical advice and showing step-by-step garden projects. Our monthly features include garden design, in-depth plant features, growing vegetables and herbs, water gardening, garden wildlife and pets, specialist plant articles and much more. We have an extensive database on our website that is growing daily.

WELCOME

Dirt DIARIES

Flamboyant red • We can do without Boney M, snow, silver tinsel and bright baubles, but not without the colour red in and around the house during the festive season. We hope Santa delivers these to you; if not, treat yourself!

Subscribe and win!

GIFT GUIDE

Natural WONDERS • Take a gorgeous setting with established trees and create a masterpiece in the country…

Plant Gallery

Quick fixes for the holidays!

LIGHT it up

CHILL out time

Doing up the WALLS

PLANT it up

BRING the outside in

It’s a SURVIVOR • SELAGINELLA a plant that survived mass extinction must be tough enough for any garden.

Fébé’s Floral and Fields easy eucalyptus wreath • Learn how to make a beautiful wreath using eucalyptus leaves, grapevine wreath base, twine, gold craft paint, velvet ribbon and bells. This wreath will look good right through to Christmas and is perfect to make your home feel festive. It’s inexpensive and it smells great.

NATURAL POOL 101 • A natural swimming pool, also known as an eco-pool or biopool, is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chlorine pools that mimics the aesthetics and ecological functions of a natural body of water, such as a pond or lake.

The benefits of natural pools

Fire up the Barbie! • Summer cooking is all about outdoor cooking and eating. These recipes will give you all the fiery, charred and smoky flavours of the braai.

How To GET YOUR CHARCOAL FIRE GOING

Easy-going with tough ANGELONIAS! • Our editorial team is united in its praise for the super hybrids of Angelonia angustifolia (summer snapdragon).

SUBLIME for shade

IN THE GARDEN WITH TANYA

LONG-HAUL blooms! • Consistent flowering and easy to grow, is what HibisQs is all about.

YAY FOR YARROW! • Years ago, the only yarrow to be had was the true herb (Achillea millefolium) with white or pink flowers. It’s pretty but not spectacular, unlike today’s range of colourful hybrids that retain that old-fashioned cottage garden charm.

GREG’S TOP TIPS

FREDDIE’S FAVOURITES

THE GOLDEN RATIO in a pot • Use the universal Fibonacci principle of symmetry to create a balanced and calm grouping of sempervivums.

Grow Wayne’s favourite things • Gardens change, gardeners change, and tastes mutate, but some plants, whether nostalgic, special, or just from experience, become all-time favourites. As a true plant person, my favourites can change as the day changes, but there are those close to my heart plants that make me smile and are always a bit sentimental.

ROSE OF THE MONTH

GARDENING WITH IZOLDA

GIFTS FROM THE FOOD GARDEN

Sensational SAGE • While we value Sage (Salvia officinalis) for its edible and healing properties, don’t overlook its beautiful textured leaves, especially these three colourful sages for sunny, water-wise borders.

ORCHID CHRISTMAS • A Phalaenopsis orchid is the perfect gift for someone special and a décor item that will transform a festive table into a tropical dream.

ZESTY ZINNIA – eye-popping festive colour • The new Zinnia ‘Zesty’ has huge double blooms like old-fashioned zinnias but stays neat and upright, reaching only knee height.

BOTANICAL TALES • Dig deeper into the fascinating world of...