Carel’s Questionnaire

Questionnaire  Carel

Why do you garden?

Some men like rugby or hanging out in man-caves – I find gardening much more interesting. I get my adrenaline rush from watching plants grow and observing small animals in the garden.

Where is your garden?

Constantia Hills

What is the size of your garden?

Smallish; total stand size 1500 m² less building and paving leaves about 1000 m².

When did you start gardening?

Other than doing garden chores like mowing the lawn and trimming edges, in December 2011.

Who or what inspired you to start gardening?

My late mother was a life-long keen gardener – I expect I got the temperament from her.

Has a plant ever disappointed you?

If you let yourself be disappointed by plants not growing according to your expectations gardening would be a sorry affair. If a plant languishes, pull it out and replace it with something that feels like growing.

What plant has made you the happiest?

The gloriosa superba – Flame lily -that I found growing over a garden bench; not remembering having planted it there.

 

What do you love about your garden right now?

The sense of just waiting for spring to break into a growth spurt again.

 

What do you feed your garden?  How often do you feed ?

I maintain a thick layer of mulch and work in compost at all possible occasions. From time to time I dispense trace elements to plants that look like they need it.

How often are you out in the garden ….. enjoying it …..and working in it ?

I work from home and wander through the garden ever hour or two, keen to see if anything has grown since the last time, always clipping at plants and picking up cement chips left by the builder.

Do you have ‘help’ in the garden      –Maulana – he’s from Malawi, a hard worker and positive person.

Have you had any problems you have had to overcome….soil…..environmental issues?

Sandy, fine soil – one has to become a soil farmer before you can be successful with the plants.

Soil contamination with builders’ rubble. If I ever build again I will write into the builder’s contract that there will not be a speck of cement remaining when the work is complete.

How often do you garden?

Daily and double time over week-ends.

What do you enjoy doing in the garden the most?

Watching it grow and visualizing new shapes, colours and perspectives that I can try out.

What do you dislike doing in the garden?

I only do the things I enjoy in the garden. Long-suffering Maulana picks up and fixes up after me. Much like a spoilt, ADD child. (Which I am – really)

Which are your favourite plants …..flowers, native or ornamental ?

All of the above.

Are there any plants you really dislike?

No. I also have books on ‘problem plants’ and enjoy getting to understand why they are considered problematic.

Do you have a favourite garden writer or personality?

No

Have you ever been inspired by any author, garden writer or landscaper?

I have learnt from and been inspired by all of the professionals that I have dealt with. They help to see other possibilities.

Have you been helped by a landscaper or friends?

All the time.

If you could visit just one garden, where would it be?

I have seen many beautiful gardens, locally and abroad, but Kirstenbosch remains a favourite.

Do you have a borehole? Have you made any particular move to become more water wise ?

I do have a good borehole and irrigation. All run-off from the roof soaks directly into the garden – nothing runs into the storm water system.

If you could change just one thing in your garden, what would it be ?

I would like to do it all over again; twice the size with four times the budget.

Is there anybody you would like to credit for helping you with your garden?

My wife, June, for tolerating my gardening OCD.

My gardener, Maulana.

And a range of gardening professionals who helped me on my gardening journey:

Cara Smith

Alan Dawson

Russel Trope.

Marijke Honig

Philip Botha.

RELIANCE COMPOST

A generous donation of certified organic compost arrived just time for the planting of annuals in our show gardens.   We like using Reliance products as  they are  a low carbon company  which ‘harvests ‘ all the garden waste we drop off at the ‘dumps’ around Cape Town and turns it into compost. We then return it to the soil in our gardens completing the cycle.

Their main source of material is green waste or garden refuse from municipal drop-off facilities and landfills around the City of Cape Town. Each month, approximately 40,000 m3 is collected. It is chipped on site and then taken in enormous trucks to their production facility in, Klipheuwel. Here it is mixed with water, clay, and activated by the addition of more mature compost in long 50 meters by 2 meter high rows. It is then turned daily for 6 -8 weeks before it is ready to be bagged. Alien vegetation, that presents an environmental threat in the Western Cape, is also used.

Reliance has kept over 15 million m3 of green garden refuse out of already overcrowded landfills since the start of their contract with the city over 10 years ago. This resulted in a reduction over 1 000 000 tons of carbon dioxide gas escaping into the atmosphere, thus mitigating the impacts caused by climate change.

Reliance products are extensively tested by independent laboratories for bacterial contamination, nutrient levels, and insecticide / pesticide contaminant levels and recently even for radiation levels. These tests are to be sure that our products adhere to required standards and don’t add to environmental contamination.

15l and 30l bags of compost are available. Bulk orders of   fine, medium rough compost, mulches and top soil, potting soil and lawn dressing and bark -nuggets and milled bark.

http://www.reliance.co.za     Reliance Office email info@reliance.co.za, 0861 888 784.

DONATION KELPAK® LIQUID SEAWEED FERTILISER

KELPAK® LIQUID SEAWEED FERTILISER
Our gardeners were thrilled to be given this uniquely South African product which, as it contains natural growth hormones, is sure to make their plants grow bigger and be more productive. It is obtained from the giant Ecklonia maxima  kelp, or seaweed, sustainably harvested off the coast near Cape Point.
Kelpak contains several beneficial plant stimulating compounds as well as macro and micro elements and is manufactured by a proprietary process which while bursting the cells from which a natural, liquid seaweed concentrate is extracted preserves the delicate natural elements contained in the cells.
When applied, as a foliar feed or soil drench to plants, the auxin-like activity stimulates prolific adventitious root formation. The increase in root tips – which is where a group of hormones known as cytokinins are produced – leads to an increased level of cytokinins in treated plants Cytokinins promote cell division and plays a role in plant foliar growth.
The increased root volume and number of root tips also increases moisture and nutrient uptake from the soil. The increase in nutrients together with the higher level of auxins and cytokinin in the plant also makes the top, above ground, part of the plant grow.  This in turn results in increased yields and better quality plants.  The improved root system also makes the plant more resistant to stresses such as drought, water logging, soil nutrient deficiency and salinity, nematode infestations and soil borne diseases.