The latest news and gardening tips from Cape Contours, Cape Town. en-ZA http://www.capecontours.co.za/gardentips Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:00:00 +0200 It is a common sight around the Cape along road sides or at the entrance of house and office blocks – a group of restios which have been given a very hard haircut, cutting it half way down the stems creating a very strange, shaved look. Sadly this is often a deathly haircut for restios! People...]]> http://www.capecontours.co.za/gardentips-38_pruningyourrestioswhatnottodo http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/thumbs/201008261282804683.jpg http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/news/201008261282804683.jpg Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:00:00 +0200 Just about everyone knows that more earthworms in your soil means better soil fertility, better soil structure, and better drainage.
 
There is a major problem with simply buying worms - and that's because the kind of earthworms most often sold in stores or catalogs have been raised, and do best in, extremely nutrient-rich soil...]]> http://www.capecontours.co.za/gardentips-37_naturallyincreaseearthwormsinyoursoil http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/thumbs/201008161281954125.jpg http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/news/201008161281954125.jpg Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:00:00 +0200 Here are some basic rules of thumb:
 
1. Your shrubs may not need to be pruned at all. Several flowering shrubs grow very well and stay a manageable size with no pruning at all.
 
If your shrub is flowering every year, looks great and is a good size, leave it alone, it...]]> http://www.capecontours.co.za/gardentips-36_whentopruneyourevergreenordeciduousshrubs http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/thumbs/201007261280148641.jpg http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/news/201007261280148641.jpg Tue, 29 Jun 2010 08:00:00 +0200 A beautiful lawn doesn't need to be a time consuming drain on your wallet. Spending just a little time and money can yield a lawn with acceptable looks and function. A low maintenance lawn won't have the perfect appearance of a highly manicured lawn, but what's lost in appearance is made up for in time...]]> http://www.capecontours.co.za/gardentips-35_lowmaintenancelawncare http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/thumbs/201006291277816525.jpg http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/news/201006291277816525.jpg Thu, 20 May 2010 08:00:00 +0200 With the cold weather and rain now finally here, there are a few things to do in the garden that will ensure a good result in the Spring and Summer months.
 
Mowing the lawn can now be reduced to once a fortnight as kikuyu and buffalo lawns go into a quiet growing period. Take...]]> http://www.capecontours.co.za/gardentips-34_autumn-andwintergardentips http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/thumbs/201005201274340985.jpg http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/news/201005201274340985.jpg Mon, 03 May 2010 08:00:00 +0200 Mow the lawn once a week to encourage vigorous growth except during an extended drought and times of stress.

 

Remove no more than one-third of the leaf blade to prevent scalping and weak, damaged plants. Scalping is the removal of an excessive amount of green shoots while mowing, which results...]]> http://www.capecontours.co.za/gardentips-32_lawnmowingtips http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/thumbs/201005031272880077.jpg http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/news/201005031272880077.jpg Mon, 03 May 2010 08:00:00 +0200 The flies you nonchalantly swat from food can make you sick. These flies, known as filth flies, make a living off animal feces and garbage. Flies pick up all manner of nasty bacteria, then transport the disease-causing organisms right to your food. Take a few measures to control flies in your backyard and your home,...]]> http://www.capecontours.co.za/gardentips-33_howtocontrolfliesinyourhouseandgarden http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/thumbs/201005031272880240.jpg http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/news/201005031272880240.jpg Wed, 21 Apr 2010 08:00:00 +0200 If your plant leaves look like someone was doodling squiggly lines, you have leaf miners. Leafminers are the larvae of various beetles, flies, moths and sawflies. The adult lays their eggs on the leaf and the larvae burrow into the leaf and tunnel through it, feeding and leaving a transparent trail of where they've been...]]> http://www.capecontours.co.za/gardentips-31_controllingleafminers http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/thumbs/201004211271856946.jpg http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/news/201004211271856946.jpg Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0200 Battling a swarm of fruit flies in your kitchen or bathroom? Get rid of them quickly with this simple, homemade trap:
What You Need:
·                        Apple cider vinegar
·                        Dish soap
·                        A jar or small bowl
·                        Plastic wrap
What You Do:
1. Pour a cup of apple cider vinegar...]]> http://www.capecontours.co.za/gardentips-30_getridoffruitflieshomemadeflytrap http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/thumbs/201003031267600771.jpg http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/news/201003031267600771.jpg Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0200 New seedlings and saplings need plenty of moisture. Lack of water is the main cause of severe stress to newly planted trees. It stands guard when you can't to keep a tree healthy.Mulch insulates soil, retains moisture, keeps out weeds, prevents soil compaction, reduces lawnmower damage, and adds an aesthetic touch to a yard or...]]> http://www.capecontours.co.za/gardentips-28_doireallyneedtomulchmynewtreeandhow http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/thumbs/201002041265264779.jpg http://www.capecontours.co.za/media/news/201002041265264779.jpg