Garden Chat

Fine Music Radio — Seems we are all coping with the water restrictions, no complaints, so everyone has taken up the challenge and getting creative. A positive outcome to this is that we do start understanding our gardens better in that they need less to survive.

Fine Music Radio — Seems we are all coping with the water restrictions, no complaints, so everyone has taken up the challenge and getting creative. A positive outcome to this is that we do start understanding our gardens better in that they need less to survive. February 22.pdf — PDF (220.7 KB)

Fine Music Radio — Seems we are all coping with the water restrictions, no complaints, so everyone has taken up the challenge and getting creative. A positive outcome to this is that we do start understanding our gardens better in that they need less to survive. February 15.pdf — PDF (225.3 KB)

Fine Music Radio — seems we are all coping with the water restrictions, no complaints, so everyone has taken up the challenge and getting creative. A positive outcome to this is that we do start understanding our gardens better in that they need less to survive. February 8.pdf — PDF (217.8 KB)

Fine Music Radio — seems we are all coping with the water restrictions, no complaints, so everyone has taken up the challenge and getting creative. A positive outcome to this is that we do start understanding our gardens better in that they need less to survive. February 1.pdf — PDF (220.2 KB)

Fine Music Radio — It seems we are all coping with the water restrictions, no complaints, so everyone has taken up the challenge and getting creative. A positive outcome to this is that we do start understanding our gardens better in that they need less to survive. January 25.pdf — PDF (230.6 KB)

Fine Music Radio — t seems we are all coping with the water restrictions, no complaints, so everyone has taken up the challenge and getting creative. A positive outcome to this is that we do start understanding our gardens better in that they need less to survive. January 18.pdf — PDF (224.6 KB)

Fine Music Radio — t seems we are all coping with the water restrictions, no complaints, so everyone has taken up the challenge and getting creative. A positive outcome to this is that we do start understanding our gardens better in that they need less to survive. January 11.pdf — PDF (218.7 KB)

Fine Music Radio — t seems we are all coping with the water restrictions, no complaints, so everyone has taken up the challenge and getting creative. A positive outcome to this is that we do start understanding our gardens better in that they need less to survive. January 4 .pdf — PDF (223.1 KB)

Fine Music Radio — t seems we are all coping with the water restrictions, no complaints, so everyone has taken up the challenge and getting creative. A positive outcome to this is that we do start understanding our gardens better in that they need less to survive.

Fine Music Radio — t seems we are all coping with the water restrictions, no complaints, so everyone has taken up the challenge and getting creative. A positive outcome to this is that we do start understanding our gardens better in that they need less to survive.

Fine Music Radio — It seems we are all coping with the water restrictions, no complaints, so everyone has taken up the challenge and getting creative. A positive outcome to this is that we do start understanding our gardens better in that they need less to survive. Mulch and compost are relatively inexpensive when you consider how much water you save plus the amount of time and energy spent, watering, weeding and the old bad practice of cultivating the soil. FMR GARDEN CHAT SCRIPT - 23 NOV 2019.pdf — PDF (206.4 KB)

Fine Music Radio — It seems like the heat is on so let’s do the right thing. Deep watering every second or third day, depending on your soil, keep up the mulch and don’t water in the heat of the day unless necessary and then do it by hand. Don’t leave a sprinkler going all day just because you have a borehole or believe you can afford a pile of water. FMR GARDEN CHAT SCRIPT - 16 NOV 2019.pdf — PDF (126.1 KB)

Fine Music Radio — It seems we’re into summer phase two and have a lift off.. The bulk of our extended spring blossoms have passed and with it the amazing display of bulbs. It was certainly a good year for Freezias, Sparaxis, daffodils and the Ranunculus family. FMR GARDEN CHAT SCRIPT - 09 NOV 2019.pdf — PDF (123.0 KB)

Fine Music Radio — Its all systems go now, but I have to admit I sometimes feel a bit wintery first thing in the morning! Like many who spend time outdoors I don’t know whether I need a T shirt and shorts or my jacket. No matter, it still turns out to be a summer’s day!! Everything seems to be going right for our gardens this season. FMR GARDEN CHAT SCRIPT - 02 NOV 2019.pdf — PDF (181.4 KB)

Fine Music Radio — Now might be a good time to look at unruly plants which have gone ballistic after the cool wet conditions this past winter and of course our productive spring. Ivy is a good example as it once again takes hold of anything in its path. Personally I think it is better to remove it entirely but understand that if its covering a garden wall and doing a good greening job, keeping control is vital. It can be cut right back against the wall and although a bit unsightly for a while it will cover up in no time. Another green monster when it comes to energy and money is the lawn, an ongoing regime that needs constant attention. There are more important and more creative things to do in a garden so I suggest you try the following. -Keep lawn watering to a minimum…that is probably not more than 3 times a week but this will depend on soil type and grass species! -Sandy soils need water just about every day in the hot season, clay soils might only need a good watering once or twice a week!!

Fine Music Radio — I would guess that many proud homeowners are attempting to get their lawns back into prime condition. After our good rains maybe it’s just a matter of keeping them looking good We all know that lawns need a lot of water and attention to look perfect. The question is will we always have enough water? The weather might be kind to us for a few seasons but the chances are we land up in trouble when extended dry periods come around again. Whether you have a borehole or not, we cannot afford to water lawns unless they are very small or made up of waterwise species that can do with the absolute minimum. What is the alternative if we don’t want large areas of bare earth which in turn contribute to mo re evaporation, unwanted weed growth and in some cases a potential dust bowl. FMR GARDEN CHAT SCRIPT - 19 OCT 2019.pdf — PDF (157.2 KB)

Fine Music Radio — Every year as spring and summer merge we are totally spoilt as we have this amazing preview of plants that do so well in our climate. Many are common, some are rare, but nevertheless all can be represented in our gardens. Sustainable, natural gardens are mostly made up of common locals and other suitable indigenous plants that are waterwise and withstand our winter rain and long dry summers. Can we ever get tired of Confetti bushes, Pelargoniums, Arum lilies, Pincushions, the Buchu family and Agapanthus to mention a few? The Cape Floristic Region has over 9000 species, but to that we can add many other suitable non-invasive indigenous plants which do well here in the Western Cape. FMR GARDEN CHAT SCRIPT - 12 OCT 2019.pdf — PDF (123.9 KB)

Fine Music Radio — Good morning… and all too soon… it’s the start of the 10 month. It used to be the 8th month hence the octo but then they added 2 more months, January and February. A lot has happened to our calendar over its nearly 3000 year old history!! Hopefully we will add more months in the years to come and have longer years with longer summers and more gardening time. FMR GARDEN CHAT SCRIPT - 05 OCT 2019.pdf — PDF (214.9 KB)