Author: Shahnee Stockigt

South Africa’s Nursery Association (SANA) hosts an annual GCA Garden Centre competition to present to you, dear gardeners, the cream of the crop! Garden centres and home store garden departments are measured against a set of criteria aimed at assessing and improving product standards and professional service in the industry. Here are the best garden centres in SA! Did your favourite make it?

Stodels Nurseries Bellville – Garden Centre of the year 

Address: Eversdale Rd, Bellville 

From humble beginnings, Stodels Garden Centres have developed into a household name in gardening in the Western Cape. From the outset, Stodels Garden Centres focused on providing their customers with excellent service, top quality products and affordable prices. Fifty years later, the trio of service, quality and affordability has built a respected and much-loved brand. 

Originating from a mail order catalogue and door to door sales, the Stodels brand has grown to its current complement of seven award-winning garden centres today, two of which are based in Gauteng. The company was started by Mr Robert Stodel, in August 1962, when he started selling flower bulbs door to door and from the Parade in Cape Town. A mail order bulb catalogue soon followed and within a few years, Stodels Flower Bulbs became the biggest flower bulb retailer in South Africa, posting nearly 600 000 bulb catalogues to Cape households and importing up to 20 million bulbs from Holland every year.

Find out more: https://www.lifeisagarden.co.za/stodels-bellville/   

Garden Pavilion Eckards – Runner up 

Address: 101 Boeing Rd East, Bedfordview, Germiston 

Eckards is a well-established garden centre that received a new lease on life in 1993. Along the way it became a Garden Pavilion and has continued to move with the times, maintaining a traditional feel with modern influences. Eckards prides itself on a high level of service, quality plants and helping gardeners and growers alike.

Life is a Garden received press coverage to the amount of R1 568 716,22  in the month of June. The below spreadsheet shows the total press coverage that Life is a Garden received in the month of June 2022.

To view the Life is a Garden –  June “Redbook” actual press clippings, please click here: https://www.redbook.co.za/share/book/ad98d2c691b600b15d42640c661344c6

Marketing Snapshot

Topic: Citrus
Theme: Mini citrus trees for the patio
Industry Expert: David Seewald
Garden Centre/Grower: Heuers - www.heuers.co.za 

Are you ready to be inspired and educated? Our Life is a Garden readers are in for a zesty treat this month! David from Heuers Nursery has juiced out the full scoop on everything you need to know about growing a citrus tree on your patio. Check out his dwarf recommendations, maintenance hacks, grow guide, and personal journey with these special fruits.

1. What made you first fall in love with citrus growing? Why are citrus trees so special?

I always had an interest in citrus from since I joined the family business. In early 2017 I had a chance to visit some citrus growers in the Cape region and that’s when I decided to actively pursue my dream of growing citrus. In 2019 I had the good fortune to visit the top grower of dwarf citrus in the world. This opened my eyes to what could be done with citrus trees grown on a dwarfing rootstock.

What makes citrus trees so special is the wide range of citrus fruits. They each have their own flavour characteristics and uses, be it in the garden or the commercial sector. Citrus trees are also special because they have a global appeal and are grown almost everywhere.

2. What are some of the reasons why gardeners should be growing citrus at home? Are there any benefits/advantages?
Besides the satisfaction of growing and harvesting citrus from your own trees, there are other benefits related to growing your own citrus namely:

- Citrus fruit has many health benefits and is filled with vitamins, minerals, and essential fibre.

- You have control over which method of pest control to use on your trees. Many people have concerns around chemicals being used on the fruit they buy.

Life is a Garden received press coverage to the amount of R 1 02 0843.50  in the month of February. The below spreadsheet shows the total press coverage that Life is a Garden received in the month of February 2022.

To view the Life is a Garden –  February “Redbook” actual press clippings, please click here: https://bit.ly/3ClAnl6

Marketing Snapshot

Are you looking for the cream of the crop? South Africa’s Nursery Association (SANA) hosts an annual GCA Garden Centre competition to celebrate the top garden centres and home store garden departments around the country. Find out if your favourite made the A-list below!

Home Stores:

• Builders Express Durban North
• Builders Express Hillcrest
• Builders Warehouse Cape Gate
• Builders Warehouse Port Elizabeth

Independent Garden Centres:

• Concrete & Garden Creations
• Eckards Garden Pavilion
• Greener Tidings
• Greenside Kwekery
• Heckers Nursery 
• Plantland Menlyn
• Plantland The Wilds
• Stodels Bellville
• Stodels Milnerton
• Stodels Somerset West

Once again, congratulations to all Garden Centres of excellence and good luck to all! To find your local GCA Garden Centre, click here. Stay up to date with all your garden care and inspiration by joining the conversation on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/lifeisagardensa.

Life is a Garden received press coverage to the amount of R1,238,972.34 in the month of February. The below spreadsheet shows the total press coverage that Life is a Garden received in the month of February 2021.

To view the Life is a Garden – February “Redbook” actual press clippings, please click here: https://www.redbook.co.za/share/book/0a1884a8a9d778d3052fe7781f58bfee

Press Report of February

Marketing Snapshot

Gone are the days when shady means barren! This month, Life is a Garden is shedding light on darker spaces with a little shade-spiration to bring all areas of the garden to life. There are many flower varieties, shrubs, creepers, and even veggies that will flourish in every type of shade. Let’s begin by understanding the different degrees of shade and how these conditions affect the surrounding soil and plants that can grow there.

Full shade

An area that receives no direct sunlight at all is called full shade, known also as deep shade. Underneath a canopy of large evergreen trees or next to tall buildings or high walls is where you’ll typically find full shade and often barren spaces. The soil in such areas can be classified into these two groups below:

• Full shade with wet soil

In these deep shade areas, moisture drainage is poor and the soil appears constantly soggy, boggy, and swampy. Try adding coarse compost mixed with gritty river sand to improve the drainage and quality of the soil in these areas.

Plant picks: Hen and chickens (Chlorophytum comosum), holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum), and forest bell bush(Mackaya bella).

• Full shade with dry soil

Some areas with full shade have dry soil owing to the growth of the trees that once allowed some sunlight in, but have now grown to completely block out direct sunlight. Enrich these areas by loosening the soil, adding nutritious compost, and covering with mulch to assist in retaining moisture.

Plant picks: Bush lily (Clivia miniata), agapanthus, and wild iris (Dietes grandiflora).

Dappled shade

Also known as filtered shade, this happens as sunlight filters through openings in tree branches throughout the day, shifting the pattern of sunlight trickling in. In these areas, it’s best to plant in accordance with the trees natural growth and shedding phases.

Autumn is a colourful time for trees and a curious invitation to all young gardeners. Do your children also enjoy rummaging around in leaves, collecting them, and admiring their unique hues? Well then, here’s a DIY kids experiment that investigates the science of chlorophyll and answers the question of how and why leaves change colour. Are you ready for some fun in the garden? Let’s go!

What’s so cool about leaves anyway?

For starters, leaves are part of Mother Nature’s highly intelligent network of oxygen (O2) providers, making them an essential service to life on Earth. Through photosynthesis, leaves turn light energy into food for plants to grow. Using their pores, or stomata, leaves absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and then release clean, crisp O2 for us to breath – thanks guys!

Chloro- me, chloro- you, chloro- phyll?  

Owing to changes in daylight and temperature during Autumn, the process of photosynthesis and the amount of chlorophyll in leaves is altered. Chlorophyll is the chemical that makes leaves green, so with less sunlight for photosynthesis, it’s only natural that some changes in colour are expected. The absence of chlorophyll is what results in the gorgeous display of sunset-hued leaves this time of year.

An experiment awaits!

You will need:

• A few glass jars
• A few coffee filters
• Various colours of autumn leaves
• Surgical spirits (available at pharmacies)
• A spoon for mixing
• A notebook to observe changes

Leaves at the ready:

1. Unleash your kids upon the garden or park in search of as many different autumn-coloured leaves they can find. Equip them with a container to carry their findings.
2. Group their leaf treasures by colour. Once sorted, smash/crumple/tear each group of leaves into pieces and then place each pile into a separate jar.
3. Pour the rubbing alcohol into each jar until the leaf pieces are completely covered.

When life gives us manure, gardeners make compost! As such, Life is a Garden would like to invite all green fingers to welcome 2021 as The Great Reset – a time to reconnect with our home space, a chance to grow food and deepen our connection with nature, an opportunity to shape remote working environments, and the ideal excuse to expand outdoor entertainment areas. Here are the top trends for the year to inspire you and help support adjusted lifestyles at home. Let Mother Nature work her magic to lift those spirits and make every space a place for life to shine!

Trendy colours that celebrate life

The Pantone colour of the year is grey and yellow: grey representing fortitude and yellow symbolising happiness. Together, these colours send a message of positivity, supported by a solid foundation (grey) upon which to build joy (yellow). Cultivate resilience and hope by planting these beauties below:

Sun in your pocket

• Yellow canna lily: full sun in beds or containers, bold and bright, frost-sensitive.
• Alstromeria (Inca lily): full sun or semi-shade, good cut-flowers, needs winter munching.
• Anigozanthos bush bonanza: full sun or semi-shade with bright, golden-yellow flowers.
• Marigolds: full sun or semi-shade, drought-tolerant, attracts butterflies, repels pests.
• Sundial yellow portulaca: full sun annual, fine-textured foliage, low ground-hugger.
• Yellow capsicum: a full sun veggie, sprout seeds indoors in spring.
• Cape honeysuckle: full sun or semi-shade, attractive ornamental shrub, good for hedges.
• Snapdragons: full sun for beds or containers, gorgeous horizontally-growing blooms.

Grey for greatness

• Senecio cineraria, or silver dust: create contrast with this fine, low-growing sub-shrub.
• Senecio Angel Wings: robust in size with an angelic silver/grey sheen, an absolute stunner!
• Dichondra silverfalls: drought, frost, and salt-hardy for full sun spots in beds and pots.
• Lamium: grow best in partial/full shade to avoid scorching the leaves of these pretties.

Like the calm before the cool, winter preparations are smooth sailing this month with Life is a Garden’s crisp April checklist. Gardening during the cooler months definitely has its own challenges, but also so many exciting flowers and veggies to look forward to. Did someone say spring bulbs already? Head over to your GCA Garden Centre and let’s plant right in!

Chillax with flowers

• Bulba-licious beauties: You can plant all spring-flowering bulbs now, hooray! Bulbs with fingers or claws, like ranunculi, should be planted with their fingers pointing downwards. Try plating small bulbs like anemone, leucojum, muscari, lachenalia, tritonia, and ranunculus, or larger bulbs such as hyacinth, freesia, and Dutch iris.
• Pretty and pleasing: April is the perfect time to buy and plant out pretty primula, poppy, pansy, and gazania seedlings.
• Indoor inspiration: Spathiphyllum, known also as Peace lily, is an easy-care, low-light houseplant with majestic, long-lasting white blooms.

• Colourful corners: Try planting a corner of ericas, restios, leucadendrons, and Proteas – they provide stunning autumn and winter colour.
• Balmy blooms: Plant cool-season annuals at the base of bare-stemmed bushes. Choose sun lovers like alyssum, calendulas, dwarf snapdragons, lobelias, Namaqualand daisies, phlox, and pansies.
• Bedding babe: Available in many bright hues, Cineraria enjoy moist soil in semi-shade beds.
• Pot of purple: Lavender is waiting to perk up your patio pots with an easy-going purple flush.

Feeding and frost

• Feed aloes and flowering succulents for a glorious winter show.
• If you’re living in a frost-prone area, be sure to purchase some frost protection from your GCA Garden Centre before winter arrives in full force.
• Continue feeding your evergreen cool-season lawn to ensure it remains lush during winter.

In the grow-zone

• Grow garlic bulbs, which you can purchase from your GCA Garden Centre. Pick a sunny spot with well-drained soil and plant the cloves about 15cm apart in drills of about 7cm deep.

Life is a Garden received press coverage to the amount of R129,967.61 in the month of January. The below spreadsheet shows the total press coverage that Life is a Garden received in the month of January 2021.

To view the Life is a Garden – January “Redbook” actual press clippings, please click here: https://www.redbook.co.za/share/book/0a1884a8a9d778d3052fe7781f58bfee

Press Report of January

Marketing Snapshot