Tips

1. Consider a feature plant.  

What is your favourite plant?  

Can you have it in your garden?  Can it be grown in your garden?  Size specifications, soil compatibility, water requirements etc.

If you have something with pizazz, it may push you into getting into the garden more.

Do your homework.  When thinking about buying a plant for your garden, make sure it will survive in your garden.  It will not be too big or it too small.   Just because some Gardening guru on tele said that that particular plant is just fabulous, you have to think of all the factors.  Where is the program situated?  Are you even in the same state?  Is the program talking about right now, in the season we’re in, or is it a repeat or an English show?  Check with nurseries and a plants person or horticulturalist who knows what they are talking about and discuss the choice with them.  Go on reputable sites – don’t rely on Wikipedia or Mr Google.  Read a gardening book.  Make sure you understand the aspect of your garden; where the sun falls throughout the day; and your climate.  

2. When planting out a new bed or adding to an already established be, make sure you have plants which will flower throughout the year.  Winter can be quite drab and miserable and if your garden reflects this, it will be a long winter.  

Summer: Budleia, Magnolia, Jasmine, Lemon Myrtle, roses, heliotrope, Native frangipani, bougenvillia

In Autumn:  alyssum, aquilegia, banksia, begonia, calendula, delphinium, dianthus, erigeron, foxglove, geranium, hollyhock, pansy, polyanthus, poppy, primula, ranunculus, snapdragon, stock and viola.

Brighton your winter with Correa, Crowea, daisies, Hellebores, Leschenaultia, Hellebores, orchids, and pansies.

Spring will be brighter with aster, begonia, carnation, chrysanthemum, cineraria, cockscomb, cornflower, cosmos, dahlia, dianthus, gazania, hollyhock, impatiens, lobelia, marigold, petunia, salvia and zinnia

3. Enjoy your garden.  As cliché as it sounds, you’re the one that has to see it.  If you are a gardener and likes to potter.  Make sure you spare a few minutes each day to check out your garden.  Spend time really looking at the plants and enjoy it.  Show it off on social media.  Share it with others.  You won’t be alone in the love of gardening.  It doesn’t matter if you’ve been pottering for a while or have only just started.  It doesn’t matter,  even if your garden consists of two (alive and thriving) pot plants on a balcony.  

4. Rain is great, but with it comes the weeds.  How can we make sure we are always on top of it?  We don’t need to to a huge weed every few weeks.  That’s when we get jaded about gardening and don’t do it – or employ a Gardener (D.S.King Gardening) to weed – Instead, every time you are out in the garden, hanging out the clothes; checking the mail box; taking out the bins. Even walking to your car, scan your garden and when you spy a weed, take it out.  Simple as that.  If you get in the vibe, take out more than one.  Ignore the small titchy ones.  With spot weeding like this, spot the big weeds.